I don’t know that I’m the best one for this, as my threads tend to die quick and ignominous deaths, but since I’m the one who suggested it in this thread (thanks to an inadvertent nudge from Mrs. Cake), I guess it’s on me to start this.
There have been 10 regenerations of the Doctor since the BBC series “Doctor Who” began in 1963, played respectively by:
William Hartnell
Patrick Troughton
Jon Pertwee
Tom Baker
Peter Davison
Colin Baker
Sylvester McCoy
Paul McGann
Christopher Eccleston
David Tennant
The purpose of this thread is to hash it out…who was the best Doctor?
Personally, Tom Baker was MY Doctor. He was the Doctor when our PBS station was playing Doctor Who episodes in the late 70s when I was a kid, and I have to admit here that I have never seen a single whole episode of Doctors 1-3 or Doctors 5-9. Even with Tom Baker being my Doctor, I feel that David Tennant is a better Doctor…he comes very close to that underlying chaos (and absolute JOY in that chaos) that Baker had, while also being…well, kind of cute. And not quite as absent-minded and annoyingly Bohemian.
Tough call. Like you, I first encountered the Doctor in his Baker incarnation, and that went a long way toward setting my notion of what the Doctor should be. None of the other old-series Doctors comes close, in my opinion.
As a result, I almost feel disloyal in saying that I like both the Eccleston and Tennant incarnations. Eccleston’s Doctor brought out the darker aspects of the Doctor rather well, which I found interesting, but I didn’t like him as much as Baker’s. Tennant, on the other hand, seems to have kept enough of that darkness for spice, while bringing back more of the Baker-esque enthusiasm and offhand zaniness. Putting aside nostalgia for the moment, I think Tennant’s Doctor is the best so far. How much is because of his interpretation of the character, and how much is because he’s gotten some of the better writing, I’m not sure.
Baker’s Doctor still holds a special place in my memories, though.
This is one of the qualities I like (in both Baker and Tennant). Those moments when they come upon a potentially deadly alien or piece of machinery or temporospatial phenomenon and both of them would just go “Ooooh…a Znorg/reticulated nimbal lever/Zoofnegger Rift! I’ve never seen one of these up close!”
The first serial I remember wathcing in its entirety (“Carnival of Monsters”) was in the latter half of Pertwee’s era. So, for me, Pertwee is the Doctor, with by Tom Baker, Eccleston, and Tennant all a step behind. McCoy behind them; while the script quality had decidedly fallen off, he did an admirable job of bringing the Doctor to life. Davison and Colin Baker? Meh. I was too busy watchingPeri.
Never saw much of Hartnell or Troughton and don’t recall a thing about McGann’s movie.
It’s Tom Baker by a mile, can’t see anyone old enough to have seen him saying anything different - He is Dr Who. Thought Eccleston was very good - a lot better than Tennant. Part of this might be due to CE being the comeback Dr after a long hiatus - it was great to see the legend return. I’ve not watched every episode with David Tennant, but some have been a bit ropey. Not due to him particularly, just not that well put together. the one on last weekend was like a bad radio4 play.
As an adult I discovered Dr. Who with Baker and came to love the show. I am so glad it has been revived and really like what both Eccleston and Tenant have done with the Doctor.
Still, my personal favorite is Peter Davison. His adventures, his cast of companions, everything about his run of the show feels just right to me. So, here’s a minority vote for Davison!
(Unfortunately, the guy who came after him was probably the worst.)
Eccleston is “My” Doctor. I guess that’s to be expected since I never saw the show before the new Who. Still, I like him more than Tennant. Davidson is my second favorite.
I might have selected Eccleston if he had stayed for more than one series/season. But departing after that and hearing the excuses/reasons left a rather bad taste in my mouth.
So I’d have to say that my favorites are Baker and Tennant.
Baker was my first Doctor, but Tennant is the better actor. He has drawn on the work of so many other actors who have played the role and the legacy of their stories. My all-time favorite episode is School Reunion. It wouldn’t have worked if Tennant hadn’t made the viewer believe that he was still the same person played by Baker. I haven’t seen it in months, but I have goose bumps recalling Elisabeth Sladen recognizing the Doctor.
Baker is my favorite still. Quirky odd and yet he still seems brilliant.
Followed by teh enthusiasm of David Tennant and the brilliant and damged version played by Christopher Eccleston
My first Doctor was Peter Davison but I remember little of he and Colin Baker. I mostly remember Sylvester McCoy, from when I was watching episodes on their first broadcast.
But from having seen all of them through repeats, I’d prefer to watch a Troughton or Baker (Tom) story, the two of them felt more at ease in their roles and eccentricities.
Tom Baker was the Doctor was I was a kid. Those before and after were no where near as good. In fact the eccentric Baker was the only one I really enjoyed until the New Series. I like both of the new Doctors very much. I still have a soft spot for Baker, but I might put David Tennant at the top now with Tom Baker as #2.
Just a quick request to those posting in this thread: when you say Baker, please specify whether you’re referring to Tom or Colin.
As for me, Eccleston introduced me to the character so he’s got a strong claim to my pick as favorite. I loved his idiot savant act. I loved the dark edge that he gave to the character. I was so sorry to hear that he was leaving the show. If he had stayed for longer, he would be a no-brainer as my pick.
That being said, Tennant is positively brilliant. He makes the Doctor such a deep character ranging from lighthearted and adventurous to dark to vengeful. He has incredible energy and enthusiasm. Since Eccleston left, Tennant has taken the role and is so very much the Doctor to me that I can scarce imagine how another actor could fill the role after him. Tennant gets my nod.
Sorry, Colin Baker was decent, I think, but so far from consideration in this context that I quite forgot about him. If I had to guess, I would say that any “Baker” references not otherwise specified in this thread are likely to Tom Baker.
Thing about Colin Baker is that he’s consistently voted top Doctor of the new Audio Adventures (of which Davison, he, McCoy, and McGann do). His Doctor’s been very much rehabilitated.
I’ve heard a claim that Colin’s Doctor was supposed to be insufferable for a certain length of time (due to a wonky regeneration or something) and then either slowly develop into someone easier to like or to otherwise be fixed. But unfortunately, he was replaced before the rehabilitation. If that’s true, it’s a pity.
I’m another Tom Baker fan who’s enjoyed the new series, and really likes the Tennant Doctor. I also think that it’s a shame that Paul McGann didn’t get more of a shot at the character. He had some of Peter Davidson’s wistfulness and vulnerability.
