NB: It has been pointed out that the Tenth Doctor's trainers were, in fact, inspired by Tennant seeing Jamie Oliver wear such trainers with a suit in an interview on TV. It is a fact, however, that McCartney is well known for a similar ensemble and, perhaps, originally inspired Oliver! Nevertheless, apologies for the error!
Side note on a side note: David Letterman was the first one who made tennis shoes with a suit a thing, Inam pretty sure as he was doing around the late 1980's
I feel that Ten's desire to keep living makes his sacrifice even more impactful. This incarnation wants to keep going, keep fighting, finding new worlds and adventures. It makes it clear that he wasn't ready to die now, but will still sacrifice the possibility of thousands more years of his life for the sake of one old man. It's a romantic ending that gives closure to Ten's character, and after saving the entirity of reality (again), he doesn't die doing that. He dies saving one person. That's my Doctor.
I remember seeing a video that aimed to estimate how long each Doctor lived. And, according to the research from the video, the Tenth Doctor was likely to have lived the least out of all the Doctors VERY significantly. It is said that because the time in the RTD era is linear, Tenth Doctor only lived for about 4-5 years. To put into perspective how short that is, the same video estimated that the first Doctor lived 400 years, second Doctor lived 200 years, fifth Doctor 80 years and the eleventh Doctor 1200 years. Compare those numbers to the Tenth Doctor's 5 years. In this context it explains why Tenth didn't want to die so soon. His life had only just begun- it was being cut short so quick, which adds to the tragedy of his sacrifice and how brave it was to go through with it despite his sadness and anger at such a small chance of living. Him yelling "I could do so much more!" Really hits home when you realise how much more the other Doctors got.
The fact that the kid new his favourite episodes by number is adorable enough, the fact that Christopher Eccleston also knew is on a whole other level.
Yeah, I caught that too. That little snippet of Eccelston with the kid was wonderful. Man, I wish could have had more seasons with Christopher, but alas as least we have Big Finish.
@@NelsonStJames I wouldn't trade Tennant's run as the Doctor, but I do like imagining what it would have been like if Eccleston had at least two more years.
@@Nocturnewashere Big finish have some stories with the 9th voiced by Eccelston, might be your cup of tea if you haven’t come across them. Also some with David with various companions.
Well I mean he was the lead actor in all of them, even though its pretty clear he didnt enjoy producing them i dont think it is unusual to have him know what they were.
The brilliance of RU-vid is that we get access to lovingly crafted feature length art projects that are informative and educational in the global community; like this. I am hesitant to believe that mainstream media could create a documentary I enjoy as much as this.
I don't hesitate to say this is better than any official BBC documentary--with the exception of An Adventure in Space and Time, but that's total apples and oranges.
I find it kind of remarkable that everybody took Ten's tantrum before his sacrifice at face value. The fact of the matter is that he knew his ending had been coming for a long time and he'd rebelled against it in every way: denial (Journey's End), some hope ( The Next Doctor), anger (Waters of Mars) and fear (Waters of Mars) and he thought he had reached acceptance. The Master, however, gave him hope of not needing to end. When he faced down Rassilon, he was sure that was his end and he did it anyways - and in the most Doctor type way, as non violently as possible, the come uppance of the villains being their own doing. So I always saw the tantrum as him trying to convince himself that he was done, he had passed the foretold moment and he could just... go. He was saying the opposite of everything he actually ended up believing in because he always knew that he was going to sacrifice himself for Wilfred. Just look at his earlier earnest and very teary "Don't you dare!" when Wilfred pointed out he was going to die one day. I always thought this Doctor WANTED to be more selfish than he was, was trying to convince himself to be very, very selfish. But at the end of the day his actions spoke louder than his words. But I think this could have been (and probably should have been) highlighted more in the aftermath rather than the farewells montage
@@sgrannie9938 If you had thought you had cheated your death and four knocks brought you down, you might be a bit miffed about the one who did the knocking, too. The tantrum was pretty shallow altogether, and Wilf didn't really take it personally though.
I agree completely. You could tell he was trying to convince himself of something with that tantrum, basically having an argument with himself. Trying to convince himself to stay.
Can I ask something? Would the defenders of the tantrum say the same thing if this was written by someone other that Davies? Or had Smith, Capaldi, or Whitaker as the Doctor? It feels like whenever those Doctors display a flaw its automatically called "bad writing" but anything involving Ten or RTD its always "brilliant" and "they can't do any wrong."
I hope that everyone has seen the Catherine Tate/David Tennent reunion skit. Her comment Sir, Sir. Are you the doctor and Tennant’s response Dr Who? Marvelous
I feel she's been the best companion. No romance BS like we had with previous & later companions. Donna was great, Catherine Tate was an interesting casting choice and they just nailed it. Couple that with well-written stories (for the most part) and you have one of the best seasons of Doctor Who ever made. Midnight, Silence in the Library, Planet of the Ood, I can watch that season all the way through. If they had duplicated that formula with the following incarnations, 11 and especially 12 would have been on par with 10 far more consistently.
I don't get why so many Doctor Who fans don't like Tenants rage against his death. I loved it. He's the Doctor I grew up with so I'm definitely biased but it is so emotional for me and the perfect end to the greatest era of Doctor Who
It is kinda a nice, dramatic moment on its own, but it is also a bit mean towards those who have to carry the show onwards. Like, it would have been okay if that was not the last moment of the RTD era because it would have been nicer to give Moffat and Smith a clean slate and to embrace change.
I used to be one of those fans who saw it as overly melodramatic. But I've since come around and I love how the Tenth Doctor rages against the dying of the light. Sure regeneration isn't literal death but it is the death of identity and that's arguably even scarier.
What is more interesting about his death is that some one theorised the life of the 10th doctor was only 4 or so years and so his life was v short and therefore more sad than other that his life end
I mean I'd imagine it'd be terrifying everything about you changes you cease to be the person you are and have presumably little control and his doctor wasn't really that long om terms of incarnations lives so it makes sense to me
I actually love that tantrum before that final decision! The character arc for The Doctor felt like extra-terrestrial altruism vs human emotion for me personally and I think showing that moment of selfishness humanised him. Having imperfect protagonists I think is a fantastic thing for kids to see. I think showrunners are scared to go there now. I can't remember the last time I saw a protagonist in a show aimed at kids/teens make a terrible decision or have a selfish moment. This video is incredible btw.
I completely agree. The anger/tantrum felt very 'human-emotional', and understandable. After all it is preventable death, one that he thought he had just escaped. I thought it was an interesting narrative from a regenerative creature - that he too can suffer with the stages of accepting his own death. Also agree that 'visiting everyone and making pretty bows' post exposure undercut the ending. just one (rose) would have been just fine. Great video.
I agree while the tantrum can at first viewing be jarring; I think it delivered the intended point. The 10th Doctor realizing he had gone too far, him ready to walk away and let Wilf be sacrificed so he could go on more adventures and save the universe some more. Just like in the last special; his pride and not having someone 'reign him in' were causing him to slip into the 'Time Lord Victorious' mindset again. Realizing this; his utterance of 'I've lived too long' makes sense and is impactful because; he realized he was about to do something 'un-Doctor' like yet again, and to DONNA'S GRANDFATHER!! It may seem mood whiplash-like, but it also makes perfect sense that he decided to make the sacrifice, because this incarnation needed to go, even if he (and we the audience) didn't want him too.
I also assume the doctor while traveling alone did so for a number of years. Because otherwise we are just chewing through doctors like there isn't a cap on how many times you can do it.
The thing i love about his sacrifice was to me he was never tempted to leave wilf. The second he hears him tap on the glass, that look on his face told me even as an 10 year old that he was going to sacrifice himself. For the Doctor it isn't even a question. He's only saying those harsh words to wilf out of anger at what is for him certain death. It doesn't mean he was any less honoured. But it's totally fair for you to see it your way
I saw it more him being angry at the universe. But life is unfair like that. Also it shows how far this incarnation would have gone without a companion. As he told Rose, born of rage and war and anger, only through his companion did he tone it all down. But when he lost Donna, and Rose again, he went alone and lost all limits and many of his self imposed rules might have seen ridiculous, as he knew nobody but himself could hold him accountable now. Until it backfired horribly on him. When he says "I lived too long" I find it it"s him realizing that if he just keeps on running from this fate, it would just get worse for him, maybe even becoming the very evil he just tried to defeat. (Godlike Timelord).
@@jawstrock2215 The theme of live long enough to see yourself become the villian is very strong in The End of Time. The Master feeding off people's life force to survive, The Time Lords plan to destroy reality to survive the Time War, even the rich guy who actually builds the copying machine just so his daughter can live forever. Looking back this was clearly set up in the waters of mars. The idea of the Doctor being selfish via selfishness, his arrogance and pride at being able to save people. He is not only regretting his own regeneration but the fact that he won't be able to save others. At least not as his tenth iteration. I think the live to long line is something that the Doctor says because he know's he will change into the Time Lord Victorious but also it's consolation for still wanting to not regenerate.
I agree that I think Clever Dick was a bit harsh on the regeneration at the end of this video; I think the timelord victorious on the Waters of Mars was an absolutely fantastic portrayal of the dangers of the doctor being alone. His scene with Wilf was heartbreaking, and as Universome mentions, even as it aired and I was much younger, that look on his face of realisation is unmistakeable, his rage-filled speech afterwards not a 'tantrum', but a passionate farewell. The extended farewell didn't drag on too long, it wasn't unnecessary; it was a perfectly fitting way for his doctor to spend his last moments. I cry every time I watch it, and the build up to the regeneration itself is just a masterclass in how to create a finale.
This Doctor right here is the reason I started watching Doctor Who. He will always be THE Doctor and in my heart, I don't know if I will ever love another Doctor the way I loved the Tenth. I would love to be proven wrong but until then, this run will always be, in my mind, the greatest Doctor Who has ever been.
I have never been invested in a show like I was in the Tennant years of Doctor Who. Even my kids were deep into it. When David Tennant said, " I don't want to go ", we cried like it was the death of a family member! Thanks for this!
I remember my mum used to tell me and my sister that she went to school with David Tennent and they were friends. We didn't believe her for years until one day when we were visiting our gran she had cleaned out the loft and showed us a box of pictures she found. One was our mums school photos and one showed her standing near a boy who looked remarkably like Tennent. Now the big mystery is how he has somehow not aged after all these years
Okay, so I actually really love the tantrum when he realizes Wilf can only be saved through his death. Its amazingly relatable and its because he knows he can't leave Wilf as soon as he hears the knocking, but nobody wants to die and he has to work it out and accept it.
Tennant's run was Nu-Who at its peak of popularity ... I remember that nearly everyone I knew was watching it at this time. People who normally wouldn't even consider sitting down to follow the show. Utopia's ending created some of the earliest 'Reaction' videos I remember watching on RU-vid ... Blink was an episode that reached levels never dreamed of in terms of global appreciation and award nominations ... It was a golden time.
It was definitely at its peak in terms of quality in writing. However Matt Smith era was hugely popular, idk about the UK but that’s around the time the US started to take notice of the show thanks to Netflix. There was merch everywhere even in Cosmetics
@@Cosmicattt Oh I totally agree, The Smith era was MASSIVE in America ... hence why they filmed over there several times. But here in the UK it was the middle/end of the Tennant era where the show just became a monster in popularity. It was winning countless awards, the soundtrack was being played live at the Royal Albert Hall, Ratings were huge every week ... It became the coolest thing on TV, which was unthinkable before 2005 ...
Unfortunately it set a precedent for people expecting "pretty boy" Doctors (this is no knock against Tennant and Smith, who are obviously talented actors).
@@senu. Opinions aside, the show was more popular during Matt Smith. I think part of this is because it started as a blank slate in a way. New doctor and new companion. Old fans kept watching and it attracted new viewers.
i personally liked that the doctor kept alluding to rose, to me it showed that it wasnt just surface level flirting or him liking her because she was cute. she affected him very deeply, so much so that it wasnt possible to perceive it as anything other than real genuine love. which even stayed through 9s regen into his. it went a long way towards showing that he CAN care despite his attitude with the big baddies and finding humor in so much. i think it was needed as a counterweight to offset how serious he was when newcomers to the show might not have had the history and understanding of his other regens to be okay with how serious he was
yeah i agree! i always loved the idea that ten was rose's doctor, with nine literally becoming him after sacrificing himself for her. like with ten's accent forming from her imprint, and with the later series establishing that the person the doctor regenerates into sometimes having a specific purpose or message they or the universe are trying to convey (capaldi's face reminding him of donna's insistences in fires of pompeii; fourteen having ten's old face as a cry for help to slow down and rest), i think it's totally plausible that nine regenerated into someone he thought she'd like, or influenced by what she showed him of himself. honestly, with that in mind, ten's god complex could have come from rose's unflinching faith and loyalty to him at a time when he needed it most, wracked with guilt after his role in the genocide of two races including his own. from this perspective, i think it makes total sense that rose haunts the narrative. she's almost the main character, in a sense, up until she gets stranded in the parallel universe.
@@SanFran51 They didn't say "how handsome he was when he started Doctor Who", they said early 20s. Footage of David in his early 20s is used in this video.
Even though it seemed that Martha Jones appeared to be a rebound, I enjoyed Martha since she was the one companion that was stronger in the end of the series and walked away from the Doctor. All of the other female companions had sad endings that fit more with the idea that those who meet the Doctor experience a tragedy or loss, as Davies spotlights in the first episode, "Rose." Jones also brought a different dynamic in the series that gave some hope that a companion can have a happy ending to their journey with the Doctor. The other two companions, Rose and Donna, had such sad endings. Dramatically it was very good, but it would make the viewer wonder about how being with the Doctor was really worth it.
Agreed ,it sucks that she literally just (the replacement) but she's better than rose but i personally never like rose because she came across kinda spoiled and mostly useless till the end .u right,what makes martha cool is that she doesn't just play follow the leader but she compete with her own knowledge too she's man favorite because she learned who she was and how to be in her own power . Altho donna was also strong ,it was a mask of her soft side ,but i absolutely love that she never thought to make him a love interest..obviously she had more of a adult and realistic mind then reat. I have reasons for why i like most of them but i just don't like rose , even boring Clair is not bad .amy was cool tho.i like her passion
@@komlat253 I'm also one of the rare people that dislikes Rose haha. I have never understood the love for her character and her romance with the doctor made me cringe, especially since it overshadowed Martha's run. although Clara was worse for me. I couldn't stand her...
I find the 10th Doctor to be a such a fascinating character because he’s full of contradictions. Depending on the circumstances he can either a warm, compassionate human character or a cold, callous alien who won’t bat an eye as he sentences you to whatever fate he deems just. I have to give major kudos to David Tennant for realizing this incarnation of the Doctor, since he’s fully convincing inhabiting both sides of the character. I wish we got a few more stories that called 10 out on his self righteousness or showed the consequences of his actions, but I really enjoyed what we got (and there’s always Big Finish to offer more tales with the character).
It's the nuance of this fully realized, multi-faceted, 3d written and performed GEUINE BEING that made me fall in love with him. People criticise him as being "too human" but I'm sorry, that criticism is dumb to me. Not only did he live on Earth for YEARS blending in...living sentient beings - human or otherwise - don't just fall neatly into one little box where you can list their character traits on a couple fingers. The psychology of a brain is far far more complicated than that.....so wouldn't the personality and characteristics of a brain more complicated than a human's reflect a higher level of personality nuance too?...I have always felt that Tennant nailed the character of the Doctor in a far more real and 'lived in' way than anyone else has.
This is why I didn't mind his ultimate tantrum. 10 showed the Doctor at his greatest and at his worst. Him "throwing his toys out of the pram" and then immediately accepting it was such a 10 thing to do. You can see it on Tennant's face, in a fantastic piece of acting, the realisation of the character, hence him recollecting his words to Martha "I sometimes think Time Lords live too long." He realised that he'd come as far as he could as this incarnation and had to give it up, lest he do something far worse. And thus it was his honour to sacrifice his life for a kind old man.
It's so appropriate that his judgement of Hariett Jones' quite justified action, causes the Master to take over and to be forced to regenerate at the end.
@@ridensroom6957 But completely unjustified under the Doctor's code of ethics. No one asked him to save the earth, but since he'd now done so twice in front of Hariett Jones, it wasn't unreasonable to expect her to keep her nose out until asked.
"the opportunity (for David to be the doctor) wouldn't come again" That was not something I was expecting to age poorly but now he's the fourteenth doctor
No I liked it what happened to Martha added a sense of consequence not every companion will have a happy end to their adventures since it is a dangerous thing to be a companion
She has to be one of the smartest characters because of her medical knowledge as compared to the likes of Rose, Donna, and Amy, all who which have menial jobs.
I remember when the Tennant/Davies era ended and the Smith/Moffat took over, I fully embraced the new stories and never really looked back on the previous era. It wasn't until the 50th anniversary special in 2013 when Tennant came back did I fully realize how much I missed him in the role.
Tennant/Davies was an absolute powerhouse we probably will never see again on the show if not on TV in general. Smith/Moffat had its ups and downs like previous doctors have had but ultimately i think they're right up there with the best of the show.
That is one of the bummers about a total staff change- there’s nothing linking you to the old stuff. I did the same thing and both runs were amazing and as perfect as they could be made, but yeah I forgot how much I missed Davies Who until I watched that 50th 😂
Re-watching this right on the heels of the end of Jodie's era. I'm excited for his return in such a unique way and I'm ready for a melancholy feeling as well since Bernard Cribbins is also returning for the upcoming special. May he rest in peace
What really has me excited personally is that we know David isn't here for the long haul. I got into the franchise with Season 2, so Tennant is MY Doctor don't get me wrong, but I'd be concerned if it genuinely seemed like we're just going back to the same old actor for the role. The show's magic really does lie in it's ability to seamlessly change and regenerate itself over time in a way even franchises like Star Wars or Bond simply can't; and this could be a massive regression into aping the show's glory days. Instead, this is just an absolutely unbelievable treat usually reserved for audio dramas(if that), before we get to move forward and know a new Doctor. Can't wait to see Tennant in the role again, and what he and RTD do with this storyline.
I'll never forget that emotionally intense and chilling moment when the Doctor refuses to take the sobbing Wilf's pistol continuously, only to realize the Time Lords are returning and grabs it immediately without hesitation as the music swells into a tense crescendo. Such a masterstroke of storytelling that conveys so much so well.
"You wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for David Tennant. Admit it, Girls," - Colin Baker at the first ever convention I attended. (And despite the protests of the crowd, I believe he had a point)
@@evonne_o Looking back on it, I consider it a compliment from Colin to how David gave the show its fame again and how, in turn, people also rediscovered the old show that came before. If it hadn't been for David, would we still have known who this man in his colorful suit was?
@@browncesario Well, that's Colin Baker for you. He speaks what he thinks, without limit. But it's all in good intention, because he loves the show as much as we do.
I didn't like Donna as a kid but now she's probably my favourite companion, she's funny and she had an ability to keep the doctor in his place in a way a lot of companions couldn't
I agree! I recently rewatched the Tennant run (as I often do ahah) and I realized that she's the only companion who truly went against the doctor and fought him on decisions to improve his worldview (e.g. Pompeii). She's the OG and although I'm a bit worried about her returning (her arc ending was so hearbreaking but so good) I'm so pumped for the doctor donna combo again!
Me too. I think baby me was just sad that martha and rose were gone because i liked the romance aspect of the show. How lonely this 900 yo man must be, all i want is for him to have a love 😭
That bass line on first season, hartnell, gives me chills to this day. For me it can’t be topped. But I agree, as far as new series goes, season 4 is a banger.
@@VadersFist95 Gonna need a source on that, chief. You'll still be a little prick either way by trying to gloat about your pettiness, but at least have the dignity to try and legitimize yourself.
I have turned so many skeptics into fans by showing them Blink. I agree that it's not the best 10th Doctor episode but it is a perfect one to show the uninitiated. Because it's all from Sally Sparrow's perspective you don't need to know any of the lore to enjoy it. You can discover the Doctor as she does.
@@battmarn Honestly I agree. I felt like the introduction to them in the episode Blink implied the audience's attention also prevented them from moving. Which would explain why the angels didn't move in certain shots where only the audience could see them. Now there's no reason they didn't move. :/
1. David Tennant 2. Christopher Eccleston 3. Sylvester McCoy 4. Jon Pertwee The rest I’m not really bothered about ranking, they were all good. On a side note the current doctor is abhorrent and easily the worst in the show’s history.
That outburst scene is excellent in my opinion. I absolutely see your point of view, but the humanizing it does to the character is very powerful to me. When hardship arrives, some times you have an emotional response. But true responsibility is sucking it up, and doing it anyway. When Wilf knocks, you can see in David's eyes that he knows what he has to do. Even if he desperately doesn't want too
These retrospectives are mislabeled. These are full-length documentaries, lovingly and expertly preserving an adventure in time and space. A tremendous achievement.
Full-length documentaries, but still with a sprinkling of review. I mean, there is quite a bit of subjective opinionated stuff in there, some of which I disagree with, but you're right. It is primarily a documentary, and would benefit from better labelling.
The success of the Tennant era was as important as the success of Troughton's 2nd Doctor. The new idea of regeneration to continue the series was a dangerous one, but when the BBC pulled it of with Troughton it established the series as a potentially eternal juggernaut. After the successful regeneration of the series in the Eccleston era a successful successor to continue the new series was as important as Troughton. Without either of these successes the series would have died with them.
I think troughton did a better job at convincing the audience that change was good making the transition to Pertwee smooth while Tennant has made transition rough, as fans are now constantly complaining when a new doctor comes.
@@purefoldnz3070 As far as im concerned the Chibnall and Jodie nonsense never happened. I stopped watching after the moffat era Because i knew what disaster was to come. Jodie and Chibnall have ran the show into the ground.
Donna was definitely one of my favorite companions. I cried at the end of her run. And "Midnight" was the episode that made me start watching Doctor Who. It remains a favorite. I've enjoyed your Who reviews so much.
When the revival was announced, I decided not to look at any related press so watching would be untainted by rumours. As a result, the regeneration was a total shock to me.
@@miguelbranquinho7235 I agree. As a little girl I used to get upset when whatever adventure I was watching became overshadowed by some 'girl' causing the Hero, who was busy saving the world, to fall in love with her. They 'always' wore very high heels, and THEN had to 'run' in them; and of course, they would stumble and fall. Mostly Circa 1950s. Because of those women, when I reached maturity and 'had' to wear heels due to whatever event was happening, I practiced running in heels. And I 'never' stumbled, tripped, or fell. And I made certain that I could save myself, rather than what ever 'smitten' lothario might follow me at that time. ROFL I finally matured and decided it was okay to have the guys like me, and even want to save me. And I finally grew into the 'woman' who ardently loved the 'Doctor'. sigh But he didn't love me. He couldn't love me because he was too busy saving the bloody females who couldn't run barefoot, let alone run in high heels. Wait. I don't remember any of the Companions wearing actual 'high heels'. Maybe stacked heels? LOL No, the Doctor should be beyond 'love', except in the case of River Song. Seriously, she was 'MADE' for him. And I never had a problem with 'that' story arc. I used to feel that the TARDIS had real feelings for the Doctor and 'infused' some of 'her' energy into River just so he could have someone that was 'almost' a Time Person. Decades, well half a century later, my grandsons love the Doctor as a hero; and they welcomed River as his girlfriend. No jealousy for their relationship. LOL Sometimes we still gather to watch those episodes they enjoyed as small boys. And, after River, they love Donna Noble best. As do I.
@@miguelbranquinho7235 I read your comment yesterday and thought about it for a long time. smh Then I realized what bothered me. I 'love' River Song. In my ancient eyes she is the epitome of the adventuresome woman that I wanted to be.. sans the romance. I think what I like about River is that she ... made a Dalek beg for mercy. She 'bought time' to save the Doctor. She made drawing a breath adventuresome and fun. And, to be honest, while she blew kisses, and gave a peck here and there, I couldn't name the first episode that she 'engaged' in a passionate kiss. She probably did, and I just didn't notice them because there was something going to happen that had nothing to do with romance. She did lead Matt Smith along, practically by the nose. And she got down and dirty when she lectured him that time her 'baby self' was kidnapped. Yeah, there was romance, but it was so mixed up with the adventure that 'I' rolled right over it. And, YES, 'No romance means NO romance'. That final episode with Doctor Twelve and River was sad. BUT ... I found it ironic that 'he took her there'. I know it was 'set in time', AND historically, HE TOOK RIVER to the place and time of their last meeting....BUT he could have dragged her around time for another couple thousand years. Had things been reversed 'SHE' would have found a way to delay 'HIS' demise. And in my ancient mind, THAT is the romance.
I didn’t expect to find my favorite (kinda)niche RU-vidr commenting on another one of my favorite even more niche RU-vidrs video. Seriously I didn’t expect the overlap between the doctor who documentary and dragon ball what if communities.
All true but you missed perhaps the most important layer of all: It's David Tennant, on behalf of many viewers the same age, roasting their childhood hero - "their Doctor".
The story of his attaining of the role, and his joy at (even as a child) wanting to be The Doctor… is absolutely awesome. Like that totally rocks. This man lived his dream. Freaking amazing.
It's interesting that some didn't know! He's always stated he was a life long whovian. Like Peter Capaldi who said he had been the doctor since his days on the playground
@@tomnorton4277 I disagree. I love Tennant, like most people, but Capaldi was the best actor to have played the role in new Who. Tennant was the better doctor imo although Capaldi is underrated, but Capaldi is certainly the better actor
@@beastaree5646 Even if Capaldi can rival Tennant, which he can't, he's not even in the same ballpark as John Hurt. Hurt alone completely dismantles the "Capaldi is the best actor to ever play the Doctor" argument and he has the resume outside of Doctor Who to prove it.
@@tomnorton4277 Hurt is the best actor to have played the doctor yes, I still think as a pure actor Capaldi outdoes Tennant but that’s the beauty of performance - it’s all subjective :)
This has been pointed out to me recently, but I thought I'd share it here as well. I think the speech after the four knocks is really great, since if you include it, The Doctor actually displays all five stages of grief in this scene. Denial when he hears the knocks, Anger at Wilfred for getting stuck, Bargaining when he says he could do "so much more," Depression when he says he's lived too long, and Acceptance when he tells Wilf that it would be his honour to sacrifice himself.
1:21:48 honestly, i think something extremely touching about this scene is how Sarah Jane *knows* that he is about to regenerate, despite little visible indication of it. All they need to do is share one look, and immediately she understands because she has experienced the changing of Doctors before.
I think with the context of canon, 10’s outburst at Wilf is more due to the fact that this would be the last time the Doctor would be able to regenerate. His outburst is his fear of becoming mortal. “Live too long.”
Yeah, the whole 'Smith as the final incarnation' thing kind of retroactively fixed Ten's end, for me. I always hated it, even when I was 11, but with that perspective it actually kind of works.
@Stevean2 I’ve kind of always thought that the doctor regenerating was the equivalent to skipping from different points in your lifetime. Say for example you’re 18, then regenerate to when you’re 37, then 68, then back to 13 etc. Essentially you’re the same person, but you yourself would act/think/look different across the span of your life.
The brilliance of the first Weeping Angels story is that WE, the audience, never see them move either, which draws us into the terror. Once we saw them moving in later episodes, it was no longer effective.
it was never effective.. many times in the episode a character blinks or even turns their back on them (as seen in this video) and the Angles did nothing.. all the fuss about not looking at them when you can just turn your back to them
Had the chance to meet David Tennant in Madison Wisconsin when he was here for Wizard World, he was incredibly kind, as someone who grew up with his doctor it was an incredible experience
Ten's run is very much a Greek tragedy so I feel the way he goes out is appropriate. Also, he is very un-doctor-y when compared to others (his insane vanity, his delusions of grandeur all over his run but most prominent in Voyage of the Damned, and the Timelord Victorious) but these flaws are obviously intentional and make him a fascinating character. He's definitely one of the darkest depictions of the Doctor (probably only behind 7) but it's a sneaky darkness, as just like everyone else the Doctor meets we're wow'd by his sheer presence and quirky surface that hides the darker, more gross aspects of his character. This is all to say that he is very much a morally grey doctor, and because of that I think his ending, both the tantrum and the self-congratulatory finish, is very apt. Definitely one of the most interesting and greatest (imo) takes on the character.
The perfect example of the sneaky darkness is when Jenny compares her peoples war to the time war and he sneers at her. Such a small moment but it reveals how he feels deep down. He believes he is above everyone else
Well yes. The tenth doctor commits genocide multiple times lol. On the other hand , he has saved entire civilisations so I would say he is neither good nor bad. Its also implied that he needs a companion, not just for company, but to pull him back to the good side.
I object to the characterisation of Martha in this review. I thought similarly when I was younger, but on rewatching the show, I think Series 3 is actually really effective at making Martha actually seem like a better hero than The Doctor, except she doesn't seek any credit for it. The Doctor showboats and mopes about his ex, while Martha is the one who actually saves the day in Smith and Jones, 42, Human Nature/The Family of Blood, and the finale. The Doctor may be the one who pulls the trigger on the villain in all of those stories, but in all of those stories he was beaten and on the verge of death before Martha saved him. Tennant's Doctor is the most human Doctor, and humans are often petulant, selfish, and we make mistakes. Series 2 was a whirlwind romance between two people who were just a little too perfect for each other. Rose and Ten were electric together, but they could be very cliquey and they amplified each other's worse tendencies. The Doctor was heartbroken after her "death" and reacted like many people do after a breakup. He lashed out (The Runaway Bride), and he found a rebound girlfriend who was absolutely amazing but he was still too wrapped up in his ex, so he never really returned her affection. It was only after he healed that he realised how good she'd been for him, and that he'd been a bit of a dick. Notice how with Donna he made sure to be upfront about his feelings from the start, acknowledged that he'd hurt Martha by letting things get "complicated", and he made much more of an effort to listen to Donna and offer her the emotional support she needed during their adventures - support he'd neglected to give Martha. I like that the Tenth Doctor had these flaws and this growth, because it's part of what makes his Doctor so compelling, and I like how his companions were just as essential as he was. I feel like Chibnall - and Moffat occasionally - fall into the trope of the companion as purely the assistant, audience surrogate, or damsel-in-distress, rather than as living characters in their own right. It makes the episodes a bit less rewatchable imo because there's not the same layers of character interaction, and episodes often just end up being The Doctor doing something clever while explaining it to the companions, who stand around twiddling their thumbs. I still love the show, but recent seasons lack both the subtlety and the magic of the RTD and early Moffat eras, and I don't think it's purely nostalgia talking.
@@BambiTrout Finally another person who see's the tenth doctor's selfishness. You see humans are incredibly selfish, which can be both bad and good(a good example of selfishness is when 10 wants to keep his face, after all he has lost everything else. An example of bad selfishness would be him becoming Timelord Victorious) The Tenth Doctor being selfish,and romantic, and sympathetic at times makes him the most "human" doctor of all. You see Peter Davison had the sympathy, he had kindness, arguably a tiny bit of romance but from my perspective, The 5th Doctor wasn't selfish. Which is why he isn't the most "human" doctor of all, and it's because of that tiny missing ingredient. Tbh maybe that's why I love 10 so much, because while yes he is very very alien he is also very very human. An alien and their moral codes(for example) I probably wouldn't understand but human morals, that I get. Basically my point is, is that 10 is like some mythical creature. I understand him but also don't understand him. Another really good quality about Ten is that he's not always right. I mean knowing that The Doctor is always right kinda wears down the character and wouldn't be entertaining or realistic. Sometimes he needs someone to stop him from going God Mode on someone (as in The Runaway Bride and I guess Human Nature/Family Of Blood) Anyways that's just my rant about 10 and his character defining selfishness.
@@aliegan2109 I love a flawed character done well. Imo The Doctor having obvious flaws while still trying to do the right thing is what makes the character so compelling. 10 is the most obvious example, but I love how all of the NuWho Doctors (except 13) have their flaws act as a double-edged sword rather than just purely as a negative; it feels more realistic to me and makes The Doctor feel like an actual person, rather than just a plot device with a face.
Donna is still the best companion in the whole show, she was such a *real* character, and the way she would both indulge and stifle the doctor at all the right moments, made her finale so much more incredibly heart breaking. We're getting closer to the return of David Tennant as the 14th Doctor, and I really really hope RTD still has what it takes to write a story with Donna. I do genuinely *fear* the worst for her, that she might end up actually dying in the special episodes.
Don't know what it is with RTD era, but the endings are just complete arse-pulls. Like Satan Pit or the S3/4 finales. But even with those Deus Ex Machinas, I love those episodes. I think it has to be the writing and setting, cos the plot endings are shit but everything else is just perfect.
Ten months of waiting...and damn were they worth it! Once again Richard, thank you so much for this review. I am truly impressed with this review, with the ammount of things you had to address. I also think that, the choice to focus more on Tennant than his best episodes was a great choice. Speaking more of the team and how the show evolved than the episodes themselves. It was a massive challenge, but worth it tenfold! And I can't wait for the Smith Era. He is my favorite of the modern Doctors. It will be an event! Thank you, once again, so much! More than a Doctor Who fan, you are a great teacher!
@@wolfe1511 Basically, in simple terms, time travel magic crazy confusion what what what wait that doesnt make sense paradoxical insanity madness woooweewooo
An absolute masterclass of a retrospective of a British Institution. It was so damn good I had to watch it twice in anticipation of the upcoming videos of my two favourite Doctors. You can see the passion and love that has gone into this whole series. If it was your pleasure to make this, it was my ABSOLUTE pleasure to consume all of it.
For me, Tennant was my Doctor. I got into Doctor Who near the end of his season with Rose. Tennant made up the first half of my teen years and I am not ashamed to admit that the night I watched the special where he sacrificed himself and introduced us to Matt Smith I cried myself to sleep. I had lost something dear to me and I even vowed to never take a liking to the new Doctor. Fortunately or unfortunately, I ended up breaking that vow after the speech he gave on the hospital roof near the end of his first episode. But as much as Smith's Doctor had his highlights, even with the benefit of hindsight, I never felt like Smith managed to fill Tennant's shoes. Shoes that I believed to remain unfilled until Peter Capaldi.
yeah, the first episode of Matt Smith was great. It really changed people's pre-assumptions of him and the bar was the highest it could ever be. Understandably people don't like him and view him as too childish, but tbh it was the perfect things after Tennant and Eccleston's more serious take. For me the personalities of Ecclestone, Tennant, Smith and Capaldi all flow really well together. Also the graphics keep getting better so that's the pro.
Yup I was wrestling with a course assignment with a word count that was kicking my arse and still is but the combinations of Ten Inch and Clever Dick work wasn't going to win.
Oh, how I loved Tennant's time as the Doctor. I didn't think I would love anyone in the role as much and I mourned him a bit, but I have to say, both Tennant and Smith have very special places in my heart and I enjoy rewatching their seasons as if it was the first time.
Unlike most people, I actually liked the whole unrequited love thing with Martha. The Doctor and Rose's love for me was the heart of the show, that fueled it and gave it power and meaning, the likes of which I haven't seen much anywhere else. The Doctor's struggle to accept her loss, and her constant presence in his mind throughout series 3 only helps to elevate that relationship, and exemplify it's significance, and compound the tragedy. Though that's partially just me. Love stories are easily the most powerful for me, and I've also always been a strong believer in deep, lasting, and life-changing romantic love, in a way that I don't think modern society tends to give credence to, and which is rarely depicted. That's partly why, to me, Doctor Who will probably never be as good as it was in the Tennant era ever again.
I’d argue you might have missed the point of the Doctor’s tantrum before his sacrifice. In the story just prior to the finale, the Doctor boasted how he saved someone important as opposed to all the little lives he’s saved. Now, he realizes he has to make a choice between his “important” life and the “little” life of his friend. The tantrum is a release of the selfishness he had been building inside and that is why his statement of “ It is my honor” rings true.
Yeah but, he’s not going to die, he’s just gonna look a bit different, I understand it’s probably gonna be a bit physically painful, but you don’t see people go “I don’t wanna go” before they go through surgery. Like, what are you crying about? you’re just gonna turn into another twink. It also feels quite arrogant of Russell to basically say “The Doctor might as well be dead, because no writer is ever gonna write him as good as me!”
I had a strange spiritual journey with the Tennant era, when I was a cynical contrarian teenager back in high school I always called it "overrated" and "only caters to fangirls" given how everyone and their grandmother has praised it as the gold standard for the modern series. However, as I got older the era has grown on me and has become one of my most watched of the modern doctors, its just downright fun to watch.
I love these reviews. I’ve seen every one. I love the tone of appreciation for every era you bring. I find it so funny how at 14:19, you say “the opportunity wouldn’t come again” in reference to Tennant’s choice to become the doctor. Ironically, he ended up being the first person in history for whom that wasn’t the case. Still there’s absolutely no way you could have foreseen that at the time of recording. These reviews are my favorite unofficial Doctor Who content and help give a deeper appreciation for the show. Please keep it up!
I thought of the tantrum before his sacrifice as being his way of talking himself into it. Showing himself, and the audience, what he's become, and what he'd become more of if he lived even longer.
I've emailed very briefly with Louise Page, asking about John Simm's series 3 Master outfit. She's awesome, so kind and knowledgeable. She somehow remembered all the details about Simm's suit despite creating it 15 years ago!
The only Who doccos I watch repeatedly. Each time I enjoy them afresh. Outstanding work, by someone who actually knows and has a palpable passion for the series, not just a BBC team making something because they have to.
It definitely makes sense for the most "human doctor", one who was born out of a subconscious wish to be with Rose as an emotional, young, "ideal" man to exhibit a range of human emotions. Arrogance, rage and jealousy are as human as it gets. Tennant's doctor is more emotional than any other before or since, for better and for worse. You can like or dislike his departure but it was completely in character and extremely fitting.
honestly this. i get it that people have preferences and i get if some isn't into romance or a more emotionally resonant doctor take. if that's the case then i think those people are the luckiest with doctor who as a show because it will give a new incarnation to vibe with each time and you have 12 other to vibe with in some way. but then i wish those people wouldn't be the same who just don't get how and why david tennant's era was and still is considered one of the most beloved and iconic among most fans (not taking a dig at this particular reviewer in op, this is a general observation i made in other fandom spaces). it's exactly that emotional resonance that kept him and his run in people's hearts to this day. you can write any clever sci-fi plot in existence and it will still never beat the emotional imprint of seeing your beloved doctor simply *feel* with all his hearts. and if there was something his era excelled in, it was feeling. personally for me i always want emotion, i don't like cold or distant takes of the doctor as much as i do those moments when he lets himself feel. i don't mean romance, but any type of emotion. at the end we are humans even if we are watching a show about an alien, at the heart of it it's the emotions that the doctor's stories inspire in us that keeps us around.
As a boy i used to hide behind my Dad's recliner while he unwound after a long day with help from the great Tom Baker-era Dr. Who, gracing our TV. I watched each evening's episode with him, unbeknownst to my old man. Must have been around 1981 to 1983 and Who reruns were airing nightly on weekdays, a real treat. Dad didn't care much for sci-fi, but Who was different, as you've done an excellent job proving. An immigrant to the states (but not from the UK), Dad seemed to prefer British programming, including Who and Fawlty Towers, which we Yanks got to see thanks to PBS. Once the internet came around, he watched BBC news online every day until his death, January first of this year, five months ago now. So i thank you for your series Mr. Carrier; it has been a source of great comfort to me as i mourn and i miss my best friend.
"Sarah Jane has More secure appreciation than torchwood since it ended" (paraphrasing) The people who've been maintaining the ianto Jones memorial in Cardiff: am I a joke to you
His tantrum still makes me cry. He knew he was gonna change, feel different again and that he might not even feel the same about the people he met and loved. Look at the tears in his eyes at 1:22:48. He lost Rose already and he feared that he was also going to lose the feelings he had towards her. He wanted to treasure her in his heart(s) forever. But no Doctor is like the one before. No Doctor feels the same way as the next. He didn't want to move on and that was very human of him. Something many of us could relate to. He didn't want to go. :(
This doctor is actually the doctor that hooked me into this universe, just because he was actually the biggest fan with tremendous talent given the chance to live his dream, and he gave all of his power to his role, every ounce of energy, experience, and every emotion he had, crafted to his dream doctor. (The writers also helped him.)
Wow...just wow. The episodes are as always more than worth waiting for, no matter how long they take (and honestly, for these immense episodes, feature length, I am impressed by your speed). Your research and thoroughness is as always deeply impressive and very touching but what I always am the most touched by is your compassion and fairness towards the different aspects of the show, whether you personally like them or not (I am pleased I wasn't alone in not being too keen on Rose's importance and romance but in no way hating it), while still not afraid to point out why they might not work for you. Seriously impressive, and then to keep it up for the entire series. Thank you for another gem in the series, apologies for the long comment and I hope you're taking care of yourself, still.
The outburst at the end made so much sense to me, he spent so much time saving people and everyone left him (even if it wasn’t what he wanted) he always out other peoples safety above his own happiness and in the one time he thought he was wrong about his death, he had to put his death into motion himself but ultimately he knew what he had to do
Man, that scene with Rose pounding on the wall and saying "Bring me back!". It elicits something in me. I haven't felt that upset about a show ever since... there really was something special here :)
David Tennant is by far my Favorite Doctor. I just love how he's a mixture of no nonsense and goofiness. Plus, seeing his torture of being the last of his kind.
When Rose is taken back to the other world away from her doctor... I cried so much at that. She loved him so much and was ripped away from him but I'm glad she lived on with her mom, Pete and Mickey. Such a sad but great episode 👍👍👍
Ten is my doctor, I adored him, but it was not lost on me when I felt uncomfortable during his bouts of... god complex. Honestly I wish they had pushed this trait more up to his departure, I think it would have been cool to see Ten truly fall from grace in the end and having to face those serious repercussions. I really appreciate all the character work that Davies and co. put into the show. I think the domestic element made the story all the more relatable. Being a Doctor x Rose fan really put a damper on any new companion that joined Ten afterward, which is unfortunate because I do think Martha got shafted in terms of character development. Part of me wishes that Ten and Jack hung out more, but I could just be biased cause I also love Jack as a character. I think they bounce off each other well since Jack flirts with literally everyone and The Doctor is not about it. I agree that the Torchwood series did start rather crass, but once it found its own footing, it certainly went to interesting and very dark places that I loved, especially with the character of Owen. The scene where he's already gone through his "change" and is trying to give someone CPR is something I still talk about. And I of course also fell into the Jack x Gwen trap. But I think some of the things Jack felt the need to do (and experienced) were pretty messed up, and I wish more of that was present when he confronts Ten again.
I'm so happy you acknowledge the younger side of the fanbase and understand that this is just our younger fan way of appreciating the series. Also hearing you said the word "Kawaii" was quiet an experience 😂
I almost wonder if people view regeneration differently to me. The closest equivalent to regeneration i can compare for us would be if my memories were cloned into a new body and then me killed. So when i see Ten's 'tantrum' it is entirely understandable in my mind to have that reaction.
Dude they did Martha so dirty with the writing in season 3. To be honest, I think she fulfills her true badass form best in her appearances in Torchwood. Torchwood Martha feels a lot more like Smith and Jones Martha than most of series 3. Martha is my favorite companion man, and people hate her just because of the role she was forced into. As a character unto herself, and when put in episodes she can really shine, she's a BADASS!!!
I think had it not been axed it would go: 8th Doctor: Richard Griffiths 9th Doctor: Paul McGann 10th Doctor: Either Richard E Grant or Rowan Atkinson 11th Doctor: Anthony Head 12th Doctor: David Tennant 13th Doctor: David Suchet Would have likely lasted until 2013
The Doctor I grew up with. Everybody at school went crazy for this version, we all thought his shoes were the coolest thing ever. I have fond memories of seeing The Age of Steel and Daleks in Manhattan for the first time. Great shows and great characters. I look back now and love the 10th doctor’s layers as a character, battle scared and hidden darkness yet he always does the right thing. Thank You.
