Doctor Who: 10 Times The Doctor Lied Or Broke A Promise

In the world of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time, the titular Time Lord proves that they’re not always the most truthful, and despite making various promises to both companions and villains, the Doctor doesn’t always follow through on them. Of course, this isn’t without reason. The Doctor has to lie sometimes, especially if it keeps others out of danger, and it’s not always possible for their promises to be kept, either.

Every incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who lies or breaks a promise at one point or another, but some do it more than others. While the Time Lord would, ideally, prefer to not do this, sometimes it’s necessary for the sake of the universe. However, a lot of these lies and broken promises result in some of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments throughout the show.

10 The First Doctor Promising To Visit Susan

Classic Era, Season 2, Serial 2 - "The Dalek Invasion Of Earth"

The Doctor’s granddaughter Susan, is the first of the titular character’s companions. Susan travels with the First Doctor, Susan, and Ian in the TARDIS for the earliest installments of Doctor Who, before making her departure in the serial “The Dalek Invasion of Earth.” While the Doctor tries to put on a brave face when Susan decides to stay on Earth with David Campbell and help rebuild the society the Daleks destroyed, it’s clear that he is deeply saddened by his granddaughter leaving. Despite his promise to visit, the Doctor never returns to the 22nd century to see her.

Considering Doctor Who’s complicated establishment of the Doctor’s children, Susan is the only known family member of the Time Lord. While she does come back in “The Five Doctors,” Susan strongly implies that she hasn’t seen any incarnation of her grandfather since “The Dalek Invasion of Earth.” It can be assumed that seeing Susan living a happy life without the Doctor breaks his hearts, hence why he can’t bring himself to go, but it’s still disappointing, especially as it’s possible that Susan thinks he no longer cares.

9 The Tenth Doctor Promising To Never Take Another Companion

Modern Era, 2009/2010 Specials - "Planet of the Dead"

In “Planet of the Dead,” a modern era Doctor Who episode many forget about, the Tenth Doctor meets Christina de Souza. Following the Doctor’s heartbreaking loss of Donna Noble at the end of season 4, he travels alone, and seems relatively content this way, considering his best friend doesn’t him. While Christina is an impressive personality and complements the Doctor’s lifestyle in many ways, when she asks him to take her aboard the TARDIS, he turns her down.

Custom Doctor Who image of Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor looking intense against a backdrop of David Tennant's Tenth Doctor looking sad behind broken glass

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The words “Never again” cut deep for Doctor Who viewers, especially as they know why the Doctor is against taking on a new companion. However, this promise is quickly broken. Just four episodes later, the newly-regenerated Eleventh Doctor invites Amy Pond to him in the TARDIS, in his debut story, “The Eleventh Hour.” Although every version of the Doctor is their own person, the timeline between the Tenth Doctor’s departure in “The End of Time” and “The Eleventh Hour” are mere hours, so it’s strange how swiftly he changes his mind.

8 The Eleventh Doctor Promising The Ponds He Would Find Melody

Modern Era, Season 6, Episode 7 - "A Good Man Goes To War"

Doctor Who’s River Song finally comes to light, the Eleventh Doctor rushes off in search of the Pond’s baby and promises to return her to her parents.

Unfortunately, due to fixed moments in time, Melody can never be raised by the Ponds like the couple so desperately want.

However, he isn’t successful. The prequel minisode to “Let’s Kill Hitler” is a truly emotional watch, and the Doctor’s face as he listens to Amy’s heart-wrenching voicemail about his promise to find Melody clearly weighs heavily on his hearts. Unfortunately, due to fixed moments in time, Melody can never be raised by the Ponds like the couple so desperately want. While it’s a far from ideal compromise, at least Amy and Rory later find out that they spent their childhoods with Melody as their best friend instead.

7 The Tenth Doctor Lying To The Family About Still Being John Smith

Modern Era, Season 3, Episode 9 - "The Family Of Blood"

Doctor Who’s Chameleon Arch, the Doctor appears to be human, even to himself.

However, when “John Smith” faces the Family in the climax of “The Family of Blood,” he sneakily tricks them into thinking that he hasn’t opened the pocket watch and offers the aliens the Doctor. But it isn’t John, it’s the Doctor again. The Doctor explains that the Family didn’t smell him upon his entrance because of a “simple olfactory misdirection,” essentially an old trick from certain parts of the galaxy. While this doesn’t make total sense and is a strange way for Doctor Who to resolve this, it’s still a brilliant lie from the Doctor.

6 The Tenth Doctor Promising To Get Astrid Off The Titanic Alive

Modern Era, Christmas 2007 - "Voyage Of The Damned"

The Tenth Doctor’s holiday seasons are always busy and rife with adventure, and it’s no different in “Voyage of the Damned,” one of the best Doctor Who Christmas specials ever. The wide-eyed and enthusiastic Astrid Peth only takes a job on the Max Capricorn liner to see more of the universe, and when she throws herself straight into the madness after the Titanic is damaged, the Tenth Doctor takes a liking to her. The Doctor promises to get Astrid off the Titanic and take her with him, but sadly, this never happens.

Astrid is a fantastic one-off companion in Doctor Who. She sacrifices herself in order to save the Doctor by pushing Capricorn off a cliff with a forklift, where she and the villain fall to their deaths while the Time Lord agonizingly watches. What’s so gutting about this is that the Doctor doesn’t break his promise on purpose, and the decision is taken out of his hands. Although it isn’t his fault, this moment is one of the most notable times the Doctor breaks a promise.

5 The Doctor Promising To Never Give In (Except For The War Doctor)

Modern Era, 50th Anniversary Special - "The Day Of The Doctor"

In “The Name of the Doctor,” the Eleventh Doctor states his name represents a vow that he has made to himself, promising that he’ll “Never give up, never give in.” This is something that is heavily implied throughout Doctor Who but never directly addressed until the season 7 finale, which makes sense, considering the last moments introduce John Hurt’s War Doctor. The 50th anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor” depicts the one time the Doctor breaks his own promise, when he attempts to use the Moment in order to stop Doctor Who's first Time War.

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The Time War ultimately breaks the Doctor, and the guilt he feels about the deaths of his species are an integral part of the Time Lord’s character after this. The War Doctor accepts he has to give in, and thinks it’s really the kinder thing to do, but this doesn’t make it any easier for him. Of course, viewers learn that the Time War isn’t what they are initially led to believe, and every incarnation of the Doctor works together to freeze Gallifrey instead. Even though there’s a somewhat happy ending, this is still a huge promise the Doctor breaks.

4 The Seventh Doctor Lying About Why He Invited Ace Aboard The TARDIS

Classic Era, Season 26, Serial 3 - "The Curse Of Fenric"

The very last serial of Doctor Who’s classic era, “The Curse of Fenric,” features an incredible lie from the Seventh Doctor. Ace’s Doctor Who story is a rather convoluted one, and in this serial, the real reason she meets the Doctor is finally revealed. Upon discovering that Ace is actually a pawn in Fenric’s evil game, the Doctor lies and tells the villain that he knew this all along. The Doctor encourages Fenric to kill Ace, stating that he wouldn’t have taken her with him in the TARDIS otherwise, and is generally insulting of his companion during this moment.

Ace’s reaction to the Doctor’s words is painful to watch, and his belittling comments make her lose all faith in the Time Lord. However, this is part of the Doctor’s plan, and in doing so, the Ancient One is able to move again and kill Fenric. “The Curse of Fenric” is by far the Seventh Doctor’s best story in Doctor Who, and while his comments are incredibly harsh, it’s astonishing how he manages to save both of their lives with this ploy. While Ace is still hurt by his actions, they also allow her to finally get over her past.

3 The Ninth Doctor Promising To Save Lynda Moss From The Game Station

Modern Era, Season 1, Episode 13 - "The Parting Of The Ways"

The Doctor always tries to save everyone he meets, so it’s rather deflating when the Time Lord isn’t successful. When the Ninth Doctor meets Lynda Moss at the Game Station in “Bad Wolf,” he quickly forms a bond with her and ires her bravery. The Doctor promises to get Lynda out alive, but she is sadly killed by the Daleks in “The Parting of the Ways” before he is able to do so. Lynda’s death in Doctor Who is a crucial moment for an important reason.

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Once again, the Doctor isn’t able to control the fate of someone he makes a promise to. However, him breaking his promise is even darker because the Doctor isn’t able to protect someone from the Daleks’ ruthlessness, just like in the Time War. What’s even more difficult for the Doctor, though, is that he is able to keep his promise to Rose and send her to safety, but he’s unable to do the same for Lynda. The Doctor doesn’t offer much of a reaction, but his facial expression tells viewers everything they need to know about how guilty he feels.

2 The Eleventh Doctor Promising To Be Back For Amelia Pond In 5 Minutes

Modern Era, Season 5, Episode 1 - "The Eleventh Hour"

One of the most notable times the Doctor breaks a promise in the modern era is in the season 5 premiere, “The Eleventh Hour,” one of Steven Moffat’s best Doctor Who episodes. The Eleventh Doctor’s first moments see him meet Amelia Pond after he crashes the TARDIS in her garden, but when he rushes off to stabilize the ship, he promises the young girl that he will return in five minutes. However, he is gone for much longer than that, and the Doctor learns that those five minutes turned into 12 years.

This broken promise alters Amy’s entire life, and she spends a lot of her childhood visiting psychiatrists and being told she is making things up.

The Doctor makes such a big point about promising the child that he’ll only be five minutes, so it makes sense Amy feels so betrayed when her imaginary friend suddenly reappears years later. This broken promise alters Amy’s entire life, and she spends a lot of her childhood visiting psychiatrists and being told she is making things up. Amy even gains the title of “The Girl Who Waited” because of this. Even though it is later revealed that the Doctor goes back and puts young Amelia to bed, she never knows.

1 The Twelfth Doctor Lying To Clara Oswald About Being At A Volcano

Modern Era, Season 8, Episode 11 - "Dark Water"

The Twelfth Doctor’s lie to Clara when she intimidates him after Danny Pink’s death is one that is justified, although it’s still a little cruel he does this. After Danny is hit by a car in “Dark Water,” Clara uses a sleep patch on the Doctor, which knocks him out, and blackmails him into saving Danny by threatening to throw several TARDIS keys into a volcano. However, both Clara and the audience are unaware that her plan fails.

When Clara is left with one key, she realizes what she has done, only for the Doctor to reveal that they’re still in the TARDIS, and she is in a telepathic test. Clara and Danny’s relationship in Doctor Who is very timey-wimey, and so the Doctor initially refuses to help, but he really lies so that he can see how far Clara will go to be with Danny again. The Doctor ultimately agrees, but it’s still wild the lengths Doctor Who goes to in order to play mind games with Clara and demonstrate her true intentions.