I don't cry at TV shows, although I've softened in recent years and I occasionally get watery eyes for a second or two. I also seem to know what scenes would make me cry if I was inclined to do so, so this is basically a list of what I think are the most emotional scenes...
Father's Day
The episode had a fair few emotional moments, and it became sensational when Pete sacrifices himself. On a slightly unrelated note, it's a real shame that most the music from this episode wasn't given a proper release. Some of Murray Gold's best work was here.
Boom Town
Less of a tearjerker and more plain heartfelt, the scene in the restaurant where Margaret asks tearily for the Doctor to let her go was so well done. By this point the motives of the character were well and truly questionable and I think there was genuine remorse there...just briefly.
The Girl in the Fireplace
The end scene with the letter. I think the episode, though beautiful, is terribly overrated. But the conclusion was wonderfully done, the letter with the Reinette voiceover was nice and the final reveal of the spaceships name was a subtle way to give an explanation for the events of the story.
Love & Monsters
I suspect many would say there's a lot to weep about concerning this episode, but one of the RTD-era's best scenes is tucked away in here for me, and that is Jackie's defence of both The Doctor and Rose against Elton. As always it highlighted the sympathetic plight of Jackie, the vulnerability and tragedy of her character and it was a really heartfelt moment. When she yells and him and runs back to her apartment, I haven't felt more collectively sorry for a single character's entire life within Doctor Who than Jackie - she lost her husband, and she's accepted a sort of loss of her daughter now as well. She keeps fighting for those she loves, rather than for herself.
Doomsday
Rose's departure. I didn't feel so strongly about it at the time, despite liking Rose a lot and her being my first companion. But more recently I lose it a little as soon as she says "I love you".
Gridlock
The end scene with The Doctor and Martha is one of the best of the third series. In fact the whole episode had strong emotional undertones to it, but The Doctor 'fessing up to Martha about Gallifrey was both heartfelt and poignant.
The Fires of Pompeii
So unexpected was the fact that Donna (well, Catherine Tate) was able to deliver such genuine emotional shock and trauma to events that when she did at the end of this episode, I felt quite emotionally overwhelmed as well. Some of Series 4's most powerful stuff.
Planet of the Ood
As I said, I don't cry. But if I did, then this would be one I had happy tears over. The saving of the Ood at the end was brilliantly done, and the whole episode is filled with very small and subtle emotional moments. When Donna tries to understand the dying Ood in the snow and then goes to close his eyes after death...it's the briefest of moments but it evoked a strong response.
The Poison Sky
Wilf was always a sympathetic character. It was never verbally addressed quite why Donna and Wilf get emotional at the end of this when she decides to go off with The Doctor again. But it doesn't need addressing...it just seems to make some kind of sense.
Journey's End
Donna's exit is for me the most tragic moment in all eight series to date. This is the closest I've come to crying at the show. I grew to love Donna across Series 4, despite being one of the naysayers. Her exit was cruel and merciless, but brilliantly emotional and powerful. I remember when Ianto died in Torchwood and a small number of fans threatened a boycott - it's moments like Ianto's death and Donna's 'death' that I think a writer lives for. They might get a lot of abuse from viewers, but the fact they managed to get that level of response in the first place is all very telling.
The End of Time: Part One
That cafe scene between The Doctor and Wilf. It was very much an epilogue to Series 4, a reflection on all the things that have been lost, all the damage that has been done, all the chaos and emotional baggage that lingers. Two old men standing amidst the rubble of something once great. I loathe this episode in nearly every concievable way. It is second only to The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe as my least favourite episode ever, and I think it's this scene in question that redeems it. In fact, Wilf just makes anything that bit better!
The Beast Below
I hadn't expected something so impactful so early on, and I even hated the episode when I first saw it. But the ending scene where Liz Ten finds out the truth, all the way through to the saving of the "very old, very kind" Star Whale was just...emotionally exhausting?
Vincent and the Doctor
I simply related to this episode on a personal level.
A Christmas Carol
Another example of 'happy tears' if I had any, though this time more bittersweet. When Kazran sees the carriage left behind as the TARDIS dematerialises at the end and he can't help but smile...it was just the most perfect character scene Moffat has written. You had the beautiful song in the background, the wonderful snowy scene and the changed man that was Kazran filled with the hope of one last day with his beloved.
The Doctor's Wife
They admittedly went into overkill a little when Idris says "I love you" as she fades away, but prior to that the whole "Hello Doctor" bit was absolutely wonderful, and suddenly having a human TARDIS story seemed to make a whole lot of sense!
The Girl Who Waited
The abandonement of the older Amy was both dark and upsetting. I would argue that this was one of Karen Gillan's finest acting moments among many...it was a rare case where despite her talent the writing actually shone through too and I cared a little for her character.
The God Complex
Rita's death was just very human, and very real. I wish The Doctor hadn't used the sonic screwdriver to turn off the camera if I'm going to nitpick...there should have been nothing wonderous about that scene. She was arguably the best one-off character in a story from the Moffat era.
Asylum of the Daleks
The death of Oswin was an unexpected turn, and one they didn't undo either. It was a rather bleak end to an opening episode.
The Angels Take Manhattan
Despite not caring much for Amy's character, Karen Gillan is a brilliant actress and I miss her more than I miss Amy. Her exit scene was done wonderfully by all though, and it all built up and escalated until she was backed into the proverbial corner that was the story's ending and then she was gone.
The Rings of Akhaten
I quite enjoy this episode and it's something rather different - it gets a lot of hate though. I feel that the Doctor's teary outburst and speech at the end was hugely emotional... I'd suggest it was where he let it all out about how angry he was since the loss of the Ponds. We'll forget the 'take it all, baby' line that kind of ruined things.
Kill the Moon
That final scene was one of the most dramatically powerful and character driven, and it was superb. I felt so sad when Clara was sad, and by the time she walked out the doors I was ready to fetch the Kleenex just in case!
Dark Water
The volcano scene played out well, and Clara's shock and breakdown after disposing of all the keys was horrible...so brilliant. Despite not caring about Danny at all, I cared about Clara.
Also
- The reveal of the Gray backstory in Adam
- The explanation at the end of Adrift
- Toshiko's death in Exit Wounds
- The conclusion of Children of Earth - Day Five
- The conclusions of all the Trickster stories in The Sarah Jane Adventures
- The whole premise of Goodbye Sarah Jane Smith
