DOCTOR WHO: The Tenth Doctor
INTRODUCTION
When Doctor Who returned to TV screens in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the titular science fiction icon, nobody suspected he would only be around for one series. After the first episode, 'Rose' was aired, it came to light that he wouldn't be continuing p[ast that series as the Doctor, and a tenth incarnation of the character would be introduced at the climax of the series. That tenth Doctor made his first appearance in the closing moments of the episode 'The Parting of the Ways', when the ninth Doctor's body begins to die from contamination by the Time Vortex he extracted from his companion Rose Tyler (played by former pop star Billie Piper). The Ninth Doctor says his farewell piece and throws his arms back as blistering columns of orange energy erupt from his body. His damaged physical form is rebuilt by his Time Lord energy, and he regenerates into a new man. Right from those first moments of the tenth Doctor's existence, fans knew they were in for a very different ride from there on.
THE CHRISTMAS INVASION
The tenth Doctor's first real episode was the 2005 Christmas special, 'The Christmas Invasion'. This hour long special largely featured the Doctor in a state of semiconciousness as he overcame the effects of his difficult regeneration. By the climax of that episode he was back on his feet and fighting off alien villains the Sycorax while wearing pyjamas. Once the threat had been dealt with, the Doctor selected his new look (a pinstripe suit, sneakers, and brown overcoat), audiences looked towards the future of the longest running science fiction show in history as it moved into a new era, just a year after coming back onto our screens.
Already a big hit with Doctor Who fans young and old, the tenth Doctor became a nationwide sensation even before his first full series had begun. The charisma and presence demonstrated by David Tennant in The Christmas Invasion had fans buzzing about what lay ahead, and when series two of Doctor Who's new era began in early 2006, the media went Doctor Who crazy all over again.
DOCTOR WHO- NEW ERA SERIES 2
While that second series got off to a rather shaky start with 'New Earth', it was plain to see that David Tennant's Doctor was a very different prospect to that of Eccleston's ninth. One minute hyperactive and childlike, the next serious, moody, introspective. The tenth Doctor is a character of stark contrasts and boundless energy. Some fans have taken issue with the tenth Doctor's outlandish personality and his tendency to shout and run about, but many see this as a great aspect off this version's characteristics. After all, every Doctor has been vastly different to the previous one. While the tenth Doctor is indeed an excitable urchin in many ways, he is also a more than formidable adversary for the horrors that lurk in the darkest corners of the universe. As the second series continued, variuous episodes became instant classics, showing off just what the tenth Doctor was capable of as a hero. These were episodes such as the heartbreaking story 'The Girl In the Fireplace' and the incredible Two-parter 'The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit'. Possibly the finest moments of the second new era series came in the closing moments of the final episode, 'Doomsday', in which Rose is stranded in a parralel universe and the Doctor must go on alone. Their final scene together, Rose on a beach and the Doctor manifesting as an image from our universe, is truly moving. That episode linked into the 2006 Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride.
THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
By many fans' accounts, and those of the world at large, 'The Runaway Bride' was the worst thing to bear the name Doctor Who since the show returned. A vapid, lumpen yarn in which little happens and to little effect, it introduced the world to Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate. Receiving almost universal hatred. the episode was a massive letdown for the legions of fans who had been waiting since the summer for their Who fix. It was hoped that when the third series came along, it would be of a much higher quality than this special. The Doctor did have a defining moment in 'The Runaway Bride' though- it is the first New Era episode where his home planet is mentioned. This would be a precursor to what was to come when series three arrived in the first quarter of 2007.
DOCTOR WHO- NEW ERA SERIES 3
The third series of Doctor Who's new era, and the second to feature David Tennant as the tenth Doctor, was ushered in with a new companion in the form of Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, a fesity medical student who replaced Rose with some style and a working knowledge of the sciences, which came in handy throughout her stay with the Doctor. The third series saw the first meeting of the tenth Doctor and Jack harkness, the rogue Time Agent from series one, who now leads the Torchwood team in the Doctor Who spinoff series simply titled 'Torchwood'. After a shaky reunion it is back to business as usual as they defeat the Master in his diabolical plans. Series three was notable in the tenth Doctor's character development in the excellent two-parter 'uman Nature/The Family of Blood'. In that stiory, we really get to see David Tennant's acting sklills pushed as the Doctor wipes his own memory and lives as a human for a time to escape predators. The series ended with the Doctor alone again, Martha having decided to return to her family and her career on Earth.
David Tennant really found his feet with the third series, which brought us a much more rounded Doctor and a much more confident crew. The cries of some fans were still heard in regard to his energetic persona, but to a lesser extent this time around. The public had latched onto the tenth Doctor in a big way, reflected in the myriad examples of tie in Doctor Who merchandise made available during his reign as opposed to the paltry amunt during that of the ninth Doctor when things weren't quite so certain. Doctor Who had become bigger than ever before thanks to the tenth Doctor, and the 2007 Christmas special was to be a huge event for the BBC.
VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED
That event was 'Voyage of the Damned', guest starring pop icon Kylie Minogue as the intergalactic waitress, Astrid. The hour long special carried all the hallmarks of a classic Douglas Adams style SF romp, and while it did nothing to move the character of te tenth Doctor along, it was nevertheless a great, fun packed episode that was a ratings hit for the BBC in their Christmas 2007 schedule. Yet again the Doctor is left alone at the end of the episode, once mre without a companion to share his journeys with, until, of course, along came series four.
DOCTOR WHO- NEW ERA SERIES FOUR
Doctor Who fans were in shock with the announcement that Catherine Tate was to return as a full time companion in the new series. This was news that was largely met with horror and skepticism, as fans were fearing more of the same from her character that was glimpsed in 'The Runaway Bride' and, of course, her work in sketch comedy on her own show. These fears were both justified and unfounded at the same time, as when series four came around she actually turned out to be a great asset to the adventures of the tenth Doctor, and enriched Tennant's characterization still further as the Doctor introduced this screeching harpy of a character to a wider universe.
As the series wore on, the two of them became a great team and the heartbreaking (in more than one way) final episode saw Donna return to her old life and old mentality. Alonmg the way she had faced off against Sontarans, Daleks, Pyroviles, giant wasps and much more. She never really silenced her critics, but she did go some way to calming them down a bit. The Tenth Doctor, alone again at the end of the series, must once more go on his travels alone.
THE LONELINESS OF THE TENTH DOCTOR
It is a very painful thing for the tenth Doctor to be alone. Where previous incarnations have liked company, they haven't been quite as needy as the tenth Doctor, which shows some vulnerability beneath his exterior of confidence and bravado. This is a very important aspect of the tenth Doctor, as he is truly alone in the universe following the destruction of the Time Lords in the final Time War that also (allegedly) destroyed the Daleks. Of course, the Daleks survived, as did at least one other Time Lord (The Master), but still the Doctor is essentially alone in the universe. It seems to be that his quest for companionship has replaced some of the drive to explore that has thus far defined the character. He still wants to see and do as much as possible, but he is loathe to do so alone.
DOCTOR WHO: BEYOND SERIES FOUR
Series four is the final full series of Doctor Who that will be shown until 2010. Between the end of series four and the start of series five there will be fi\ve special episodes in the vfein of the Christmas specials, in which viewers will see the emotionally scarred Doctor go about his adventures either alone or aided by temporary companions before the show returns for a full series again. The tenth Doctor is set to be in all of these special episodes, but it is yet to be announced whether David Tennant and the Tenth Doctor will be returning for the fifth series.
The first of these specials will be broadcast over Christmas 2008. Entitled 'The Next Doctor', it sees the tenth Doctor come face to face with what is apparently his future self, played by David Morrissey, and will also feature the return of ther Cybermen. All manner of rumours are circulating about the other specials, including the return of the Master and Jenny, the Doctor's daughter, from series 4. The big rumour is that of eighth Doctor Paul McGann returning for a multi-Doctor story, rumoured to be taking place during the climax of the Time War itself.
DOCTOR WHO: THE TENTH DOCTOR MERCHANDISE PHENOMENON
The era of the tenth Doctor has seen a massive industry grow around Doctor Who merchandise, bigger than ever before in the show's long, long history. This is thanks in no small measure to David Tennant's love for the show and the character. David Tennant has been a lifelong Doctor Who fan, to the point that he actuaklly acted in Doctor Who audio dramas and related projects with classic era cast members long before landing the role himself. With his boyish charm and good looks, the tenth Doctor has become a merchandising icon on posters, action figures, calendars, life size standees, model kits, comics, magazines, trading card games, t-shirts, homewares and countless other items.
He has inspired legions of kids (young and young at heart) to don striped suits and sneakers and go off saving the universe. He features in an ongoing range of licensed novels, game books, comic adventures, young readers books and more. It is down to the tenth Doctor and the ever growing merchandising industry around him that the series continues to be so popular with kids and adults. He helps keep the show going, just as the show itself gives him life and adventures. Quite fitting, really, that this incarnation keeps on giving Doctor Who a whole new lease of life.
INTRODUCTION
When Doctor Who returned to TV screens in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the titular science fiction icon, nobody suspected he would only be around for one series. After the first episode, 'Rose' was aired, it came to light that he wouldn't be continuing p[ast that series as the Doctor, and a tenth incarnation of the character would be introduced at the climax of the series. That tenth Doctor made his first appearance in the closing moments of the episode 'The Parting of the Ways', when the ninth Doctor's body begins to die from contamination by the Time Vortex he extracted from his companion Rose Tyler (played by former pop star Billie Piper). The Ninth Doctor says his farewell piece and throws his arms back as blistering columns of orange energy erupt from his body. His damaged physical form is rebuilt by his Time Lord energy, and he regenerates into a new man. Right from those first moments of the tenth Doctor's existence, fans knew they were in for a very different ride from there on.
THE CHRISTMAS INVASION
The tenth Doctor's first real episode was the 2005 Christmas special, 'The Christmas Invasion'. This hour long special largely featured the Doctor in a state of semiconciousness as he overcame the effects of his difficult regeneration. By the climax of that episode he was back on his feet and fighting off alien villains the Sycorax while wearing pyjamas. Once the threat had been dealt with, the Doctor selected his new look (a pinstripe suit, sneakers, and brown overcoat), audiences looked towards the future of the longest running science fiction show in history as it moved into a new era, just a year after coming back onto our screens.
Already a big hit with Doctor Who fans young and old, the tenth Doctor became a nationwide sensation even before his first full series had begun. The charisma and presence demonstrated by David Tennant in The Christmas Invasion had fans buzzing about what lay ahead, and when series two of Doctor Who's new era began in early 2006, the media went Doctor Who crazy all over again.
DOCTOR WHO- NEW ERA SERIES 2
While that second series got off to a rather shaky start with 'New Earth', it was plain to see that David Tennant's Doctor was a very different prospect to that of Eccleston's ninth. One minute hyperactive and childlike, the next serious, moody, introspective. The tenth Doctor is a character of stark contrasts and boundless energy. Some fans have taken issue with the tenth Doctor's outlandish personality and his tendency to shout and run about, but many see this as a great aspect off this version's characteristics. After all, every Doctor has been vastly different to the previous one. While the tenth Doctor is indeed an excitable urchin in many ways, he is also a more than formidable adversary for the horrors that lurk in the darkest corners of the universe. As the second series continued, variuous episodes became instant classics, showing off just what the tenth Doctor was capable of as a hero. These were episodes such as the heartbreaking story 'The Girl In the Fireplace' and the incredible Two-parter 'The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit'. Possibly the finest moments of the second new era series came in the closing moments of the final episode, 'Doomsday', in which Rose is stranded in a parralel universe and the Doctor must go on alone. Their final scene together, Rose on a beach and the Doctor manifesting as an image from our universe, is truly moving. That episode linked into the 2006 Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride.
THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
By many fans' accounts, and those of the world at large, 'The Runaway Bride' was the worst thing to bear the name Doctor Who since the show returned. A vapid, lumpen yarn in which little happens and to little effect, it introduced the world to Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate. Receiving almost universal hatred. the episode was a massive letdown for the legions of fans who had been waiting since the summer for their Who fix. It was hoped that when the third series came along, it would be of a much higher quality than this special. The Doctor did have a defining moment in 'The Runaway Bride' though- it is the first New Era episode where his home planet is mentioned. This would be a precursor to what was to come when series three arrived in the first quarter of 2007.
DOCTOR WHO- NEW ERA SERIES 3
The third series of Doctor Who's new era, and the second to feature David Tennant as the tenth Doctor, was ushered in with a new companion in the form of Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, a fesity medical student who replaced Rose with some style and a working knowledge of the sciences, which came in handy throughout her stay with the Doctor. The third series saw the first meeting of the tenth Doctor and Jack harkness, the rogue Time Agent from series one, who now leads the Torchwood team in the Doctor Who spinoff series simply titled 'Torchwood'. After a shaky reunion it is back to business as usual as they defeat the Master in his diabolical plans. Series three was notable in the tenth Doctor's character development in the excellent two-parter 'uman Nature/The Family of Blood'. In that stiory, we really get to see David Tennant's acting sklills pushed as the Doctor wipes his own memory and lives as a human for a time to escape predators. The series ended with the Doctor alone again, Martha having decided to return to her family and her career on Earth.
David Tennant really found his feet with the third series, which brought us a much more rounded Doctor and a much more confident crew. The cries of some fans were still heard in regard to his energetic persona, but to a lesser extent this time around. The public had latched onto the tenth Doctor in a big way, reflected in the myriad examples of tie in Doctor Who merchandise made available during his reign as opposed to the paltry amunt during that of the ninth Doctor when things weren't quite so certain. Doctor Who had become bigger than ever before thanks to the tenth Doctor, and the 2007 Christmas special was to be a huge event for the BBC.
VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED
That event was 'Voyage of the Damned', guest starring pop icon Kylie Minogue as the intergalactic waitress, Astrid. The hour long special carried all the hallmarks of a classic Douglas Adams style SF romp, and while it did nothing to move the character of te tenth Doctor along, it was nevertheless a great, fun packed episode that was a ratings hit for the BBC in their Christmas 2007 schedule. Yet again the Doctor is left alone at the end of the episode, once mre without a companion to share his journeys with, until, of course, along came series four.
DOCTOR WHO- NEW ERA SERIES FOUR
Doctor Who fans were in shock with the announcement that Catherine Tate was to return as a full time companion in the new series. This was news that was largely met with horror and skepticism, as fans were fearing more of the same from her character that was glimpsed in 'The Runaway Bride' and, of course, her work in sketch comedy on her own show. These fears were both justified and unfounded at the same time, as when series four came around she actually turned out to be a great asset to the adventures of the tenth Doctor, and enriched Tennant's characterization still further as the Doctor introduced this screeching harpy of a character to a wider universe.
As the series wore on, the two of them became a great team and the heartbreaking (in more than one way) final episode saw Donna return to her old life and old mentality. Alonmg the way she had faced off against Sontarans, Daleks, Pyroviles, giant wasps and much more. She never really silenced her critics, but she did go some way to calming them down a bit. The Tenth Doctor, alone again at the end of the series, must once more go on his travels alone.
THE LONELINESS OF THE TENTH DOCTOR
It is a very painful thing for the tenth Doctor to be alone. Where previous incarnations have liked company, they haven't been quite as needy as the tenth Doctor, which shows some vulnerability beneath his exterior of confidence and bravado. This is a very important aspect of the tenth Doctor, as he is truly alone in the universe following the destruction of the Time Lords in the final Time War that also (allegedly) destroyed the Daleks. Of course, the Daleks survived, as did at least one other Time Lord (The Master), but still the Doctor is essentially alone in the universe. It seems to be that his quest for companionship has replaced some of the drive to explore that has thus far defined the character. He still wants to see and do as much as possible, but he is loathe to do so alone.
DOCTOR WHO: BEYOND SERIES FOUR
Series four is the final full series of Doctor Who that will be shown until 2010. Between the end of series four and the start of series five there will be fi\ve special episodes in the vfein of the Christmas specials, in which viewers will see the emotionally scarred Doctor go about his adventures either alone or aided by temporary companions before the show returns for a full series again. The tenth Doctor is set to be in all of these special episodes, but it is yet to be announced whether David Tennant and the Tenth Doctor will be returning for the fifth series.
The first of these specials will be broadcast over Christmas 2008. Entitled 'The Next Doctor', it sees the tenth Doctor come face to face with what is apparently his future self, played by David Morrissey, and will also feature the return of ther Cybermen. All manner of rumours are circulating about the other specials, including the return of the Master and Jenny, the Doctor's daughter, from series 4. The big rumour is that of eighth Doctor Paul McGann returning for a multi-Doctor story, rumoured to be taking place during the climax of the Time War itself.
DOCTOR WHO: THE TENTH DOCTOR MERCHANDISE PHENOMENON
The era of the tenth Doctor has seen a massive industry grow around Doctor Who merchandise, bigger than ever before in the show's long, long history. This is thanks in no small measure to David Tennant's love for the show and the character. David Tennant has been a lifelong Doctor Who fan, to the point that he actuaklly acted in Doctor Who audio dramas and related projects with classic era cast members long before landing the role himself. With his boyish charm and good looks, the tenth Doctor has become a merchandising icon on posters, action figures, calendars, life size standees, model kits, comics, magazines, trading card games, t-shirts, homewares and countless other items.
He has inspired legions of kids (young and young at heart) to don striped suits and sneakers and go off saving the universe. He features in an ongoing range of licensed novels, game books, comic adventures, young readers books and more. It is down to the tenth Doctor and the ever growing merchandising industry around him that the series continues to be so popular with kids and adults. He helps keep the show going, just as the show itself gives him life and adventures. Quite fitting, really, that this incarnation keeps on giving Doctor Who a whole new lease of life.
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