Doctor Who: 10 Times The Doctor Was Out Of Their Depth
6. Imprisoned By The Master
In the sprawling three-part finale to Series 3, the Doctor is in a dire situation. With a little help from the Toclafane, the Master has taken control of Earth, and he's imprisoned the Doctor on UNIT's flying aircraft carrier, the Valiant. Not only that, but he's suspended the Doctor's ability to regenerate and aged him to a withered husk. And just to drive the humiliation home, he's trapped him in a bird-cage. It's a low point for the Doctor, not only because of the sheer embarrassment at what he's been reduced to, but because he is powerless to stop the Master's plan.
In the final episode, it's revealed that the Doctor has been trapped for at least twelve months while the Master reigned supreme over Earth. It's rare to see the Doctor so completely powerless for so long. Normally the Doctor is able to resolve situations in about 45 minutes or so, but this time he's been at a loss for over a year. It takes the courage and tenacity of Martha walking the globe and spreading the legend of the Doctor in order to save him, via the questionable power of mass telepathy that de-ages the Doctor, turns him invincible, and allows him to fly. Shoddy resolution aside, this episode shows how surprisingly powerless the Doctor can be when facing a true rival.