Sixth Doctor/Psychological profile
The Sixth Doctor's possessed a psychological profile that was abrasive and detached, with his softer side only occasionally showing through. An argumentative, arrogant, and vain soul to begin with, he later mellowed into a more empathetic, joyful individual, despite bouts of deep depression and trials to his character.
Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]
With the satisfaction of performing the greater good always at the heart of his actions, the Sixth Doctor held a thunderous presence that remained unwavering and uncompromising when confronting the evils of the universe, with the Doctor likening himself to a heroic knight errant. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) Just as likely as he was to be a mischievously cuddly theatrical as he was a viciously intelligent sarcastic, (AUDIO: Bloodtide [+]Loading...["Bloodtide (audio story)"]) he revelled in taking people by surprise by performing the unexpected, (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) and often browbeat others into submission with his grammarian use of language, with Banto Zame complaining that "talking [to him was] like arguing with a thesaurus", (AUDIO: The One Doctor [+]Loading...["The One Doctor (audio story)"]) and Sabalom Glitz saying the Doctor could "talk an ayatollah into opening an off-licence". (PROSE: Mission: Impractical [+]Loading...["Mission: Impractical (novel)"])
Though he tried to remain detached from his surroundings, even imploring others to likewise not "get emotional" when facing painful revelations, (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) the Doctor was quick to act when the situation called for it, with not even his companions being able to get in his way. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) While his primary concern was helping others in need, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) the Doctor tried not to think about his actions in advance. (TV: Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"])
Preferring to face danger to the end instead of living in fear, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) the Sixth Doctor would remain unfazed when in the line of fire, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) or in the face of the unknown. (TV: Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) Even when helpless or under threat, he would be unafraid to speak his mind. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) However, once he had decided he was doomed, the Doctor would accept his demise with quite dignity. (TV: Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"]) He was also unable to escape his own curiosity, refusing to leave a mystery until he had the answers. (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"])
During his early days, the Sixth Doctor could be unpredictable, self-absorbed, argumentative and arrogant, believing himself greatly superior to anyone he encountered, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) though was critical of himself when realising his mistakes, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He enjoyed proving people wrong when they doubted what he said. (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"]) His adventurous side still remained, but the Sixth Doctor was more selfish about it, especially when it came to decision making, often deciding he knew what Peri wanted out of her travels and telling her where she wanted to go instead of asking her. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"])
While he lost his compassion to post-regeneration trauma, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) he learnt to care for others after realising his mistake in doubting Lytton's motives. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) He could be especially blasé in the face of death, to the point that he would deliver quips to dead bodies, (TV: Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) though he still felt regret when good people died. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He employed a more direct approach to how he resolved a situation, (TV: Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"]) and would make plans in preparation for his adventures instead of waiting for events to happen, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) though he would improvise his way out of a situation if he had no choice. (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"])
He worried he would be seen as frightening, and was willing to isolate himself if he thought he was a danger to others. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) However, he would deliberately exaggerate his argumentative nature in order to fool people into leaving him be when he wanted to act alone, (TV: Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"]) being especially blunt when dealing with people he wished to ignore. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"]) Despite his hubris approach, the Doctor knew when to be serious, such as when he rushed to help Lytton after exiting his TARDIS in a comedic manner. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"])
By the time he met Frobisher, the Doctor still had a chip on his shoulder when it came to being in one place for too long, but was friendlier to those he met, even taking the Whifferdill's decision to join him as a companion in his stride, (COMIC: The Shape Shifter [+]Loading...["The Shape Shifter (comic story)"]) though he was still rude and dismissive towards Frobisher. (COMIC: Voyager [+]Loading...["Voyager (comic story)"]) However, he held life at value, being aghast when people were sacrificed to achieve a goal, and offering emotional support to those that had suffered great loses, (COMIC: War-Game [+]Loading...["War-Game (comic story)"]) but would wait until asked for hospitality instead of offering it. (COMIC: Exodus [+]Loading...["Exodus (comic story)"])
When Peri was distressed over the idea that Ravolox was a devastated Earth, the Doctor tried to comfort her, even showing empathy for her plight, despite initially telling her not to get emotional. (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) He was devastated when presented with the news of Peri's demise on Thoros Beta, and was enraged that the Time Lords had engineered her execution, threatening he had every intention of discovering what they were up to. (TV: Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"]) When he discovered the Time Lords had relocated Earth and renamed it Ravolox to keep the secrets of the Matrix from being exposed, the Doctor announced his purpose was to stop evil and power mad conspirators. (TV: The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"])
After the events of his trial, the Doctor became more aggressive and irascible (PROSE: Time of Your Life [+]Loading...["Time of Your Life (novel)"]) to cover up a depression that was so deep and consuming that he even contemplated suicide. (PROSE: Killing Ground [+]Loading...["Killing Ground (novel)"]) He showed a lack of faith, and even a dislike, for his companion, Grant Markham, as a means of changing his future, demonstrating his lack of consideration for his companion, and even self-absorption for his own problems. (PROSE: Time of Your Life [+]Loading...["Time of Your Life (novel)"]) However, his opinion of Grant changed after Grant proved that he wasn't as unlikeable as he initially believed. (PROSE: Killing Ground [+]Loading...["Killing Ground (novel)"])
After he was used by the Myriad Mathew Sharpe, (AUDIO: The Lure of the Nomad [+]Loading...["The Lure of the Nomad (audio story)"]) the Doctor began questioning his desire to help others, growing emotionally exhorted enough to try and become a background presence while he dealt with the lingering betrayal he felt from his trial until an adventure with the "Katy Manning" Iris got him out of his funk, (AUDIO: The Wormery [+]Loading...["The Wormery (audio story)"]) leading him to start acting calmer and more adjusted, though still haunted by his guilt for "[having] led friends to their deaths and caused numerous wars" while also influencing "peaceful people [into] taking up arms, and good people [into] having their faith or reason destroyed." (AUDIO: The Marian Conspiracy [+]Loading...["The Marian Conspiracy (audio story)"])
The Doctor continued to mature in the company of Evelyn Smythe, to the point that Melanie Bush called her "the woman who tamed the Doctor". (AUDIO: Thicker Than Water [+]Loading...["Thicker Than Water (audio story)"]) While he could still be irritated by bureaucracy, the Doctor became more willing to apologies for his outbursts, and make others feel included in his victories, (AUDIO: The Spectre of Lanyon Moor [+]Loading...["The Spectre of Lanyon Moor (audio story)"]) though he would give them the option to retreat if his objective was sufficiently dangerous. (AUDIO: The Apocalypse Element [+]Loading...["The Apocalypse Element (audio story)"]) He even came to see how his flippant attitude towards death was alienating from how Evelyn reacted to him. (AUDIO: Arrangements for War [+]Loading...["Arrangements for War (audio story)"], Medicinal Purposes [+]Loading...["Medicinal Purposes (audio story)"]) Upon meeting an iteration of himself from just after his trial following his travels with Evelyn, the Doctor reflected how his demeanour had changed, noting how "obstreperous" he used to be. (AUDIO: The Wrong Doctors [+]Loading...["The Wrong Doctors (audio story)"])
While travelling with Frobisher again, the Doctor became friendlier and more playful, even sharing jokes with Frobisher during serious situations. (AUDIO: The Holy Terror [+]Loading...["The Holy Terror (audio story)"])
Despite his high spirits, the Sixth Doctor did possess a melancholy side to him, believing that the universe would have gone on if he had stayed on Gallifrey, though admitted it would be in a different shape, and once desired only to fish instead of involve himself in another crisis. (COMIC: Time & Time Again [+]Loading...["Time & Time Again (comic story)"]) He claimed he would begin a "vegetarian diet" after almost transforming into an Androgum, (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) but this claim was dubious. (PROSE: Instruments of Darkness [+]Loading...["Instruments of Darkness (novel)"], The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up [+]Loading...["The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up (short story)"]) When reading a newspaper, the Doctor would focus on the cartoons and crosswords. (AUDIO: Excelis Rising [+]Loading...["Excelis Rising (audio story)"])
He also seemed unable to see his own faults, but would hypocritically criticise those that showed them, particularly the Valeyard. (TV: The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) He accused Peri of being an "egotistical young lady", (TV: The Caves of Androzani [+]Loading...["The Caves of Androzani (TV story)"]) and of being overweight. (TV: Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He also rebuked Balazar for boasting about his knowledge. (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) He did, however, admit he had misjudged Lytton following his death and their defeat of the Cybermen, feeling bad even after he had kept Earth safe and the timeline intact. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"])
The Doctor liked Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn, (PROSE: Business Unusual [+]Loading...["Business Unusual (novel)"]) the Star Wars Special Editions, (PROSE: Mission: Impractical [+]Loading...["Mission: Impractical (novel)"]) Creature from the Black Lagoon, (AUDIO: Pier Pressure [+]Loading...["Pier Pressure (audio story)"]) and dinosaurs. (AUDIO: Excelis Rising [+]Loading...["Excelis Rising (audio story)"]) Among his favourite words were "serendipity" and "fortuitous", (AUDIO: The Hollows of Time [+]Loading...["The Hollows of Time (audio story)"]) and Late-Victorian Britain was one of his favourite times and places. (PROSE: Wish You Were Here [+]Loading...["Wish You Were Here (ST short story)"]) He disliked hotels. (AUDIO: The One Doctor [+]Loading...["The One Doctor (audio story)"])
Mel Bush remembered the Sixth Doctor having a fondness for cats, (TV: Time and the Rani [+]Loading...["Time and the Rani (TV story)"]) with the Doctor himself agreeing with Charley Pollard when she noted that he "had a way with cats", stating that "cats had a way with [him]". (AUDIO: The Condemned [+]Loading...["The Condemned (audio story)"]) He adorned his attire with cats, such as wearing a cat brooch on his left lapel, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) cat cufflinks, (AUDIO: Trouble in Paradise [+]Loading...["Trouble in Paradise (audio story)"]) and a tie printed with little cats on it, (PROSE: Blue Box [+]Loading...["Blue Box (novel)"]) while also carrying a cat themed face mask on his person. (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) He even owned a pair of silvery silk pyjamas covered in pictures of different species of cat, all of them wearing his patchwork coat, (PROSE: Instruments of Darkness [+]Loading...["Instruments of Darkness (novel)"]) and used cat photos to send encoded messages. (WC: Doctors Assemble! [+]Loading...["Doctors Assemble! (webcast)"])
He also enjoyed hazelnuts, (AUDIO: The Condemned [+]Loading...["The Condemned (audio story)"]) and crispy Peking duck with prawn crackers. (AUDIO: Project: Twilight [+]Loading...["Project Twilight (audio story)","Project: Twilight"]) His favourite sandwich flavour was peanut butter, lettuce and potato chip. (PROSE: Timeshare [+]Loading...["Timeshare (VD short story)"]) He took four sugars in his tea, (AUDIO: Project: Lazarus [+]Loading...["Project Lazarus (audio story)","Project: Lazarus"]) and "just a dash of milk" in his coffee. (AUDIO: The Reaping [+]Loading...["The Reaping (audio story)"]) He thought salads were "boring", (COMIC: Salad Daze [+]Loading...["Salad Daze (comic story)"]) and disliked carrot juice. (TV: Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"])
A prospector of knowledge, (TV: Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"]) the Sixth Doctor held an interest in "everything", and considered "the province of knowledge to speak, and the privilege of wisdom to listen." (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) He did not, however, believe in luggage, (PROSE: The Death of Me [+]Loading...["The Death of Me (short story)"]) ghosts, (AUDIO: The Macros [+]Loading...["The Macros (audio story)"]) or fate. (AUDIO: Urgent Calls [+]Loading...["Urgent Calls (audio story)"])
While he believed that the "purpose of life [was] too big to be knowable", the Doctor felt that "everything in life [had a] purpose" and that "every creature [played] its part". (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) Indeed, he always willing to lend a helping hand wherever he could (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) and see that justice triumphed over the guilty. (TV: Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"])
He preferred to deal with "one problem at a time", (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"]) would try to respect the customs of the locals at the places he visited, (TV: Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) and considered his inability to tell his destination to be "half the fun" of travelling. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Adventure [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Adventure (audio story)"]) When he blew out the candles on his 900th birthday cake, his wishes were to "have better control of the TARDIS", "peace throughout the galaxy" and "more manageable hair". (AUDIO: The One Doctor [+]Loading...["The One Doctor (audio story)"])
It was during his sixth incarnation that the Doctor began to see the logic in murder, (PROSE: Alien Bodies [+]Loading...["Alien Bodies (novel)"]) making him more willing to resort to a "modicum of force", (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) despite his belief that he had "an inbuilt resistance to any form of violence, except in self-defence." (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) He gunned down his foes with little hesitation, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"], Untitled [+]Loading...["Untitled (1986 TV story)"]) and was unafraid to take a life when he felt sufficiently threatened, (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) knowing that there were times when one had no choice but to kill to survive. (TV: Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) However, the Sixth Doctor also had a more emotional and caring side, determined to not let people die "if there [was] a chance of saving them", (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"]) though he was still willing to allow a few deaths if it would protect the majority from harm. (WC: Real Time [+]Loading...["Real Time (webcast)"])
The Doctor held a hatred for robots, branding them as "simple-minded creations" that only existed to "serve sentient beings", (COMIC: Time Bomb [+]Loading...["Time Bomb (comic story)"]) and confessed to Drathro that he saw them as lower than organic life. (TV: The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"])
While he could be flippant with his travels, the Doctor was aware of the need to be careful around certain points in time. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) He would "show little mercy to time meddlers." (TV: Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"])
The Sixth Doctor thought of himself as being "a man of science, temperament and passion", and also agreed with Peri on him having "a very loud voice", (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) though thought the idea of him being "eccentric" was "preposterous". (TV: The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"]) He described himself as "pragmatic", and considered compassion and a "capacity for self-sacrifice" as "some of [his] defining traits". (AUDIO: The Sirens of Time [+]Loading...["The Sirens of Time (audio story)"]) He also believed himself to be blessed with both "tact and finesse", (TV: Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"]) and believed he could subdue opponents with his charm. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) He also considered himself to be courageous, intellectual, and of "incredible perspicacity." (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"])
The Sixth Doctor considered his five predecessors to have been "good men". (PROSE: The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up [+]Loading...["The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up (short story)"]) Although he would dismiss his third incarnation as "more interested in axle grease and looking in the mirror" than in reading, (AUDIO: Year of the Pig [+]Loading...["Year of the Pig (audio story)"]) and as having had a "strange taste in clothes", he was willing to acknowledge his superior skill in swordplay when the situation called for it. (PROSE: State of Change [+]Loading...["State of Change (novel)"])
Immediately after his regeneration, the Doctor saw his new body as an improvement and felt that the Fifth Doctor had had "a sort of feckless charm that was never really [him]", (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) but later admitted to Evelyn Smythe that "being him was like a holiday." (AUDIO: The 100 Days of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The 100 Days of the Doctor (audio story)"])
The Sixth Doctor held an admiration for the Seventh Doctor's confidence and forward planning, and his preparedness to do things he himself "would never do", but disliked his reputation as a planet destroyer, (AUDIO: The 100 Days of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The 100 Days of the Doctor (audio story)"]) and thought him "selfish" for hunting big game with "live bait", (COMIC: Time & Time Again [+]Loading...["Time & Time Again (comic story)"]) but still thought him to be a "charming fellow". (AUDIO: The Light at the End [+]Loading...["The Light at the End (audio story)"]) He also noted that he and the Eighth Doctor made a good team when dealing with the crisis caused by the Valeyard's machinations on Gallifrey. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Loading...["The Eight Doctors (novel)"]) He was critical of his thirteenth incarnation due to her vocabulary. (WC: Doctors Assemble! [+]Loading...["Doctors Assemble! (webcast)"])
The Sixth Doctor did not suffer fools gladly, and sometimes seemed to endure the presence of others more than he enjoyed it. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"]) However, he enjoyed the company of his companions, saying that Peri was important to him, and assuring her he wouldn't abandon her, (TV: The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"]) confessed how he loved Evelyn Smythe as a friend, (WC: Real Time [+]Loading...["Real Time (webcast)"]) and refused to leave Constance Clarke when she begged him to save himself. (AUDIO: The End of the Line [+]Loading...["The End of the Line (audio story)"])
Though he was bitter for a while, the Doctor ultimately did not hold a grudge against Peri for her unintentional part in his predecessor's regeneration, telling her that he accepted the choice that the Fifth Doctor made and that "a universe with [her] brightness in it [was] infinitely preferable to a universe without". (PROSE: Burning Heart [+]Loading...["Burning Heart (novel)"]) He became grief-stricken when presented with evidence of Peri's untimely death, (TV: Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"]) describing his pain as "like dying [him]self," (AUDIO: Her Final Flight [+]Loading...["Her Final Flight (audio story)"]) and was most pleased when he discovered the evidence had been tampered with, and that Peri was still alive. (TV: The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"])
Seeing Earth as an "irritating planet" chiefly filled with people characterised as poor thinkers, (TV: Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"]) the Sixth Doctor saw humans as having "small" brains, though believed that they could "be quite effective when used properly." (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) He could be particularly dismisses of females. (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"]) However, he also enjoyed how humanity was "seldom predictable". (AUDIO: The Ultimate Adventure [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Adventure (audio story)"])
The Doctor had a soft spot for children, and once entertained local schoolchildren with various card tricks. (PROSE: Grave Matter [+]Loading...["Grave Matter (novel)"])
The Doctor was resentful towards the High Council of the Time Lords for how they would manipulate him and his travels, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"]) but he did not believe them capable of violent actions against innocent beings, despite being concerned he was wrong in his assumption. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) However, once he was informed that they were responsible for the relocation and ravaging of the Earth to keep the secrets of the Matrix being exposed, and had placed him on trial to discredit him and remove him as a witness, the Doctor denounced the Time Lords as a "sanctimonious gang of hypocrites" that were "decadent, degenerate and rotten to the core", with all the other "power-mad conspirators" in the universe "still [being] in the nursery compared to [them]". (TV: The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"])
He considered the Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans to be "the most evil force[s] in the galaxy". (HOMEVID: A Fix with Sontarans [+]Loading...["A Fix with Sontarans (home video)"])
While he was suffering from post-regeneration trauma, Peri Brown called the Sixth Doctor a "manic depressive paranoid personality", while Mestor described him as "egocentric, wilful and quite mad". (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"]) On Thoros Beta, King Yrcanos noted that the Doctor thought like a warrior but did not act like one. (TV: Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"]) When reflecting on his blue coat, Mel used "understated", "sombre", and "boring" as words not often associated with the Sixth Doctor. (AUDIO: The Wrong Doctors [+]Loading...["The Wrong Doctors (audio story)"]) River Song described the Sixth Doctor as like "a clown put through a woodchipper". (GAME: The Eternity Clock [+]Loading...["The Eternity Clock (video game)"]) When the Eighth Doctor had a tarot card reading, the Sixth Doctor was identified as "the Moon". (PROSE: The City of the Dead [+]Loading...["The City of the Dead (novel)"])
The Tremas Master described the Sixth Doctor as "the blustering one with the stupid coat", (GAME: Destiny of the Doctors [+]Loading...["Destiny of the Doctors (video game)"]) with the Decayed Master calling him "the carnival clown". (AUDIO: The Two Masters [+]Loading...["The Two Masters (audio story)"]) The Doctor's first TARDIS described the Sixth Doctor as "the retroaction". (AUDIO: Prisoners of Fate [+]Loading...["Prisoners of Fate (audio story)"]) The Valeyard described the Sixth Doctor as a "whirl of blunder and bluster". (PROSE: The Dark Scrolls of the Valeyard [+]Loading...["The Dark Scrolls of the Valeyard (short story)"]) Adam Mitchell identified the Sixth Doctor as the "madman" in comparison to his other incarnations. (COMIC: Unnatural Selection [+]Loading...["Unnatural Selection (comic story)"])
Upon learning that the Valeyard had infected his mind with the Nathemus to overwrite the Time Lords and trap them as formless beings in the Matrix, the Doctor willingly sacrificed his life to wipe out the Nathemus from his head, having no qualms about it if it meant stopping the Valeyard, openly taunting him as he began fading from existence. Admitting he had "lived a good life by and large", the Doctor toasted the companions he had travelled with, while the Valeyard tried to tempt him not to die by pointing out he would be throwing away his "precious moral scruples", but the Doctor decided these traits would die with him. Feeling his past self regenerating as timelines began to change, the last echo of the Sixth Doctor faded away in blissful peace, allowing himself to become reborn as the Seventh Doctor. Meanwhile, his younger self, though distressed by the sudden attack of fatal radiation from Lakertya, found peace in having lived with "a good innings", hoping the "footprint he [left]" would be "light, but apposite". However, when the manifestation of his next incarnation began talking, the Doctor reacted with confusion, unsure of who was there as he faded away. (AUDIO: The Brink of Death [+]Loading...["The Brink of Death (audio story)"])
According to another account, after sacrificing much of his chronal energy to trap the Lamprey inside the Spiral Chamber, the Doctor, heavily weakened, tried to brush off Mel's concern by feinting prideful gravitas, but soon revealed to her that he was resigned to his fate, believing that his sacrifice was worth it to save the multiverse. As he took one last look at the universe, Mel protested that it was unfair for the Doctor to die, but he testified that his sacrifice was his time to donate and his chance to give to the universe. Satisfied with the life he led, the Sixth Doctor told Mel not to feel cheated by his untimely demise. (PROSE: Spiral Scratch [+]Loading...["Spiral Scratch (novel)"])
Habits and quirks[[edit] | [edit source]]
Commonly, the Sixth Doctor would overreact with outrage when feeling indignant on someone or questioned about his methods, repeating a single word from the criticism, often getting louder as each repeat went on. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He also had a taste for poetry and literature, often reciting quotes and scriptures that matched his current predicament at the first given opportunity. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"])
He would let out a light, "Hmmm", when he noticed someone was talking to him while he was preoccupied with a task. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"], Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"]) He also had a tendency to exclaim, "Great Gallifrey!" (COMIC: Revelation! [+]Loading...["Revelation! (comic story)"], Genesis! [+]Loading...["Genesis! (comic story)"], The Gift [+]Loading...["The Gift (comic story)"])
When concerned with his appearance, the Doctor would ask how he looked to ensure he appeared appropriate in his attire. (TV: The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He was also known to let out an annoyed, "d'oh", when dismissing someone, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) and would say, "come on", when instructing people to follow him. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"])
The Sixth Doctor incorporated more theatrical movements, often walking or moving his hands in an over-the-top and comedic fashion, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) though he would also stand with his hands crossed behind his back. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"], Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"], Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"])
Much like his previous incarnation, the Sixth Doctor would often stand with his hands in his pockets, also while flicking the long tails on his frock coat back. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"], Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"]) When not in his pockets, he would keep his hands hovering above his waist, wringing his fingers together. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"], The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"], Mindwarp [+]Loading...["Mindwarp (TV story)"], Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"], The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"])
For good luck, (PROSE: Time Wake [+]Loading...["Time Wake (short story)"]) the Doctor would stroke his cat brooches before attempting something risky. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"])
He would sometimes scratch at his right ear, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"]) and often sat in a chair with his feet up and legs stretched out and crossed. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Vengeance on Varos [+]Loading...["Vengeance on Varos (TV story)"], Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"])
Something of a foodie, the Doctor was known to fill himself up on food, such as sneaking a bite from Peri's apple, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) and eating two biscuits meant for him and the Brigadier, and then "coyly eyeing [a] half-eaten custard cream". (PROSE: The Shadow in the Glass [+]Loading...["The Shadow in the Glass (novel)"]) He once devoured a burger in a single mouthful, (PROSE: Business Unusual [+]Loading...["Business Unusual (novel)"]) and also engaged in a series of adventures solely to acquire food without Mel noticing. (PROSE: The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up [+]Loading...["The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up (short story)"])
The Sixth Doctor could be literal minded, often mistaking what was being said to him as having a different meaning. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"])
When relaxing, the Doctor would go fishing, especially for Gumblejack, which he considered amongst the tastiest fish in Mutter's Spiral. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]; COMIC: Time & Time Again [+]Loading...["Time & Time Again (comic story)"]; PROSE: Business Unusual [+]Loading...["Business Unusual (novel)"]; AUDIO: Arrangements for War [+]Loading...["Arrangements for War (audio story)"]) However, the Doctor considered giving up fishing when he started thinking that it "wasn't fair on the fish". (AUDIO: The Wormery [+]Loading...["The Wormery (audio story)"])
In place of a sonic screwdriver, the Sixth Doctor would utilise a sonic lance as both a tool and a weapon. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]; AUDIO: Paradise 5 [+]Loading...["Paradise 5 (audio story)"], The Song of Megaptera [+]Loading...["The Song of Megaptera (audio story)"]; PROSE: Something Borrowed [+]Loading...["Something Borrowed (short story)"]) He was also known to carry a multi-coloured umbrella that matched the clashing colours of his clothing. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], The Mysterious Planet [+]Loading...["The Mysterious Planet (TV story)"], Time and the Rani [+]Loading...["Time and the Rani (TV story)"])
When not in the pockets of his jackets, the Sixth Doctor would often stand with his hands on his hips,[source needed] or hold his hands onto his lapels.[source needed] He would also give a condescending smirk when playfully following instructions he was against.[source needed]
Skills[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Sixth Doctor was highly deductive, able to understand a situation based on small details that others overlooked, (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"]) and identify his location by studying his surroundings. (AUDIO: Trial of the Valeyard [+]Loading...["Trial of the Valeyard (audio story)"]) He was also able to see through attempts at deception, (TV: The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) and could tell when he was being snuck up on from behind. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Timelash [+]Loading...["Timelash (TV story)"])
Taking advantage of his larger build, the Sixth Doctor was able to overpower others by brawling them into submission with sudden surprise attacks. (TV: The Twin Dilemma [+]Loading...["The Twin Dilemma (TV story)"], Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"], The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"], Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He was also able to knock out an attacker in an alleyway with a single palm thrust, (COMIC: The Shape Shifter [+]Loading...["The Shape Shifter (comic story)"]) behead an Auton with a single punch, (COMIC: Façades [+]Loading...["Façades (comic story)"]) and knocked his opponent unconscious with three punches to the face while a contestant on Death-Hunt 3000. (PROSE: Time of Your Life [+]Loading...["Time of Your Life (novel)"]) However, he recognised that he had little chance when fighting more experienced and prepared opponents, once allowing his third incarnation to take control of his body when he was forced to act as a gladiator in an alternate version of Rome. (PROSE: State of Change [+]Loading...["State of Change (novel)"])
The Doctor proved sufficient enough with a sword to duel with Astrolabus, (COMIC: Once Upon a Time-Lord [+]Loading...["Once Upon a Time-Lord (comic story)"]) and was even able to effectively wield an umbrella against a vibroknife. (COMIC: The Shape Shifter [+]Loading...["The Shape Shifter (comic story)"]) He was also taught the Waltz and the Foxtrot by Becky. (PROSE: Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing [+]Loading...["Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing (short story)"])
The Sixth Doctor's skin had extra subdural and subcutaneous layers, giving him a high level of damage resistance (PROSE: Burning Heart [+]Loading...["Burning Heart (novel)"]) and a high pain threshold. (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pirates [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Pirates (audio story)"])
The Doctor was also a skilled pendulum hypnotist, utilising a jewel to put an erratic Jamie McCrimmon into a trance in order to extract information from him. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]) He later tried the same tactic to calm a violent mutant, but the mutation rendered the man unable to remain calm for long, (TV: Revelation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)"]) with the Doctor having much more success calming Mel Bush after she was forcibly enraged by Dr. Prana's drugs. (AUDIO: Loud and Proud [+]Loading...["Loud and Proud (audio story)"])
He was able to use telepathy to form an astral link between his mind and his past incarnations in the event of a mind-slip. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"])
The Doctor had great mechanical skills, being able to briefly repair his TARDIS's damaged chameleon circuit, (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) and effectively sabotage the Rani's TARDIS. (TV: The Mark of the Rani [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Rani (TV story)"])
He knew how to perform first aid on a human. (PROSE: Synthespians™ [+]Loading...["Synthespians™ (novel)"])
The Doctor developed a weak form of night vision from his consumption of carrot juice, (AUDIO: The One Doctor [+]Loading...["The One Doctor (audio story)"]) and could measure distances via sound reverberation. (AUDIO: The Juggernauts [+]Loading...["The Juggernauts (audio story)"])
The Doctor was a decent singer, (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pirates [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Pirates (audio story)"]) and could play the organ. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)"])
The Doctor was shown to have great acting skills, (TV: The Ultimate Foe [+]Loading...["The Ultimate Foe (TV story)"]) as well as being a decent performer of magic tricks. (TV: Terror of the Vervoids [+]Loading...["Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)"]) He could also place himself in suspended animation for at least twenty minutes, (PROSE: Killing Ground [+]Loading...["Killing Ground (novel)"]) knew how to operate a parachute, (PROSE: The Shadow in the Glass [+]Loading...["The Shadow in the Glass (novel)"]) could escape a straitjacket, (COMIC: Façades [+]Loading...["Façades (comic story)"]) and could pick a lock with a paperclip or a hairpin. (AUDIO: The Condemned [+]Loading...["The Condemned (audio story)"], Industrial Evolution [+]Loading...["Industrial Evolution (audio story)"])
