Awww, Mickey the Idiot. Saving the world. It makes me all happy-fuzzy to think about it, because it's been such a journey for the character, and now look at where he is! ♥ Not the tin dog, not anymore - and the Doctor knows this, knows that he can rely on him. And it's losing him that makes Rose realize how important he was to her... She really is very young.

"School Reunion" is fantastic in so many ways, not least because - look at the Doctor's face light up when he sees Sarah Jane, it's... I've never seen Old Who; I didn't recognize her as a character, but that one moment where he first sees her, and then when he's waiting for her by the TARDIS - I didn't need more explanation after that. And then the issues they dealt with... oh, Doctor. And his Companions, and what his interruption of their lives do to them, and how he can't dwell on it. (Especially since he does have the means at his disposal to go back and pick someone up just where they left off. Then it would quite possibly destroy the fabric of space and time, but - the possibility is always there, and I can't imagine living with the temptation of that. I don't think he can, either, I think that's one of the many reasons he tries to close those past relationships off once his companions have gone.)