In Defence of: "I don't want to go."
lordo350
Posts: 3,634 Forum Member
✭✭✭
Just a little food for thought. Probably going to be a tad essay like, so please feel free to skip this thread 
After Matt's brilliant ending last night (IMHO of course), I've been thinking about Tennant's exit, and how Matt's felt just so much more dignified. After all, Doc 10 went out crying that he didn't want to go. 11 went out accepting the change, even being excited by it. Comparisons across the web have cited Tennant's exit as so inferior in comparison. And, while I have never really liked 10's final line, after watching the Time of the Doctor, I've concluded that it was, actually, the perfect way for 10 to go, and made sense for the Doctor's character as a whole.
It hearkens back to 8 choosing to become the War Doctor, throwing aside everything he believed in and chose to be. As the War Doctor, he hated himself. Hated that he couldn't seem to save anyone. Hated that he was no longer the Doctor. So desperate was he for it to end, he was prepared to wipe out all of Gallifrey to do it. Although we now know he didn't succeed, as far as Doc 9 was concerned... he did.
We meet Doc 9 at probably the lowest point ever in the Doctor's life. He's fresh from the War, fresh from an incarnation he despised, and more than anything... he's disgusted with himself for what he did to Gallifrey. However, the War was over, and, for the first time in probably 100s of years, he could finally be the Doctor again. He could finally save lives, and through Rose, he began to get better. On Satellite 5, he was prepared to die to finally wipe out the Daleks, and is prepared to sacrifice himself for Rose. He refuses to kill the Daleks if it means destroying Earth, basically the same decision he had to make on Gallifrey, stating he's not a killer. 9 was recovering, and gladly sacrificed himself to save Rose. Right at the very end, he realized that he was still the Doctor after all, and didn't have to spend the rest of his life so guilty.
And, thus, along came 10. Now less burdened by the Time War, 10 threw himself into his adventures. He was the Doctor again, the man he'd always wanted to be. As 10, he felt something he'd not felt in years; he generally loved being himself. 11 states that 10 had vanity issues, and that is very true. It's not because 10 was handsome and didn't want to change. It was because, as 10, the Doctor was happier than he had been in years. The guilt for the war was still there, but he was able to look past it, and try to move on.
So, when 10 was faced with a regeneration, he really doesn't want to go. After so long, he was finally the Doctor again in himself, and relished it. To loose the incarnation where he finally felt he could face himself in the mirror, the incarnation in which he properly recovered... it terrified him. He had no idea what he would turn into. Would his new persona see things the same way 10 did? What if that crushing guilt came back, worse? Or, what if the new incarnation was more like the War Doctor, and he ended up doing something even more terrible than he did? So desperate was he to cling onto the better man he'd become, he chose not to change in Journey's End, basically wasting a regeneration.
However, in the End of Time, there was nothing to stop it. He was going to change no matter what he did. And he didn't want to. He couldn't abide the thought of it. He couldn't become a "new man that goes sauntering away," not after he'd come so far as 10. But, change he did, into 11.
10's final moments make even more sense when you look at 11. As 11, the Doctor realized that the change was not a bad thing. 11 had an even better time than 10 most of the time, always choosing a scenario that kept himself smiling. 11 had a bit of a sarcastic reaction to 10 saying "I don't want to go" again last month, mainly because he remembered how it felt when 10 died, and, on reflection, how he really need not have been so worried. After hundreds of years as 11, after saving Gallifrey, and after having decided he was going to truly die on Trenzalore, 11 welcomes the change into 12. He's realized that change isn't a bad thing, but a welcome one. He's no idea who he's about to be, but for the first time since 7 changed into 8, he's not petrified at the thought of it.
So, there you have it. My ramblings on a massive character arc for the Doctor, started by RTD and properly completed by Moff. Personally, on reflection I think it's been so beautifully done. Eccleston, Tennant and Smith played the Doctor so differently, yet, because of this, it's easy to remember that all three Doctors are, fundamentally, the same man. A man going on a journey and finding himself once more.
And it's been a treat to see. I can't wait what is in store for 12.
After Matt's brilliant ending last night (IMHO of course), I've been thinking about Tennant's exit, and how Matt's felt just so much more dignified. After all, Doc 10 went out crying that he didn't want to go. 11 went out accepting the change, even being excited by it. Comparisons across the web have cited Tennant's exit as so inferior in comparison. And, while I have never really liked 10's final line, after watching the Time of the Doctor, I've concluded that it was, actually, the perfect way for 10 to go, and made sense for the Doctor's character as a whole.
It hearkens back to 8 choosing to become the War Doctor, throwing aside everything he believed in and chose to be. As the War Doctor, he hated himself. Hated that he couldn't seem to save anyone. Hated that he was no longer the Doctor. So desperate was he for it to end, he was prepared to wipe out all of Gallifrey to do it. Although we now know he didn't succeed, as far as Doc 9 was concerned... he did.
We meet Doc 9 at probably the lowest point ever in the Doctor's life. He's fresh from the War, fresh from an incarnation he despised, and more than anything... he's disgusted with himself for what he did to Gallifrey. However, the War was over, and, for the first time in probably 100s of years, he could finally be the Doctor again. He could finally save lives, and through Rose, he began to get better. On Satellite 5, he was prepared to die to finally wipe out the Daleks, and is prepared to sacrifice himself for Rose. He refuses to kill the Daleks if it means destroying Earth, basically the same decision he had to make on Gallifrey, stating he's not a killer. 9 was recovering, and gladly sacrificed himself to save Rose. Right at the very end, he realized that he was still the Doctor after all, and didn't have to spend the rest of his life so guilty.
And, thus, along came 10. Now less burdened by the Time War, 10 threw himself into his adventures. He was the Doctor again, the man he'd always wanted to be. As 10, he felt something he'd not felt in years; he generally loved being himself. 11 states that 10 had vanity issues, and that is very true. It's not because 10 was handsome and didn't want to change. It was because, as 10, the Doctor was happier than he had been in years. The guilt for the war was still there, but he was able to look past it, and try to move on.
So, when 10 was faced with a regeneration, he really doesn't want to go. After so long, he was finally the Doctor again in himself, and relished it. To loose the incarnation where he finally felt he could face himself in the mirror, the incarnation in which he properly recovered... it terrified him. He had no idea what he would turn into. Would his new persona see things the same way 10 did? What if that crushing guilt came back, worse? Or, what if the new incarnation was more like the War Doctor, and he ended up doing something even more terrible than he did? So desperate was he to cling onto the better man he'd become, he chose not to change in Journey's End, basically wasting a regeneration.
However, in the End of Time, there was nothing to stop it. He was going to change no matter what he did. And he didn't want to. He couldn't abide the thought of it. He couldn't become a "new man that goes sauntering away," not after he'd come so far as 10. But, change he did, into 11.
10's final moments make even more sense when you look at 11. As 11, the Doctor realized that the change was not a bad thing. 11 had an even better time than 10 most of the time, always choosing a scenario that kept himself smiling. 11 had a bit of a sarcastic reaction to 10 saying "I don't want to go" again last month, mainly because he remembered how it felt when 10 died, and, on reflection, how he really need not have been so worried. After hundreds of years as 11, after saving Gallifrey, and after having decided he was going to truly die on Trenzalore, 11 welcomes the change into 12. He's realized that change isn't a bad thing, but a welcome one. He's no idea who he's about to be, but for the first time since 7 changed into 8, he's not petrified at the thought of it.
So, there you have it. My ramblings on a massive character arc for the Doctor, started by RTD and properly completed by Moff. Personally, on reflection I think it's been so beautifully done. Eccleston, Tennant and Smith played the Doctor so differently, yet, because of this, it's easy to remember that all three Doctors are, fundamentally, the same man. A man going on a journey and finding himself once more.
And it's been a treat to see. I can't wait what is in store for 12.
0
Comments
Personally, I've never had a problem with it although I can't really say the same about Matt Smith's swansong, which all seemed to reek of "flogging a dead horse" to me.
I liked Matt Smith as DW but his exit seemed to lack a lot of the natural energy and eccentric frivolity that was his hallmark.
I couldn't have put it better myself and a really good way of looking at it in context. Whether this was in RTD's mind at the time of writing it we will never know but Moff has turned it from a slightly overdramatic vain line into something that IMHO is quite moving.
Not only had 10 not lived very long compared to other Doctors, with his zest for life and wanting to remain what he had become came a degree of vanity. Paraphrasing, the non-regeneration that actually was came with a "Why would I want to change, look at me!" and he referred to himself as "a handsome man in a suit" in the 50th. Not a criticism, it's a valid characteristic of his Doctor. (and indeed Colin's too thinking back. The Doctor isn't and never has been a perfect hero. Quite right, too.)
One big thing, for me, was that it usually seems like DW is resigned to allowing certain key historical events to happen.
He's obviously broken up about the events of "The Fires of Pompeii", for example, but he accepts that it's a fixed point in time so he can't monkey around with it.
However, in "The Waters of Mars", he spends most of his time grappling with the dilemma of whether he should let everybody die, knowing it's what spurs humanity to explore space, or whether he should try and save them.
In the end he seems to think "F**k it! I'm the only time-lord in town so it's up to ME, and me alone, to decide how this stuff works from now on!" and that's an attitude he seems to carry with him through "The End Of Time" so he's obviously going to be completely gutted to realise, after just making the decision that he's not going to play by the rules any more, that he's not going to get the opportunity to actually fix the entire universe after all.
Contrary to many people's opinions I really enjoyed Martha, Human Nature Two parter and the finale really showed her in a good light, but I felt she was saddled by the ghost of Rose. Series 4, I felt I really enjoyed Doctor Who, the Doctor and Donna pairing really felt right, but annoyingly Rose kept popping up again and the more she kept popping up the more I started to really resent the Doctor and Rose together.
I don't know quite what it was but that last two episodes of series 4, while they are good in many respects, really grate. This was Donna's exit and yet I feel in many ways this was overshadowed.
Add in my annoyance of yet another 1 season companion, (I honestly feel that if they had kept Martha on for another season she would have grown) that has to exit at the finale, why can't people leave mid season any more!
Then to the specials, I liked them less and less as they went on. They felt indulgent and smug, I felt Tennant's Doctor was growing more smug and more annoying as it went on as though he was God and it was all about him. I think this is where a lot of the greatest Doctor vibe comes from, he seemed like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread and could do no wrong.
I felt that the nadir of indulgence happened during the two part send off. Suffice to say I was not a fan of that interpretation of the Master which soured me to the episodes, but having to then go back and look at how everyone had done (Martha and Micky together?!?) and then OMG it's back to Rose!
The "I don't want to go" felt over indulgent and wrong for the time, the whole idea of the end was really annoying, in my opinion. I felt no sadness unlike last night, and was actually just glad for a change.
Thinking about it, I think it puts Ten's "I don't want to go" in even more context.
10 appears to have had a relatively short life. The fact he wasn't ready to go is hardly surprising. He also had to deal with it being told to him yonks in advance. Imagine knowing your time is up but not how or when exactly. He also had no young companion to disguise his fear for. There was nothing undignified about his exit, it was just natural. He was scared or his whole body and personality changing (who wouldn't be? especially when it's already been established he has little control over the outcome) and if you add the new fact in that if he made it through the regeneration he was on his last life - it might be a retcon by SM but it can still be called a factor. .
Nine on the other hand. who normally gets given as an example of a dignified regeneration, had just sacrificed himself for the woman he loved and was dealing with survivor's guilt. It was an opportunity to let that go and move forward.
With eleven he had lived a long life and he still despaired at going to trenzalore in the NOTD.
So no I don't think Ten needs defending.
Even it was engendered by RTD falling in love with Tennant.
I agree 10 lived for about 6 years so I can see why he wouldn't be ready to go just yet
By the time 11 had regenerated he had lived for about 1000 years so was ready to go
Pure, self indulgent crap.
Eccleston to Tennant, was understated and brilliant.
Its like the writing team completely lost the plot when it came to tennants end.
Read RTD's The Writers Tale.
Some of the stuff in there is inspired, some of it isn't. It's amazing how one idea, on a whim, can sink or swim an episode.
The biggest reveal, in a way, is how deadlines and production issues shape the whole thing. The 'wish list' is hardly ever granted to the actors, writer, crew, or fans.
At some point you just have to point the camera and see what happens.
This wasn't helped with the LOTR-style protracted ending, which weakened his final exit for me. Done for the DT fans (and rightly there were many) and as a bit of a sign-off for RTD (who I think is ace), it just felt self-indulgent - and not for the first time towards the end of DT's era.
It was like the lights had come up and the players were taking their bows. Which had the net result of me shouting "Just go already!" (or rather an equivalent English phrase).
During his regeneration, ever since he heard those four knocks from the booth, he fails to live up to this promise. He's both cruel and cowardly towards Wilf and, in the process, fails the second part as well. Everything that the burning of Gallifrey was supposed to represent is repeated here. Oh it's not the fate of the universe, just one man in a glass box and one timelord outside of it. But the scale is irrelevant, the Doctor can save an innocent life and first chooses to rant and rave about how unfair it is that he has to do this. He *hurts* Wilf in just about the worst way he could and does so willingly and without reason. In that moment he is not only no longer the Doctor... he's no longer the hero of the show and fails the audience.
Yes, I know that's a tad meta but regeneration is a seriously traumatic time for a big chunk of fandom. For younger kids especially it's likely to be the first time a well known character has 'died' on screen. Doubly so when you have a long serving and well-liked Doctor who is the first Doctor for a whole generation. At some point he needs to reassure those fans that this *isn't* death and that - in this show at least - while you can morn the loss of a favourite face the man behind it carries on.
Ten's farewell doesn't do any of that. In fact it goes out of its way to make it seem like the end not just of the tenth but the Doctor himself. It's practically screaming that everything you loved about the series is going to die the instant Tennant leaves the screen. I can see what they were going for but for whatever reason they vastly overshot the mark. Maybe it was the rush to get it written, maybe it was the emotion of so many of the production team leaving as well as David, maybe it was the empty TARDIS that left them no way to mitigate what came before via companion intervention. Whatever the reason though it left a deep, deep hole behind it and thankfully we had a fabulous crew both in front of and behind the camera to pull the show out of it.
I'd go along with that, although as stated above think the OP puts things into context very well.
Put it this way; I've never really had any desire to watch TEOT since broadcast. Watching yesterday's episode on I-player today, I kept going back to watch the last ten minutes until I felt like I was in a time-loop!
Though it'd be impossible to give an outright reason as to why that is, I think it boils down to a number of things. The whole of 2009 was an extended farewell to the Tenth Doctor...the lack of a companion, the lack of episodes in general and the plotlines made it out to be about little else. From Journey's End, the Tenth Doctor was on borrowed time. And that's the exact reason why, especially after his 'farewell tour' that I didn't like his final line...
It's a bit like someone saying farewell to everyone at a party and then as they walk out the door and up the street they say back to the people on the doorstep "I don't want to leave"... it's jarring, it's out of place, and it's even worse if you happen to be someone else who didn't much care for the company of the person leaving in the first place.
Iordo35's summation seems right, I agree.
As an incidental, I've had to explain to people (friends and family, not people at the bus stop) that DT was the Doctor for such a short amount of time compared to the rest. I've compared him to my toddler niece before now. Is he the shortest incarnation (or two?)?
I think Chris/The 9th Doctor was the shortest it was implied he had just regenerated during the events of Rose so only was The Doctor for about 1 year
That I always found odd, it is implied in the episode, but then the episode goes on to show all the adventures he has had as 9
Well he could have done that during the few moments he left Rose for him it could have been a few weeks or months
Maybe he did that to get photographed so when Rose found them (yes earlier in the episode but timey wimey and all that) it would be proof he could time travel.
Basically, Ten's regeneration fits with everything we could possibly relate to it. It works just fine in context.
This was re-iterated in Time of the Doctor, where he's had the same argument with himself for 300 years.
The problem is one hour and fifty minutes of utter tosh that precedes it.