Doctor Who cut this historical death scene from latest episode

We’re two episode into Doctor Who twelfth season, and it’s already been significantly stronger than Jodie Whittaker’s first season as the titular character. In the season 12 opener, “Spyfall, Part 2”, the Doctor is on a mission to confront her longtime frenemy, the Master. But being stuck in an alien realm without the TARDIS makes things rather difficult. Luckily, the Doctor comes across two historical figures who help her take care of things: computer scientist Ava Lovelace and Noor Inayat Khan, a female operative sent into France during World War II by the British Special Operations Executive.

After defeating the Master, the Doctor had to take both women back to their respective time periods…and erase their memory. If she didn’t do that, history would be affected and the timeline altered. Before the doctor zaps away her memory, Khan asks if the conditions of this war will ever go away, and if France will ever find peace. The Doctor assures her they will, but doesn’t say that Khan won’t live to see it. In real life, Khan was arrested on charges of being a double agent and executed in 1944 at a concentration camp in Bavaria.

What’s more, it looks like the series actually filmed this scene, but ultimately decided to cut it. We know this because the actor who played Khan, Aurora Marion, said as much in an Instagram post after the episode aired:

This episode felt really heavy to me, so I think cutting this bit was the right decision. Although I’m a bit surprised they made it; Doctor Who doesn’t usually shy away from controversy or depicting the troubled reality of our history. Still, I think it was the correct call.

Doctor Who season 12 continues this Sunday with “Orphan 55”!

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels

h/t io9