A Doctor Who Golden Moment: A Student Confronts Her Teacher

     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.

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