Out of all the many regenerations of the Doctor that have starred inDoctor Who, David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor remains one of the most iconic and popular of them all. So popular, in fact, that Tennant even will even be receiving a second regeneration as the Fourteenth Doctor for the series’ upcoming 60th anniversary specials this November.
Fans of the series often cite the Tenth Doctor as one of the best-performed Doctors of the new series, with some of the best-written episodes as well. As such, it should come as no surprise that Ten has delivered some of the most memorable quotes of any Doctor in the show’s history. Here are just a handful of the TenthDoctor’s most unforgettable linesfrom throughout his four-year tenure on the series.
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New Teeth
First impressions are always important, especially with a new regeneration. A Doctor’s first lines immediately give the audience an idea of what to expect from their personality, and nowhere is this more evident than the Tenth Doctor’s first appearance in “The Parting of the Ways.” The episode’s final scene begins with the dying Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) lamenting that his adventures with Rose (Billie Piper) are about to come to an end, delivering a heart-wrenching final monologue before he regenerates into Tennant’s Tenth Doctor. And oncethe new Doctor speaks his firstwords, the tone of the scene takes an instant shift.
“Hello, okay. New teeth, that’s weird. So, where was I? Oh, that’s right. Barcelona!”
Right off the bat, Ten is established as a more upbeat and dorky brand of Doctor compared to the often-moody Nine. The unexpected juxtaposition of Nine’s emotional farewell and Ten’s eccentricity is as jarring as it is humorous. And as such, it’s a truly memorable introduction to the Tenth Doctor that sets the stage for the kind character he’ll be going forward.
Don’t You Think She Looks Tired?
However, Ten’s quirky facade is only one aspect of his characterization. The new Doctor’s first full episode, “The Christmas Invasion,” is primarily devoted to exploring his companions’reaction to his regeneration,and eventually showing off the full extent of his charismatic, swashbuckling personality. However, one of the episode’s closing scenes shows that this Doctor still has a dark side. He confronts Prime Minister Harriet Jones after she orders the destruction of the fleeing Sycorax ship, and threatens to dismantle her regime with only one word. When Jones calls the Doctor’s bluff, this is how he responds:
“No, you’re right. Not a single word. Just six […] Don’t you think she looks tired?”
Before the episode is even done, it becomes clear that the Doctor has planted the seeds of paranoia in Jones’ head, setting the stage for her eventual downfall. This line is a perfect way ofestablishing the more ruthless,self-righteous side of the Tenth Doctor. He may be adventurous, selfless, and heroic, but he’s also capable of being a cold, cunning manipulator when he sees fit.
The Best Weapons in the World
This next quote comes from the Series 2 episode “Tooth and Claw,” in which the Doctor and Rose must protect Queen Victoria from a rampaging werewolf. In one scene, they take refuge from the beast inside a library. While they seem at first to be helpless to defeat the creature, the Doctor offers these words of wisdom:
“You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books, the best weapons in the world! This room is the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!”
While this line maycome off as a bit cornyto some, it’s also very in character for the Doctor. Despite his darker moments, the Tenth Doctor still values knowledge and creativity over brute force — something that has always set the Doctor apart from other sci-fi heroes. It’s the sort of quote that one might expect to see on an inspirational poster, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing in a show like this.
Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey
Perhaps one of the most famous quotes in all ofDoctor Whocomes from the Series 3 episode “Blink.” While the episode is most notable for being the introduction of the iconic Weeping Angels, it also provides one of theTenth Doctor’s most popularlines. When Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan) questions the Doctor on the nature of time travel, he has this to say:
“People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it’s more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly… timey-wimey… stuff.”
Not only is this line deeply fitting for writer Steven Moffat’s love of convoluted time travel plotlines, it also manages to encapsulate much of the Tenth Doctor’s personality. The quote starts out complex and intellectual, but ends with the decidedly silly phrase “wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey,” showing the Doctor’s goofier side. The line even became something of a catchphrase throughout the franchise, with the phrase seeing more frequent use throughoutthe Eleventh Doctor’s tenure.
The Time Lord Victorious
The Tenth Doctor’s darkest moment arrives in his penultimate adventure, “The Waters of Mars,” in which he’s confronted by a fixed point of time. The crew of Earth’s first base on Mars are fated to die in a disaster that will eventually lead humanity into the far reaches of space — however, the Doctor’s compassion and guilt will not allow him to stand idly by while innocent people die. And so, he decides to take the course of history into his own hands and save the astronauts, no matter the consequences. And as he does,he delivers this speech:
“There are laws of time. Once upon a time, there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It’s taken me all these years to realize that the laws of time are mine, and they will obey me!”
The Doctor’s determination to save lives in the face of impossible odds is typically one of his greatest strengths, but that same resolve is twisted here into a terrifying megalomania. After failing to save so many people, the Doctor has allowed himself to be consumed by his own desperation, playing god in order to fulfill his own vision of justice. It’s a truly chilling moment, elevated by an unforgettable speech that’sdelivered masterfully by Tennant.
I Don’t Want To Go
Finally, this list wouldn’t be complete without the Tenth Doctor’s heartbreaking final words. After saying farewell to his closest comrades and companions, the dying Doctor stands alone in his TARDIS, on the verge of tears as he’s confronted by his own imminent end. And as the moment arrives, he has only this to say:
“I don’t want to go.”
It’s an utterly tragic scene that serves as a far cry from the poignant farewell speeches that other Doctors have delivered before regeneration. It’s a short, simple, lonely end, and that just makes it hit even harder. Curiously enough though, it seems as if the Tenth Doctor got his wish, now that his face has made an unexpected return. Whatever the Fourteenth Doctor’sadventures in the 60th anniversaryspecials may hold, they’ll surely provide plenty more memorable quotes from David Tennant’s Doctor.
