Since the Doctor continually regenerates, fans of Doctor Who have gotten to see numerous different actors bring their favourite alien to life. Whether you prefer a darker version of the Doctor or something a bit more campy, there is a season for you somewhere along the line. Though not all of those portrayals were created, nor received, equally.
Some versions of the Doctor were truly praised by fans and critics alike while others fell a bit flat. Today we will be ranking every take on the Doctor to date based on general appeal, how entertaining their version of the character was, and whether or not they brought anything new to the role.
Note: this ranking is entirely subjective and each and every fan is going to have their own personal preference.
Eight
There is not much to say about this version about the Doctor. Simply put, he did not leave his mark on the fandom as his version of the role was rather unremarkable.
He did not put a special spin on the character or do anything that stuck with the audience. He simply was the bridge between the original series and the reboot. Though some do truly adore him and many believe he was the best part of the TV movie, on the whole many were simply not impressed.
Six
Everything in the 80's was dialled up to eleven. The hair, the colours, the style, and the Doctor.
Though we do love seeing a more eccentric and whimsical version of the character every now and then, this version of the Doctor was rather erratic and was not a fan favourite. Not in the slightest.
Seven
Though it is important to note that the show was starting to wear on audiences at this point in its run, we do not blame the actor for his rotten luck of playing the Doctor while audiences were losing interest.
However, the rather pompous version of the Doctor that he portrayed did not sit right with the fandom at all.
Twelve
Following the Eleventh Doctor could not have been an easy job and fans were hesitant to accept a new Doctor, especially considering the darker plots that the show was starting to gravitate towards.
Though an older version of the Doctor was interesting, the darker nature of the storyline that followed this version of the Doctor overshadowed the character and, truth be told, we prefer a campier and more whimsical take on the series.
Thirteen
This version of the Doctor is surrounded by a lot of undeserved controversy and many fans of the series have rejected her for the simple fact that she is a she. However, we believe in giving every Doctor a fair chance regardless of gender, race, or any other labels and we are going to give a fair look at her portrayal of the Doctor.
This version of the Doctor is a touch plain at this current point in time. Though we do love the fact that the show is moving away from its darker plotlines and back to some classic campy sci-fi storylines. However, we are still in the midst of this Doctors run so our ranking of her version of the character could change in the future.
The Third
Something that really made this version of the Doctor stand out was the fact that his storyline including him being stranded on Earth without his TARDIS. This allowed the show to explore a more physical version of the Doctor and furthered the connection to humanity that was established by the previous Doctor.
We love the James Bond-esk version of the Doctor and something that was really exciting about the early Doctors was how unique their versions of the character were.
The Second
Good things come in pairs. It is important to recognize the fact that the Second Doctor's whimsical and emotionally moved version of the Doctor shined so brightly because it was being compared to the First Doctor's stoic portrayal.
The Second Doctor was the first Doctor to regenerate within the show and the way that the audience adored his unique version of the character paved the way for future versions.
The Original
Though it is important to note that he was the first one to bring the character to life and did not have any examples through which to study and shape his own version.
Something we love about this version of the Doctor is how they focused on his alien side (rather than his human side.) Though we do love the more human and emotional Doctors, this more stern and reserved version was a fascinating take on the character.
Five
Though fans do love when Doctor Who gets dark, they also love when the show takes a break from its more intense storylines and focuses on lighter subject matter.
What we loved about the Fifth Doctor was the fact that his version of the Doctor was more in line with the classic and ideal version of a heroic character. This was a fun new take on the character and we loved it.
Four
This may be one of the most iconic versions of the Doctor. While some fans prefer the darker storylines that run through the many seasons of Doctor Who, others prefer the show when it gets a bit sillier.
The Fourth Doctor brought a touch of absurdity to the role. He brought a large dose of whimsy and a touch of unpredictability to the character which reminded audiences that he was not of this world.