Doctor Who: 7 Reasons Series 7 Part 1 Happened In Reverse For The Doctor

6. The Power Of Three

Somewhere between the events of Angels and Power, the Doctor got wind of an invasion of cubes from space. He decided that he would attempt to land somewhere back along the Ponds' timeline when the invasion happened. When the Doctor met the Ponds, fans noticed he was unusually subdued and quiet, possibly because this was the first time he saw them after he watched them effectively die before his eyes. This would explain why he almost seems like he doesn't want to be around them, walking away and showing more of his back to them than his front. The Eleventh Doctor was always very good at hiding his true emotions but surely for something like this he would have difficulty looking them in the eye? As UNIT invades the Ponds' home, the Doctor begins to ease into his ordinary role and by four days in, he's back to his usual hyperactive self. And so he decides to leave on an adventure. He swiftly attempts to have Amy and Rory come with him but they refuse. He wistfully watches them go and promptly sets the TARDIS for nine months in the future - their wedding anniversary. This time he simply brings them along without even asking and adventures with them for seven weeks. During this trip they have an adventure in which they go to Henry VIII's palace and due to some shenanigans, Amy ends up marrying Henry and Rory leaves his phone charger behind. Brian asks him about his previous companions and instead of deflecting the question like usual, he opens up. He's particularly hesitant to say that some die, which could point to foreknowledge of the events of Angels. Regardless, he immediately switches track and says that he'd never let them die, which in the end, he lives up to. They live full lives and the post-Angels Doctor would know this. It's telling that at this point he decides to stay on Earth for a long period of time, living with the Ponds without much complaint and he admits that he misses them. The Eleventh Doctor was not known for his social proclivity - the mere fact he admits that he deeply cares for Rory and Amy in particular is monumental in his character's development. During the whirlwind that is the next 30 minutes of the episode, there's a particularly heart-wrenching scene in which the Doctor opens up entirely about his motivations for travelling the universe and discusses mortality with Amy. What's particularly important is the moment he cannot look her in the eyes and says the following line: "One day, soon maybe, you'll stop. I've known for a while." He also confesses that he cannot simply leave them, that they're too important to him. In the end, the Ponds decide to go with the Doctor on his journey. Brian tells the Doctor to bring them back safe and he does not acknowledge or confirm this. All three - the Doctor, Amy and Rory - look uncomfortable, unable to make the promise.