Every Doctor Who fan has a favorite episode and a favorite moment that speaks to them on a cellular level. Maybe it hits home with sadness or fear; with unmitigated joy or belly-splitting humor. Perhaps the set design took your breath away, or a character said a line that was so well written and so profound that it changed the way you viewed the world.
That may sound like a lot of heavy lifting for a television program. But if any show could do it, it would be Doctor Who. For people who have come to the Whoniverse in its newest regeneration - those who climbed aboard the TARDIS with Eccleston's Ninth Doctor - those moments may seem a bit more relatable than the classic and well... "That's all right then!" So join us as we take a look at some fan favorites from NuWho.
As wonderfully villainous as the Toymaker is, there is a sweeter moment in this episode, and that's the return of "Good Old Wilf". Many viewers' hearts grew three sizes that day when they caught a glimpse of the Doctor's loyal friend, stargazing soldier, and Donna's granddad, Wilfred Mott. Wilf proved that bravery does not age or dissipate, and he was willing to do everything in his power to save his granddaughter and the man he loved like a son.
Everyone knows that one episode. The one with the sunflowers. The one with the invisible monster. The one where if someone on social media asked, "What television show made you cry for weeks?", chances are they're talking about "Vincent and the Doctor". Those last few minutes? Give me all the tissues, ALL OF THEM.
The idea that this tortured artist could have had a moment of unbridled happiness and the chance to realize the impact of his work... Let's just say that the people on social media are not wrong, this episode and that moment in particular is a gut punch filled with beauty and pain.
Night and Day
Paul McGann's portrayal of the Doctor in "The Night of the Doctor" warrants mention in this compilation, as he never truly had the chance to flesh out his run. However, the passion and darkness he brought were undeniable. For some, the line, "I'm a Doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting!" is iconic.
But for me, it's "Will it hurt? Good...Charlie, C'rizz, Lucie, Tamsin, Molly, friends, companions I have known, I salute you. And Cass, I apologize. Physician, heal thyself." He says this as he drinks the regeneration potion brewed up by the Sisters of Karn, the potion that will turn him from a Doctor to a Warrior, the warrior that is needed to end the war between the Daleks and the Time Lords.
Speaking of the War Doctor, there is something so special, so iconic about seeing more than one Doctor in the same place, and in the special episode "The Day of the Doctor", the War Doctor makes an appearance. The episode also brings together Doctors Ten and Eleven, where hilarity and synchronicity ensue, but the episode quickly turns sweet and impactful as the ramifications of all three's actions during the Time War are better understood.
The moment in this episode that gets me every time is when the three Doctors propose their plan to save Gallifrey, and they come with the most epic backup squad. To see all the previous incarnations swooping in to help save the day really raises goosebumps on your arms, and you feel a smile stretch wide across your face. And don't even get me started on the eyebrows!
Now, keeping in the spirit of honoring preceding incarnations of the Doctor, the introduction of Matt Smith as the Eleventh iteration does something really cool. When the Atraxi threaten to blow up the entire planet just to get their hands on their runaway prisoner, the Doctor has a few questions and one very emphatic statement. Adding to the downright GOAT move that this is (because let's be honest: as an introduction goes, this one is a doozy): he's just regenerated, he is still getting his bearings and figuring out what his favorite food is, and he stands face to giant eyeball and gives them hell.
Variety of moments
These are fairly well-known or common moments that keep people talking, but there's also a ton of smaller moments, sweet moments, hilarious moments, and downright strange moments. We're talking Donna, her mum, and Wilf sleeping on the floor of a kitchen after the destruction of London, and who could forget that tres' creepy bug tag-along she was sporting.
Speaking of creepy, let's talk about the ghosts in "Under the Lake": where are their eyes?? There's the echo across generations between Clara and her Doctors with the Christmas cracker (my heart!); there's the back and forth between the hand grown Doctor and Doctor Donna in "Journey's End", and many more small or big moments across the Whoniverse, and they all mean something different or have more meaning to the individual viewer. It's a testament to the writing, acting, and production that not only are there quotable or memorable moments, but moments so iconic that, to this day, there are still memes, Instagram reels, and YouTube shorts being made from episodes that aired years ago.
But don't fear, the future is now, fellow Whovians. We are two episodes into Season 2 of Ncuti Gatwa's incarnation of the Doctor, and he has not let us down when it comes to illustrious Doctor Who moments either. For me, two stand out so strongly and shine so brightly that I remain dazzled to this day.
The first of which is the Doctor's interaction with Maestro in Season 1, not only because I adore Jinkx Monsoon, who was BRILLIANT in this episode. But because Gatwa is incredible at depicting how he is literally figuring things out as he goes along, and man, is he quick. The spotlit piano, the ball gown, the '60s wardrobe: all of it adds up to an enlightening and foreshadowing conversation that opens up doors that we are currently walking through and will continue to walk through until the conclusion of Season 2 (and beyond if the DW gods are benevolent). The acknowledgement that Maestro's daddy is on the way is terrifying and exciting all at the same time.
More recently, Mr. Ring-A-Ding, aka Lux's appearance in episode 2 of Season Two, creeped me right out of my seat. There is something so disturbing about sinister cartoons. They are supposed to be fun, right? Harmless? Nope, not this guy, but again, the foreshadowing and the story propulsion tell us we are in for a good time this season. Extra credit to this episode for breaking the fourth wall with the addition of Lizzie, Robyn, and Hassan as DW fans who unwittingly join the show.
Never fear, I could never forget my girl Thirteen. Whittaker's run as the Doctor was plagued by people complaining that A) the Doctor isn't a GIRL, and B) the writing. Well, some of my favorite storylines happened during this regeneration. The Thirteenth Doctor was, in my opinion, the champion of one-liners, like this one from the episode "The Halloween Apocalypse": " Release! Oh, maybe I was Scottish when I set them up." She then rolls her r's to try and get the cuffs to release. Thirteen also introduced us to the Fugitive Doctor, and I can not wait to see more of her.
Another thing this generation did was embed a relevant, relatable, or historical element in its story. We learned about Nikola Tesla, Partition, Rosa Parks, and the horrors of working in a Kerblam! warehouse. Underneath the humor, these moments expanded viewers' understanding of history and the world around them, not to mention exploring the dark and dangerous world between two mirrors.
The memorable and iconic moments in Doctor Who are legion, and they all mean different things to different people. But I think we can all agree that whatever moment you choose, whether it's "Fam", "Allons-y", "Babes", "Geronimo!", or "Gallifrey Stands", it will be spectacular.
"Raggedy Man, Good Bye"Amelia Pond