Doctor Who: Ranking the top 10 David Tennant episodes

7. “The Satan Pit” Season 2, Episode 9

After I first watch it, this episode gave me nightmares. The whole vibe of it was frightening and left you with that impending-sense-of-doom feeling, the one that leaves a pit in your stomach.

The Doctor is faced with an unusual conundrum in the “The Satan Pit” because he has to think outside of the box he’s used to. When faced with an alien or an unknown race or planet, everything’s fine; he’s been here a million times before. But when it comes to things he has to take on faith, that’s harder for him.

The episode involves a devilish Beast that predicts Rose’s demise in the days to come. Ironically, this was the final episode Billie Piper filmed as a series regular cast member.

The Doctor’s inability to comprehend the idea of faith is at the heart of “The Satan Pit.” Once again, Tennant does justice to the Doctor’s complicated feelings. How does one convey the confusion and uncertainty around something they don’t quite understand, especially when you’re the Doctor, who understands everything?

I loved that in this episode, while trying to wrap his head around something so illogical as a higher power, the Doctor relies on his companion, Rose, to get him through the situation. It’s his belief in people that helps him get a handle on something beyond his understanding. It’s a classic Doctor Who move, and I was here for it!

The Doctor may not understand faith in the context of religion, but his continual belief in his companions and friends helps him understand it well enough. Tennant does one hell of a job bringing that internal struggle to the forefront. But are we really surprised at this point?