The Saddest Episode

[Kristen Rucker]

 I want to know. What do you guys think was the saddest episode of Doctor Who?

Personally, I think it was Doomsday (10th Doctor).
That one makes me cry uncontrolably, EVERY STINKIN' TIME.
"I'm burning up a whole sun just to say goodbye to you." Oh.my.gosh.

So, yeah, discuss!

**EDIT**

Hello all. Glad to see I started an interesting discussion. I now wish to add to my list of sad episodes.

There are two more now that make cry every time. 
-Vincent and the Doctor - I'm sorry but the ending is the most beautiful thing. It really speaks and tells the story of a lot of artists, and how much doubt they have in themselves. It really does something when someone praises an artist.  Seeing Van Gogh's reaction to what the guide was saying, and knowing his history, I cry. A lot. 

- The Angels Take Manhattan - Self explanatory. 

[Maria Jose]

I agree! I think that's the saddest one! And I cry like a crazy person when I hear him say that to Rose. But I also cried a lot with The waters of Mars when the Doctor went all evil and stuff.

[Edie]

Personally, I think "The Girl Who Waited" made me cry the hardest. (If you haven't seen it yet, DON'T READ. I don't want to spoil anything.) If you had to choose between two versions of the love of your life, wouldn't it be the hardest thing you ever had to do? And the fact that the Doctor lied to Rory and said the TARDIS could sustain both Amys? And how he forced Rory to make the choice at the end? Altogether, the saddest episode I can remember. I feel that it really let us see deeper into the Doctor's personality, particularly how he can really be rather heartless at times. We can only hope that leaving the alternate Amy alone to disappear was as hard for him as it was for Rory. 

[Kristen Rucker]

Yes. And the fact she's all like "Computer (or whatever), show me Earth." It was really, an unfair choice. Free someone who has been waiting for YEARS to be taken from this crazy place, or save someone from having the same fate.

[Nicole R.]

I agree with you, but I don't think the Doctor is ever heartless. I think what comes across as heartless is his understanding of his job. I think it's in the Fires of Pompey when he explains to Donna why he can't save everyone in Pompey and explains how he sees reality. But even then he chose to save one family. This defines the Doctor in my opinion. An understanding of his duty but extreme regret that it has to be that way. Which, also in my opinion, makes him far from heartless. In fact he's got two hearts. <3 <3

[Kristen Rucker]

Indeed. :)

[Lucy Sharpe]

I agree with you, I think it showed us that the Doctor is not the best person at delivering bad news. I think that in that situation he should have told Rory when he first found out to give Rory a longer time to decide.

[Danno]

the trick to this one though, is that, while we can forget for a few scenes or even full episodes, getting caught up in 9's goofiness, 10's mania or 11's insistance that clearly uncool things are in fact cool (Gallifreyan Nerdfighter!) or his anger in any incarnation, there is an undercurrent of grief/regret/sorrow to the Doctor all the time.  which, i suspect, is as big a reason he keeps running as any.

[Plottoberry]

Beautiful.

[Danno]

it is...if in the same way death is.

[RandomLanguage]

I agree Danno--it's interesting how it surfaces in different ways in the 3 of them. After rewatching them, it feels (at the most extreme moments) that 9 is bitter, 10 is distraught and 11 is---hmmm, what's the best way to describe it--if anyone has a good word, let me know. It's less overt than 9 or 10, but definitely still there.

[Katie Kratsch]

I think there is definitely some self-hatred going on with the 11th Doctor, and disgust with himself for all the choices he has to make and all the people he's lost. I think he blames himself for everything. It really is very sad. 

[Kayleigh Cantrell]

Many of these listed were very sad. Doomsday. The Girl Who Waited. Although, undertones of sadness and permeation of content with darkness (or relative lack thereof) aside, the one that I cried the must upon seeing for the first time was the End of Time. [Looks at High-Tops sitting in the corner forlornly and sobs] 10th Doctor ... why'd he have to go?