Doctor Who: 10 Defining Moments Of The Ninth Doctor

2. Always The Coward

This scene is particularly significant of the Ninth Doctor's era, especially in his evolution. While the Tenth Doctor was born vain and full of himself, and the Eleventh Doctor was born from impatience and anxiety, the Ninth Doctor was born from war and anger. However, towards the end of his life, the Ninth Doctor had the option of destroying the Daleks for good (Genesis of the Daleks can be referenced here too), along with the human race, or saving the human race at a cost of letting the Daleks live. When asked if he's a coward or killer, despite what he had already done (or thought he'd done - it's all very confusing!) as the War Doctor, he responds with, "Coward. Any day". Eccleston has represented the Ninth Doctor's evolution to a precise degree, showing that having Rose in his life had changed his outlook on the universe, especially in the episode Dalek in which killing the creature isn't the only option. His ability to show compassion in a universe which had caused him so much suffering was something the fans admired and respected in the Ninth Doctor.