21 Years Later, The Ninth Doctor's Greatest Doctor Who Quote Has A Whole New Meaning

Every version of the Doctor has had memorable lines, and in the case of the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), his best line has taken on a whole new meaning two decades later. The list of the best TV shows of all time includes various sci-fi shows, among them Doctor Who. The British sci-fi show is one of the most influential shows of all time, as well as one of the most popular and long-lasting ones. After its original run ended in 1989, Doctor Who was successfully revived in 2005.

Doctor Who is all about the adventures of the Doctor, a humanoid extraterrestrial being from a species known as Time Lords, across time and space. The Doctor often travels with a companion, and thanks to its spaceship, the TARDIS, they can travel to any point in time, anywhere in the universe. Kicking off the 2005 revival of Doctor Who was the ninth incarnation of the Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston.

Eccleston only played the Doctor for one season of 13 episodes, and he got one of the most memorable companions in the modern Doctor Who era: Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). Together, the Ninth Doctor and Rose went on some exciting adventures on Earth and its orbit, and despite his short run, he delivered some great quotes – and his best one is now a lot more meaningful.

The Ninth Doctor's Greatest (& Final) Line Has A New Meaning Now

Every version of the Doctor has had a different personality, and Eccleston’s was different from his predecessors. The Ninth Doctor was serious and very direct, to the point where some felt he could be rude, but that was because he was carrying a lot of trauma, sorrow, and anger. However, he was also caring, selfless, passionate, and protective, and his bond with Rose was greatly helpful to him in terms of his emotional barriers and isolation, being also key to her story and that of the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant).

The Ninth Doctor’s regeneration was caused by absorbing the energies of the time vortex in order to save Rose, but like every other Doctor, he left a memorable final line that became his best. The Ninth Doctor’s final line was directed towards Rose, but it also feels like one for the audience, with the Doctor saying: “Rose, before I go, I just want to tell you, you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And do you know what? So was I.”

The Ninth Doctor is widely regarded as one of the best, not just from the modern Doctor Who era but from the show in general. Eccleston perfectly captured the pain of the Doctor, his many layers, and his core traits while also making him his own. Eccleston’s Doctor has gained more praise and recognition over the years, with many wishing he would have gotten at least one more season. The Ninth Doctor’s quote is very true within the context of the show, but also in the real world, as Eccleston was, undoubtedly, absolutely fantastic.

Rose Is Still Arguably The Doctor's Greatest Companion

The Ninth Doctor’s best and final line is not only true to him and Eccleston’s performance, but also to Rose Tyler. Rose served as the audience’s guide, especially to those unfamiliar with the show before its revival, as viewers learned all about the Doctor and traveled with him alongside her. Before traveling with the Doctor, Rose was a working-class teenager, and though the Doctor often frustrated her, she ended up forming a very deep and special bond with him (especially his Tenth incarnation).

Rose was also brave and fierce, as well as caring, kind, and curious, making her the perfect complement to two of the best incarnations of the Doctor. As mentioned above, Rose was key to pulling the Ninth Doctor out of his isolation and darkness, reminding him of his compassion and good heart, which carried into her time with the Tenth Doctor and helped deepen their bond. It’s not surprising, then, that Rose is widely considered the best companion in Doctor Who.

The Ninth Doctor’s final line is true to Rose, the Doctor, Eccleston, and Piper, as they were all absolutely fantastic during that season, making Doctor Who history as some of the best characters in the entire show.