Doctor Who: 10 Defining Moments Of The Ninth Doctor

3. Saviour Of The Big Bad Wolf

By the end of the first series, Rose Tyler was determined to save the Doctor - even if it came at the cost of her own life. After staring into the heart of the TARDIS and absorbing the energies of the time vortex, the Ninth Doctor knew exactly how it would end if he didn't intervene. In return of her risking everything in order to save him, he managed to save her, too, by absorbing the power of the Bad Wolf and subsequently regenerating into David Tennant. In retrospect, it could've been a lot worse. The Ninth Doctor was her Doctor, though, and managed to heal the pain that Rose was suffering and keeping the promise that he'd always be there to keep her safe. It's a monumental moment for the Ninth Doctor as it's basically him giving his life to save hers. He knows he's going to die but he faces it with bravery and ease. For many viewers it was also the first regeneration they'd been around to witness, which, while it signalled the end of the Ninth Doctor's life, will be something they'll remember for the rest of theirs.