A war fought between the most powerful civilisations in the galaxy, dragging in the whole of time and space, distorting reality with paradox after paradox as the war threatens the very fabric of the universe. The most famous hero of the 'good' civilisation refuses to involve himself, choosing instead to keep running as the conflict worsens. As the conflict drags on, those we are supposed to be supporting become ever more brutal in their prosecution of the war. The enemy draws nearer and nearer to victory. Eventually, with them at the gates of the capital, our hero feels forced to intervene. But it's too late. For a man who always saves the day, this is his no-win scenario. In order to stop the victory of his enemies, he is also forced to kill his own people. Double genocide with one hand movement.
But wait! Years later, we discover this was not the end we all thought it was. The hero's home planet has been preserved as a memory of its former self, thanks to previously unknown interventions of said hero. So it turns out he has, once again, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Of course, to reclaim it will be hard work, and he barely knows where to begin. But it doesn't matter. He'll get there.
The Doctor never loses.
This is broadly the plot line of the Eighth Doctor Adventures, the BBC Books series published between 1997 and 2005. Any resemblance between this and the 50th anniversary special of Doctor Who is entirely coincidental...
P.S. I'm aware this reveals me as a *massive* sc-fi nerd. Frankly, if you hadn't worked that out by now...
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