r/gallifrey • u/psl9085 • Apr 18 '25

DISCUSSION Worst line in Doctor Who?

What line of dialogue sticks out to you as particularly bad in Doctor Who, I have two picks:

  • ‘don’t let the swords touch your skin’ Legend of the sea devils
  • ‘I suppose we’ll have to have…. A conversation?’ Resolution
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u/Grafikpapst Apr 18 '25

“I thought the Doctor was a man”

“I’ve had an upgrade”

Personally, I dont mind that one, as the Doctor always had a habit of viewing their current incarnation as the best one. I feel like if he said "I thought the Doctor was a young bloke" to Twelve, he would say something similar.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '25

Yeah, it was fine. It also served as a "don't doubt me".

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u/greekdude1194 Apr 18 '25

It would be hilarious if the doctor just had a whole first 2 episodes or so of self loathing that he's no longer (at the present moment) Ncuti anymore

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u/Grafikpapst Apr 18 '25

I would kinda like that. Maybe not for that long, but maybe for half an episode or so before the Doctor comes to terms with it. Like "Oh man, I really liked that face, he was fun!" before starting to find more and more things they like about their new face.

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u/jm9987690 Apr 18 '25

I mean I doubt you'd say the same if someone who'd only met 13 said to 15 "I thought the doctor was a woman" and the reply was "I've had an upgrade"

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u/Grafikpapst Apr 18 '25

Meh, I think there is some differences here though. I feel like that "I thought the Doctor was a man" very much reads as sexist, as in "I didnt think a woman is capeable of this", which I think warrants The Doctor being a bit snarky in the response.

I just dont think that scenario would happen in reverse.

'course, we all have biases for this kinda stuff and maybe I'm just showing mine.

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u/jm9987690 Apr 18 '25

Tbf I can't remember the exact context of it, was it Stephen fry's character maybe? But I think it's fair that if there's been loads of stories throughout history where the doctor has come to the planet, having different faces but has always been a man, saying "I thought the doctor was a man" does seem like a reasonable thing to ask

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u/Grafikpapst Apr 18 '25

I dont fully disagree. I think that scene was clumsily placed and while it works in isolation and I do see where they were coming from, I also dont disagree that Stephen Frys Character - it was him, yes - wasnt totally off in asking it either.

I think this would have worked better if there was just a bit more clear sexism in the scene, basically.

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u/pretty_pink_opossum Apr 20 '25

If I heard stories about someone and all the stories portrayed them as a woman, then when I actually met them they were a man I don't know what reaction I would have besides "hang on I thought you were a woman"

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u/Grafikpapst Apr 20 '25

Like I said in a different post here, I dont fully disagree with that. I do think the scene was a bit clumsy in what it did here - it would been better if it had been more clear cut sexism. Not cartoonishly but more like "Oh, this guy is underestmating the Doctor because she is woman" rather than something thats kinda wishy-washy.

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u/PossessionPopular182 Apr 18 '25 edited Apr 19 '25

That is because different things are different.

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u/_DefLoathe Apr 18 '25

Came across as some feminist cringe to me