Summary
Christopher Eccleston has recently reprised his role as the Ninth Doctor once again, and his return toDoctor Whodefinitively answers whether Nine and Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler were romantically involved. It’s never openly confirmed or denied in the show, but large portions oftheDoctor Whofandom have long believed Nine and Rose to be an item. Interestingly, Eccleston’s comeback settles this very debate.
Eccleston had one of the shortest reigns ofall the actors to play the Doctor, portraying the Time Lord for just a single, 13-episode run.Piper’s character accompanied Nine throughoutDoctor Whoseason 1, with both actors helping to launch the sci-fi show’s revival era. Despite Nine’s brief stay, he still has episodes that rank among thegreatestDoctor Whostories of all time. His most recent tale may not have taken place onscreen, but it still addresses Eccleston’s time as the Ninth Doctor and his dynamic with Rose.
10 Things That Happen To Every Doctor Who Companion
While every companion of the Doctor’s in Doctor Who may be wildly different in appearance and personality, they share certain significant experiences.
The Ninth Doctor Is Revealed To Be Aromantic In His River Song Team-Up Adventure
Nine’s sexual orientation is a big turning point in the plot
In a 2024Big Finishaudio adventure, Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor has a surprising trilogy of adventures with Alex Kingston’s River Song. The characters are both voiced by their original actors and are also joined by new characters along the way. The stories, known collectively asStar-Crossed, begin with an installment called “Swipe Right,” which kicks off the coming together of Nine and River. The narrative revolves around a dark take on dating apps, andthe Ninth Doctor’s sexual orientation is what saves the day.
River: “Doctor, for someone so smart, you can be so stupid. ‘Someone with no romantic feelings?’ It’s you! Much as it pains me to say it. Apparently, it’s you.”
Nine: “It’s me! Ha! Of course, it’s me!”
Much to River’s dismay, it’s Kingston’s character who establishes that Nine is aromantic, suggesting he uses his mind as evidence that people don’t need a romantic partner to be fulfilled. In true Nine fashion, he’s so caught up in saving the world, the thought hadn’t occurred to him. Eventually, he openly confirms River’s theory. So, this means thatNine couldn’t have viewed Rose as a significant other, but rather as a friend. In fact, by the end ofStar-Crossed, Nine and River share a very close friendship similar to that of Nine and Rose.
River is aware of her marriage to the Doctor inStar-Crossed, but Nine is meeting his future wife for the first time.
The Doctor’s Rose Romance Only Began During David Tennant’s Regeneration
Rose eventually leaves the show to spend her life with a version of Tennant’s Doctor
It’s also never confirmed onscreen whether Rose and David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor were a romantic couple, but it’s far more difficult to argue against than with Rose and Nine.The Doctor and Rose’s relationship timelinemay have begun with the Time Lord being in his Ninth iteration, but the romantic edge only bleeds into the pairing when David Tennant steps into the role. So,Ten wouldn’t seem to share the same sexual orientation as his predecessor, making it possible for him to have a romantic relationship with his companion.
The iconic, “Rose Tyler, I…” was undeniably going to turn into him confirming his feelings for Billie Piper’s character.
Not that he ever really needed to, butTen almost gets the chance to declare his love for Rosein theDoctor Whoseason 2 finale when he’s bidding her farewell from another dimension. The iconic, “Rose Tyler, I…” was undeniably going to turn into him confirming his feelings for Billie Piper’s character. This isn’t the only piece of evidence, but it is the most prominent and arguably the main salient. Plus, there’s also the fact that Rose is living her life with the Meta-Crisis Doctor, who is just Ten in human form.
Rose wasn’t Ten’s only romantic interest, as he also fell for Madame de Pompadour, and even married Queen Elizabeth I. He was also the first Doctor to interact with River Song onscreen.
It’s Good That Different Companions Have Unique Relationships With Each Doctor
New Doctor/companion dynamics keeps the show fresh
The confirmation ofNine’s relationship with Rose being strictly Platonic is beneficialto the show’s formula. One of theharsh realities ofDoctor Who’s modern erais that theDoctor/companion romance tropehas been a little overused. With Nine serving as a mentor to Rose rather than a love interest, it gives his character more depth and leaves more room to expand in future seasons. If Rose and Nine had been in love with one another, it would’ve taken away from the eventual connection between Ten and Rose - which is one of the highlights of the earlier years ofDoctor Who’s revival.
15 Best Doctor Who Companions From All Eras Ranked
Doctor Who is an outstanding TV series that has been on the air for many decades, and featured some incredible companions along the way.
Ten went on to have a different kind of relationship with Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones, with the Doctor not returning her obvious affection for him.Donna Noble’s time with Ten was undeniably spent as best friends, which was repeated when they came back for the 60th anniversary specials. As other actors have cycled through the roles, they’ve all had unique relationships with their companions, even in instances such as Clara Oswald being in the TARDIS with both Eleven and Twelve successively. So, while Nine’s tie to Rose may have been established late, it still works inDoctor Who’s favor.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
