2. "Oh Sarah, Don't You Forget Me" (The Hand Of Fear)
Before the new series, companion departures were generally stiff upper lip affairs, the sort of formal farewells you might give to an employer on your last day of work. Looking back on it with the enlarged role that Sarah Jane Smith has taken on in Who lore, Elisabeth Sladens final scene in The Hand of Fear is surprisingly quiet. Its clear that shes on the edge of tears but there is not one emotional pyrotechnic from the Doctor in sight. And yet theres something there. The Fourth Doctor and Sarah were written as best pals and the chemistry between Tom and Lis brought that to life. But during this scene, the Doctor seems to withdraw from that, looking at Sarah under his mop of curls like a shy little boy. He cuts through Sarahs banter as well, strictly forbidding her from coming with him to Gallifrey - which is notable in that this Doctor has never been one to observe Time Lord decorum. His last line to her (Oh Sarah, dont you forget me) is delivered with a splutter, as though he cant think of a pithy comeback this time round. The Fourth remains the most alien of the Doctors but this is the closest fans came to seeing him heartbroken. It would be out of character for him to admit strong feelings but Toms performance - both subtle and melancholy - gives more than a hint that he has them.
I am Scotland's 278,000th best export and a self-proclaimed expert on all things Bond-related. When I'm not expounding on the delights of A View to a Kill, I might be found under a pile of Dr Who DVDs, or reading all the answers in Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. I also prefer to play Playstation games from the years 1997-1999. These are the things I like.
