In the lengthy history of Doctor Who , a lot has changed over the decades, but some things appear to be fixed in time. Doctor Who originally began airing on TV all the way back in 1963. At that point, the show was a sci-fi series about an alien traveling in a blue box that was bigger on the inside, and while that core remains, many of the most definitive parts of the show were introduced over time.

For instance, the Doctor being a part of a race known as the Time Lords was not properly explored and explained until 1969. While the Doctor had already regenerated twice, a term which is now synonymous with the character was not used until 1974, with the show simply referring to the transformation as a change or renewal before that. But over time, the show has become more clearly defined with recurring and constant themes, such as the way UNIT operates within the world of Doctor Who.

Kate Stewart Deals With Conrad In A Way The Doctor Himself Never Would

Conrad Clark Gets Inside Kate's Head In "Lucky Day"

UNIT is the imaginary intelligence agency that operates in Doctor Who which was first introduced in the beginning of the Third Doctor's era. But today, the agency is a fundamental part of the show, and they play a significant role in what happens in "Lucky Day." As seen throughout the episode, Ruby Sunday has frequent with Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, the current leader of UNIT, who is generally a dear friend of the Doctor, and someone who stays cool under pressure.

However, in "Lucky Day," Kate is pushed to the edge by the dangerous and untrustworthy Conrad, who insults Kate's own father in an effort to force her hand. Evidently, Kate took the bait, and she chose to make her punishment of Conrad an incredibly public affair as she broadcast the surveillance footage from UNIT on Conrad's socials, as she unleashed a terrifying alien with a vendetta against Conrad specifically, free to attack the radical protestor and influencer. And no matter how justified Kate's actions were, it's hard to imagine the Doctor doing the same thing.

UNIT Has Always Made Decisions The Doctor Disagrees With

The Doctor And UNIT Are Not Always In Alignment

The Doctor has shown that he is capable of wrath. In previous incarnations, David Tennant and Matt Smith's Doctor have both done some questionable things to punish their rivals. However, purposefully and willfully causing harm to a human has always been out of the question. And beyond that, the Doctor may be incited to anger, but he would never lose control, and cause a scene in response to someone else goading him.

But UNIT is not the Doctor, and they do not possess his morality and sensibilities. Instead, UNIT acts on behalf of the government, in order to protect the world from alien threats, which can include the Doctor himself. One great example of UNIT going directly against the Doctor's wishes appears in the classic era episode "Doctor Who and the Silurians," where UNIT blows up a Silurian base. A similar story played out in the modern era in "Cold Blood," but UNIT is not present.

Doctor Who's UNIT Is Best When Operating In A Moral Gray Area

The Doctor And UNIT Need To Be On Opposite Sides Sometimes

The thing is, if UNIT was simply bowing down to every whim and order of the Doctor, it would make for a much more boring storyline. The disputes and drama add to the dynamicism of UNIT, and offer a strong contrast to the character of the Doctor. The Doctor is a good man, and he is an alien. His primary concern is the preservation and protection of life, wherever it may exist, and in whatever form. But UNIT is not a noble industry. Instead, they focus on preserving human life, and are more willing to accept casualties and sacrifices.

The Doctor also requires very little in of tools or weapons, partially because he doesn't need them, but largely because he disagrees with the idea of being armed. But UNIT actively uses weapons and necessary force to defend themselves. Ultimately, this diversity, and the contrast with the Doctor, makes for a more interesting dynamic in the show, and allows UNIT to operate as an independent body that may work with the Doctor sometimes, but they play by their own rules. And Kate is the embodiment of that fact in Doctor Who.