One could say that The Doctor is a dangerous person to know, and choosing to travel with him is playing with fire. The potential for people to get hurt or die is huge.

Look at what happened to Captain Jack (first time around), he starts travelling with the Doctor and after a few adventures he gets killed. Which is probably the most realistic version of what would happen when travelling with the Doctor, as they are so often put in danger, eventually luck will run out.

Which raises questions about the Doctors character, is he a toxic force. The Doctor knows he's putting people in danger and yet still wishes to have people travel with him.

On occasions the Doctor has acknowledged the danger he puts people in, In the God Complex he wanted Amy and Rory to stop travelling with him and the reason he gives - quote - Doctor: Because you're still breathing. Also Doctor: And what's the alternative? Me standing over your grave? Over your broken body? Over Rory's body? - and yet he still takes them on adventures after this.

So what does this say about the Doctor. He likes to travel the universe, he finds a normal earth life boring, he must get a thrill from the life he leads but doing it on his own isn't as fun as having people with him, so he tempts others to live that life in-order for some companionship. Is this inherently selfish, risking other peoples lives so he isn't lonely.

Perhaps The Doctor see's the risk as one worth taking, he said just walking in the street is potentially dangerous (as proven by danny ) but there's a greater danger going to other planets or coming across unfriendly aliens than walking about town. However you get to see the wonders of the universe, you get to see things that very few people are privileged to see, so does the Doctor think this is a risk that the people who travel with him should and will take, because experiencing what he has to offer is more interesting (even worthier) then living a mundane boring life on earth.

Its interesting how The Tardis plays a part in this lifestyle. The Doctor will go towards danger as he likes to help out (or stick his nose in) you could say this is his entertainment his hobby (he chooses to do it after all) and the Tardis wilfully plays along and purposely takes him to places that need help or that will be of interest to him. These places can (usually are) be dangerous so the Tardis also puts the people he welcomes along in danger. Personally I have a silly little theory that the Tardis while taking them some where dangerous still gives them the best shot possible of surviving, after all the Tardis never lands in some alien jungle that could be filled with murderous plants and deadly creatures waiting to pounce from the shadows.

Does the Doctor not think about these things, does he put it to the back of his mind so he can live his life the way he does and only now and again does his conscious play on him (like the God Complex episode and after he lost Amy and Rory, and Donna too) and this leads him to travelling on his own. Yet it never lasts, the loneliness gets to him so he draws people in again.

So while the Doctor wants to helps people, civilisation's, species and worlds and generally is a force of good in the universe, underneath it does he have this vice, a dark side where he puts the people, who often become people he is close too, in danger.

So are The Doctor and the Tardis a toxic force? Do you agree disagree. Appreciate your thoughts.

(sorry for the long post I ramble a lot)

Excellent thread!

I completely agree that the Doctor is dangerous. He justifies the risks he takes with other people's lives by believing that he's giving them a truly unique experience. It's a sort of "you only live once" attitude (although this mantra is not really true for the Doctor, it is very true for his companions, except Romana) and he "sells" it to them on that basis.

For certain the doctor can often be a dark character. the way he dealt with solomon in dinosaurs on a spaceship or 'the family' in human nature/family of blood or his actions in the waters of mars, or his rant at wilf in the end of time are just some of the many examples of this.

He is irresponsible both with his own safety and the safety of those who he encourages to travel with him, treating danger as though it were fun, and is not generally interested in getting close to anyone unless they are willing to spend their life traveling with him. He has likely caused the death of thousands of innocents either through accident or through them intentionally sacrificing themselves for whatever his cause is on that particular day, and when any such death happens, all he can muster is a simple 'sorry' even if he manages that, then minutes later they are forgotten about and it's back to treating the situation like it is a game.

In short he is egotistical, a liar, a thief, an irresponsible old fool, and someone who can often be accused of indirect murder or manslaughter.


BUT

On the other hand he is a child of the universe. He see's wonder in all he encounters and only want's other people to share his wonder with. He believes there is so always so much more to see in the big wide universe that he would be foolish to stay in one place forever. He has many flaws as we all do, but that makes him so much more real as a character than if he was completely 'a good man'. The point is he tries to be, risking his life on almost a daily basis in the spirit of justice and helping others, never asking for thanks, never asking for reward. He does what he does just because he is there, is often the only one who can, and as such for his own sense of decency and his heroic nature feels bound to do so.

He is by no means perfect, but he does his best to try and be the best man he can be, and when all is said and done his spirit is well intentioned and his good features tend to outweigh the bad.

Thank you. I agree he justifies what he does and sells it to his companions as you said, now whether that's right or wrong is nice grey area.

Thank you for your post doctor blue box agree with everything you said. The Doctor is a complex character to say the least and a very fascinating one.

Heroism is a dangerous thing when it goes unchecked,in any character.....which is why the Doctor should never travel alone.
He needs to be regulated by those around him. It keeps him balanced.

Ive never looked forward to a Dr Who series as I am to series 9! Its pathetic of me, but I think its because they seem to be really delving into the ideas behind the show more than ever before, and i like the approach to heroism they are developing.

It's difficult on the one hand yes he is dangerous - he inspires his companions to take risks and put themselves in danger. However there is always a risk in taking action to make the universe a better place. Rory certainly calls him out on it, as does Danny Pink. But on the other hand there is Rose


I guess the idea is something like the civil rights campaigners in the USA - they faced violent assault or death but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth it.

I don't believe the Doctir is putting people in danger as such
Plus people choose to travel with him or have no choice but to travel with him to get home again
The doctor always finds trouble like invasions, end of the world, Galaxy etc but he does his best to make sure his companions are safe mostly

Agree with this he can be dangerous but he also tries to look after his friends and people he is trying to save/ help.

I think this is a theme that's been explored quite a lot since the series returned - I remember being quite surprised by the high body count of those trying to help the Doctor in series 1. A lot of those around him who tried to help have also been killed or deliberately sacrificed themselves to save him in the series since. Since he took over, up to series 8 I think SM tried to keep the body count down (which some complained about), but it's that theme that caused him to ask Clara "Am I a good man?" and Missy/Master brought it up to "prove" the Doctor and she were the same and rail against the Doctor's supposed self righteousness. Something Davros also did much earlier. I think Danny's "officer class" rant against the Doctor comes from a similar place. And the forcing of Clara to make the decision about the moon, and many other incidents in season 8.