Burn Before Reading

thomaslevitt:

I’ve been coming across more and more Doctor Who fans who tend to refer to The Doctor as “the actual Doctor”, while dismissing TenToo (a.k.a. “Handy”, “Blue”, “10.5”, etc.) as a cheap copy. I just don’t understand why.
I mean, I am willing to admit that everyone is entitled to an opinion, and if you don’t like TenToo for whatever reason, that’s perfectly fine. However, writing off a character with a canonical personality is just insulting to the creators and writers.
The evidence that both The Doctor and TenToo are the “actual” Doctors is right in the “Journey’s End” script:

The Doctor: But you’ve got to, because we saved the universe, but at a cost, and the cost is him. He destroyed the Daleks, he committed genocide, he’s too dangerous to be left on his own.
New Doctor: You made me.
The Doctor: Exactly. You were born in battle, full of blood and anger and revenge. Remind you of someone? That’s me when we first met, and you made me better. Now you can do the same for him.
Rose: But he’s not you.
The Doctor: He needs you, that’s very me.
Donna: But it’s better than that though. Don’t you see what he’s trying to give you? Tell her, go on.
New Doctor: I look like him, I think like him, same memory, same thoughts, same everything—except I’ve only got one heart.
Rose: Which means?
New Doctor: I’m part human. Specifically the aging part, I’ll grow old and never regenerate. I’ve only got one life, Rose Tyler. I could spend it with you, if you want.
Rose: [in disbelief] You’ll grow old at the same time as me.
New Doctor: Together.

They are the same man. Their only difference is the single heart that will allow TenToo to grow old with Rose. After that, they are identical, from looks to memories to personalities.
Also, it seems to me that most of the people who dismiss TenToo do so because they so strongly ship Ten/Rose. I can completely understand that. However, if you’re that person, please take a moment and think: you must believe that Ten loves Rose more than anything. That he would do anything for her.
Would he really leave her with a cheap knock-off of himself? Or would he make sure that the person he’s leaving her with, the Doctor that she can live with and love and grow with - and who can do all those things for her - is him, in every possible and conceivable way?
The Doctor loves Rose Tyler, but he could never be with her the way she wanted - and yes, even the way he wanted. So he gives her a part of himself. He gives her, essentially, the part of himself that he has to keep locked away in order to survive near-immortality.
TenToo is not a copy, or a failed experiment.
TenToo is The Doctor; he is his heart, his love, his humanity.
And Rose Tyler belongs with him.

I’ve been coming across more and more Doctor Who fans who tend to refer to The Doctor as “the actual Doctor”, while dismissing TenToo (a.k.a. “Handy”, “Blue”, “10.5”, etc.) as a cheap copy. I just don’t understand why.

I mean, I am willing to admit that everyone is entitled to an opinion, and if you don’t like TenToo for whatever reason, that’s perfectly fine. However, writing off a character with a canonical personality is just insulting to the creators and writers.

The evidence that both The Doctor and TenToo are the “actual” Doctors is right in the “Journey’s End” script:

The Doctor: But you’ve got to, because we saved the universe, but at a cost, and the cost is him. He destroyed the Daleks, he committed genocide, he’s too dangerous to be left on his own.

New Doctor: You made me.

The Doctor: Exactly. You were born in battle, full of blood and anger and revenge. Remind you of someone? That’s me when we first met, and you made me better. Now you can do the same for him.

Rose: But he’s not you.

The Doctor: He needs you, that’s very me.

Donna: But it’s better than that though. Don’t you see what he’s trying to give you? Tell her, go on.

New Doctor: I look like him, I think like him, same memory, same thoughts, same everything—except I’ve only got one heart.

Rose: Which means?

New Doctor: I’m part human. Specifically the aging part, I’ll grow old and never regenerate. I’ve only got one life, Rose Tyler. I could spend it with you, if you want.

Rose: [in disbelief] You’ll grow old at the same time as me.

New Doctor: Together.

They are the same man. Their only difference is the single heart that will allow TenToo to grow old with Rose. After that, they are identical, from looks to memories to personalities.

Also, it seems to me that most of the people who dismiss TenToo do so because they so strongly ship Ten/Rose. I can completely understand that. However, if you’re that person, please take a moment and think: you must believe that Ten loves Rose more than anything. That he would do anything for her.

Would he really leave her with a cheap knock-off of himself? Or would he make sure that the person he’s leaving her with, the Doctor that she can live with and love and grow with - and who can do all those things for her - is him, in every possible and conceivable way?

The Doctor loves Rose Tyler, but he could never be with her the way she wanted - and yes, even the way he wanted. So he gives her a part of himself. He gives her, essentially, the part of himself that he has to keep locked away in order to survive near-immortality.

TenToo is not a copy, or a failed experiment.

TenToo is The Doctor; he is his heart, his love, his humanity.

And Rose Tyler belongs with him.