NuWho fans know how emotional Doctor Who can be, with episodes like “The Girl in the Fireplace” and “The Girl Who Waited” being especially moving.
It’s challenging to state the cultural significance associated with Doctor Who. The British series follows a time-traveling alien named The Doctor who whips through time in a blue Police box called the TARDIS with his companions and helping beings along the way.
The series debuted in the 1960s and concluded its original run in 1989. It was revived in 2005 and has continued ever since, with 14 actors holding the role of the Doctor. Doctor Who may seem like a silly sci-fi show on the outside, but this series is no stranger to tugging on heartstrings, especially in the “New Who” seasons post-2005.
10“The Girl in the Fireplace” Touches on one of the Most Emotional Parts of Doctor Who
- Season 2, Episode 4
- Features David Tennant as The Tenth Doctor, with Billie Piper as Rose and Noel Clarke as Mickey as his companions
- Set in 18th-century Paris
One of the most emotional parts of Doctor Who is the everyday people whose lives are touched by The Doctor. The Doctor is a time-traveling alien who regularly interacts with humans and other species throughout his travels. In “The Girl in the Fireplace,” the Doctor, Mickey and Rose uncover a mysterious portal from an alien ship into an 18th-century Parisian bedroom belonging to a girl named Reinette, also known as Madam de Pompadour, who is being hunted by clockwork aliens.
One plot occurrence that features multiple times throughout Doctor Who is how time travel is not exact. The Doctor can be months or years off from his intended time of arrival, and what seems like seconds for him can be much longer for those he intends to visit. Case in point for Reinette, as he tries to visit her once more after he saves her and, unfortunately, arrives after she has passed away, leaving a note lamenting his absence.
9“The Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead” Introduces One of the Best Supporting Characters in Doctor Who
- Series 4, Episodes 8 and 9
- Features David Tennant as the 10th Doctor with Catherine Tate as his companion, Donna Noble
- First introduction to River Song, played by Alex Kingston
The two-part Library saga comprising “The Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead” is not just one of the most emotional episodes but also one of the most terrifying. The episode shows The Doctor and Donna receiving a message asking them to meet them in the Library. This planet contains every book ever written, and every patron has disappeared mysteriously. When they meet an archeological party led by the enigmatic River Song, they realize a deadly threat is lurking in the shadows.
The monsters of this episode are unseen, masquerading as shadows. They strip a person to bones in seconds, and there is no known way to survive them. Due to the neural-based communication devices worn by the archaeological party, murdered crewmates can communicate for a few moments after death, which leads to some truly heartbreaking moments as they don’t understand what is happening to them. Emotional death scenes are not lacking in this episode, and The Doctor is truly put through the wringer.
8“The Girl Who Waited” Tugs on Viewers’ Heartstrings
- Series 6, Episode 10
- Features Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor with Amy and Rory, played by Karen Gillian and Arthur Darvill, as his companions
- Set on the planet of Apalapucia
Amy Pond is a fan-favorite companion from the “New Who” era of Doctor Who. She first met him as a child when he crash-landed in her backyard, and they formed a fast connection. He promised to come back for her, and he did, but a miscalculation meant that he came back years later rather than minutes as he intended. Amy ended up joining him as a companion, but the accidental abandonment impacted her greatly.
When a mishap occurs on their adventure, it results in Rory and the Doctor being separated from Amy. When they use the TARDIS to try to get back to her, they return decades later to find a mistrusting, older Amy who has been abandoned by The Doctor once again, and now also by her lover, Rory. They go back and retrieve the Amy they left behind originally but are forced to abandon Older Amy again as she cannot exist in the same place as the original Amy. Knowing Amy’s history with abandonment, this episode cuts deep for fans.
7“The Parting of Ways” Is the End of a New Who Era
- Series 1, Episode 13
- Features Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose, his companion
- Features the first regeneration of the New Who Era, with Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor regenerating into David Tennant’s Tenth Docto
“The Parting of Ways” is the finale of the first revival season of Doctor Who. When all hope seems lost and The Doctor’s greatest threat, the Daleks, are on the verge of victory, Rose Tyler takes it upon herself to save the day. Rose absorbs the Time Vortex that is at the heart of the TARDIS to eliminate the Daleks.
This is a dangerous task as a human brain cannot comprehend the raw energy of time and space. Rose can rescue The Doctor and destroy the Daleks — but at great cost. The Doctor convinces her to transfer the power to him, prompting his regeneration into the Tenth Doctor. This finale features heart-wrenching scenes between Rose and The Doctor, as well as a beautifully sad ending for Christopher Eccleston’s time as the Doctor.
6“The Day of the Doctor” Forces The Doctor To Confront His Pain
- Special Episode that premiered in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who
- The primary Doctor/Companion pair is Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald
- David Tennant revitalizes his role as the Tenth Doctor, and John Hurt plays the War Doctor
The Doctor’s past is shrouded in mystery, even though the series has been on the air for years. The Doctor doesn’t like to share his pain very much, especially when it relates to the Time War that devastated Gallifrey and ended the Time Lords. The Doctor was never the same after these events and has carried his pain with him and buried it deep. That is, until he was forced to confront it.
In “The Day of The Doctor,” the Eleventh Doctor meets his former incarnation, the Tenth Doctor, and his incarnation from the Time War, the War Doctor. While they work together to save the world from a war with aliens, feelings about their personal trauma relating to the Time War are brought to the surface. Using the medium of having The Doctor talking to future and past versions of himself strikes an emotional cord that leads to a captivating episode
5“Doomsday” Says Goodbye to a Brilliant Companion
- Series 2, Episode 13
- Features David Tennant as The Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion, Rose
- Billie Piper’s original departure from the series, though she reappears in later episodes
“Doomsday” is an episode that is consistently adrenaline-filled and does not give viewers a chance to breathe. With humanity caught in the crossfire between the Cyberman and the Daleks, The Doctor must risk everything to save humanity, and nobody emerges from the conflict unscathed.
The Doctor is able to close the breach between two parallel worlds that was allowing the Cybermen to enter, but in doing so, he separates himself from Rose, Mickey and her parents. He can say goodbye briefly via a hologram, but it ends just before he is able to tell Rose that he is in love with her. The goodbye scene is one of the most emotional of the whole series and a fan favorite.
4“The End of Time: Part Two” Sees the Regeneration of One of the Best Doctors
- Doctor Who Christmas Special that premiered in two parts in December 2009 and January 2010
- Features David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and sees him regenerate into Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor
- Incorporates several of the Tenth Doctor’s companions and notable figures from his time as The Doctor
One could say that “The End of Time” is a celebration of David Tennant’s time as the Tenth Doctor. Several former companions and friends are weaved into the Tenth Doctor’s send-off as he matches wits with the Master as he attempts to save humanity from his latest machinations.
There are several emotionally charged moments throughout this episode. The Doctor rescues Wilfred and sacrifices himself for his old friend, knowing he will regenerate as a result. He spends his time prior to regeneration checking in on his old friends as companions, revealing just how much he cared for them all and, at the same time, showing the impact of the Tenth Doctor.
3“Journey’s End” Doesn’t Pull Any Punches
- Series Four, Episode 13
- Features David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and every companion he has had throughout his time as the Doctor
- A Crossover episode between Torchwood , The Sarah Jane Adventures and Doctor Who
“Journey’s End” sees the Tenth Doctor and all of his companions, Mickey, Martha, Rose and Donna, working alongside Sarah Jane and Jack Harkness to prevent a Dalek-induced apocalypse. Along the way, The Doctor must come to terms with the impact he has on the people around him, especially on his companions.
In “Journey’s End,” there are a lot of emotional resolutions for previous plotlines, including Rose finally getting her happy ending with a clone of the Tenth Doctor who can age alongside her in the parallel universe. However, the most devastating moment is when Donna has to get her memory wiped after she absorbs the energy of a Time Lord, as she is at risk of mental deterioration. She must be returned home and have no memory of her travels with the Doctor, and this moment is truly heartbreaking for all.
2“The Angels Take Manhattan” Says Goodbye in a Devastating Way
- Series 7, Episode 5
- Features Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor with his companions, Karen Gillian as Amy and Arthur Darvill as Rory
- The official send-off for Amy and Rory as the Eleventh Doctor’s companions
“The Angels Take Manhattan” brings back one of The Doctor’s most terrifying enemies, the Weeping Angels. The haunting statuesque creatures have the power to send their victims back in time, trapping them there with a single touch the moment their victim blinks or turns away. Rory unfortunately finds this out in this episode, and it kicks off a fruitless hunt to save him that only ends with Amy sacrificing herself to live with Rory in the past so they could be together.
The final moments of the episode are tear-jerking; their final hope to rescue Rory is dashed, and Amy decides to sacrifice herself to the Angel to be with him. Amy loves traveling with the Doctor, but she loves Rory more. The Doctor’s grief is palpable in this moment, but he receives Amy’s last wishes through a message she left for him in the past, and he honors it by visiting her childhood form and telling her of the fantastic things he and Amy saw together. It’s a beautiful send-off for the Eleventh Doctor’s companions.
1“Vincent and The Doctor” Is the Saddest and Most Beautiful NuWho Episode
- Series 5, Episode 10
- Features Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and Karen Gillian as his companion, Amy
- Stars Tony Curran as Vincent van Gogh
“Vincent and The Doctor” is an episode of Doctor Who that celebrates humanity in a series that stars an alien and introduces otherworldly beings daily. While they are drawn to speak to Vincent because he incorporates an alien into his painting, and they do defeat the alien, the episode is more about Van Gogh himself and the complex nature of this troubled genius.
The most emotional scene of the whole episode is when The Doctor and Amy decide to take Vincent to the present day to see his work on display. When the museum worker describes Vincent’s impact and the painter sees how much his works will matter, it’s hard not to get emotional. Unfortunately, history stays on track, and Van Gogh sadly takes his own life shortly after, but the Doctor shows Amy that they still were able to bring joy to his life, and the evidence is a painting with a new dedication to Amy.
