Who's Who of Doctor Who: A Whovian's Guide to Friends, Foes, Villains, Monsters, and Companions to the Good Doctor

After the pensive and austere persona of his predecessor, the brighter and breezier Tenth incarnation had a joie de vivre unlike any former Doctors. His time in the TARDIS was marked by his love for words, specifically non-English phrases like “allons-y!” and “molto bene,” as well as an unusual romantic predilection for Earth women (Madame de Pompadour, Joan Redfern (see FRIENDS) and, of course, his companion Rose Tyler). The Tenth Doctor lived life to the full, although this never dissuaded him from dishing out justice where required. The new Doctor was initially perky, promising to take Rose to Barcelona but the regenerative process took its toll on the Time Lord. Once the TARDIS landed, somewhat bumpily, in London, he immediately collapsed and he was taken by Rose, Jackie and Mickey back to Jackie’s flat. He slept for the most part as his body became accustomed to his new form, attracting Roboforms (see ROBOTS) in the process, but after some hot piping tea leaked in the TARDIS (thanks to Jackie) his senses awoke, bringing him back to full strength.

Facing the Sycorax (see ALIENS) leader, he cracked jokes about his hair color, the Disney film The Lion King, and compared himself with Hitchhiker Arthur Dent. It wasn’t too long before he was battling the Sycorax leader in single combat, although he lost his hand during the fight (the hand fell to Earth but was to be reunited with its body some time later). Surprisingly, it grew back pretty swiftly, since the Doctor was still within the first fifteen hours of this regeneration, and he was able to defend the Earth successfully. Disgusted by Prime Minister Harriet Jones’ destruction of the Sycorax after they had already surrendered and left, the Doctor arranged her removal her from office (muttering just six words to her aide: “Don’t you think she looks tired?”). This rewriting of history led to the installation of Harold Saxon (the Master in disguise) as Prime Minister. Marking a different attitude to the “no families” rule set out by his previous incarnation, the Doctor enjoyed Christmas dinner happily with Rose, Mickey, and Jackie (after choosing a new, geekchic- ier appearance).

Soon he took Rose to visit New Earth, where he found Cassandra (see VILLAINS) up to her old tricks, and indeed, in his body for a while, during which time “he” shared a kiss with Rose. In an act of compassion, the Doctor gave the human trampoline a chance to see her younger body one more time before she died.