Not long passing its 52nd birthday, the Doctor Who franchise continues to grow strong and has recently finished it’s ninth season. In all these years we’ve lived through 13 (yes 13, i'm not counting the metacrisis Doctor) incarnations of our beloved hero and i’m gonna cutdown my favourite. Slight problem, I like all incarnations equally. You can thank the books and the audio stories. But heres a countdown of where I were to rank them.
12: 6th Doctor (Colin Baker)
All the adventures I've seen that involve this Doctor (minus The Twin Dilemma) I've thoroughly enjoyed. This Doctor is misunderstood I think. If you changed the writer, he could of been a brilliant Doctor. Colin Baker can certainly show this Doctor's emotional side, especially when Peri died and when he calls out the Time Lords as corrupt. The reason he's low on the list is well.... bad writing in "The Twin Dilemma". They wrote him to strangle Peri. WTF!!!!
11: 4th Doctor (Tom Baker)
This Doctor is memorable and legendary for how long he was on British television screens. 7 years as the Doctor is certainly an achievement to remember. This Doctor has so many good episodes especially during the period where the show was in it's too scary for kids phase, "Genesis of the Daleks" for one, "The Face of Evil" being another and his Doctor's regeneration in "Logopolis". His relationship with Sarah Jane Smith being another memorable part of his incarnation. The 4th Doctor I also believe is memorable for the dilemma he faced in "Genesis of the Daleks" where if he went through with his plan, he'd be more like his sworn enemies. He's 12 because, his attitude in places is really frustrating. But i will admit his surprise appearance in "The Day of The Doctor" was really, really incredible to see. A possible future for the hero.
10: 5th Doctor (Peter Davidson)
Peter Davidson's Doctor was the youngest Doctor of the classic era and was a very different and in my opinion, a very violent Doctor. He suffered a lot as well though he didn't let it affect him all that much. He was no stranger to putting others lives before his, like when he saved Peri, and was no stranger to removing threats such as when he threatened Davros. He's a man who was in it for the adventure. His top moment was meeting his 10th persona. Most entertaining ten minutes I've seen.
9: The War Doctor (John Hurt)
The War Doctor is the incarnation that fought in the Time War. The reveal of this Doctor at the end of "The Name of the Doctor". The is a very damaged character and is a perfect example of what I am big on studying. War changes people. This Doctor also runs around with some of the best quotes. "Great men are forged in fire. It is the pleasure of lesser men to light the flame". He's hoping for his later incarnations to be better than him and not fall light he did. He later incarnations who's banter is one of the best moments of the 50th Anniversary.
8: 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)
This the post war Doctor. Living with the fact of what he did in the war to his own people and the Daleks. I'm a sucker for darker characters. He is definitely a dark character. His meeting with the Dalek in Henry Van-Staten's vault shows what the Daleks made him. They give him a reason to break his rule. Give him a reason to kill. And because of this like the Dalek said to him. He'd make a good Dalek himself.
7: 1st Doctor (William Hartnell)
Being the first incarnation to hit the British screen. This Doctor had big shoes to start filling. This Doctor may be old and grumpy, but underneath all that, he's a classic caring old grandad. Especially to his granddaughter. Because of his travels and meeting many villains like the Daleks, he gradually becomes a damaged man. Because of the Daleks, he had to leave his Susan, his granddaughter, behind and they have caused so many companies to leave or die. And because of the Cybermen, he regenerates.
6th: 3rd Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
The 3rd Doctor is the classic action hero. Spent most of his time throwing punches and flipping people. This Doctor has some of the best seasons on record, Inferno, The Three Doctors and Planet of the Spiders. The Doctor is known for the introduction of the Master who becomes a major recurring villain for the Doctor. His seasons are also best for the introduction of arguably the best companion, Sarah Jane Smith. Though a favourite moment of mine is his reaction to the departure of Jo. He doesn't even need to say a word about how he feels. He just drives off into the night. Silent. Shows how much of a dramatic effect a departure of companion.
5: 2nd Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
The Second Doctor is know mostly for being a bit of a clown and the comedic incarnation. I believe these are a contributing factor to his dark persona. The comedic side hides a darker and character. Moments like explaining to the captain of the moonbase about the Cybermen, how he discusses the Daleks and other beasts. However he has such caring moments like discussing his family with Victoria. His moments of banter with Jon Pertwee's Doctor are definitely some of the best moments in Doctor Who's history.
4: The 7th Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)
This Doctor is a more wizard like incarnation and a manipulator. He manipulated his mortal enemies into destroying their own planet. (That's one way of doing it) He's know well for the Doctor being a mystery and his past being looked at in his stories. His big ass question mark on his clothes and his umbrella makes him noticeable from any kind of material. He also has the first instance of "Cool guys don't look at explosions."
3: 8th Doctor (Paul McGann)
Though used in a TV movie and a mini episode, the 8th Doctor i think is one of the most underrated incarnation. His appearances in the audio dramas show us a very interesting persona. Very much a happy and joyful Doctor. A romantic at heart. Though when the Time War breaks out, he's so broken by this he remains on a ship as it crashes into a planet. The war causes him that him that much pain he is forced to abandon the name "Doctor" to join the war. This Doctor is a pivotal incarnation because his regeneration, an anger fuelled regeneration, changes the fate of the galaxy for better and the worse.
2. 11th Doctor (Matt Smith)
This Doctor is a beloved by many. He's energetic, lively, eccentric, resourceful, and quick-thinking, able to spin things to his point of view and find positive outlooks in negative situations, and, while he preferred to settle problems through negotiation rather than violence, he was willing to result to violence when he deemed it necessary. His relationship with Clara is pivotal to the second half of season 7 and the interactions with his 10th and War persona's were to notch comedic value. He had some of the best speeches and his final moments being the most heart breaking to audience members. His phone call to Clara in "Deep Breath" was not only a great cameo but also a damn good way to reassure Clara and the audience members that this new regeneration is still him, just a new face. He's just a mad man with a box.
1. 10th Doctor (David Tennant) & 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi)
It is honestly so damn difficult to pick which one of these two regenerations is the better incarnation in my opinion. So heres why they both take top spot for me.
There is no denying how much love this incarnation gets. 5 years worth of adventures. He had some of the best episodes so far, some of the scariest episodes, some of the best companions and some of the most heartbreaking moments in the shows history; his goodbye to both Rose and Donna being examples. Towards the end of his run, he became what the eighth incarnation was before his regeneration, a damaged character. He had suffered so much loss, so much pain, being alone was the best way to deal with it all. His final episode wrapped up all his story arcs, he met every companion he's ever had, Martha, Mickey, Captain Jack, Donna and Rose before she ran into him, before the end. Then his final words: "I don't want to go" made his departure all the more heart wrenching. I'll even admit: his regeneration gets to me from time to time.
This regeneration takes top spot because of one thing. He asks a question. "Am I a good man?" Throughout his run so far we've seen instances of yes and no. In his opening episode, he left Clara to defend for herself (he did return), and the cyborg that died, we don't know if he killed it or not and that look he gives to the audience afterwards (the picture to the left) could be a yes. He openly goes against Clara's wishes after her death (Spoiler Alert) and he shoots a Time Lord in order to save Clara (Again Spoiler Alert). Though he has shown kindness, going with Clara to save Danny Pink, saved Isildur (that can be seen either way) and chose than rather Clara suffer losing her memory of him, it would be him forgetting her and the final scene of "Hell Bent" with him putting on the coat after reading the chalk board that said "Run you clever boy....and be a Doctor" show him keeping an unspoken promise. Number 12 is one word; Badass. He also has the best theme hands down.
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