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{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|image =Human Nature chapter four.jpg
|image       = John Smith (Seventh Doctor).jpg
|name = Dr John Smith
|alias       = [[Seventh Doctor]]
|alias = The [[Seventh Doctor]]
|species     = Human
|species=Human
|origin     = [[Earth]]
|origin = [[Earth]]
|first      = Prelude Human Nature (short story)
|appearances =[[PROSE]]: ''[[Prelude Human Nature (short story)|Prelude Human Nature]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Human Nature (novel)|Human Nature]]''
|appearances = [[PROSE]]: ''[[Human Nature (novel)|Human Nature]]''
|actor =  
}}{{you may|Seventh Doctor|n1 = the Time Lord this human is based on|John Smith|n2=other individuals named John Smith}}
}}
{{doctors}}
{{dab page|John Smith}}
'''Dr John Smith''' was a [[human]] identity created by the [[Seventh Doctor]].
'''Dr John Smith''' was a [[human]] identity created by the [[Seventh Doctor]].
== Biography ==
John Smith was created by the Doctor to understand his [[human]] [[companion]] [[Bernice Summerfield]]'s grief at the death of [[Guy de Carnac]].
John Smith was created by the Doctor to understand his [[human]] [[companion]] [[Bernice Summerfield]]'s grief at the death of [[Guy de Carnac]].


He was a [[Scotland|Scotsman]] who supposedly came from [[Aberdeen]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Prelude Human Nature (short story)|Prelude Human Nature]]'') He taught history, specifically that of the [[Bronze Age]], at [[Hulton College]] in [[Farringham]], [[Norfolk]]. Although he was portrayed as lacking the Doctor's knack for plans, as well as being more emotionally available than the Doctor, he nevertheless displayed the Doctor's key beliefs about violence, being unwilling to take up guns even after seeing one of his students shot. He was briefly the lover of [[Joan Redfern (novel character)|Joan Redfern]], but this relationship was cut short when Farringham was attacked by the [[Aubertide]]s, a race of creatures seeking the Doctor's biodata- contained in a pod for when the Doctor was ready to become Gallifreyan once more- to increase their reproductive cycle and allow them to conquer Gallifrey.
== History ==
Smith was a [[Scotland|Scotsman]] who supposedly came from [[Aberdeen]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Prelude Human Nature (short story)|Prelude Human Nature]]'') He taught history, specifically that of the [[Bronze Age]], at [[Hulton College]] in [[Farringham]], [[Norfolk]]. Although he lacked the Doctor's knack for plans, and was more emotionally available than the Doctor, he nevertheless displayed the Doctor's key beliefs on non-violence, being unwilling to take up guns even after seeing one of his students shot. He was briefly the lover of [[Joan Redfern (novel character)|Joan Redfern]], but this relationship was cut short when Farringham was attacked by the [[Aubertide]]s, a race of creatures seeking the Doctor's [[biodata]] — contained in a pod for when the Doctor was ready to become Gallifreyan once more to increase their reproductive cycle and allow them to conquer [[Gallifrey]].


Although scared by the alienness of what the Doctor represented, Smith was persuaded to assume the Doctor's identity once again when a vision of 'Verity'- an old relationship of his, but really an aspect of [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] left in Smith's mind to protect those aspects of the Doctor that couldn't be extracted- reminded him of how the two were similar. Having returned to normal, the Doctor tricked one of the aliens into taking the pod that now contained Smith's biodata. The alien turned into Smith, who chose to sacrifice himself for Joan. After a brief conversation with the Doctor- during which the Doctor told Smith that he did rather well in his time as the Doctor- Smith was taken by [[Death]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Human Nature (novel)|Human Nature]]'')
Although scared by what the Doctor represented, Smith was persuaded to assume the Doctor's identity once again when a vision of "Verity" — an old relationship of his, but really an aspect of [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] left in Smith's mind to protect those aspects of the Doctor that couldn't be extracted reminded him of how the two were similar. Having returned to normal, the Doctor tricked one of the aliens into taking the pod that now contained Smith's biodata. The alien turned into Smith, who chose to sacrifice himself for Joan. After a brief conversation with the Doctor during which the Doctor told Smith that he did rather well in his time as the Doctor Smith was taken by [[Death (mythology)|Death]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Human Nature (novel)|Human Nature]]'') fulfilling the deal the Doctor made with Death on the planet [[Heaven (Love and War)|Heaven]], where the Doctor offered Death one of his lives in exchange for [[Ace]]'s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'')


Three lifetimes later, the [[Tenth Doctor]] again assumed the human alias of [[John Smith (Tenth Doctor)|John Smith]], this time attempting to escape the [[Family of Blood]], an incorporeal race who sought the Doctor's DNA to increase their lifespan, via the use of the [[Chameleon Arch]]. Unlike the Seventh Doctor's Smith, the Tenth's Smith was far more a product of his time, as evidenced by his slightly racist treatment of his companion [[Martha Jones]], while remaining fairly similar to the Tenth Doctor in general details about his personality, such as a habit of talking too much. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' / ''[[The Family of Blood]]'')
=== Legacy ===
These events played out several times, with differing foes but similar events; ([[WC]]: ''[[Shadow of a Doubt (audio story)|Shadow of a Doubt]]'') four lifetimes later, the [[Tenth Doctor]] again assumed the human alias of [[John Smith (Tenth Doctor)|John Smith]], this time attempting to escape the [[Family of Blood]], an incorporeal race who sought the Doctor's DNA to increase their lifespan, via the use of the [[Chameleon Arch]]. Unlike the Seventh Doctor's Smith, the Tenth Doctor's Smith was far more a product of his time, as evidenced by his slightly [[Racism|racist]] treatment of his companion [[Martha Jones]], while remaining fairly similar to the Tenth Doctor in general details about his personality, such as a habit of talking too much and fearing death. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' / ''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
* According to writer [[Paul Cornell]], Death taking Smith was intended to be the fulfilment of the deal the Doctor made with Death in ''[[Love and War (novel)|Love and War]]'', where the Doctor offered Death one of his lives in exchange for [[Ace]]'s.
* While the Seventh Doctor's John Smith was significantly different from the Doctor in personality- such as his inability to improvise plans and his willingness to express emotions- while retaining some of the Doctor's essential core beliefs such as his refusal to use weapons and his open-mindedness about issues such as skin colour, the [[Tenth Doctor]]'s [[John Smith (Tenth Doctor)|John Smith]] persona was more of a product of his time- willing to use weapons and occasionally bluntly dismissive of [[Martha Jones]] due to her skin colour- while being relatively similar to the Tenth Doctor's basic personality in areas such as his tendency to talk a lot when excited and his willingness to express emotions.
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:Human history teachers]]
[[Category:Human history teachers]]
[[Category:Seventh Doctor]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:Aliases of the Doctor|Smith]]
[[Category:Aliases of the Seventh Doctor]]
[[Category:Incarnations of the Doctor]]
[[Category:Partial Time Lords]]
[[Category:Partial Time Lords]]

Latest revision as of 13:25, 17 September 2024

Dr John Smith was a human identity created by the Seventh Doctor. John Smith was created by the Doctor to understand his human companion Bernice Summerfield's grief at the death of Guy de Carnac.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Smith was a Scotsman who supposedly came from Aberdeen. (PROSE: Prelude Human Nature) He taught history, specifically that of the Bronze Age, at Hulton College in Farringham, Norfolk. Although he lacked the Doctor's knack for plans, and was more emotionally available than the Doctor, he nevertheless displayed the Doctor's key beliefs on non-violence, being unwilling to take up guns even after seeing one of his students shot. He was briefly the lover of Joan Redfern, but this relationship was cut short when Farringham was attacked by the Aubertides, a race of creatures seeking the Doctor's biodata — contained in a pod for when the Doctor was ready to become Gallifreyan once more — to increase their reproductive cycle and allow them to conquer Gallifrey.

Although scared by what the Doctor represented, Smith was persuaded to assume the Doctor's identity once again when a vision of "Verity" — an old relationship of his, but really an aspect of the TARDIS left in Smith's mind to protect those aspects of the Doctor that couldn't be extracted — reminded him of how the two were similar. Having returned to normal, the Doctor tricked one of the aliens into taking the pod that now contained Smith's biodata. The alien turned into Smith, who chose to sacrifice himself for Joan. After a brief conversation with the Doctor — during which the Doctor told Smith that he did rather well in his time as the Doctor — Smith was taken by Death, (PROSE: Human Nature) fulfilling the deal the Doctor made with Death on the planet Heaven, where the Doctor offered Death one of his lives in exchange for Ace's. (PROSE: Love and War)

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

These events played out several times, with differing foes but similar events; (WC: Shadow of a Doubt) four lifetimes later, the Tenth Doctor again assumed the human alias of John Smith, this time attempting to escape the Family of Blood, an incorporeal race who sought the Doctor's DNA to increase their lifespan, via the use of the Chameleon Arch. Unlike the Seventh Doctor's Smith, the Tenth Doctor's Smith was far more a product of his time, as evidenced by his slightly racist treatment of his companion Martha Jones, while remaining fairly similar to the Tenth Doctor in general details about his personality, such as a habit of talking too much and fearing death. (TV: Human Nature / The Family of Blood)