| “ | This is victory. How long have you got, Kotturuh? Can you work it out? Tell the others, tell the rest of your species to run. Because your death has been decided and it's coming. I warned you to stop. All you showed the universe was cruelty. But all flesh is grass, Kotturuh - even yours. The grass withers, but the word of the Time Lord Victorious? That endures forever! | „ |
| ~ The Doctor killing the Kotturuh and becoming the Time Lord Victorious. |
The Time Lord Victorious is the titular villainous main protagonist of the multiplatform Time Lord Victorious storyline, a spinoff to the Doctor Who franchise. After succumbing to his guilt and sadness, it is a title taken on by the Doctor in his tenth incarnation. In this persona, he is more ruthless, more ambitious, and more dangerous.
He is portrayed by David Tennant, who also played Kilgrave in Jessica Jones, Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sir Piers Pomfrey in St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, Cale Erendreich in Bad Samaritan, and Brendan Block in Secret Smile, and voiced Lord Commander in Final Space, Wilf in Postman Pat: The Movie, Dread the Evil Genie in Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and Brimscythe in The Legend of Vox Machina.
Biography[]
The Waters of Mars[]
After receiving a chilling prophecy of his demise from a human psychic, the Tenth Doctor found himself spiraling into a state of emotional turmoil deeper than any he had known before. The weight of his own mortality, coupled with the crushing loneliness of being the last of the Time Lords, began to erode the steadfast moral compass that had guided him for so long. Haunted by the knowledge of his impending end and the countless lives he had been unable to save, the Doctor’s mind became a battleground of grief, guilt, and growing desperation.
This inner conflict reached its breaking point during the events at Bowie Base One on Mars. There, the Doctor confronted a fixed point in time-a moment whose outcome was meant to remain unaltered for the sake of the universe’s integrity. The destruction of the base, and the deaths of its crew, were essential to human history, inspiring generations to reach for the stars. Yet, tormented by the endless cycle of loss, the Doctor rebelled against the very laws he once swore to uphold. In a moment of hubris and pain, he defied time itself, saving Adelaide Brooke, Yuri Kerenski, and Mia Bennett from their fated deaths.
Flush with the thrill of victory and the intoxicating sense of power, the Doctor declared himself the "Time Lord Victorious." He believed that, as the last of his kind, he alone possessed the right to dictate the laws of time and reshape destiny as he saw fit. For a fleeting moment, he reveled in his newfound authority, convinced that he could bend the universe to his will and finally put an end to the suffering he had witnessed for so long.
But the universe has a way of restoring balance. Adelaide Brooke, recognizing the catastrophic consequences of the Doctor’s interference, took her own life to preserve the timeline and ensure that her sacrifice would still inspire humanity’s future. Her suicide shocked the Doctor to his core, shattering the illusion of invincibility he had built around himself. In that instant, he was forced to confront the devastating truth: even a Time Lord cannot escape the consequences of playing god.
Reeling from Adelaide’s death, the Doctor returned to his TARDIS, consumed by a maelstrom of sadness, anger, and fear. He sought comfort from his ancient and loyal ship, longing for the solace and understanding that only the TARDIS could provide. Yet, the TARDIS-sentient and wise beyond comprehension-recognized that what the Doctor needed most was not comfort, but a lesson. She understood that he had crossed a line, and that only by facing the gravity of his actions could he truly learn and grow.
Without warning, the TARDIS seized control of their journey, whisking the Doctor away from the familiar corridors of time and space. She carried him back to the Dark Times, the primordial era at the dawn of the universe, when reality itself was still being forged and ancient, powerful beings roamed freely. In this strange and perilous epoch, the Doctor would be forced to confront the consequences of unchecked power and the true meaning of responsibility.
The Knight, the Fool and the Dead[]
The Tenth Doctor arrives in the Dark Times.
After enduring immense stress and turmoil, the Doctor sought a rare moment of respite and chose to vacation on the peaceful planet Andalia. It was there that he encountered Estinee, a native Andalian, and Brian, an Ood whose morally ambiguous nature made him an unpredictable companion. For a brief time, the Doctor found happiness in this tranquil setting, a welcome reprieve from the weight of his recent actions and the heavy mantle of being the last Time Lord.
However, this fragile peace was shattered when the Kotturuh-an ancient and ruthless species responsible for introducing mortality to the universe-suddenly appeared. In a brutal assault, the Kotturuh annihilated nearly all of the Andalian population, sparing only a single survivor. Ambassador Chalskal, the sole remaining Andalian leader, implored the Doctor and Brian to locate Estinee, who had been captured by the Kotturuh during their devastating attack.
Determined to save her, the Doctor and Brian tracked Estinee to the harsh mining world of Mordeela. There, they witnessed a daring rescue: Hana Fallomax, a resourceful miner, used a massive mining robot to free Estinee from captivity. Intrigued by Fallomax’s courage and skill, the Doctor and Brian followed them both, eventually meeting Fallomax in person. Recognizing the threat posed by the Kotturuh, the Doctor agreed to employ a Lifeshroud-a device designed to protect against the Kotturuh’s deadly influence. Yet, he soon discovered that the Lifeshroud’s protective power was effective only on Estinee, owing to her unique natural immunity.
Faced with this limitation, the Doctor resolved to reverse-engineer the Kotturuh’s own power. Returning with Estinee and Fallomax to Andalia, he developed two distinct solutions: one designed to grant the Kotturuh a finite lifespan, stripping them of their immortality, and another intended to eradicate them entirely. This marked a turning point in the Doctor’s crusade against the Kotturuh, as he fully embraced his identity as the "Time Lord Victorious," convinced that he was the universe’s last hope against death itself.
Yet the Kotturuh were not so easily defeated. Exploiting the influence they had gained over Estinee during her captivity on Mordeela, they coerced her into piloting the TARDIS forward in time to a moment they had designated for the Doctor’s demise. In a tragic twist, Estinee was forced to kill Hana Fallomax under their control. But in a final act of defiance, Estinee resisted the Kotturuh’s manipulation, using a gun to detonate her Lifeshroud and sacrifice herself to protect the Doctor.
Stricken with grief and rage over Estinee’s death, the Doctor unleashed the virus he had engineered, activating the mechanism that doomed the Kotturuh to a lifespan of only fifteen minutes. Fully immersed once more in his "Time Lord Victorious" persona, the Doctor’s actions signaled a ruthless determination to end the Kotturuh’s reign of terror-no matter the cost.
Time Lord Victorious[]
Attacking Mordeela[]
Clad in the regal robes of a Time Lord, fully embracing his identity as the "Time Lord Victorious," the Doctor-accompanied by Brian-made his way to the desolate planet Mordeela. This world, a bleak and unforgiving place, served as a critical nexus between the material universe and the shadowy realm of the Kotturuh. It was here that the final confrontation would unfold.
As they arrived, the Kotturuh itself manifested before them-a being ancient beyond comprehension, its form flickering between solidity and dust. Desperation etched into its otherworldly features, the Kotturuh fell to its knees and pleaded for mercy, its voice echoing with a haunting mixture of fear and supplication. But the Time Lord Victorious, cold and unyielding, regarded the creature with steely indifference. To him, the Kotturuh was nothing more than a blight upon existence, a parasite whose time had come to end.
Slowly, inexorably, the Kotturuh began to crumble, its essence disintegrating into fine particles of dust that drifted away on the alien winds of Mordeela. The Doctor watched impassively, his mind set on delivering the final, decisive blow that would ensure the extinction of this ancient menace once and for all.
Just as he began to charge his ultimate attack, a sudden and unexpected arrival shattered the tense silence. The Eighth Doctor appeared, piloting a sleek and ominous Dalek saucer, its metallic hull gleaming under the planet’s dim light. Not far behind, the Ninth Doctor emerged in a coffin ship, its grim and foreboding design a stark contrast to the Dalek vessel. Both incarnations of the Doctor stepped forward, their expressions grave and resolute.
They addressed their future self with urgency and authority, imploring him to halt his course of destruction. Their voices carried the weight of experience and wisdom, warning of the catastrophic consequences that would follow if the Time Lord Victorious continued down this path. They reminded him of the delicate balance of time and the sacred responsibilities that came with his power.
But the Time Lord Victorious was unmoved. With a cold, unwavering conviction, he declared that no one-not even himself from the past or future-had the authority or strength to stop what he had set in motion. His vision of victory and control over time was absolute. Without hesitation, he gave the command to his fleet to open fire on Mordeela, unleashing a devastating barrage that illuminated the dark skies with fiery explosions.
All Flesh is Grass[]
The Tenth Doctor, burdened by the weight of his recent experiences and driven by a profound desire to reshape the universe, takes it upon himself to confront the Kotturuh-a mysterious and deadly alien species that is believed to be the originators of death itself. The Kotturuh embody the very concept of mortality, having introduced death into a universe that was once teeming with eternal life. The Doctor’s mission is clear: by eradicating the Kotturuh, he hopes to usher in a new cosmic era defined by true life and immortality, freeing all beings from the inevitability of death.
Despite his unwavering determination and the deployment of extraordinary measures, the Doctor soon discovers that death continues to spread relentlessly throughout the cosmos. This troubling reality forces him to confront the unintended and far-reaching consequences of his crusade. His idealistic vision clashes with the harsh truths of existence, revealing that death may be more deeply woven into the fabric of life than he had ever imagined.
Complicating matters further, the novel introduces the Eighth and Ninth Doctors, who become entangled in the unfolding events as they investigate temporal anomalies linked to the Tenth Doctor’s relentless pursuit of the Kotturuh. The Eighth Doctor forms an uneasy alliance with a Dalek Time Squad, a faction of Daleks tasked with policing the timeline, while the Ninth Doctor finds himself traveling alongside the enigmatic Great Vampires, ancient and powerful beings with their own mysterious agenda. These alliances highlight the desperate and morally ambiguous nature of the conflict, where former enemies must cooperate to face a common existential threat.
As the story progresses, the three incarnations of the Doctor converge on the Kotturuh homeworld, a desolate and foreboding place that serves as the battleground for their conflicting ideals. Initially, the Doctors mistake each other for adversaries, leading to tense confrontations and misunderstandings. However, through telepathic communication, they eventually recognize their shared identity and purpose, setting aside their differences to confront the greater danger looming over the universe.
Meanwhile, the Daleks escalate the threat by attempting to create immortal Dalek/vampire hybrids. Using DNA harvested from the Great Vampires, they seek to engineer a new breed of invincible warriors, combining the regenerative abilities of the vampires with the ruthless efficiency of the Daleks. This sinister plot adds a new layer of peril, forcing the Doctors to act swiftly to prevent the birth of these abominations.
In a pivotal moment, the Doctors locate the last surviving Kotturuh, who has renounced her species’ vendetta against life. Through persuasion and understanding, they convince her to destroy the Dalek hybrids, thereby averting a catastrophic future. This act of redemption underscores the novel’s themes of choice, forgiveness, and the complex interplay between life and death.
Following the destruction of the hybrids, the Eighth Doctor takes decisive action by destroying the Dalek saucer, ensuring the immediate threat is neutralized before making his escape. Meanwhile, the Ninth and Tenth Doctors work together to assist the Great Vampires in finding a new home, aided by a blood substitute that allows them to survive without preying on others. This resolution offers a glimmer of hope and renewal amid the darkness.
Four Doctors[]
A distinctive version of the Time Lord Victorious is portrayed in the Four Doctors comic series published by Titan Comics. This storyline unfolds as a result of a Dalek continuity bomb-an insidious device engineered to fracture the Doctor’s timeline and spawn alternative futures. Within this fractured reality, the Tenth Doctor makes a fateful choice that diverges sharply from established events.
Unlike in the original timeline, where he heroically sacrifices himself for Wilfred Mott during the events of The End of Time, this version of the Tenth Doctor refuses to give up his life. This single act of defiance sets him on a dark and inexorable path, ultimately leading him to reclaim the mantle of the Time Lord Victorious. Empowered by his survival and driven by a conviction that the universe is fundamentally flawed, he assumes absolute dominion over the cosmos.
As the Time Lord Victorious, this Doctor believes he has “fixed a broken cosmos,” imposing his will across time and space to create what he sees as a perfect order. His reign is marked by an iron-fisted control, where the natural flow of time is bent and reshaped according to his vision. Though his intentions may have begun with a desire to protect and preserve, his methods become increasingly authoritarian and ruthless, alienating allies and enemies alike.
However, even the most powerful Time Lord is not invincible. The Time Lord Victorious’s rule comes to a dramatic and violent end when he is assassinated by the Slitheen Family-infamous for their cunning and brutality. They wield a specially designed weapon that prevents regeneration, ensuring that this incarnation of the Doctor cannot cheat death as he so often has before. This assassination not only marks the fall of the Time Lord Victorious but also serves as a stark reminder of the fragile balance between power and vulnerability, even for a being as extraordinary as the Doctor.
Gallery[]
