[Spoilers!] I LOVE a good quote, and there are some truly great lines in this show. From my top contenders from each episode (courtesy of www.planetclaire.tv), I’ve added some commentary, and put it into a ranked list.
10. From Episode 7: “The Idiot’s Lantern” (Mark Gatiss). Too bad using “transtemporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern” never caught on as a phrase. Now the tech has moved on.
Rose: Will it… that thing, is it trapped for good on video [Betamax ;-)]?
The Doctor: That’s right. Just to be on the safe side though, I’ll use my unrivaled knowledge of transtemporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern.
Rose: You what?
The Doctor: I’m gonna tape over it.
Rose: Just leave it to me. I’m always doing that.
9. From Episode 9: “The Satan Pit” (Matt Jones). The Doctor waxing philosophical, in the vein of Kenneth Burke, along with the second part of the earlier philosophical discussion.
Ida: What do you think?
The Doctor: He gave an order.
Ida: Yeah but. What do you think?
The Doctor: It said “I am the temptation.”
Ida: But if there’s something in there, why is it still hiding?
The Doctor: Maybe we opened the prison but not the cell.
Ida: We should go down. I’d go. What about you?
The Doctor: Oh! Oh, in a second. But then again… that is so human. “Where angels fear to tread.” Even now, standing on the edge. It’s that feeling you get, hm? Right on the back of your head. That impulse. That strange little impulse. That mad little voice saying, “Go on! Go on. Go on. Go over, go on!” Maybe it’s relying on that. For once in my life, Officer Scott, I’m going to say… retreat.
Part II
The Doctor: There it is again. That itch. “Go down go down go down go down.”
Ida: The urge to jump. Do you know where it comes from, that sensation? Genetic heritage. Ever since we were primates in the trees. It’s our body’s way of testing us. Calculating whether or not we can reach the next branch.
The Doctor: No, that’s not it. That’s too kind. It’s not the urge to jump, it’s deeper than that. It’s the urge to fall!
8. From Episode 8: “The Impossible Planet” (Matt Jones). This tension between the Doctor loving humans and thinking we’re completely mad is also a theme of the reboot. Ultimately, I liked the tone of this entry from Jones better than that from Davies in episode 13.
The Doctor: Excuse me, Zach, wasn’t it?
Zach: That’s me.
The Doctor: Just stand there. ‘Cause I’m going to hug you. Is that all right?
Zach: ‘Spose so.
The Doctor: Here we go. Comin’ in! Human Beings. You are amazing. Ha! Thank you.
Zach: Not at all.
The Doctor: But apart from that you’re completely mad. You should pack your bags, get back in that ship and fly for your lives.
7. From Episode 4: “The Girl in the Fireplace” (Steven Moffat). Never listen to reason.
Reinette: You seem to be flesh and blood at any rate, but that is absurd. Reason tells me you cannot be real.
The Doctor: Oh, you never want to listen to reason.
6. From Episode 0: “The Christmas Invasion” (Russell T. Davies). The only thing we know for sure about Doctor #10 is that he can talk.
Sycorax Leader: Who exactly are you?
The Doctor: Well, that’s the question.
Sycorax Leader: I demand to know who you are!
The Doctor: I don’t know! See that’s the thing. I’m the Doctor. But beyond that I just don’t know. I literally do not know who I am. It’s all untested. Am I funny? Am I sarcastic? Sexy? Right old misery? Life and soul? Right-handed, left-handed? A gambler, a fighter, a coward, a traitor, a liar, a nervous wreck? I mean judging by the evidence I’ve certainly got a gob.
5. From Episode 3: “School Reunion” (Toby Whithouse). Tennant’s Doctor #10 rarely flexes, but here’s one of those times.
Finch: And what of the Time Lords? I always thought of you as such a pompous race. Ancient, dusty senators so frightened of change and… chaos. And of course, they’re all but extinct. Only you, the last.
The Doctor: This plan of yours, what is it?
Finch: You don’t know?
The Doctor: That’s why I’m asking.
Finch: Well show me how clever you are. Work it out.
The Doctor: If I don’t like it, then it will stop.
Finch: Fascinating. Your people were peaceful to the point of indolence. You seem to be something new. would you declare war on us, Doctor?
The Doctor: I’m so old now. I used to have so much mercy. You get one warning. That was it.
4. Also from Episode 0: “The Christmas Invasion” (Russell T. Davies). The final bit reminds me a lot of Evil Dead 2, where Ash Williams cuts his hand off. Rather, it’s what I wish would have happened, and how Ash might react.
The Doctor [about his regenerated hand]: Of course I’m still The Doctor then.
Rose: No arguments from me!
The Doctor: Wanna know the best bit? This new hand? It’s a fightin’ hand!
3. From Episode 12: “Army of Ghosts” (Russell T. Davies). If Obi wan Kenobi taught us anything, it’s “always seize the high ground.”
The Doctor: Hm. There goes the advantage of surprise. Still, cuts to the chase. Stay here, look after Jackie.
Rose: I’m not looking after my mum.
The Doctor: Well you brought her.
Jackie: I was kidnapped!
Rose: Doctor, they’ve got guns.
The Doctor: And I haven’t. Which makes me the better person, don’t you think? They can shoot me dead but the moral high ground is mine.
2. From Episode 2: “Tooth and Claw” (Russell T. Davies). The Doctor’s Scottish is hilarious. Rose’s…not so much.
The Doctor: 1979! Hell of a year! China invades Vietnam. The Muppet Movie. Love that film. Margaret Thatcher. Ugh. Skylab fell to Earth with a little help from me. Nearly took off my thumb. [Walking out of the TARDIS] And I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I’m very attached to—[Sees the armed men on horseback]—my thumb. [To himself.] 1879. Same difference.
Captain Reynolds: You will explain your presence and the nakedness of this girl.
The Doctor: Are we in Scotland?
Captain Reynolds: How can you be ignorant of that?
The Doctor: Oh, I’m dazed and confused. I’ve been chasing this wee naked child over hill and over dale. I’nt that right, ya timorous beastie?
Rose: Och! Ay! I’ve bin oot and aboot.
The Doctor: No, don’t do that.
Rose: Hoots mon.
The Doctor: No, really don’t. Really.
1. From Episode 4: “The Girl in the Fireplace” (Steven Moffat). The Doctor’s “drunken” put-downs are great: “You’re Mister Thick Thick Thickity Thick Face from Thicktown, Thickania. And so’s your dad.” LOL. I cut the rest to save space.
[The Doctor sways in, carrying a goblet and wearing his tie around his head.]
DOCTOR: And still have begged for more. I could’ve spread my wings and done a thou. Have you met the French? My god, they know how to party.
ROSE: Oh, look at what the cat dragged in. The Oncoming Storm.
DOCTOR: Oh, you sound just like your mother.
ROSE: What’ve you been doing? Where’ve you been?
DOCTOR: Well, among other things, I think just invented the banana daiquiri a few centuries early. Do you know, they’ve never even seen a banana before. Always take a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are good. Oh ho, ho, ho, ho, brilliant. It’s you. You’re my favourite, you are. You are the best! Do you know why? Because you’re so thick. You’re Mister Thick Thick Thickity Thick Face from Thicktown, Thickania. And so’s your dad.
So those are the top for me. True, there are others that didn’t make the list, but I had to make some cuts. Ricky’s rebel parking ticket policy was a favorite, but I cut it in favor of quotes from the Doctor. I also like when the Doctor gets clever in episode 7, but it sounded like a Groucho Marx bit.
Honorable mentions to the following bits of foreshadowing:
From Episode 11: “Fear Her” (Matthew Graham). What did you say?!? Foreshadowing.
Rose: I’ve got cousins. Kids can’t have it all their own way. That’s part of being a family.
The Doctor: What about trying to understand them?
Rose: Easy for you to say. You don’t have kids.
The Doctor: I was a dad once.
Rose: What did you say?
And from Episode 1: “New Earth” (Russell T. Davies). This dialogue with the Face of Boe spans multiple episodes and covers quite the plot twists. Here, it’s just textbook enigmatic.
The Face of Boe: I had grown tired of the Universe, Doctor. But you have taught me to look at it anew.
The Doctor: There are legends you know. Saying that you’re millions of years old.
The Face of Boe: Now that would be impossible.
The Doctor: Wouldn’t it just. I got the impression there was something you wanted to tell me.
The Face of Boe: A great secret.
The Doctor: So the legend says.
The Face of Boe: It can wait.
The Doctor: Oh! Does it have to?
The Face of Boe: We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third time—for the last time—and the truth shall be told. Until that day.
The Doctor: That is enigmatic. That is textbook enigmatic.
Did I miss any? Which are your favorites? Comment and I’ll respond. Stay tuned for my Top 10 rankings.
