The relationship between the Doctor and his Companion is the cornerstone or heart of Doctor Who. I think some of the strongest and most enjoyable seasons have a good Doctor/Companion relationship at its center. I am a firm believer that one of the key facets of that relationship is a good confrontation scene. It really makes sense if you think about it, because we have individuals with vastly different life experiences. One member of the relationship has lived multiple lives and is over 1000 years old, and if we stick strictly to Revival Doctor Who, then the other member of the relationship is a human most likely under the age of 50. They shouldn’t see eye to eye in every situation. The Companions shouldn’t always agree with the decisions the Doctor makes as their own biases, beliefs, and experiences would inform their perspectives. These confrontations push the relationship forward. It changes their relationship and brings a depth to it, because it creates understanding between the characters. There have been quite a few great confrontation scenes, and I have chosen such a scene as my Golden Moment. It’s from the S10 episode “Thin Ice.”
Bill and the
Doctor are in Victorian England where she has just witnessed someone die for
the first time. It wasn’t simply that it
was the first death that she witnessed, but it was also the death of a
child. This shocking experience was
compounded by the fact that her teacher and mentor appeared completely unfazed
by what happened. She wonders how many
people he must have seen die that one more death is inconsequential to
him. He explains that he does care but
he moves on. Noticing a certain look in
his eyes, she then goes deeper and asks if he’s ever killed anyone. After he
tries to beat around the bush, she insists upon a simple yes or no answer. He replies ‘yes,’ and she asks how many. The Doctor doesn’t answer. He just stares at
her, and she responds derisively “Let me guess. You’ve moved on.” He tells her that if he doesn’t move on then
more people will die. There are children still in danger that need their help. This
argument between them helps Bill understand that it isn’t that the Doctor
doesn’t care. It’s about the Doctor not wasting time wallowing or rending his
clothes in anguish when he can do something productive to stop whatever is
happening and at least save others.
This scene, this argument, this confrontation helped make the relationship between the Doctor and Bill feel more real. There is more of an understanding between them, a connection, a common goal. It’s an important step in the growing depth of this relationship. This is the reason it’s a golden moment for me.
