Doctor Who: 10 Wise Things We Learnt From Tom Baker's Doctor

9. Look At The Bigger Picture

Though the Fourth Doctor could be as caring and as loyal as any of his other incarnations, this version never lost sight of the bigger picture. There's a big Universe out there, one that has aspects that no human can ever begin to comprehend as well as the balance of the Web of Time to uphold. This meant that, on occasion, this Doctor could be cold, remote and quite terrifying to be around. He walked in eternity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in The Pyramids of Mars. For Sarah Jane the events occurring around her are tragic because of their personal cost, especially the killing of lovely Lawrence Scarman, strangled by his own brother Marcus, possessed by Osiron bad guy Sutekh. She accuses him of callousness when he ignores Lawrence's corpse. However, the Doctor has to remind her that the fate of the entire world, nay galaxy, may be at stake. He's not unfeeling but he sees the bigger picture. This is also a Doctor who realises that people come and go. He is fond of his companions but there's none of that romantic nonsense. When he gets the call from the Time Lords, Sarah must be left behind, it's as simple as that and he doesn't think to go back for her either. Her life is short and she must go and live it. When one sees the bigger picture there is no time for grief or regret; he may have regarded Romana as an equal but he knew that even she would one day go. This gives this Doctor a melancholy edge; behind the smile there is a knowledge that he will end up alone.