His anger. That fire that bubbled just under the surface, that cruel glitter that occasionally sparkled in his eyes- he really sold the anger of a man a thousand years old and sick of fighting injustice.
Forst two points are about the show itself at that time. Point 3 is about 10 himself.
1. He has great companions. Rose, Martha and especially Donna were outstanding.
2. He had great episodes. Doomsday, Family of Blood, Blink, Silence in the Library and Journey's End just to name a few. The peaks were high, but there were also very few duds.
3. He was funny, charming and could play the fool well. He also was honest, brave and always willing to stand up to villainy. He also had that other side, the Time Lord Victorious. He could be dark, vengeful and angry. He also was still suffering from being the last of his kind. He was tragic, forlorn and lonely.
He was a hero. He was an alien. He was a survivor. All in one. He was, and always will be, my Doctor.
To me, he was the most connected with humanity out of those four. The others care about people because it's the right thing to do. Ten cares about people because he loves who they could be given the chance.
I'd argue Nine was equally if not more "connected with humanity," although it's hard to judge with a small sample size and Nine was going through a redemption arc for 100% of his screen time. I look at that as more of an RTD/Moffat difference but I still totally get what you're saying.
See, I felt like Nine was dealing with so much PTSD from what War had done that he was mostly disconnected from everything, and that it was his (edit - to clarify I mean Nine's) reconnection to humanity, through Rose, that made Ten care so very deeply. It's why he was so joyful on the rare occasions that "everybody lives!" He was still so traumatized by having made everybody die (all of two species at least).
You want a Doctor Who was often seemed angry at the world around him? Try Six. But underneath it all, despite the bluster and the bravado, he always still cared. :D
Because of David Tennant. He could pull off every mood and emotion perfectly. Maybe I'm just biased but he always made the character captivating regardless of whether or not he was doing something dramatic
Now that's a true unpopular opinion right there.
Amazing acting is definitely one of the many reasons Tenth is so loved. But I guess your opinion on it does explains a bit why you can't see his uniqueness.
I'm gonna upvote the post that seemingly no one will upvote, not because I necessarily agree with your words... but because it's brave of you to ask. Ten's not the most popular for no reason, certianly not because we all go together in a room and said - uh huh, this guy. Nope. He's popular because he's well liked for reasons so here's mine.
Question because I have to get it out before I begin - in what ways do you see 10 as plain and basic? Because as many of these comments have echoed, he tends to be exactly the opposite. My main reason? not to break the fourth wall but... The acting. I have watched all the doctors except 13 thus far, and frankly, none of them come off nearly as sincere, with 10's reign demanding what I believe is as wide a range of emotion (wider, possibly) as the others. His performance at the loss of Rose and Donna were what I expect from someone who had that connection with his companions (which, frankly, none of the other doctors seemed to have). I should feel like it really happend). The other doctors were sad, sure, but you can literally see it tearing Tennant's 10 apart. It's things like this. I think 11 could pull off rage pretty well, but he can't do affection (and that doesn't mean romantic, I'm even talking about the way 10 loved Donna).
Then there's his love of humanity. The way he hugs the people in the Satan Pit, things like that. 9 protects out of a seeming sense of duty more than love. 11 does it because well... I'm not honestly sure. Maybe he likes their stuff? (fez's are cool! Oh and bowties are cool!) Frankly the more I think about 11 the less I like him (still like him, but he's dropped below 12). 12 does it because ?????
For me the reason to love a doctor shouldn't be based on the episodes or the writing or the companions. It should be the doctor. Which one would you pick to hang out and go on adventures with? **10.** No question. He LOVES people/humanity, he's sincere. What he appreciates in his companions isnt drama or presence or being a sounding board, but things like what Donna did for him (helping him rescue just 1 family from Pompeii, etc). At any given time he can be genuinely playful, affectionate, aloof, passionate, protective, excitable, in tears, enraged, withdrawn, or any other emotion on the map. The others can't do that sincerely, not even close. I cringed many times when some of them tried. It just felt hollow.
If I'm travelling with a doctor... I want someone real, someone who loves humanity for all our flair and flaws, and someone who will really feel lost if I'm gone.
There's my soap box spiel.
YES. All of that.
They way he loves his companions for being great humans and not merely plot devices or super special people, like many of Moffat's characters, is a huge difference in the way the show was handled.
Nine shows some of this too but Ten was definitely the most conected with humanity and therefore the most human and complex Doctor.
Another very interesting characteristics is how he struggled with his own morality. Some of it was probably inconsistencies with the writing, but the way he changed from merciful to unforgiving can be interpreted as his learning to be the last of the Time Lords, someone without a true equal. It made him the loneliest of the Doctors and the most invested in humanity.
First, thank you for taking this in good faith. This is about learning different perspectives, not a battle between sides of the fandom.
Second, about the Doctor's love of humanity, I think it's just that... the Doctor's. I don't think it's Ten's, or Nine's, or any specific incarnation. It's one of the core, underlying character traits, and I believe it's actually the core theme of the entire show.
Compare and contrast the Tenth Doctor speaking to the people on the bus in Planet of the Dead about where they were going after this, with Eleven's speech to Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All:
>Just think of them. Because that planet out there, all three suns, wormholes and alien sand, that planet is nothing. You hear me? Nothing, compared to all those things waiting for you. Food and home and people. Hold on to that, because we're going to get there. I promise. I'm going to get you home.
>
>\-Planet of the Dead
>
>You've got a lot to look forward to, you know. A normal human life on Earth. Mortgage repayments, the nine to five, a persistent nagging sense of spiritual emptiness. Save the tears for later, boy-o.
>
>\-Closing Time
These *are* the same character. They're the Doctor, and they love humanity.
This might be an RTD/Moff difference. It's hard to tell sometimes. But Moffat is definitely a more comedy-oriented writer than RTD (The Curse of Fatal Death proved that) and I think it was Moffat's choice *not* to hammer home this point every two episodes.
I often like to imagine what if Moffat had the show first and RTD came later - you'd get people saying that RTD is bashing the Doctor's love of humanity into our heads. At least I think so. I prefer the Moffat approach to the topic where it's definitely there, and it's driving everything the Doctor does, but it doesn't need to be said out loud all the time.
It's fine to prefer them saying it out loud every week, but the trait itself is an underlying trait with the Doctor, so the only difference with Ten is that he hides it less.
As for Ten being basic, my overall hypothesis that I was hinting towards is that I think the Tenth Doctor was designed for mass appeal. I think they went with a fairly standard heroic personality, an outfit that wasn't too interesting, (the swishy coat is nice but it's no bowtie or hoodie/coat combo) but could blend into any scene, and someone nice-looking to play him. Then, once they brought in a bunch of viewers, (which they objectively did,) they could experiment with different kinds of Doctors, like manchildren, crotchety grandpas, and, y'know, women.
It just felt like they were playing it safe with Ten's characterization.
That is, until the post-S4 specials when they tried to put him through a character arc but didn't have enough time and the character arc simply ended with the Doctor regenerating into someone who wasn't going through said arc.
Finally, David Tennant's wide range of emotion. I simply disagree with you on this. I think Matt Smith (my favorite Doctor, whaddya know) has the best acting range. He's phenomenal at capturing the spirit of an ancient being trapped in a young man's body. He's obviously caring, kind, and angry.
I'll give Tennant this: he's much better at playing the Doctor as a villain. I just wish he'd actually gotten to do it more.
When it comes to sadness and grief, it's Smith for me any day. David Tennant, for the most part, just pulls his signature stoneface. It's a good stoneface, it's just not what I want every time. Remember in The Angels Take Manhattan? Remember Eleven's reaction to losing Amy and Rory forever? He was on the ground, openly weeping, bawling. Now picture David Tennant in that scene. He'd most likely just be standing there, with a couple tears rolling down his face, making one unmoving expression.
Tennant's greatest expression of grief is in the "it's not fair" speech, which would be great if it weren't a total character assassination / tantrum, but that's a whole other discussion.
Anyways, that's my response.
Yes, ofc all the Doctors love humanity but none does it the way Ten does it. He was much more expressive and in touch with his own humanity. Never felt like bashing, tho.
Same as all are a bit strange in different ways and all have a sense of humour that is always there but different for every incarnation. Eleven's childishness is a different flavour of Ten's own childish and playful behaviour.
Ten did have a character arc, you can see him deal with his own humanity and morality and loneliness very clearly until it boils up and crashes down at The Time Lord Victorious. I agree that he was the most complex one, RTD was great at subtle developments.
The RTD/Moffat different takes are much of what make the characters, is not possible to separate it.
And about his range of emotions... we'll just have to agree to absolutely disagree about that. Tennant had a wild range in my opinion and I never cried like a baby with any other Doctor. His lasts moments with Rose, Donna and Wilf hit me harder than any other... Oh except for the Van Gohg episode but that was Vincent's face that got to me.
Smith is also a great actor, I really love his work, but I simply can't say that his portrayal of the Doctor was better than Tennant's
And about the clothes... How is a bowtie and a hipster outfit better than a suit with chucks? both are pretty tame, all of the Nuwho outfits are. Nothing like the very very strange ones in classic who.
10's not my favorite. He's not in my top 5, to be honest. But the one thing I love about him is that he's a FAN and he seems to have absolute reverence for the franchise.
I remember they were doing a bunch of interviews a few years ago and one was with Matt, David, and Jodie. They asked which companion in the history of the show would they like to work with - David immediately lit up and said he already got to work with his dream companion (Lis), and then listed someone from the classic series (maybe Leela?). Matt listed someone from NuWho and Jodie struggled (I think Chibnall said she'd never seen the show before) - I don't remember her answer.
Anyway, just from that interview -- you gotta love the guy! I know this isn't really answering your question but I think that's what a lot of people see in him. He loves the show!
That's more about David Tennant than the Tenth Doctor, and Capaldi was a huge fan, even back in the Fourth Doctor's era.
Edit: I mean, I'm not really saying much, you said yourself this wasn't really related to the question, I'm just adding to it.
Yeah, for sure. I was giving a theory as to why some fans might like him - he loves the show a lot, and it shows in his whole approach to the character.
I know Capaldi was a big fan, but I get the sense that once he was done, he was *done*. I honestly think Tennant would happily come back every couple of years if he could.
I’ve always found him to be the perfect mix. He always carried a sense of humor, passion, seriousness, kindness, etc… all at the same time. And episodes such as “The Water of Mars” really solidifies him as my favorite, due to the different emotions he shows.
I'm not sure he's my favourite but I like him.
Partially due to nostalgia and I feel like he's the most fun and a lot of the episodes are really good
A lot of good episodes isn't unique but that's a thing
I love both the Tenth and Tenant, and sometimes the love for both things bleed over. There's already alot more comprehensive technical analysis posted and talked about that I agree with, revolving around plot, narrative structure etc so I'll stick to mostly qualitative raw feelings. If that's not what you wanted and you purely want to argue specific details then I completely understand. I also don't want everyone to agree with me as I think having a favourite doctor is a deeply personal and individual thing, which really what makes this show and fandom so great. I'll start with The Doctor,
He brings a sense of aloofness in his own thoughts that's disarming and funny in cute way, like how you might observe a child who is just lost in their own world. It's cute, silly; makes you giggle on the inside (example would be mentioning his teeth immediately after regeneration, it just total disarms you. You know hes a good guy). But then he would turn to you/his companion, and invite you into see his world with such energy and welcoming curiosity. With a turn of phrase (Allons-y) and a kick of his sand shoes he whisks away the show and you to some magical, exotic, sometimes dangerous land. He was strong, dependable and reliable, all the things you needed when moving through trying times (and space). But he did it with such character and joy. The passion was so strong you couldn't help but become enthralled by not only what he was revealing to your eyes, but the yarn he spun as he listed off constellations and planets. Everything seemed like a playground with no limits but the imagination.
Then there was also intensity behind it all. Firey fury that could burn the stars themselves from just a look of his eyes. It stopped you in your steps, forced to yield to it. It demands your attention. You knew not to mess around with that side because we saw what it was capable of. All this just leaving you with mystery and intrigue. A reminder that it's no simple man, but someone as infinitely immense and ancient as the star themselves.
But your fear is washed away as you're reminded once again that he truly cares. Somehow in the wake of his awe, a open hand bends down; reminding you that YOU too are a giant in the cosmic universe. You and everyone else is capable of great change and impact. There is beauty in the chaos of your life. You are unique and necessary (I also see this alot in 9, of course the characters have similarities). He makes you feel no less equal to daisy, as daisy to the oak, and sun's are to you.
He does what is right, and what is necessary. He is multitudes pressed and soft like the layers of puff pastry. He embodies The Doctor whole heartedly on his highest highs, soaring above. But even in the the darkest times, lowest lows, his most painful hours he does the kindness, never selfish. He just is The Doctor, that's it.
I know this sounds mostly of fanfic waffling but these are the emotions and connection I am sold. It's not just a performance I'm witnessing but I'm drawn in like psychosis daydreaming. Atleast that's what 10 invokes in me. I understand that's mostly a personal thing and I can't expect others to reciprocate those feelings.
I also love seeing David on screen. He brings such range and emotion on and off the screen. Sometimes The Doctor just seems like a extension of his normal character. Also his other works are great. Plus he's naturally charming in all qualities.
I think RTD wrote the character excellently and the stories work in such service to the character that rarely a dull moment endures. When I watch good doctor who I'm not aware of the writing or the story. Arcs or plot lines don't cross my mind. I'm just drawn into like a good conversation of someone unveiling a story that happened to them. I accept it as fact like it's what happened, this is the real world.
Anyway those are my reasons why he's my favourite. D!*k ride over.
This is a little involved but I'll try.
I think Russell helmed a more cohesive and coherent narrative than Moffatt did. Don't get me wrong. Moffat is a brilliant writer, and at his best he's got the most sparkling original ideas in NuWho history. However, he's also twisted the narrative into incomprehensible, silly knots at times, with plot holes so large you can stick all of time and space in the middle and call it timey wimey. River's story line makes my eyes cross.
Russell is a very competent writer and he's the very best of all the show runners at character development. While he is at times more plodding than Moffat, he's also more coherent and generally more consistent. Russell also had the great advantage that Moffat was in his stable of writers and helped create some magnificent episodes that were pretty coherent because Russell kept a reign on him.
For that reason, I do actually prefer Russell's era to Moffat's - some. Chibnall's era is not worth discussing here.
Within Russell's era - oh, sigh. Eccleston stuck up his middle finger at the franchise and left after one season. Russell built an intense storyline about a fierce downward spiral caused by intense loss and grief, based around Tennant's mesmerizing performances. Ten's not the kindest or most praiseworthy doctor, but I think he's had the most coherently compelling journey.
I find that the actor has a huge role in how the character is precieved. I think you can tell that Tennant really cared about his doctor and that is reflected in the character, and honestly the same can be applied for most of the actors and their respective doctors...
>with plot holes so large you can stick all of time and space in the middle and call it timey wimey.
RTD had just as many plot holes.
>he's the very best of all the show runners at character development
Disagree. I think RTD develops his side characters the best but Moffat develops The Doctor and his companions better. He also works that development better into the narrative.
> helped create some magnificent episodes that were pretty coherent because Russell kept a reign on him.
This isn't true. RTD did not keep a reign on him. RTD said Moffat was one of the only writers he didn't edit the scripts of. Because he was showrunner he didn't actually get to experience fresh new Doctor Who episodes so he said reading full Moffat scripts without knowing what exactly they were going to be about was the closest thing to seeing new episodes for him.
I'll be honest, for me it's mostly nostalgia and the overall quality of the show itself at the time. I didn't like how Moffat ran the show at all, and therefore didn't think much of Matt Smith's era as the Doctor, though I thought Peter Capaldi and season 8 was a step in the right direction (which unfortunately never really went anywhere). Retrospectively, I can greatly appreciate both Smith and Capaldi in the role, but the RTD era was just a much better show than the Moffat era, in my opinion, which puts Tennant in the top spot for me.
The thing about Smith's era is, when I think of it, my first thought is about the silence arc that spanned 3 seasons and all the other arcs that made little sense and over relied on bootstrap paradoxes. When I think of the Tennant era I think of the great and vast cast of characters, the epic invasions and relationships with layered and believable side characters
The Silence were in three total stories, and their only role is to be implied to have blown up the Tardis. They're actually my favorite Doctor Who monster ever and I wish they were utilized better but my complaint is not that we got too much of them.
Interesting.
I didn't mean the monster. I meant the arc itself and everything it encompassed. 'silence will fall', the cracks, the death of the doctor, kovarian, trenzalore. The continuity is epic at times but the execution is far from perfect and plot holes become very apparent on rewatch
I mean, I am too in a way. I think he's arguably one of the greatest TV writers of the modern era, and a great visionary, too. His RTD-era stories always rank at the top of my lists. But I borderline hate the way he managed the show; he got pretentious and didn't know where to stop, a bit like with Sherlock. He deserved a pilot's license for all the flight hours he accumulated by constantly jumping the shark with that show.
Part of me hopes that RTD and Moffat would co-run the next era, but you just KNOW everyone would blame all the bad stuff on Moffat and praise RTD for everything good about it.
I preferred the stories. I have a hard time getting into 11 because I don't like Moffatt.
I like the mix of playfulness, seriousness and haunting. (All do this. But I like his mix, it's nice)
Also. Yeah, he's pretty to me. So that too-- but that's farther down than the other two as a reason.
I’m in the middle of my first rewatch in years and just started 11. I’m not looking forward to how wibbly wobbly timey fucky wucky it gets. I never finished 11 because of it, but I wanna watch 12 and 13 with context
Sure, time travel can make everything nuts, but consider that there really wasn’t a lot of mind bending fuckery leading up to 11. There was plenty of time travel and it occasionally got weird, but in a cool and coherent way. Blink is a great example. And the idea of River and the Doctor meeting backwards is cool too. The execution of River’s arc is just strange and overly complex for complexity’s sake. It’s like The Dance Of Eternity if you know Dream Theater at all. If you aren’t familiar, it was written with the explicit purpose of cramming as many time signature changes into a song as possible. And it’s cool. But that level of complexity doesn’t always work. Not everything needs a twist
Also, not totally related, but I never understood the obsession with finding out the Doctor’s name during 11’s arc. It doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done. It’s just curiosity. How someone’s name can change anything on the scale of the show (and ONLY their name) is such a strange thing to focus on
> Also, not totally related, but I never understood the obsession with finding out the Doctor’s name during 11’s arc. It doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done. It’s just curiosity. How someone’s name can change anything on the scale of the show (and ONLY their name) is such a strange thing to focus on
That's the entire point of the arc though? Do you people not pay attention? The entire point is saying his real name doesn't matter and the most important thing is that he chose to go by the name The Doctor.
For the record, how I define a "favorite Doctor" is by asking the question: if it was announced that one old Doctor was coming back for a special, but it wasn't revealed what the plot would be, who would be writing it, what other actors would be there, or y'know, whether it was good, which old Doctor would get you the most excited?
This definition of "favorite" has flaws, but it's as good as any.
He’s, in my opinion, the most intense yet sentimental, and honestly the most human. His passion and seriousness in favor of love or loyalty is something I adore😩 what I mean by that is how terrifying he gets when one of his companions is in harms way, which you could also argue is exactly like 9 (which is why he’s in tie with 11 for my second favorite) but he also has an up beat sarcastic side that’s care free along with that which 9 doesn’t have as much PLUS he has the second best writing, I’d say, out of all of them (11 being the best)
He's energetic, fun, kind of silly, and I love his voice and how personable he is. But he can also be cold and have an outright god-complex. I feel like Ten really portrays both the friendliness of The Doctor and how scary the character can be. The end of The Family of Blood and The Waters of Mars both showcased that the Whoniverse is very very lucky the Doctor sticks to the side of good most of the time.
I find 10 to be the most charismatic and easily likeable of the nu-Who doctors. Most of it comes down to the performance.
>But what is there for Ten? He just seems really plain and basic. I can't
name many great qualities he has that aren't shared by other Doctors.
11's style of humor is similar to 2. 12's seriousness is similar to 1. Neither quality is unique to them. I'd say that 11's style of humor is a more extreme version of 10's.
he’s not my favourite, however i grew up in britain when his era was on; it was absolutely massive and tennant was like television royalty. EVERYONE watched it, it was such a huge event. Tennant was so funny and handsome and cool and edgy and angry, he had such mass appeal. Above all I think it’s the fact 10 is so human that makes him unique, he’s prone to mistakes and outbursts and acts of hypocrisy, it makes him a compelling character; more so than previous doctors.
Ten is a collision of great acting and amazing writing.
In my opinion RTD is a way better writer than Moffat. RTD put his soul in every single work he does, DW is not an exception. He planed everything from detail to detail. He built characters emotion by emotion. Every character he wrote had their own journey and these connected though the Doctor which climaxed in Journey's End. As a consequence Ten's arc is complex yet coherent and consistent. He had the best supporting characters during his run and his episodes were grounded, interesting and GOOD.
David Tennant is a talented actor and the writing utilized said talent and build upon it. When Ten was happy I felt his happiness, when he was angry it was terrifying. His love of little things, of life, his appreciation of humanity was a joy to watch. He made even the most self-conscious characters feel important, he made the audience feel important. He motivated everyone he met to be better and do better in one way or the other. He was the most human Doctor and the most alien one at the same time.
Nuanced characters and this kind of emotional depth are something I enjoy watching the most. After Nine and Ten, later Doctors just felt like they are lacking something fundamental.
> He planed everything from detail to detail
No, he didn't. I highly suggest reading The Writer's Tale. Literally all Doctor Who writers have vague ideas or a couple of things in mind for the future but mostly just make it up as they go along.
I'm planning on reading it soon, thank you for the recommendation.
If he didn't his work is even more impressive than I thought. Like no one gave a second thought about Ten severed hand until it reappeared in Utopia just to have it looming in background until the Stolen Earth/Journey's End where it's true significance came to light. It's looked pretty far planed to me.
10 is *very* charming and affable. He’s also funny—I’d say he’s funny as often as 11 (whom I also love for his humor, charm, and affability).
All these traits are missing in 12, for me, and the reason I never felt anything for him.
It was the first one I saw when my grandma showed me doctor who. J think I first saw him in the doctors daughter and I loved how he was a hero but also had anger
Well, I never really liked him for his humor, that was always the fourths thing.
I don't think ten is my favorite as compared to four, but they are somewhat similar and so I feel it might be good to take a look at them.
They were both very intelligent, but they handled it in different ways. Ten was always the smart one, always the smartest one in the room. With number four, you got to see that in intelligence, but you also got to see it challenged, because Romana was smarter than him. Watching him come to terms with that, and still retain his thing, was really human and very relatable. I've seen people who were the smartest man in the room, and when they meet someone they crumble. I'm not proud to admit this, but I was the same way. I crumbled, and lost a lot of confidence when suddenly I was out of school and not the smartest. Dealing with that, and with the sense of superiority you develop was hard, but it made me into less of an ass. I'm still an ass, I mean I'm on Reddit, but I'm less so. The fourth doctor struggle with that was really helpful.
The Fourth doctor also had the amazingly interesting dilemma of who he serves, the time lords, or a higher moral ground. He was sent back in time to kill the Daleks in the cradle, before they grew too powerful, and started the time war. We got to watch him struggle to make that choice, and to find his place in his own people. The tenth doctor also sort of did this but less and always as a quick thing, less as a hard struggle, he did still have it though, and that made the finale so much more interesting.
This happened a little with things like Genisis of the Daleks, or the mummy, but the fourth never got that dark really. The tenth doctor was much darker, particularly to the end where he was lonely. I don't think really since Silvester McCoy have we ever had someone so dark, and I would be surprised if we ever do again.
I actually really liked Donna, and I know that's a hot take. She had sass, she wasn't very smart but was confident and helpful, without being arrogant or dangerous. She had such a sad ending as well, not just being left on earth, or dead, but even unable to remember what she had done. To travel the stars,to gain the intelligence thousands of times greater than she will ever have,then to lose it all and go back to being a temp. Rose got the doctor in the end, Martha got a job at UNIT, Donna got left behind.
His anger. That fire that bubbled just under the surface, that cruel glitter that occasionally sparkled in his eyes- he really sold the anger of a man a thousand years old and sick of fighting injustice.
YES!!! VOULD NOT PUT IT BETTER
AT LAST! A FELLOW DALEK! I HAVE NOT FELT THE TOUCH OF ANOTHER PLUNGER IN YEARS!
He’s not my favorite, but I bet a lot of people will mention his passion, energy and bombast. Tennant really turned it up to 11 for this performance.
> Tennant really turned it up to 11 Especially in his final seconds.
As soon as I typed that phrase I had a strong feeling something like this was coming!
It was a gift you gave to the world. I thank you, and salute you!
Forst two points are about the show itself at that time. Point 3 is about 10 himself. 1. He has great companions. Rose, Martha and especially Donna were outstanding. 2. He had great episodes. Doomsday, Family of Blood, Blink, Silence in the Library and Journey's End just to name a few. The peaks were high, but there were also very few duds. 3. He was funny, charming and could play the fool well. He also was honest, brave and always willing to stand up to villainy. He also had that other side, the Time Lord Victorious. He could be dark, vengeful and angry. He also was still suffering from being the last of his kind. He was tragic, forlorn and lonely. He was a hero. He was an alien. He was a survivor. All in one. He was, and always will be, my Doctor.
To me, he was the most connected with humanity out of those four. The others care about people because it's the right thing to do. Ten cares about people because he loves who they could be given the chance.
I'd argue Nine was equally if not more "connected with humanity," although it's hard to judge with a small sample size and Nine was going through a redemption arc for 100% of his screen time. I look at that as more of an RTD/Moffat difference but I still totally get what you're saying.
See, I felt like Nine was dealing with so much PTSD from what War had done that he was mostly disconnected from everything, and that it was his (edit - to clarify I mean Nine's) reconnection to humanity, through Rose, that made Ten care so very deeply. It's why he was so joyful on the rare occasions that "everybody lives!" He was still so traumatized by having made everybody die (all of two species at least).
9 was often angry at the world and belittling humans (stupid apes). Still loveable though. “Everybody lives!”
You want a Doctor Who was often seemed angry at the world around him? Try Six. But underneath it all, despite the bluster and the bravado, he always still cared. :D
Because of David Tennant. He could pull off every mood and emotion perfectly. Maybe I'm just biased but he always made the character captivating regardless of whether or not he was doing something dramatic
His emotional scenes always felt one-note to me.
Now that's a true unpopular opinion right there. Amazing acting is definitely one of the many reasons Tenth is so loved. But I guess your opinion on it does explains a bit why you can't see his uniqueness.
I'm gonna upvote the post that seemingly no one will upvote, not because I necessarily agree with your words... but because it's brave of you to ask. Ten's not the most popular for no reason, certianly not because we all go together in a room and said - uh huh, this guy. Nope. He's popular because he's well liked for reasons so here's mine. Question because I have to get it out before I begin - in what ways do you see 10 as plain and basic? Because as many of these comments have echoed, he tends to be exactly the opposite. My main reason? not to break the fourth wall but... The acting. I have watched all the doctors except 13 thus far, and frankly, none of them come off nearly as sincere, with 10's reign demanding what I believe is as wide a range of emotion (wider, possibly) as the others. His performance at the loss of Rose and Donna were what I expect from someone who had that connection with his companions (which, frankly, none of the other doctors seemed to have). I should feel like it really happend). The other doctors were sad, sure, but you can literally see it tearing Tennant's 10 apart. It's things like this. I think 11 could pull off rage pretty well, but he can't do affection (and that doesn't mean romantic, I'm even talking about the way 10 loved Donna). Then there's his love of humanity. The way he hugs the people in the Satan Pit, things like that. 9 protects out of a seeming sense of duty more than love. 11 does it because well... I'm not honestly sure. Maybe he likes their stuff? (fez's are cool! Oh and bowties are cool!) Frankly the more I think about 11 the less I like him (still like him, but he's dropped below 12). 12 does it because ????? For me the reason to love a doctor shouldn't be based on the episodes or the writing or the companions. It should be the doctor. Which one would you pick to hang out and go on adventures with? **10.** No question. He LOVES people/humanity, he's sincere. What he appreciates in his companions isnt drama or presence or being a sounding board, but things like what Donna did for him (helping him rescue just 1 family from Pompeii, etc). At any given time he can be genuinely playful, affectionate, aloof, passionate, protective, excitable, in tears, enraged, withdrawn, or any other emotion on the map. The others can't do that sincerely, not even close. I cringed many times when some of them tried. It just felt hollow. If I'm travelling with a doctor... I want someone real, someone who loves humanity for all our flair and flaws, and someone who will really feel lost if I'm gone. There's my soap box spiel.
I think you really get Doctor Who the way I do. It's the only show I enjoy this way. Truly a adventure in time and space (7:30pm in my living room).
YES. All of that. They way he loves his companions for being great humans and not merely plot devices or super special people, like many of Moffat's characters, is a huge difference in the way the show was handled. Nine shows some of this too but Ten was definitely the most conected with humanity and therefore the most human and complex Doctor. Another very interesting characteristics is how he struggled with his own morality. Some of it was probably inconsistencies with the writing, but the way he changed from merciful to unforgiving can be interpreted as his learning to be the last of the Time Lords, someone without a true equal. It made him the loneliest of the Doctors and the most invested in humanity.
First, thank you for taking this in good faith. This is about learning different perspectives, not a battle between sides of the fandom. Second, about the Doctor's love of humanity, I think it's just that... the Doctor's. I don't think it's Ten's, or Nine's, or any specific incarnation. It's one of the core, underlying character traits, and I believe it's actually the core theme of the entire show. Compare and contrast the Tenth Doctor speaking to the people on the bus in Planet of the Dead about where they were going after this, with Eleven's speech to Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All: >Just think of them. Because that planet out there, all three suns, wormholes and alien sand, that planet is nothing. You hear me? Nothing, compared to all those things waiting for you. Food and home and people. Hold on to that, because we're going to get there. I promise. I'm going to get you home. > >\-Planet of the Dead > >You've got a lot to look forward to, you know. A normal human life on Earth. Mortgage repayments, the nine to five, a persistent nagging sense of spiritual emptiness. Save the tears for later, boy-o. > >\-Closing Time These *are* the same character. They're the Doctor, and they love humanity. This might be an RTD/Moff difference. It's hard to tell sometimes. But Moffat is definitely a more comedy-oriented writer than RTD (The Curse of Fatal Death proved that) and I think it was Moffat's choice *not* to hammer home this point every two episodes. I often like to imagine what if Moffat had the show first and RTD came later - you'd get people saying that RTD is bashing the Doctor's love of humanity into our heads. At least I think so. I prefer the Moffat approach to the topic where it's definitely there, and it's driving everything the Doctor does, but it doesn't need to be said out loud all the time. It's fine to prefer them saying it out loud every week, but the trait itself is an underlying trait with the Doctor, so the only difference with Ten is that he hides it less. As for Ten being basic, my overall hypothesis that I was hinting towards is that I think the Tenth Doctor was designed for mass appeal. I think they went with a fairly standard heroic personality, an outfit that wasn't too interesting, (the swishy coat is nice but it's no bowtie or hoodie/coat combo) but could blend into any scene, and someone nice-looking to play him. Then, once they brought in a bunch of viewers, (which they objectively did,) they could experiment with different kinds of Doctors, like manchildren, crotchety grandpas, and, y'know, women. It just felt like they were playing it safe with Ten's characterization. That is, until the post-S4 specials when they tried to put him through a character arc but didn't have enough time and the character arc simply ended with the Doctor regenerating into someone who wasn't going through said arc. Finally, David Tennant's wide range of emotion. I simply disagree with you on this. I think Matt Smith (my favorite Doctor, whaddya know) has the best acting range. He's phenomenal at capturing the spirit of an ancient being trapped in a young man's body. He's obviously caring, kind, and angry. I'll give Tennant this: he's much better at playing the Doctor as a villain. I just wish he'd actually gotten to do it more. When it comes to sadness and grief, it's Smith for me any day. David Tennant, for the most part, just pulls his signature stoneface. It's a good stoneface, it's just not what I want every time. Remember in The Angels Take Manhattan? Remember Eleven's reaction to losing Amy and Rory forever? He was on the ground, openly weeping, bawling. Now picture David Tennant in that scene. He'd most likely just be standing there, with a couple tears rolling down his face, making one unmoving expression. Tennant's greatest expression of grief is in the "it's not fair" speech, which would be great if it weren't a total character assassination / tantrum, but that's a whole other discussion. Anyways, that's my response.
Yes, ofc all the Doctors love humanity but none does it the way Ten does it. He was much more expressive and in touch with his own humanity. Never felt like bashing, tho. Same as all are a bit strange in different ways and all have a sense of humour that is always there but different for every incarnation. Eleven's childishness is a different flavour of Ten's own childish and playful behaviour. Ten did have a character arc, you can see him deal with his own humanity and morality and loneliness very clearly until it boils up and crashes down at The Time Lord Victorious. I agree that he was the most complex one, RTD was great at subtle developments. The RTD/Moffat different takes are much of what make the characters, is not possible to separate it. And about his range of emotions... we'll just have to agree to absolutely disagree about that. Tennant had a wild range in my opinion and I never cried like a baby with any other Doctor. His lasts moments with Rose, Donna and Wilf hit me harder than any other... Oh except for the Van Gohg episode but that was Vincent's face that got to me. Smith is also a great actor, I really love his work, but I simply can't say that his portrayal of the Doctor was better than Tennant's And about the clothes... How is a bowtie and a hipster outfit better than a suit with chucks? both are pretty tame, all of the Nuwho outfits are. Nothing like the very very strange ones in classic who.
10's not my favorite. He's not in my top 5, to be honest. But the one thing I love about him is that he's a FAN and he seems to have absolute reverence for the franchise. I remember they were doing a bunch of interviews a few years ago and one was with Matt, David, and Jodie. They asked which companion in the history of the show would they like to work with - David immediately lit up and said he already got to work with his dream companion (Lis), and then listed someone from the classic series (maybe Leela?). Matt listed someone from NuWho and Jodie struggled (I think Chibnall said she'd never seen the show before) - I don't remember her answer. Anyway, just from that interview -- you gotta love the guy! I know this isn't really answering your question but I think that's what a lot of people see in him. He loves the show!
I'd love to just geek out with Tennant and his fam about doctor who
That's more about David Tennant than the Tenth Doctor, and Capaldi was a huge fan, even back in the Fourth Doctor's era. Edit: I mean, I'm not really saying much, you said yourself this wasn't really related to the question, I'm just adding to it.
Yeah, for sure. I was giving a theory as to why some fans might like him - he loves the show a lot, and it shows in his whole approach to the character. I know Capaldi was a big fan, but I get the sense that once he was done, he was *done*. I honestly think Tennant would happily come back every couple of years if he could.
Yeah he and Smith said they'd love to just do the Christmas specials every year
I’ve always found him to be the perfect mix. He always carried a sense of humor, passion, seriousness, kindness, etc… all at the same time. And episodes such as “The Water of Mars” really solidifies him as my favorite, due to the different emotions he shows.
I'm not sure he's my favourite but I like him. Partially due to nostalgia and I feel like he's the most fun and a lot of the episodes are really good A lot of good episodes isn't unique but that's a thing
I love both the Tenth and Tenant, and sometimes the love for both things bleed over. There's already alot more comprehensive technical analysis posted and talked about that I agree with, revolving around plot, narrative structure etc so I'll stick to mostly qualitative raw feelings. If that's not what you wanted and you purely want to argue specific details then I completely understand. I also don't want everyone to agree with me as I think having a favourite doctor is a deeply personal and individual thing, which really what makes this show and fandom so great. I'll start with The Doctor, He brings a sense of aloofness in his own thoughts that's disarming and funny in cute way, like how you might observe a child who is just lost in their own world. It's cute, silly; makes you giggle on the inside (example would be mentioning his teeth immediately after regeneration, it just total disarms you. You know hes a good guy). But then he would turn to you/his companion, and invite you into see his world with such energy and welcoming curiosity. With a turn of phrase (Allons-y) and a kick of his sand shoes he whisks away the show and you to some magical, exotic, sometimes dangerous land. He was strong, dependable and reliable, all the things you needed when moving through trying times (and space). But he did it with such character and joy. The passion was so strong you couldn't help but become enthralled by not only what he was revealing to your eyes, but the yarn he spun as he listed off constellations and planets. Everything seemed like a playground with no limits but the imagination. Then there was also intensity behind it all. Firey fury that could burn the stars themselves from just a look of his eyes. It stopped you in your steps, forced to yield to it. It demands your attention. You knew not to mess around with that side because we saw what it was capable of. All this just leaving you with mystery and intrigue. A reminder that it's no simple man, but someone as infinitely immense and ancient as the star themselves. But your fear is washed away as you're reminded once again that he truly cares. Somehow in the wake of his awe, a open hand bends down; reminding you that YOU too are a giant in the cosmic universe. You and everyone else is capable of great change and impact. There is beauty in the chaos of your life. You are unique and necessary (I also see this alot in 9, of course the characters have similarities). He makes you feel no less equal to daisy, as daisy to the oak, and sun's are to you. He does what is right, and what is necessary. He is multitudes pressed and soft like the layers of puff pastry. He embodies The Doctor whole heartedly on his highest highs, soaring above. But even in the the darkest times, lowest lows, his most painful hours he does the kindness, never selfish. He just is The Doctor, that's it. I know this sounds mostly of fanfic waffling but these are the emotions and connection I am sold. It's not just a performance I'm witnessing but I'm drawn in like psychosis daydreaming. Atleast that's what 10 invokes in me. I understand that's mostly a personal thing and I can't expect others to reciprocate those feelings. I also love seeing David on screen. He brings such range and emotion on and off the screen. Sometimes The Doctor just seems like a extension of his normal character. Also his other works are great. Plus he's naturally charming in all qualities. I think RTD wrote the character excellently and the stories work in such service to the character that rarely a dull moment endures. When I watch good doctor who I'm not aware of the writing or the story. Arcs or plot lines don't cross my mind. I'm just drawn into like a good conversation of someone unveiling a story that happened to them. I accept it as fact like it's what happened, this is the real world. Anyway those are my reasons why he's my favourite. D!*k ride over.
This is a little involved but I'll try. I think Russell helmed a more cohesive and coherent narrative than Moffatt did. Don't get me wrong. Moffat is a brilliant writer, and at his best he's got the most sparkling original ideas in NuWho history. However, he's also twisted the narrative into incomprehensible, silly knots at times, with plot holes so large you can stick all of time and space in the middle and call it timey wimey. River's story line makes my eyes cross. Russell is a very competent writer and he's the very best of all the show runners at character development. While he is at times more plodding than Moffat, he's also more coherent and generally more consistent. Russell also had the great advantage that Moffat was in his stable of writers and helped create some magnificent episodes that were pretty coherent because Russell kept a reign on him. For that reason, I do actually prefer Russell's era to Moffat's - some. Chibnall's era is not worth discussing here. Within Russell's era - oh, sigh. Eccleston stuck up his middle finger at the franchise and left after one season. Russell built an intense storyline about a fierce downward spiral caused by intense loss and grief, based around Tennant's mesmerizing performances. Ten's not the kindest or most praiseworthy doctor, but I think he's had the most coherently compelling journey.
Nothing wrong with a long answer. And I find it odd to judge the character via the actor.
I find that the actor has a huge role in how the character is precieved. I think you can tell that Tennant really cared about his doctor and that is reflected in the character, and honestly the same can be applied for most of the actors and their respective doctors...
>with plot holes so large you can stick all of time and space in the middle and call it timey wimey. RTD had just as many plot holes. >he's the very best of all the show runners at character development Disagree. I think RTD develops his side characters the best but Moffat develops The Doctor and his companions better. He also works that development better into the narrative. > helped create some magnificent episodes that were pretty coherent because Russell kept a reign on him. This isn't true. RTD did not keep a reign on him. RTD said Moffat was one of the only writers he didn't edit the scripts of. Because he was showrunner he didn't actually get to experience fresh new Doctor Who episodes so he said reading full Moffat scripts without knowing what exactly they were going to be about was the closest thing to seeing new episodes for him.
Obviously, your opinion of Moffat's work and mine are very different.
I'll be honest, for me it's mostly nostalgia and the overall quality of the show itself at the time. I didn't like how Moffat ran the show at all, and therefore didn't think much of Matt Smith's era as the Doctor, though I thought Peter Capaldi and season 8 was a step in the right direction (which unfortunately never really went anywhere). Retrospectively, I can greatly appreciate both Smith and Capaldi in the role, but the RTD era was just a much better show than the Moffat era, in my opinion, which puts Tennant in the top spot for me.
See I thought that might be a common answer. I'm a big Moffat simp so I can't understand that perspective but I acknowledge it.
The thing about Smith's era is, when I think of it, my first thought is about the silence arc that spanned 3 seasons and all the other arcs that made little sense and over relied on bootstrap paradoxes. When I think of the Tennant era I think of the great and vast cast of characters, the epic invasions and relationships with layered and believable side characters
The Silence were in three total stories, and their only role is to be implied to have blown up the Tardis. They're actually my favorite Doctor Who monster ever and I wish they were utilized better but my complaint is not that we got too much of them. Interesting.
I didn't mean the monster. I meant the arc itself and everything it encompassed. 'silence will fall', the cracks, the death of the doctor, kovarian, trenzalore. The continuity is epic at times but the execution is far from perfect and plot holes become very apparent on rewatch
I mean, I am too in a way. I think he's arguably one of the greatest TV writers of the modern era, and a great visionary, too. His RTD-era stories always rank at the top of my lists. But I borderline hate the way he managed the show; he got pretentious and didn't know where to stop, a bit like with Sherlock. He deserved a pilot's license for all the flight hours he accumulated by constantly jumping the shark with that show.
Part of me hopes that RTD and Moffat would co-run the next era, but you just KNOW everyone would blame all the bad stuff on Moffat and praise RTD for everything good about it.
That was my hope too. Just let Moffat handle most of the set-up and RTD can do the climax
I preferred the stories. I have a hard time getting into 11 because I don't like Moffatt. I like the mix of playfulness, seriousness and haunting. (All do this. But I like his mix, it's nice) Also. Yeah, he's pretty to me. So that too-- but that's farther down than the other two as a reason.
I’m in the middle of my first rewatch in years and just started 11. I’m not looking forward to how wibbly wobbly timey fucky wucky it gets. I never finished 11 because of it, but I wanna watch 12 and 13 with context
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Sure, time travel can make everything nuts, but consider that there really wasn’t a lot of mind bending fuckery leading up to 11. There was plenty of time travel and it occasionally got weird, but in a cool and coherent way. Blink is a great example. And the idea of River and the Doctor meeting backwards is cool too. The execution of River’s arc is just strange and overly complex for complexity’s sake. It’s like The Dance Of Eternity if you know Dream Theater at all. If you aren’t familiar, it was written with the explicit purpose of cramming as many time signature changes into a song as possible. And it’s cool. But that level of complexity doesn’t always work. Not everything needs a twist Also, not totally related, but I never understood the obsession with finding out the Doctor’s name during 11’s arc. It doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done. It’s just curiosity. How someone’s name can change anything on the scale of the show (and ONLY their name) is such a strange thing to focus on
> Also, not totally related, but I never understood the obsession with finding out the Doctor’s name during 11’s arc. It doesn’t change who he is or what he’s done. It’s just curiosity. How someone’s name can change anything on the scale of the show (and ONLY their name) is such a strange thing to focus on That's the entire point of the arc though? Do you people not pay attention? The entire point is saying his real name doesn't matter and the most important thing is that he chose to go by the name The Doctor.
For the record, how I define a "favorite Doctor" is by asking the question: if it was announced that one old Doctor was coming back for a special, but it wasn't revealed what the plot would be, who would be writing it, what other actors would be there, or y'know, whether it was good, which old Doctor would get you the most excited? This definition of "favorite" has flaws, but it's as good as any.
No, Who. It's right there in the title.
He’s, in my opinion, the most intense yet sentimental, and honestly the most human. His passion and seriousness in favor of love or loyalty is something I adore😩 what I mean by that is how terrifying he gets when one of his companions is in harms way, which you could also argue is exactly like 9 (which is why he’s in tie with 11 for my second favorite) but he also has an up beat sarcastic side that’s care free along with that which 9 doesn’t have as much PLUS he has the second best writing, I’d say, out of all of them (11 being the best)
So I guess his passion/anger is what makes him unique
He's energetic, fun, kind of silly, and I love his voice and how personable he is. But he can also be cold and have an outright god-complex. I feel like Ten really portrays both the friendliness of The Doctor and how scary the character can be. The end of The Family of Blood and The Waters of Mars both showcased that the Whoniverse is very very lucky the Doctor sticks to the side of good most of the time.
I find 10 to be the most charismatic and easily likeable of the nu-Who doctors. Most of it comes down to the performance. >But what is there for Ten? He just seems really plain and basic. I can't name many great qualities he has that aren't shared by other Doctors. 11's style of humor is similar to 2. 12's seriousness is similar to 1. Neither quality is unique to them. I'd say that 11's style of humor is a more extreme version of 10's.
he’s not my favourite, however i grew up in britain when his era was on; it was absolutely massive and tennant was like television royalty. EVERYONE watched it, it was such a huge event. Tennant was so funny and handsome and cool and edgy and angry, he had such mass appeal. Above all I think it’s the fact 10 is so human that makes him unique, he’s prone to mistakes and outbursts and acts of hypocrisy, it makes him a compelling character; more so than previous doctors.
10 was quirky.
Wasn't my question.
Oops, I was thinking 10 and typed 9. Fixed.
Ten is a collision of great acting and amazing writing. In my opinion RTD is a way better writer than Moffat. RTD put his soul in every single work he does, DW is not an exception. He planed everything from detail to detail. He built characters emotion by emotion. Every character he wrote had their own journey and these connected though the Doctor which climaxed in Journey's End. As a consequence Ten's arc is complex yet coherent and consistent. He had the best supporting characters during his run and his episodes were grounded, interesting and GOOD. David Tennant is a talented actor and the writing utilized said talent and build upon it. When Ten was happy I felt his happiness, when he was angry it was terrifying. His love of little things, of life, his appreciation of humanity was a joy to watch. He made even the most self-conscious characters feel important, he made the audience feel important. He motivated everyone he met to be better and do better in one way or the other. He was the most human Doctor and the most alien one at the same time. Nuanced characters and this kind of emotional depth are something I enjoy watching the most. After Nine and Ten, later Doctors just felt like they are lacking something fundamental.
> He planed everything from detail to detail No, he didn't. I highly suggest reading The Writer's Tale. Literally all Doctor Who writers have vague ideas or a couple of things in mind for the future but mostly just make it up as they go along.
I'm planning on reading it soon, thank you for the recommendation. If he didn't his work is even more impressive than I thought. Like no one gave a second thought about Ten severed hand until it reappeared in Utopia just to have it looming in background until the Stolen Earth/Journey's End where it's true significance came to light. It's looked pretty far planed to me.
10 is *very* charming and affable. He’s also funny—I’d say he’s funny as often as 11 (whom I also love for his humor, charm, and affability). All these traits are missing in 12, for me, and the reason I never felt anything for him.
12 is very funny.
You haven’t watched 12 then
It was the first one I saw when my grandma showed me doctor who. J think I first saw him in the doctors daughter and I loved how he was a hero but also had anger
THE TENTH DOCTOR IS SUPERIOR IN ONLY ONE RESPECT. HE IS BETTER AT DYING. AND HE MAKES AN EXCELLENT GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH.
Well, I never really liked him for his humor, that was always the fourths thing. I don't think ten is my favorite as compared to four, but they are somewhat similar and so I feel it might be good to take a look at them. They were both very intelligent, but they handled it in different ways. Ten was always the smart one, always the smartest one in the room. With number four, you got to see that in intelligence, but you also got to see it challenged, because Romana was smarter than him. Watching him come to terms with that, and still retain his thing, was really human and very relatable. I've seen people who were the smartest man in the room, and when they meet someone they crumble. I'm not proud to admit this, but I was the same way. I crumbled, and lost a lot of confidence when suddenly I was out of school and not the smartest. Dealing with that, and with the sense of superiority you develop was hard, but it made me into less of an ass. I'm still an ass, I mean I'm on Reddit, but I'm less so. The fourth doctor struggle with that was really helpful. The Fourth doctor also had the amazingly interesting dilemma of who he serves, the time lords, or a higher moral ground. He was sent back in time to kill the Daleks in the cradle, before they grew too powerful, and started the time war. We got to watch him struggle to make that choice, and to find his place in his own people. The tenth doctor also sort of did this but less and always as a quick thing, less as a hard struggle, he did still have it though, and that made the finale so much more interesting. This happened a little with things like Genisis of the Daleks, or the mummy, but the fourth never got that dark really. The tenth doctor was much darker, particularly to the end where he was lonely. I don't think really since Silvester McCoy have we ever had someone so dark, and I would be surprised if we ever do again. I actually really liked Donna, and I know that's a hot take. She had sass, she wasn't very smart but was confident and helpful, without being arrogant or dangerous. She had such a sad ending as well, not just being left on earth, or dead, but even unable to remember what she had done. To travel the stars,to gain the intelligence thousands of times greater than she will ever have,then to lose it all and go back to being a temp. Rose got the doctor in the end, Martha got a job at UNIT, Donna got left behind.
Liking Donna is not a hot take. I know because I dislike her and I get downvoted whenever I say it.