Doctor Who: 10 Times The Doctor Acted Completely Out Of Character For No Reason
6. Falling In Love With The Female Guest Star Of The Week
Again, The Girl in the Fireplace is a wonderful episode with just one part that makes no sense in terms of the Doctor's characterisation. In this case, it's the very Star Trek/Captain Kirk motif of the Doctor falling in love with the female guest star of the week.
There's no question that Madame de Pompadour is a great character and is played by a very accomplished and beautiful actress. In most situations, a leading male character could be forgiven for being smitten.
But the Doctor was already shown to be in a deepening romantic situation with Rose Tyler. The whole point of having Mickey Smith come aboard the TARDIS was to hint at a love triangle with all the emotional complications that entailed.
That's why the Doctor rapidly falling for the guest actress of the week seems out of keeping with the Doctor's character and the unfolding narrative of the series as a whole. And, once the end credits roll, it's back to business as usual with the Tenth Doctor and Rose, as if none of this story ever happened. Which is a shame, really.
How awkward could that scene in Bad Wolf Bay have been if Rose had piped up, "You didn't seem all that bothered about me when that posh French bint was in the room..."