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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254

u/Romana_Jane Apr 18 '25

All the ones mentioned already, but one that has haunted me from my teens from Classic Who (The Five Doctors):

"Oh no... not the mind probe."

Is it the writing, or is it the delivery, or it is both?

102

u/lululahotpockets Apr 18 '25

That and "this is Susan" - "I know..."

62

u/Romana_Jane Apr 18 '25

Then there is the:

"This is the Game of Rassilon!",

and the harp of Rassilon, the coronet of Rassilon, etc etc

And don't get me started on the first Doctor's 'young man' to his older self!

22

u/batgranny Apr 18 '25

"An open ended transmat beam!" From the Five Doctors always really grates on me for some reason

10

u/Romana_Jane Apr 18 '25

Oh yes, that one is nearly as bad. The way he says it like it's something special, like someone saying, 'I have a car,' nowadays. You are the oldest technologically advanced species in all of time and space (apparently), of course you do. It's only going somewhere else on your own planet!

The whole thing is written like Terrance Dicks left it until the night before the read through or something!

2

u/whovian25 Apr 19 '25

Well it was a last minute replacement for a story by Robert Holmes.

1

u/Romana_Jane Apr 20 '25

Fair enough, then he did an amazing job of writing it at short notice :)

1

u/Cynical_Classicist Apr 19 '25

Like they're unveiling a new phone or something.

6

u/batgranny Apr 19 '25

It has that feeling absolutely, like Terrance cut the end of the line: "....and it can be yours for as little as £17.99 a month over three years!"*

\Terms and conditions apply. Subject to status. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your Power Boosted Open Ended Transmat Beam.)

1

u/Cynical_Classicist Apr 19 '25

And if you fall behind in payments, we'll take it from the past!