Goodbyes are always sad. You get to know and love characters, you become as fondly attached to them as certain members of your family, you hope desperately that they'll stick around forever... And then they're gone, snatched away by bitter twist of fate or murderous intervention of Dalek. Goodbyes can also be good, however, and not just because everything has to end for something greater to begin. Some departures can be emotionally affecting, beautifully pulled off and emotionally satisfying. Some goodbyes make you not exactly glad to see the character go, but satisfied with the strength of their exit. Goodbyes are never easy, but they can sometimes be absolutely beautiful. And one of the best shows at pulling this off is Doctor Who. Sure, in fifty long years there have been some awful companions and some downright perplexing farewells but sometimes all the stars fall into alignment, and even less than satisfactory characters receive perfect send-offs. Doctor Who is a show of wonder and delight, it brings an extra level of joy to the universe... And, as odd as it sounds, the moments where it says goodbye to its companions make up a vital part of that. Some are joyous, some are sad, some require a cup of tea and a good few hours of staring into space before you can get back to everyday life but all are emotionally satisfying, and pulled off largely perfectly. It's heartbreaking to say goodbye, yes, but sometimes it can be absolutely glorious too.