 A loose story arc that informed the Doctor 's characterisation during the 2005 series is his feelings regarding the destruction of his own race , the Time Lords , which occurred offscreen before episode one . Eccleston felt that the episode " Dalek " showed the audience why his Doctor is the way he is and " how he feels about his past " . Russell T Davies remarked that the Ninth Doctor carries a lot of survival guilt ; this is why he " strides through the universe wearing a dark leather jacket saying " Don 't touch me " " . Davies felt that " Dalek " provided a " bit of therapy " and after this he " starts to rebuild himself " . In the episode " The Parting of the Ways " the Doctor sacrifices his ninth life to save Rose . Davies felt it was important to take the Doctor away from mythological off stage concepts such as the Time War and provide a conclusion that focused on the relationship between the character and Rose . John Barrowman , who played Captain Jack , felt that the Doctor 's decision to save Rose enabled a catharsis ; as he sacrifices himself to save her he is " letting go of the burden of the Time Lords being destroyed " . 
