Doctor Who 50th: 20 top moments in Who history

[ken_of_ghastria]

Saturday, November 23, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. Fittingly, there have been celebrations, specials, personal appearances, and a Loch Ness Monster-sized number of specials across the BBC's space-time continuum -- all culminating in the anniversary episode itself, "The Day of the Doctor," which is being broadcast worldwide --

Comments

[emeraldlich]

No argument whatsoever with the moments you picked. If anything, I'd just add three more!

"All these evils I have fought, while you have done nothing but observe! True, I am guilty of interference. Just as you are guilty of failing to use your great powers to help those in need!" (The War Games, April-June 1969). The Second Doctor's farewell, and the viewers' introduction to his people - the Time Lords. And during the Doctor's trial (the first of many!), he makes it quite clear why he's on the run from them in a rackety old TARDIS.

"1980, Sarah if you want to get off." (Pyramids of Mars, October-November 1975). Sarah Jane Smith asks the rather sensible question during one of her adventures with the Doctor - why do they need to interfere? Why can't they just leave? After all, a madman trying to destroy Earth in 1911 can't have succeeded if Sarah has seen the world in 1980. But as the Doctor takes Sarah to the decimated wastelands of 1980, he illustrates the point that time can be rewritten, and if he sits back and does nothing, past, present, and future can be changed for the worse. (Bonus points for contributing to the UNIT time dating controversy!)

"Don't forget me." "Oh, Sarah... don't you forget me." (The Hand of Fear, October 1976). A mostly pedestrian story, notable mostly for Sarah Jane's ridiculous overalls and propensity for shouting "Eldrad MUST live!" over and over again. But the goodbye scene between the best companion to ever travel with the Doctor - and one of the best Doctors, who just happens to be her best friend - is funny, sad, and wonderful all at the same time. And it makes their eventually meeting again in School Reunion (April 2006) all the better some 30-odd years later.