Forum:The Tenth Doctor's "Well?"

Forums → Archive index → Reference desk archives → The Tenth Doctor's "Well?"

This thread has been archived.

Please create a new thread on the new forums if you want to talk about this topic some more.
Please DO NOT add to this discussion.

I just realized I should write this, maybe. When I was watching City of Death a few months ago, my dad pointed out that the Fourth Doctor's way of saying "Well?" is very much like the Tenth. Does this mean that David Tennant is trying to copy Tom Baker when his Doctor says "Well?" and if so, should we stick it into the articles for both Doctors? The 4th doctor 04:47, November 30, 2009 (UTC)

David Tennant has talked about lifting various mannerisms from various past Doctors. And, since he grew up on the 4th and 5th Doctor, he lifts a lot more from the two of them. I think his using Tom Baker's "Well" is pretty clearly one of these intentional references. --99.170.146.147 07:57, December 28, 2009 (UTC) dont forget the 5ths brainy specks

Also, while not quite using the same tone of voice the 10th Doctor, like the 4th, has a very pronounced way of saying "what" when something surprising happens.--Doorofnight 20:38, January 10, 2010 (UTC)

Good point. Like when he uses the 2nd Doctor's "When I say run, run!" in a totally different tone of voice, but it's still obvious where it comes from. --99.8.229.156 10:02, January 12, 2010 (UTC)

Or indeed the Seventh's "feet-and-all" way of flying the TARDIS, as in Delta and the Bannermen. CzechOut ☎ | ✍ 17:33, February 1, 2010 (UTC)

Many Doctors have used the line "When I say run, run!" (see Talk: Warriors of the Deep). --Stillnotginger 04:07, February 21, 2010 (UTC)

I could be wrong, but I think Troughton used this first, and reasonably often, and for later Doctors it's always been a sort of winking refernce to the Second Doctor, just as when any other Doctor reverses the polarity of anything it's a reference to the Third Doctor. (Didn't the Tenth Doctor even make a joke about "I used to be a lot better at reversing the polairty" or something with Lazarus's device?)

But you're right (on that Talk page) that it would be good to organize a list of these catchphrases and running gags--where they originated, which later stories (and maybe novels, etc.) they were used in, whether they're externally notable (e.g., "reverse the polarity" is sort of a catchphrase for the entire series in wider SF fandom). And, as you imply, not just The Doctors' lines, but others' ("My vision is impaired!"). --99.33.25.56 10:24, February 25, 2010 (UTC)

Also, every tenth Doctor comic book I've seen has the tenth doctor saying " If I can reverse the polarity of the neutron flow,...". Codename:122.59.153.89 00:25, July 25, 2010 (UTC)

I've started up a skeleton of a potential page on my user page under projects, could use some input and help. --Stillnotginger 07:28, February 27, 2010 (UTC)

Wow, I didn't realize where most of his catchphrases and stuff come from. The 4th doctor 01:30, February 4, 2010 (UTC)

The advantages of these lifted mannerisms is that they really help to reinforce the point that all these "different" men are really all the same Doctor Eternalcelery 03:27, February 21, 2010 (UTC)