The Doctor’s Last Words

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

The final adventure of David Tennant’s incarnation of the Doctor is nigh. To my mind, it’s pointless to discuss the first half of “The End of Time” because it’s mostly set-up for the meat of the story. So instead I’m going to put forward a challenge:

What do you think the Doctor’s last words will be? I’m betting they’ll be something reasonably memorable. If it were up to me, they would evoke his very first line of dialogue and he’d say, “Bûggër. I never DID get to see Barcelona.”

Anyone else?

PAD

95 comments on “The Doctor’s Last Words”

  3. Ðámņ, that’s hard to say. Although after his mightily impressive run, I certainly wouldn’t begrudge him doing a cheeky one-up of Eccleston’s final farewell by saying something like “You know… I really was bloody marvelous this go-round…”

  5. “Look on the bright side…maybe the next one will be ginger!”

    (More seriously, I suppose “Allons-y!” might be fitting.)

  6. I’m guessing he’s going to come to terms with the end of this life, and he’ll finish up with “Allons-y.”

  8. “Ginger, please let me be ginger this time.”

    Or…

    “It was inevitable. But a brick, really?”

    Maybe…

    “I knew I shouldn’t have made the TARDIS invisible!”

  9. “Either these curtains go or I do.”

    (Actual favorite last line– “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist. . . .” said by General John Sedgwick, Union Commander, right before a confederate sniper shot him dead.)

  13. Whatever it is, it will be sad parting words that will end one of the most brilliant runs of the Doctor Who series both past and present. David Tennant will be sorely missed as the good Doctor.

    1. Yeah, I’m kinda hoping for a mention of that. “I…” “Yes, Doctor?” “I… hope I’m ginger… *dies*” Especially since unless Rose is somehow back, nobody else would possibly get it!
      .
      Barring that, either a mention of the fruit he found in his bathrobe pocket at the start, or wishing he had some of Jackie Tyler’s tea handy. Good philosophical last lines are entirely overrated. He needs to be somewhat flippant.
      .
      I *still* think they shoulda gone older-and-distinguished this go-’round, though mebbe they’re hoping that being young, he’ll stick around for a goodly while, what with quickly running out of regenerations. I’m also twitching in my attempts to not watch part 1 until I can watch part 2 immediately thereafter…

  15. “You’d think I’d’ve run out of lives by now…”

    “I can’t wait until I meet myself!”

    “If only I’d gotten Rose to use the pole…”

    “Never the end. NEVER!”

    2. In case anyone isn’t sure what I’m referring to, my prediction has nothing to do with plot, quality of the show, or anything like that. The line “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” has been incredibly common during Russell T. Davies’ tenure. The Doctor says it about every third episode. So even though it doesn’t seem like the most likely thing for him to say before regenerating, I give it decent odds just based on regularity.

    3. Since Wilfred & Donna are in it, it will probably be “Wilfred Mott, Donna Noble, thank you for everything and…I’m so sorry….”

  20. “How did I get prescription glasses with my last regeneration?”
    “Wait, I don’t really need to regene–”
    “Well, they say everything changes. My turn.”
    “See you soon. Well, *I* won’t see you soon, but still…”
    “The adventure continues.”

  21. Whatever the words are, I can only hope they memorable. For whatever reason, each Doctor’s final words haven’t really been that memorable – if they got true final words at all – save perhaps for the 4th.
    .
    Alas, I feel that the best words the Doctor will speak in this two-part finale for Tennant were already said in the restaurant.
    .
    Side note: Tennant’s last words spoken as the Doctor were in fact “You two, with me, spit spot”, as he filmed the scenes (out of order) for Sarah Jane Adventures after he had finished with the Doctor Who specials. 😉

    1. The ninth Doctor’s were: “You were fantastic. And you know what? So was I.” Or at least something pretty close to that. And since it’s RTD, I’ll imagine he’ll give Tennant something similar.
      .
      PAD

    2. I thought the 3rd Doctor’s parting words were extremely poignant,”Tears, Sarah Jane? Remember when there’s life, there’s…” And Sarah closes his eyes. It made things more interesting in “The Five Doctors” when Sarah felt compelled to tell him about his “replacement.” “What? Teeth and curls? Well maybe I did, but I haven’t yet.”

  22. Russell T. Davies is an awful, awful writer and I imagine the tenth Doctor’s final words will be overblown, self-conscious, embarrassing nonsense.

    The Doctor did make it to Barcelona in one of the comics, and given Davies’ open approach to media tie-in material (audios, novels, comics), I imagine Davies won’t completely ignore that.

  24. Didn’t Lord Blackwood also say something similar to “Death is only the beginning” in SHERLOCK HOLMES?

    I agree; that phrase has kinda become overused in movieland.

    1. Hey, maybe Susan is the older woman who keeps appearing and disappearing. Wouldn’t that be cool?
      .
      PAD

      1. “Wouldn’t that be cool?”
        .
        That would have to make her a Time Lord and thus having gone through a regeneration, otherwise there’s no reason not to use Carole Ann Ford, as she’s still around (setting aside how many would recognize her if she should appear on screen).
        .
        Although, she did just reprise her role of Susan in a Big Finish audio with 8th Doctor Paul McGann recently.
        .
        Still, it seems possible that she’s family to The Doctor.

  27. I think I’ve only seen three of his regenerations, and Tom Baker’s line is the only one that ever stuck in my memory. ‘It is the end…. But the moment has been prepared for.’
    Well, if he does say something cool, please don’t tell us. I don’t know how the rest of you get to see the show, but the PBS station that shows it here is a few years behind the Beeb. The most recent episode I’ve seen had the Titanic crashing into the TARDIS at the end. (And then they started rerunning the last few seasons. I probably won’t get to see what happened next until the Summer.)

    1. If you’re having trouble getting the episodes in a timely manner, try iTunes. Each episode of the show is $2 (standard definition), but I think it’s delayed by a couple of days (maybe a week). Still, it’s better than a year, and you can keep the episode for your rerun pleasure.

      I do all my TV through iTunes (or Hulu, when on the fence), and other than missing Iron Chef, it works great.

      AD

    2. I don’t know how the rest of you get to see the show
      .
      Sci-Fi Channel showed the first few series, but BBC America is showing the new specials and will be airing the new season sometime next year as well.
      .
      Currently, BBCA showed “The Waters of Mars” a month after it aired in the UK, but they’re showing both parts of “The End of Time” a day after their UK airing (on 12/26 and 1/2).
      .
      However, as BBCA completely blew the launch of their HD channel – it’s been 3 months, and still only a handful of minor providers carry it – I still get the episodes (in glorious HD & widescreen) off the internet.

    3. Well Davison’s was something like “Might regenerate, feels different this time” and a voice over of “Adric” when he saw the images of his past companions and the Master. C. Baker didn’t have any since his regen scene was just McCoy in a wig being turned over. McCoy’s didn’t have any due to his circumstances, and the McGann to Eccleson was never shown.

  29. Options include:

    “Well, guess I can’t put it off this time. Ðámņ, I liked this body.”

    “Crap, I’ve just remembered who the Valeyard is. Which regeneration am I on again?”

    (to the Master) “I forgive you.” [yes, again]

    “BARROWMAN!” *shakes fist*

  30. “I’m all out of spare hands…”

    “You can’t negotiate with The End.”

    “Don’t worry, it’s not really loaded…”

    “What’s the worst that can happen?”

    “Here we go again…”

    Wildcat

  32. “Well, at least I got to meet an Alonso..”
    “Well, I’m regenerating and there’s no one to give me a hand…” (BA-DA-BUMP)
    TO WILF: “OI! This TARDIS is not dirty!”
    “I’ve served my purpose: I lived, I had fun..”
    “My final act as the Doctor, saving/curing the Master” (my guess as to what happens. I’ve been avoiding spoilers like H1N1).

    I think Alonsee is the best guess though.
    I’ll miss Tennant, but it will be fun to see what quirks/catchphrases Matt Smith will have.

  33. Given that EoT Part 2 leads -directly- into the new season (i.e., cliffhanger) and I do know what Matt Smith’s first words are (no spoilers), I’m having a helluva time figuring out Tennant’s last. The suspense is killing me.

  35. “It’s amazing – every planet I’ve been to looks like a Welsh quarry…”

  37. “Oh bûggër, weeping angels on the left, daaleks on the right, cybermen ahead and vashta narada behind. I hope the new me is on his toes.”

  38. A friend of mine, aware that Douglas Adams wrote some “Doctor Who,” suggested “So long, and thanks for all the fish.”

    Then, I’ve always liked “It’s been a wonderful lark,” said by Ian Fleming before he passed on.

    1. Well Tennant’s Doctor did mention meeting Arthur Dent after he’d had his first adventure in his Jim-Jams . . .

    1. Any news yet on whether the pilot has been picked up? I like what I’m seeing of the cast so far, Jane Curtin is always fun.
      .
      I bet the title gets shortened. Maybe just “Rex”.

  40. “Second star to the left and straight on ’til morning…”

    Or did someone already use that?

  41. “Regeneration”
    To The Tune Of “My Generation” by The Who

    Daleks try to run me down, talking ’bout regeneration
    Just because I get around, talking ’bout regeneration
    Things I do look after delve, talking ’bout regeneration
    Hope I die before I pass twelve, talking ’bout regeneration

    CHORUS:

    This is regeneration…

    Why don’t I just fade away, talking ’bout regeneration
    Don’t try and dig what I did say, talking ’bout regeneration
    I’m not trying to cause a big cessation, talking ’bout regeneration
    I’m just talking about regeneration, talking ’bout regeneration

    CHORUS

    CHORUS

    Daleks try to run me down, talking ’bout regeneration
    Just because I get around, talking ’bout regeneration
    Things I do look after delve, talking ’bout regeneration
    Hope I die before I pass twelve, talking ’bout regeneration

    CHORUS

    This is regeneration

  43. I understand the desire to hold off commenting on the first part until the whole story is in, but – even if the second half is fantastic – the very least we’ll be able to say about it is, “Great story, but what was up with up with the pacing? gee, the first half was AWFULL”

    Seriously, the second half is going to have to be amazing for me to think the first half was anything other than appalling.

    last words?

    “DON”T DRINK THE WINE!”

    (Actually, that’s not my real prediction – my REAL one is written on a piece of paper, which I will unveil after the episode airs. I’m not writing it as it gives away what I think the doctor will have to do in the second part, and I’m so certain I’m right (’bout the plot, not specifically the last words) I’m afraid of issuing spoilers) 🙂

  45. This is not really a “last words” comment, but does anyone know if they are going to even try to deal with the girfriend from the library? Everything would seem to indicate that thier adventures occured w/ the david tenant doctor. Unless of course she had been somehow dating the single heart doctor stuck in the other dimension w/ billie piper

    1. Well, that’s just wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff 😉

      Seriously though, the actress has been seen filming for the new series, so I’m guessing it’s going to be covered somewhere!

    2. While DOCTOR WHO has hardly been excessively concerned with consistency (remember when you could stop a Dalek by putting a hat on its eye-stalk?), her comment that the David Tennant Doctor looks so much younger would, to my mind, suggest that she married (remember, she knew the Doctor’s secret name — something he didn’t share with even Rose) an older incarnation of the Doctor, not the next one, who apparently is much younger.

      (They could also gloss it over by just alluding to it briefly. In the first half of “The End of Time” the Doctor mentions marrying a queen.)

      1. Yeah, but that was Queen Bess, ie Queen Elizabeth who we saw screaming at her guards to kill the Doctor in “The Shakespeare Code” thus tying up a plothole reference before he regenerates…..cleverly done, actually 🙂

        Anyway, the next Doctor is indeed younger looking, but is actually going to be older, paradoxically. I think she’s talking about him being younger in the sense that he’s not the Doctor she marries, it could well be the next one, but I don’t think it will be this soon.

    3. Given that Stephen Moffat wrote that episode and he loves nonlinear stories, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a lot of her in the future.
      .
      Also, my impression was the same as the others, that she’s never actually met the David Tennant Doctor before. She’s just used to him enough to recognize him in any form.

  48. knowing David and Russel they will want to send the doctor out with some of their charm his last words could be oh well at least it was a trip.

  49. Just watched the first part, and several fitting lines went through my brain, but seeing the shadowy guest star–
    well, I’ll keep it in until everyone can play along. Just remind me to post it. And no, it’s not the first line MOST people would think of seeing this actor.

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