Doctor Who: 8 Reasons Donna Noble Saved The Doctor

7. Just Save Someone (The Fires Of Pompeii)

Doctor Who Peter Capaldi The Fires Of Pompeii
BBC Studios

This leads almost directly on from the Runaway Bride, despite there being a season's gap between them. This doubles down on the need for someone to stop The Doctor from time to time - and that person's name is Donna Noble.

The Fires of Pompeii is one of the first episodes in the fourth season and as such, The Doctor and Donna were still getting used to each other. She rejects out of hand the notion that there are fixed points in history and sets about saving the people of Pompeii, only to find that their overwhelming numbers prove impossible to save. She turns to The Doctor and he begins to travel away, consumed by grief at yet another historical catastrophe.

And then - tears streaming down her face - she manages to get through his shield and speak directly to his hearts. Save someone, she says. Just save someone. He takes the TARDIS back, and this decision has lasting repercussions for The Doctor.

As he would later reflect, he would learn why he frowned that face.

Long after Donna left the TARDIS, this memory saves The Doctor again.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"