Holy shit, a comment from a proper UA-cam GOAT??? Reading this made my day! Also, just out of curiosity, are you planning on making a video about series 13?
@@JayExci Nice! That’s something for me to look forward to. I’m planning on making a video on series 13 as well. Hopefully we don’t say the exact same shit
I saw it as regression from trauma of the time war and his loss with Rose and Donna etc, he wanted to block it out and so was very much "ooo shiny object" "ooo new mystery distraction" because he constantly wanted to avoid his inner darkness and turmoil, it was his coping mechanism the only way he could deal with what he had done, and what he had lost. Sometimes the darkness shot out as a result in impulsive drives that suprised even him, and the next Doctor Capaldi was supposed to be him finally confronting that darkness and cynacism (I spelt that so wrong I know). Hence why he is the one who forgets, because he chooses to, he chooses to be a child and fuck around and be naive and oblivious because he loves that about Humans, he wants that for himself
This leads into a theory that I've had about the revival series for years. That being the theory that the events immediately preceding the Doctor's regeneration DIRECTLY impact the "new" Doctor. Examples! 8-War: self explanatory, but dying DUE to the time War had an affect, (Karn being involved might have helped XD) War-9: The protective, almost father-figure personality likely being affected by the end of the war and PTSD. (Now for the juicy stuff) 9-10: 9 dies as a result of saving Rose out of love. 10 regenerates into a much younger looking, charismatic, and romantic Doctor as a result of his feelings surfacing for Rose. But also gives "no second chances" as betrayals eventually led to 9's having to save Rose. 10-11: 10 dies as a result of the lingering effects of the Time war, and saving someone. Doesn't want to go. 11, as a result, is even younger looking and carefree. Living life to its ABSOLUTE fullest and Finds MANY ways to keep living. ESPECIALLY in "impossible" scenarios. Lives for 2000(ish) years (doesn't go). [There's also a compelling theory with solid evidence that auggests 11 has 10's right hand, and it was newer than the rest of him, and didn't need to regenerate) 11-12: the vision of Amy (ironically ALSO first appearing in Capaldi's non-Doctor episode), leads to what? A scottish accent, and the loss of the Ponds leads to a cynical, tougher Doctor. And the "am I a good man?" Arc coming from the events of Trenzalore has merit 12-13: 12 dies as a result of the Cybermen, but refuses to regenerate until an adventure with 1, because he's tired of everything being the same over and over again. Leading to the most different version yet in 13. Also FAR less cynical and grouchy than 12, due to this change.
Capaldi is top 3 for me; I may be biased but series 9 just was so well done I can’t help but love him forever. Plus, I related to him a lot; I liked the aloofness. I think as time goes on we’ll remember him more and more fondly.
Seeing McGann at 12th felt like a gutpunch, but considering ONLY the TV material, I can see why Big FInish did an absolutely AMAZING job bringing 8 to life, with the radio drama's, easily securing him as my favorited Doctor by a landslide
I have never listened to any of Big Finish, (though i would like to someday) but just from his small special 'Night of the doctor' I really enjoyed his performance!
Damn, I think it’s very bold of you to rank 9 as number one and I’m all for it. He helped bring back a long-running show with a new edge and made it great for not just the fans, but for new ones as well. Christopher Eccleston was my first exposure to the Doctor and I think the fact that he only had one season makes him that much special. He’ll always be my favourite.
@@PetersonZF My favourite thing about that is seeing the actor who plays Ian look at the camera everytime hartnell gets his surname wrong. cracks me up everytime
My favorite example is "You see that scanner? That is what I call a scanner up there!" I doubt that was the original line but I think it works perfectly because it shows his passive aggressive arrogance. He's basically saying "It's obviously what that is but I'm sure you don't know what it is because humans are dumb"
Thank you for highlighting Eccleston. He has done an amazing job, 100% agree about the writing and interpretation. He nailed it. Even with the low budget, this season punch very hard reotroducing the doctor and give him so much depth
Personally Capaldi's version of the doctor is my favourite, he's funny, he's interesting, he's compelling as well and this comes from a person that didn't even grow up with the show
Cap. Yes he kinda is, but he only had one series which was very forgettable He himself as The Doctor was good, but not enough time to grow in the role Plus I can't stand the leather jacket
Really? Where can I find that information? Was it an article or interview? I am really interested in that perspective I have never heard of that before.
12 himself is cursed by some sour story writing, but 12 himself is one of my favourites. Heaven Sent is one of my all time favourite episodes. His acting is just superb, and as is talked about in the video I think this actually concludes his "am I a good man" arc. But he doesn't have that ""Eureka I'm a good man so I just explain my feelings to the audience", he resolved himself in the episode and gets the job done, finding the determination to spend billions of years trapped in purgatory just to try and save his best friend, or punish those responsible for killing her. The war speech, the speech against the 2 masters, the emotion seeing bill converted to a cyberman. He really puts on a grumpy exterior and a brave face but under it all he knows the answer to his question... Yes, he is a good man, and he would do anything for those he loves (and even reflects on himself going too far, making him probably the most self aware of his mistakes and delusions as he doesn't need them pointing out to him a lot of the time unlike 10 in his time lord victorious moment, or 11 when he has to be talked down from shooting a guy in the face.) He may not have the best writing on average, but 12 probably has the best peaks in my opinion, the moments where he shines are just radiant.
@@Defnotdiablo A lot of people always say he falls victim to sour story writing but I always find that a bit untrue, especially when he has SO many good episodes similar to the level of the fan favourite 10th doctor, they both have great and terrible episodes it just happens, for 12 you've got In the Forest of the Night, for 10 you've got 42 or the Lazarus Project.
@@גוד-צ2ו Same. It's like people forget how horrible some episodes of the RJD era were. Or some of the latter episodes in the Smith era. I find 12's tenure to be much more consistent in terms of quality writing than the previous eras of Nu Who.
Peter Capaldi is easily in the top 3 best actor to ever play the role. Unfortunately he had to do it on Moffat run. Dispute most of his stories being not that good, he still my fav doctor. Also Heaven Sent exists
I'll admit that Tenant is probably the best and most iconic modern version of the Doctor, but Eccleston is always gonna be my favourite. His one season perfectly encapsulates basically everything that you need to know about the show.
The eleventh Doctor’s childlike obliviousness is deliberate on his part. It’s an act, he’s desperately trying to enjoy himself, both as a shield against his past suffering and as a coping mechanism for approaching the end of his life. I can’t remember if the is ever stated outright, but it’s pretty clearly written between the lines. Those moments when the veneer lifts and you see his inner darkness and sorrow are the “true self” that he carries around every day. His jovial and silly persona is a facade he maintains in order to hide and forget all of that.
Facts, the gunslinger episode showed how he felt about himself. If it wasn't for Emilia he would have thrown the scientists to the gunslinger to be killed. Which let's you know that his company is the only thing that keeps him being able to live with himself.
@@mikeyj7824 - Just promise me one thing. Find someone. - I don't need anyone. - Yes, you do. Because sometimes, I think, you need someone to stop you.
I'm surprised so many people don't interpret Smith's character this way, given how wildly more fun it is if looked at like he's just fucking with everyone around him because it's funny.
@@fukyoutubestupidfuckinghandles , true, with the second watch, when I already knew the basics and was open to see details, it was quite easy to see and oblivious for me, I don't know how so many don't see it after the third, fifth, etc. run, wtf?
Never watched classic who, grew up on 10,11,12. All three of them are interchangeable for me, from capaldi’s badassery and sass, smith’s charisma, and Tennant’s all rounded performance. It’s fantastic.
Tennant liked/was influenced by 4 & 5. Smith by 2 & 4. Capaldi by 1 & 3. 6 & 7 saw the show get darker and odder, and also had growing budget cuts. 8 was a movie and a short leading up to the War Doctor. As far as enemies from Old Who in New Who: Daleks, Cybermen, The Master, The Toymaker, The Great Intelligence, Macra, Ice Warriors, Sontarans, Silurians, Autons, Zygons, and Space Vampires
@@elizawulf8180the only classic who I’ve seen is 5 or so episodes with the first doctor and a few clips here and there and it’s precisely why I love 12 so much, Capaldi really captures my conception of classic who while balancing it with the other modern doctors… he’s also just a phenomenal actor
As a fan of 4 (I'm old enough to have seen most of the original Doctors) I have to admit I really like 9 as well. Everything Doctor Who has become since the new beginning is owed to Christopher. Had he not done a spectacular job as Doctor it would not have become what it has.
Disagree. His first and only season is one of the most forgettable. Rose and Jack were two of the most memorable parts of the show. There are numerous actors that could have replaced him, and the show would've go on. That's not to say I disliked him, or he doesn't deserve credit. I just didn't see anything great about his iteration of the Doctor.
I didn't like him at the time, and I wasn't keen on the idea of New Who. I went back years later to watch from the start... was blown away by his performance and genuinely felt the loss of this doctor. HE DESERVED MORE, FANS DESERVED MORE. So sad. I think he could've become maybe even the best loved doctor of New Who
For a really long time I thought that the reason the 11th Doctor didn't have many dark moments was because Matt Smith couldn't go very dark so they kept him more fun (I had seen him only in Doctor Who, Morbius and his interviews). But a couple of days ago I watched Last Night in Soho, where Matt Smith plays a villain and I can safely say that not seeing 11 go more dark and serious was a giant missed opportunity. Edit: I watched House of the Dragon and I have to say that Matt Smith has range and he was severely underutilized in DW
if you really think about it after season 5 matt smith was under underutilized and just basically just said, he's light hearted and cheat death and time because he's the doctor
To be fair, I think that’s more of a writing issue. Smith proves several times in the show he can go very dark. His speech/attempted suicide by memory erasing from the parasite planet, his silent horror at the accusations thrown at his by 10 and the war doctor, etc
The reason why the 11th Doctor kept being socially inept was because he literally forgot himself. He saw the Timelord Victorious and remembered the hell of the War Doctor, with all incarnations before them. So, he chose to bottle it by choosing a face that would forget things. That's also why he kept slipping into sociopathic fits as Steven Moffat wanted to try his own Vineyard, but was pressed for time.
She's a capable actress that obviously cared nothing about the part and specifically went out of her way to not learn anything about the character before taking the role. This isn't inference; she directly stated it in interviews. the lion's share of the blame is on Chibnall. No question. But I'm not gonna give her a free pass just because she had roles that she didn't suck in.
@@RyusutaWhile I do agree to some extent, I truly believe that no amount of character research or effort on her part could have saved or even helped the run much. She may not have given 110% to the role but that's a very minor issue in the face of everything else, even if someone Capaldi had dealt with her writing it would've fallen flat on its face. Maybe she deserves a tiny bit of blame but with better writing I could genuinely see an arc over 3 seasons where she could grow into the character
uncalled for fun fact about aikido: its a really defensive style of fighting where you use the opponent's momentum against them, which honestly fits the doctor's character pretty well
11th's dark side was very well made in my opinion. Because it's ALWAYS there, and he's the darkest of all the doctors deep down. And I like to believe that his overly dumb side was just him hiding his dark side really hard
@@michaelgriffiths6463 If we compare 11 to 9, then I think maybe yes, but the 10th Doctor was the Time Lord Victorious, after all Almost reached the point of no return
In my opinion my favourite doctor is the 11th doctor. I love Matt’s performance as the doctor and I love his feel of a child stuck in a grown man’s body but it’s obvious the more you watch it that it’s just a front he puts up in order to protect himself from the feeling of losing more people he loves. I honestly think the era of the 11th doctor, Rory and Amy is the peak of the show that I have seen.
i do agree that smith is way lower on the list than he could be and i do think the way his facade is written, especially with when and how he drops it, isn't written as well as it could be. hes often written very black and white and i think more shades of gray couldve made him so much better
@@resinfruitCapaldi was better imo, he just suffered from weak episodes, but as The Doctor, I think he was way better Considering eras tho, in modern Who, I still think s3-4 was peak
I really like the seriousness of Pertwee's 3rd Doctor. His no nonsense personality makes his run very unique compared to what followed. I always wonder if the modern show would ever return to this type of seriousness. Most of the new doctors tend to veer towards being "quirky", borrowing heavily from the 2nd or 4th Doctor.
Now that I know they lied about Chris Eccleston being "tired" when they forced him out of his role, I can't help but wonder if they decided to write that down and actually use it in the show because that's exactly what the Doctor did to Harriet Jones in the very next episode. What a dig.
I really liked this ranking. It was so well explored where other lists don’t take the time explain each Doctor and the ranking. Though I don’t agree with every ranking you presented, the position of each one was well explained and as a result well justified.
i actually think all of the negative traits you mentioned about the 13th doctor could have been interesting character flaws of this incarnation-had the writing LET THESE THINGS BE CLEAR AND INTERESTING CHARACTER FLAWS. instead, because it lacks intentionality, these traits often feel like inconsistent writing rather than compelling character drama that subverts the tropes of a character we know and love
I think the 5th Doctor is a lot more interesting if you look at him over the course of the entire era and consider the overall progression of his character. You talked about the 8th Doctor being a pacifist in a deteriorating universe, and the 5th Doctor is much the same. In this respect, he's a tragic figure. He starts off his era bright and happy and loving adventure but as the series goes on the universe beats him down and traumatizes him repeatedly. He has a companion die, he faces increasingly deadly threats to the universe, and by his final season he's a broken man at the end of his rope. Just watch Resurrection of the Daleks and watch the Doctor go ham with a revolver and almost shoot Davros in cold blood. You'll see how a dark universe has crushed this fun-loving Doctor into becoming something just like it. The moments of whimsy and childlike fun begin to be less endearing and more the sad attempts of 5 to reclaim his lost innocence. In Planet of Fire he literally has to shoot and kill one of his companions as an act of charity (yes, Kamelion counts as a companion), and by his final episode it reaches the point where saving just one person he barely knows from the cruelties of the universe is worth giving his life for, even if everything else collapses and everyone else is killed. In an increasingly heartless universe, such an act of selflessness is fatal and the 5th Doctor finally succumbs to dark times that he never wanted to live through. At the same time, though, that final action is what redeems him and makes him a hero. He regenerates and transforms into the 6th Doctor, more brash and aggressive for brasher and aggressive times, but even 6 must give way to 7 as the first days of the Time War draw near and bravado alone is not enough to counter the threats of the universe. A chessmaster is needed.
too bad the chessmaster got a bit careless once and it ended with fatal consequences bringing back the soft pacifist to the point where he needed to break his name to fight the time war
Christopher Eccleston was my doctor as a kid. I was 4 years old in 2005, and I don't remember much, but I remember being obsessed with doctor who. And the 9th doctor will alway be my favourite doctor because of the nostalgia I get from series 1 especially. And David Tenant just amplified love for doctor who. The music of series 1, is just so nostalgic, and I love it so much.
I definitely feel like William Hartnell Patrick trougton and Christopher eccelsten had the biggest challenges to overcome, William Hartnell had to prove that doctor who could be successful, without him the show might have been cancelled after just a few episodes, the writers took a huge risk when they introduced the concept of regeneration (called renewal back then) so Patrick trougton had to convince everyone that this idea could work. Doctor who was considered an embarrassing relic when it was announced it was being brought back in the early 2000s so Christopher needed to convince the BBC and everyone else that doctor who could work in a modern format
Your suggestions for new plot lines and changes are so flawless. Flipping the doctor and the masters roles in the end of time as a resolution to 10s emotional journey sounds so obvious when you explain it that I can’t believe they didn’t think of this. But obviously you’re thinking about it more critically than the actual creators 🤠 thank u for another excellent vid
Well he also actively left out the reason 10 didn't go the Timelord Victorious route, Adelaide offing herself because of his tampering. So if he did go through with the Timelord Victorious route, then Adelaides sacrifice would be completely insignificant and of no impact to The Doctor.
I think it's absolutely awesome that you put 9th on first place. He is often underrated and he is really great. He's not my 1st but he is high up there. Eccleston was genius in this role.
Interesting, how you linked Peter Capaldi's Doctor with Colin Baker's. I didn't notice how much they have in common. I always saw more similarities between 1st and 12th, which was very cool to think about since 12th is the first Doctor off of the new regeneration cycle. I also really appreciate his character development, and while it's kinda short and makes him appear like two different Doctors (Series 8 and Series 9/10), I could feel it very naturally as the character has grown in me. From a cold and dark exterior, born at the despair of 900 years fighting in Trenzalore, he was confused, and trying to protect his heart, too tired of losing people again and again (Series 8). As he answered to the question "Am I a good man?", he stops caring about protecting himself, or how he should act or look like, so he could enjoy himself more (Series 9, especially talking about the guitar lol. It literally symbolizes how 12th stopped caring). Then he loses Clara and falls into despair again, doing extremes just to save her. And after Clara makes him forget her, he then becomes the fully-realized 12th Doctor (Series 10), a kind man, one of the kindest Doctors actually, showing what he has learned after all this. Capaldi's best highlights do concentrate at Series 9 (especially Heaven Sent) and most of Series 10, and was THE BEST actor possible for this character. And yes, his run suffered from very poor scripts to inconsistent changes of pace to anticlimatic moments, but I really liked it despite those faults. Easily Top 3 for me.
Fun fact I actually met Matt smith and got to say he is just as nice in real life as he seems in interviews which is not something I would expect for that reason he’s my personal fav
From what I’ve seen all the doctors are quite lovely people in real life and truly embody there doctor even off screen it’s kind of uncanny to be honest
I'm not even a fan of Doctor Who, never watched a full series, but after catching Chris Eccleston on TV, I was fascinated by his performance. He elevates the material instead of simply relying on it to make a memorable show. He's my fave and glad to see he got a great showing in this video.
Phenomenal list, phenomenal commentary, phenomenal video all round. I love your explanations and deep dives into each Doctor, their traits, personality, the acting talent behind them, it's all so well analysed and conveyed here and I loved every minute of this two hour marathon! Also we share the same favourite Doctor!!! Ecclestone is so incredibly deserving of that placement! Great job and please keep doing what you're doing!
@@wro2snort I mean.. you are not wrong, I think he would have been a good doctor if mottaf didn’t write doctor who’s build up like Sherlock Holmes the build up in the write gonna be honest bored the heck out of me
His favorite Doctor only appearing in 1 season is similar to my favorite actor who played James Bond. Timothy Dalton, for me, is and always will be the quintessential 007. His 2 Bond films are in my top 3, along with Goldeneye. It always leaves you wanting more, but I guess we should be thankful for what we got. He didn't get the chance to outstay his welcome like some of the other Bonds, but I will always wonder how his 3rd film would've turned out if he had gotten the chance to return 1 last time.
@@farmerned6 That's fair. I'm not gonna lie, although Goldeneye is one of my favorite Bond films, I am WAY more familiar with the Nintendo 64 game than I am the movie...lol
I just made my boyfriend watch nuwho for the first time and for the first time since I was a teenager, I changed my rankings of Doctors. 9 is far and away my favorite, and I dearly wish we had gotten to see more of what Chris Eccleston would’ve given us. I have nothing but respect for him as an actor and I’m sure he had his reasons and principles for leaving. But God do I wish we had gotten even 2 seasons with him
Honestly, the first Doctor is one I grow to love more and more with time, it's very difficult to rank him higher considering the quality of many other doctors but I believe you've done him justice here, not by placement but with everything you said about his incarnation
That was amazing. I like many other people would obviously rank things a little differently but the whole thing was very respectful, well researched and engaging to watch. You caught me off guard with the scene where Rose asks the doctor about his accent and says KYS. I pissed myself laughing at that. Great video
"No spinoff media will count" Okay, I understand this for every other Doctor, but ATLEAST give it to Paul McGann, He even references his companions from the side media, making it canon. Anyway, here's my ranking, note i love all The Doctors 13. 13th Doctor (only seen series 11, maybe she'll grow) 12. 5th Doctor (eh, i like him, his more subdued act isnt really meshing well, not that The Doctor cant be subdued, just that theres needs to be more flamboyance) 11. 10th Doctor (do NOT Crucify me for having this opinion. He's GOOD, i LIKE him, but i think his character arch doesnt work well and his performance while amazing is too segmented) 10. 3rd Doctor (I've only seen season 7. Ill say that i liked him but at times it felt like too much or not enough) 9. 1st Doctor (Ah yes, the original, going from grumpy grandpa, to the caring soace wizard of justice, he will always be the original template) 8. 11th Doctor (my first Doctor, I'll always remember, when The Doctor, was him.) 7. 9th Doctor (Wish there was more of him, he has Big Finish, haven't listened to it yet however, he is, indeed, FANTASTIC.) 6. 8th Doctor (i like to think he perfected the more human and romantic sides of the Doctor, something that not even the 9th Doctor did. That and the rapid descent into Darkness starting from the TV Movie and Ending with Night of the Doctor is so engaging... too bad its so expensive cause Big Finish isnt cheap) 5. 6th Doctor (First off, his TV era is underrated, only time lash and twin dillema hurt it. Second, his Big Finish is arguably even better than the 8th Doctors, heck for these 2 i can only aee them grow the more Big finish i have) 4. 2nd Doctor (this man saved the show. He's arguably Flawless in the sense that, imo, theres no fatal flaws to his character or dynamic. Not the absolute best, but definitly flawless) 3. 4th Doctor (Tom Baker is a legend... what? You expecting more? Sorry, nothing else to add) 2. 7th Doctor (i like the mysterious nature of him, the fact he's so much more like a villian more than anything but still clearly the hero wanting to save and protect everyone, but in a more dark and twisted manner.) 1. 12th Doctor (this to me, is what The Doctor is like. Everything he does, i think its done right. Even his era, while mixed in series 8 and 9, tbat was it, it was mixed, if you saw a very bad story, you knew you were getting a treat soon. And series 10 is easily my favorite series of NuWho. Peter Capaldi is THE Doctor for me. Thats something that wont change anytime soon)
Capaldi was a brilliant doctor. I think from my memory of the british culture surrounding the programme, every time a new doctor came in it was hard for us to accept the change. Especially in the newer series. Though, they all turned into brilliant brilliant doctors one after the other apart from 13 but as mentioned that was mainly just horrific writing. But after David Tennant's departure nobody wanted anyone else. We wated Tennant to stay forever, though Matt did a great job and held the ranks well. Then we didn't want him to leave and got Peter... Who we then also didn't want to leave... A lot of Doctor Who can also be put down to the side-chick that he runs around with, who we also had amazing runs of with rose, donna, amy and especially clara... But I don't even remember who played next to capaldi after clara... right when the ratings started to drop. I highly doubt that it's coincidence, nor that capaldi's portrayal dimmed or worsened in any way.
Thank you Martin Luther King that was a mighty fine upload. My dad was a Who junkie since day one of the show and so upon its revival wee me became a reluctant fellow addict and aside from my initial enthusiasm resulting in being subjected to Dimensions In Time I don't have many regrets. Also eleven's never ending speeches. YES. Finally someone on here said it.
Big Finish gave the 6th Doctor a proper death (he was killed by radioactive fallout in the ship), fortunately. As has been stated many times before, Big Finish is where to go to see what 6's potential truly was, and finally got to be.
I dislike it; while there's a pretty good reason for him getting hit by the only radiation that would kill him but leave Mel unharmed (tl;dr it was more-or-less deliberate), it doesn't make too much sense that there is some form of radiation like that at all.
Love this list. The 9th Doctor has been my #1 favorite since I first saw him (and I watched his run after the 10th and 11th Doctors). I don't think he gets enough love. He was the perfect blend and ratio, to me, of everything I like about the Doctor. And though I kinda wish he'd stayed longer, him having one season means none of his episodes feel like fluff to me. Also, people talk about 10 and Rose being in love. But if so, the Doctor first fell in love with her as the 9th Doctor.
I have nothing short of incredible respect for the ranking and the work you put into justifying each and everyone. Eloquently put might I add, and worth every last second, good on you! Can't wait to watch more 💙
that's hell of a work done, strange I came across it only now. the analysis's great, but the editing and those little humorous inserts are even better. burst with laughter couple of times hd just binged it all at once and got inspirational mood for all day. haven't seen such detailed videos on the Who and lacked it badly. thank you for your content, it really is unique :з
I once met sylvester McCoy when I was about 8 at a comic con. I really wanted a fez so sylvester asked if i could get one for free but the people at the comic con said no. He looked after the fez until I got my mum to give me money to buy it. He acts like the doctor on and off screen
In my opinion, the tenth doctor is the best. I haven't seen many of the earlier series though. The tenth brought such a deep character into the story. A man who has lost everything who loves to show people new world but when he is alone a much darker and powerful side comes in like in the "waters of mars".
the 10 was the definition of can't leave him alone if he is leading a group he sets a example when he is alone the dude goes full war criminal like he was in the time war
Personal theory: A part of the "mistreatment" of staff Eccleston speaks of which made him leave was the Noel Clark stuff being quieted down. From what I've heard it was kind of known but hush-hush...
Your description of Aikido is, I think, exactly how it works. By utilising lever on opponents limbs and using their strength and momentum against them, you force them to go down willingly, as their self-presevation prevents them from having anything broken.
Gorgeous video. I love the analysis you did for each doctor, setting the context both for your comments and for the time in which the doctor appeared. Lovely. Thanks for doing this.
I really loved that you not only ranked every doctor, but you gave each one time to actually give your take and explain them props man I watched every second of this
As someone who grew up with both classic and reboot and spent way too much time reading the wiki as a kid- I really enjoyed hearing your opinions on the different doctors over the run of the show
I mostly agree with your rankings - and super glad to see you give Eccleston the credit he's due. I liked Baker, Tennant, Smith, and several of the others. Baker was the first Doctor I ever watched, on PBS in the 80s and 90s. But Eccleston broke the mold in all the right ways.
Interesting. I undoubtedly would've ranked them differently, but I appreciate the thought you put into this. I agree that Capaldi and especially Eccleston are underrated - Smith too in some respects. My Doctor (Ever notice how everyone has 'their' Doctor?) was Tom Baker, so kind of a tough act to follow. In my book, he was and always will be 'The' Doctor.
What I liked about the 10th Doctor is when faced with death he would ask it what it wanted, when it answered a soul to chew on he would travel back in the TARDIS to find someone who was dying just to make it go away.
I think the 6th doctor's outfit would have made more sense if he had cobbled it together out of damaged clothing and scraps of fabric, so self-centred he can't even trust a tailor
They didn't put any flaws into the 13th doctor because they didn't want to be called sexist for singling out the female one, ironic that making her the only one without flaws and subsequently the worst doctor singled her out
"I'll just leave you to stew in the regret of knowing you just spent hours watching a UA-cam video instead of doing that one thing you've been putting off but now the video is done and you have to do it." Uh...I watched this while cooking, and then eating, dinner. So...mission accomplished? 😅
My heart will always go to the 11th Doctor, 10th coming in to a close second, but I honestly respect your ranking and reasons. I can see why you ranked them, which makes me actually enjoy this video, unlike other ranking videos lel To everyone reading this comment, I hope you have a good day! And please go do that thing you've being putting off, I'm sure it's important. Alright bye! Edit: And yes, the next Doctor was indeed David Tennant Edit 2: ALSO YES, I know I'm incredibly late to this video but shut it okay- /lh
wow i was surprised to see the 9th doctor's rank. he was always my favorite despite the fact the 10th and 11th were always more popular by the fanbase.
Personally Mcgann is my number 1, mostly carried by the divergent universe arc and season 4 of the 8DAs. Box set 8 does feel a lot more phoned in, but so does everything else in the box set era of big finish. And I definitely agree with some others that because 8 named his companions in the night of the doctor, those runs are at least partially canon. But God I want nothing more than to see the 8th doctor on TV again. ATM my top would probably be 1. Mcgann 2. Eccleston 3. Colin Baker (with audios taken into account) I haven't consumed enough of the other classic doctors, and I'm quite mixed on all the other new who ones, but Capaldi is undeniably great in the role despite some of the writing decisions.
God I hope Jodie does some Big Finish Adventures at some point. A different writer with a more concrete vision of her character would allow her to actually go deeper and bigger with her characterization of the Doctor.
I hate the thought that we might not get another female doctor in the next years because too many fans think of Jodie as the main reason why the Chibnall era was bad.
In every scene I've seen of Jodie I felt like she would have been absolutely BRILLIANT as a doctor if she was written well. Whitaker is frankly talented and would have killed it if given the chance, but alas... Chibnall
I wish people gave Hell Bent a better chance. It’s not a bad episode, especially coming off of Heaven Sent. The Doctor spent 4 and a half billion years in his own hell in order to not give the Time Lords what they want and to save Clara, so it makes sense that he’d go to extremes to save her, consequences be damned, and he broke his own rules and didn’t see how far he went in order to save her until the end, which shows how much the confession dial affected him
I agree! My complaints are more that it’s a bit undercooked. Coming back to gallifrey could have been a huge story in itself, whereas it feels more sidelined for Clara. Clara is my favourite companion tho and you feel their compassion for each other so much, just wish it didn’t have to sacrifice the pay off of gallifrey so much
@@popscape8490 I get that, I feel like people get mad at the episode because, at the end of Heaven Sent, it seems like the Doctor accepted Clara’s death, but he never accepts death if he can prevent it, and because of that, Clara had a literally unlimited lifespan since she was frozen between one heartbeat and her last and has a TARDIS, but I loved the episode when I first saw it
My only problems with Hell Bent are the recasting of Rassilon - if they couldn't get Timothy Dalton, they should have gotten an actor who could project a similar aura of power and menace - and the General's gender swap. Missy's great but she should have been a unique case because the Master has a history of using many methods outside of regeneration to stay alive. Swapping Time Lord genders at random simply doesn't work. If it's going to happen, it should be because the normal rules of regeneration are being broken. Part of me wonders if the episode might have been a bit stronger if the Clara in the diner was an echo, perhaps the same one who directed William Hartnell to the right TARDIS, instead of the original Clara. After Name of the Doctor, her echoes were barely acknowledged but until the confirmation that this is the real Clara at the end of the episode, I thought she was one. However, echo or not, seeing Clara fly away in her own TARDIS was so cathartic after the depressing misery of Heaven Sent that I can't bring myself to really care. She's still my favourite companion either way and I would have been heartbroken if she hadn't survived. Clara's already died for the Doctor a million times over, so she needed a future that didn't constantly revolve around him.
Comparing the Matt Smith Doctor to the social skills of other incarnations seemed strange to me. That is what I love about regenerations, they are a completely new being. They can be completely different to any other incarnations. It is not just the same person with a new face. Over the years a sort of central set of traits have developed for the Doctor but they are not written in stone.
I think that there is a limit though (imo). It’s one thing for the Doctor to regenerate and be slightly more silly. It’s another thing that he regenerates and suddenly becomes incapable of basic social interactions. The Doctor is, if nothing else, an Uber diplomat. He… kinda has to know how to talk to people. Or at least realize the purposes of clothing, which is shown not to be an exclusive concept to human beings in the Whoverse. I don’t think that this should ever be negotiable. That said, I get where you’re coming from!
the thing is, the doctor can change personality-wise but he should never lose knowledge. he should never forget how to act -- it was really out of character to suddenly have him think it's appropriate to be naked at a dinner party, or forget how to comfort people when they're sad. i think those things are not only integral to the doctor's character, but i think they also didn't make any sense and they wanted him to seem alien so hard he forgot how to be human, despite literally hundreds of years around humans and human society
But they aren't a "completely new being" they are all one ancient being but with many faces. Moffat with all his faults got it right, "Same software, different case" yes there are some differences with some Doctors, but they are no different than a person changing at different points in their life. Ultimately it is the same person with a new face because they still remember things, they did with those other faces not when they were a different person.
As a 19 year old American who just got into doctor who about 9 years ago, my rankings are as follows. 1. Patrick Troughton 2. Paul McGann 3. Peter Capaldi 4. William Hartnell 5. Christopher Eccleston 6. Sylvester McCoy 7. Jon Pertwee 8. Matt Smith 9. Colin Baker 10. Peter Davison 11. Tom Baker 12. David Tennant 13. Jodie Whitaker I've seen every episode since 1963 including recons of all the missing episodes, and animations. I've also started listening to big finish this past year and have really gained an appreciation for McGann and Colin from it (I've made it up to dark eyes for McGann and have listened to the majority of the Evelyn era with Colin). I know I've got an unorthodox list, but it's my genuine opinion.
1:42:41 God that episode of Room 101 with Michael Grade makes me absolutely rage. He evidently had an axe to grind and repeatedly cut its budget, and he got exactly what he wanted. What a sod
This is top notch content! Great work!
Holy shit, a comment from a proper UA-cam GOAT??? Reading this made my day!
Also, just out of curiosity, are you planning on making a video about series 13?
@@VerdanaVideos absolutely 😎
@@JayExci Nice! That’s something for me to look forward to. I’m planning on making a video on series 13 as well. Hopefully we don’t say the exact same shit
worlds collide my god
THE WAR DOCTOR
I wonder if Eleven's child-like personality was caused by 7-year-old Amy Pond being the first person he met. Great video.
Makes sense. He regenerated into "big brother/babysitter" mode.
I kinda like that speculation!
I saw it as regression from trauma of the time war and his loss with Rose and Donna etc, he wanted to block it out and so was very much "ooo shiny object" "ooo new mystery distraction" because he constantly wanted to avoid his inner darkness and turmoil, it was his coping mechanism the only way he could deal with what he had done, and what he had lost. Sometimes the darkness shot out as a result in impulsive drives that suprised even him, and the next Doctor Capaldi was supposed to be him finally confronting that darkness and cynacism (I spelt that so wrong I know). Hence why he is the one who forgets, because he chooses to, he chooses to be a child and fuck around and be naive and oblivious because he loves that about Humans, he wants that for himself
This leads into a theory that I've had about the revival series for years. That being the theory that the events immediately preceding the Doctor's regeneration DIRECTLY impact the "new" Doctor. Examples!
8-War: self explanatory, but dying DUE to the time War had an affect, (Karn being involved might have helped XD)
War-9: The protective, almost father-figure personality likely being affected by the end of the war and PTSD.
(Now for the juicy stuff)
9-10: 9 dies as a result of saving Rose out of love. 10 regenerates into a much younger looking, charismatic, and romantic Doctor as a result of his feelings surfacing for Rose. But also gives "no second chances" as betrayals eventually led to 9's having to save Rose.
10-11: 10 dies as a result of the lingering effects of the Time war, and saving someone. Doesn't want to go. 11, as a result, is even younger looking and carefree. Living life to its ABSOLUTE fullest and Finds MANY ways to keep living. ESPECIALLY in "impossible" scenarios. Lives for 2000(ish) years (doesn't go).
[There's also a compelling theory with solid evidence that auggests 11 has 10's right hand, and it was newer than the rest of him, and didn't need to regenerate)
11-12: the vision of Amy (ironically ALSO first appearing in Capaldi's non-Doctor episode), leads to what? A scottish accent, and the loss of the Ponds leads to a cynical, tougher Doctor. And the "am I a good man?" Arc coming from the events of Trenzalore has merit
12-13: 12 dies as a result of the Cybermen, but refuses to regenerate until an adventure with 1, because he's tired of everything being the same over and over again. Leading to the most different version yet in 13. Also FAR less cynical and grouchy than 12, due to this change.
Colin Baker and Peter Capaldi had one other thing in common: both actors had previously played a different part in Doctor Who.
David Tennant too, if you count Scream of the Shalka.
@@LiveHedgehog or colditz
we also had a couple of companions who played entirely different people before becoming a companion, then clara became kind of a meta joke about that
@@Roboshi2007 And at least one companion who came back as a separate character later.
Jodie played a part in...was the Santa Clous episode? Before she was cast as the Doctor.
Edit: Santa Clous? Incorrect autocorrect strikes again :(
every doctor who villain ranked. number 1, chris chibnall.
@@thetalonsofwaynechiang 3. JNT lol.
Number 4, the doctor
No face incites as much rage in me, as that goon.
He did to doctor who what gg allin did to his audience.
Chibnall bad give liked
Capaldi is top 3 for me; I may be biased but series 9 just was so well done I can’t help but love him forever. Plus, I related to him a lot; I liked the aloofness. I think as time goes on we’ll remember him more and more fondly.
Series 9 was mid af love Capaldi but even I found Series 9 to be very average.
Capaldi was the Doctor that got me into the show so he'll always be #1 in my heart
yeah heaven sent is so good that I end up loving peter the most for it .
He’s the worst of the nuwho wdym
@@geckoniner5625 *best
Seeing McGann at 12th felt like a gutpunch, but considering ONLY the TV material, I can see why
Big FInish did an absolutely AMAZING job bringing 8 to life, with the radio drama's, easily securing him as my favorited Doctor by a landslide
Even if I don't like him that much, his TARDIS is by far the best one
I have never listened to any of Big Finish, (though i would like to someday) but just from his small special 'Night of the doctor' I really enjoyed his performance!
He’s absolutely amazing if you count all of his unofficial content,but a promising underutilized character if you just count his official tenure
@@S-1ushyy"unofficial" kinds feels like the wrong word here, I mean Big Finish do operate under a license
@@busimagen how does that not make it "official"?
Damn, I think it’s very bold of you to rank 9 as number one and I’m all for it. He helped bring back a long-running show with a new edge and made it great for not just the fans, but for new ones as well. Christopher Eccleston was my first exposure to the Doctor and I think the fact that he only had one season makes him that much special. He’ll always be my favourite.
Tbh I shouted yes yes yes when he showed 9th as number 1.
Naaaa he is not 1
Thanks for ruining the video for me 😂
@@danielbriggs6482Don’t read the comments then! 😂
He is fantasic
I actually like the first doctor and his flubbed lines, I feel they add to the character and make him come off as more real
You are right. There is a certain charm to those flubbed lines.
Yes, particularly getting Ian's name wrong.
@@PetersonZF My favourite thing about that is seeing the actor who plays Ian look at the camera everytime hartnell gets his surname wrong. cracks me up everytime
My favorite example is "You see that scanner? That is what I call a scanner up there!"
I doubt that was the original line but I think it works perfectly because it shows his passive aggressive arrogance. He's basically saying "It's obviously what that is but I'm sure you don't know what it is because humans are dumb"
@@PetersonZF that may have started as a mistake but after a while it became an intentional running joke
Thank you for highlighting Eccleston. He has done an amazing job, 100% agree about the writing and interpretation. He nailed it. Even with the low budget, this season punch very hard reotroducing the doctor and give him so much depth
Personally Capaldi's version of the doctor is my favourite, he's funny, he's interesting, he's compelling as well and this comes from a person that didn't even grow up with the show
I do think Eccleston is criminally underrated, but Smith is my definitive favorite
Same
Yeah, me to.
Cap.
Yes he kinda is, but he only had one series which was very forgettable
He himself as The Doctor was good, but not enough time to grow in the role
Plus I can't stand the leather jacket
Ecceleston was adamant how much he hated playing the Doctor. He wants nothing to do with the franchise.
Really? Where can I find that information? Was it an article or interview? I am really interested in that perspective I have never heard of that before.
I REALLY liked 12. I think Capaldi should be appreciated more in time by more people.
12 himself is cursed by some sour story writing, but 12 himself is one of my favourites. Heaven Sent is one of my all time favourite episodes. His acting is just superb, and as is talked about in the video I think this actually concludes his "am I a good man" arc. But he doesn't have that ""Eureka I'm a good man so I just explain my feelings to the audience", he resolved himself in the episode and gets the job done, finding the determination to spend billions of years trapped in purgatory just to try and save his best friend, or punish those responsible for killing her.
The war speech, the speech against the 2 masters, the emotion seeing bill converted to a cyberman. He really puts on a grumpy exterior and a brave face but under it all he knows the answer to his question... Yes, he is a good man, and he would do anything for those he loves (and even reflects on himself going too far, making him probably the most self aware of his mistakes and delusions as he doesn't need them pointing out to him a lot of the time unlike 10 in his time lord victorious moment, or 11 when he has to be talked down from shooting a guy in the face.) He may not have the best writing on average, but 12 probably has the best peaks in my opinion, the moments where he shines are just radiant.
@@Defnotdiablo Hot take: 12 had more solid and overall better story writing than every other Doctor bar 9.
@@Defnotdiablo A lot of people always say he falls victim to sour story writing but I always find that a bit untrue, especially when he has SO many good episodes similar to the level of the fan favourite 10th doctor, they both have great and terrible episodes it just happens, for 12 you've got In the Forest of the Night, for 10 you've got 42 or the Lazarus Project.
@@גוד-צ2ו Same. It's like people forget how horrible some episodes of the RJD era were. Or some of the latter episodes in the Smith era. I find 12's tenure to be much more consistent in terms of quality writing than the previous eras of Nu Who.
Peter Capaldi is easily in the top 3 best actor to ever play the role.
Unfortunately he had to do it on Moffat run. Dispute most of his stories being not that good, he still my fav doctor. Also Heaven Sent exists
Damn good to finally see someone who shares my liking for Christopher Eccleston's incarnation
I love that guy.
He really is fantasitc. He's underrated mainly because he's only got one season but he's literally fantastic in his 13 episodes.
A TON of fans love Eccelston... his iterations is what revived the series... whatre you on about?...
I'll admit that Tenant is probably the best and most iconic modern version of the Doctor, but Eccleston is always gonna be my favourite.
His one season perfectly encapsulates basically everything that you need to know about the show.
He's my favourite too, a brilliant antihero.
The eleventh Doctor’s childlike obliviousness is deliberate on his part. It’s an act, he’s desperately trying to enjoy himself, both as a shield against his past suffering and as a coping mechanism for approaching the end of his life.
I can’t remember if the is ever stated outright, but it’s pretty clearly written between the lines.
Those moments when the veneer lifts and you see his inner darkness and sorrow are the “true self” that he carries around every day. His jovial and silly persona is a facade he maintains in order to hide and forget all of that.
Facts, the gunslinger episode showed how he felt about himself. If it wasn't for Emilia he would have thrown the scientists to the gunslinger to be killed. Which let's you know that his company is the only thing that keeps him being able to live with himself.
@@mikeyj7824
- Just promise me one thing. Find someone.
- I don't need anyone.
- Yes, you do. Because sometimes, I think, you need someone to stop you.
I'm surprised so many people don't interpret Smith's character this way, given how wildly more fun it is if looked at like he's just fucking with everyone around him because it's funny.
@@fukyoutubestupidfuckinghandles , true, with the second watch, when I already knew the basics and was open to see details, it was quite easy to see and oblivious for me, I don't know how so many don't see it after the third, fifth, etc. run, wtf?
I’m so glad 9 is getting the recognition he deserves. His regeneration will always be my favorite. Those final words will always make me cry.
Never watched classic who, grew up on 10,11,12. All three of them are interchangeable for me, from capaldi’s badassery and sass, smith’s charisma, and Tennant’s all rounded performance. It’s fantastic.
Tennant liked/was influenced by 4 & 5. Smith by 2 & 4. Capaldi by 1 & 3.
6 & 7 saw the show get darker and odder, and also had growing budget cuts.
8 was a movie and a short leading up to the War Doctor.
As far as enemies from Old Who in New Who:
Daleks, Cybermen, The Master, The Toymaker, The Great Intelligence, Macra, Ice Warriors, Sontarans, Silurians, Autons, Zygons, and Space Vampires
@@elizawulf8180the only classic who I’ve seen is 5 or so episodes with the first doctor and a few clips here and there and it’s precisely why I love 12 so much, Capaldi really captures my conception of classic who while balancing it with the other modern doctors… he’s also just a phenomenal actor
Yeah, I have a tough time choosing between those 3 as well. it's like each one hits a certain spot for me.
Did you say Fantastic on purpose as you left 9 out of your list? 😂
As a fan of 4 (I'm old enough to have seen most of the original Doctors) I have to admit I really like 9 as well. Everything Doctor Who has become since the new beginning is owed to Christopher. Had he not done a spectacular job as Doctor it would not have become what it has.
Disagree. His first and only season is one of the most forgettable. Rose and Jack were two of the most memorable parts of the show.
There are numerous actors that could have replaced him, and the show would've go on.
That's not to say I disliked him, or he doesn't deserve credit. I just didn't see anything great about his iteration of the Doctor.
@shadysif6220 I agree. I think Ecclestones tenure is very very forgettable and is over before it even starts.
I didn't like him at the time, and I wasn't keen on the idea of New Who. I went back years later to watch from the start... was blown away by his performance and genuinely felt the loss of this doctor. HE DESERVED MORE, FANS DESERVED MORE. So sad. I think he could've become maybe even the best loved doctor of New Who
I’m 51 and Tom Baker was definitely the best Doctor. It was scary back then too
For a really long time I thought that the reason the 11th Doctor didn't have many dark moments was because Matt Smith couldn't go very dark so they kept him more fun (I had seen him only in Doctor Who, Morbius and his interviews).
But a couple of days ago I watched Last Night in Soho, where Matt Smith plays a villain and I can safely say that not seeing 11 go more dark and serious was a giant missed opportunity.
Edit: I watched House of the Dragon and I have to say that Matt Smith has range and he was severely underutilized in DW
Matt smith goes dark
if you really think about it after season 5 matt smith was under underutilized and just basically just said, he's light hearted and cheat death and time because he's the doctor
Have you watched Morbius?
@@thisisaboatwhyismyusername2807 Yes I have! It was hilarious! The scene of Milo dancing lives rent free in my mind!😂
To be fair, I think that’s more of a writing issue. Smith proves several times in the show he can go very dark. His speech/attempted suicide by memory erasing from the parasite planet, his silent horror at the accusations thrown at his by 10 and the war doctor, etc
The reason why the 11th Doctor kept being socially inept was because he literally forgot himself. He saw the Timelord Victorious and remembered the hell of the War Doctor, with all incarnations before them. So, he chose to bottle it by choosing a face that would forget things. That's also why he kept slipping into sociopathic fits as Steven Moffat wanted to try his own Vineyard, but was pressed for time.
You mean valeyard?
“Vineyard” and “pressed for time” sounds like a winery pun waiting to happen
I don't think Whittaker was miscast. She is quite a capable actress, With proper direction i belive she would be capable to play the doctor
Whittaker aint bullied by the internet. Does this youtuber not know what a brat she identifies in her tweets as?
Helllloo??
She’s great in her big finish stories
@@jollygreenjeff2640 Im glad big finish redeemed her
She's a capable actress that obviously cared nothing about the part and specifically went out of her way to not learn anything about the character before taking the role. This isn't inference; she directly stated it in interviews.
the lion's share of the blame is on Chibnall. No question. But I'm not gonna give her a free pass just because she had roles that she didn't suck in.
@@RyusutaWhile I do agree to some extent, I truly believe that no amount of character research or effort on her part could have saved or even helped the run much. She may not have given 110% to the role but that's a very minor issue in the face of everything else, even if someone Capaldi had dealt with her writing it would've fallen flat on its face. Maybe she deserves a tiny bit of blame but with better writing I could genuinely see an arc over 3 seasons where she could grow into the character
uncalled for fun fact about aikido: its a really defensive style of fighting where you use the opponent's momentum against them, which honestly fits the doctor's character pretty well
11th's dark side was very well made in my opinion. Because it's ALWAYS there, and he's the darkest of all the doctors deep down. And I like to believe that his overly dumb side was just him hiding his dark side really hard
I think 10th has the darkest moments in the new who. Way more than 11
Sorry, but Eccleston and Tennant overshadow (pun intended) Smith's dark side
10s darker side was pitch black? matts was much more toned down
@@Matheus-ki9zo 11 just hid it better.
@@michaelgriffiths6463
If we compare 11 to 9, then I think maybe yes, but the 10th Doctor was the Time Lord Victorious, after all
Almost reached the point of no return
I like how 8 canonises all his big finish adventures by name dropping all his companions at the last moment.
Thank you for respecting Christopher Eccleston. I just feel like he and his storylines are literally perfect.
In my opinion my favourite doctor is the 11th doctor. I love Matt’s performance as the doctor and I love his feel of a child stuck in a grown man’s body but it’s obvious the more you watch it that it’s just a front he puts up in order to protect himself from the feeling of losing more people he loves. I honestly think the era of the 11th doctor, Rory and Amy is the peak of the show that I have seen.
Whittaker aint bullied by the internet. Does this youtuber not know what a brat she identifies in her tweets as?
i do agree that smith is way lower on the list than he could be and i do think the way his facade is written, especially with when and how he drops it, isn't written as well as it could be. hes often written very black and white and i think more shades of gray couldve made him so much better
@@resinfruitCapaldi was better imo, he just suffered from weak episodes, but as The Doctor, I think he was way better
Considering eras tho, in modern Who, I still think s3-4 was peak
Absolutely agree! There’s so much more going on inside 11s doctor than simply random childishness.
@@SonOfIzalith really the grumpy doctor 😂
I really like the seriousness of Pertwee's 3rd Doctor. His no nonsense personality makes his run very unique compared to what followed. I always wonder if the modern show would ever return to this type of seriousness. Most of the new doctors tend to veer towards being "quirky", borrowing heavily from the 2nd or 4th Doctor.
Must give you mad respect for liking the 9th Doctor (Eccleston). Sure he had a short stint, but he was fantastic!
Fan-TAStic.
@@diversezebra6754I see what you did there.👍
Now that I know they lied about Chris Eccleston being "tired" when they forced him out of his role, I can't help but wonder if they decided to write that down and actually use it in the show because that's exactly what the Doctor did to Harriet Jones in the very next episode. What a dig.
I really liked this ranking. It was so well explored where other lists don’t take the time explain each Doctor and the ranking. Though I don’t agree with every ranking you presented, the position of each one was well explained and as a result well justified.
i actually think all of the negative traits you mentioned about the 13th doctor could have been interesting character flaws of this incarnation-had the writing LET THESE THINGS BE CLEAR AND INTERESTING CHARACTER FLAWS. instead, because it lacks intentionality, these traits often feel like inconsistent writing rather than compelling character drama that subverts the tropes of a character we know and love
Peter Capaldi went from a huge fan to THE doctor. Literally the greatest glow up in actor history
I think the 5th Doctor is a lot more interesting if you look at him over the course of the entire era and consider the overall progression of his character. You talked about the 8th Doctor being a pacifist in a deteriorating universe, and the 5th Doctor is much the same. In this respect, he's a tragic figure. He starts off his era bright and happy and loving adventure but as the series goes on the universe beats him down and traumatizes him repeatedly.
He has a companion die, he faces increasingly deadly threats to the universe, and by his final season he's a broken man at the end of his rope. Just watch Resurrection of the Daleks and watch the Doctor go ham with a revolver and almost shoot Davros in cold blood. You'll see how a dark universe has crushed this fun-loving Doctor into becoming something just like it. The moments of whimsy and childlike fun begin to be less endearing and more the sad attempts of 5 to reclaim his lost innocence.
In Planet of Fire he literally has to shoot and kill one of his companions as an act of charity (yes, Kamelion counts as a companion), and by his final episode it reaches the point where saving just one person he barely knows from the cruelties of the universe is worth giving his life for, even if everything else collapses and everyone else is killed. In an increasingly heartless universe, such an act of selflessness is fatal and the 5th Doctor finally succumbs to dark times that he never wanted to live through. At the same time, though, that final action is what redeems him and makes him a hero.
He regenerates and transforms into the 6th Doctor, more brash and aggressive for brasher and aggressive times, but even 6 must give way to 7 as the first days of the Time War draw near and bravado alone is not enough to counter the threats of the universe. A chessmaster is needed.
5 is always my favorite Doctor
too bad the chessmaster got a bit careless once and it ended with fatal consequences bringing back the soft pacifist to the point where he needed to break his name to fight the time war
Christopher Eccleston was my doctor as a kid. I was 4 years old in 2005, and I don't remember much, but I remember being obsessed with doctor who. And the 9th doctor will alway be my favourite doctor because of the nostalgia I get from series 1 especially. And David Tenant just amplified love for doctor who. The music of series 1, is just so nostalgic, and I love it so much.
I definitely feel like William Hartnell Patrick trougton and Christopher eccelsten had the biggest challenges to overcome, William Hartnell had to prove that doctor who could be successful, without him the show might have been cancelled after just a few episodes, the writers took a huge risk when they introduced the concept of regeneration (called renewal back then) so Patrick trougton had to convince everyone that this idea could work. Doctor who was considered an embarrassing relic when it was announced it was being brought back in the early 2000s so Christopher needed to convince the BBC and everyone else that doctor who could work in a modern format
Your suggestions for new plot lines and changes are so flawless. Flipping the doctor and the masters roles in the end of time as a resolution to 10s emotional journey sounds so obvious when you explain it that I can’t believe they didn’t think of this. But obviously you’re thinking about it more critically than the actual creators 🤠 thank u for another excellent vid
Well he also actively left out the reason 10 didn't go the Timelord Victorious route, Adelaide offing herself because of his tampering.
So if he did go through with the Timelord Victorious route, then Adelaides sacrifice would be completely insignificant and of no impact to The Doctor.
I think it's absolutely awesome that you put 9th on first place. He is often underrated and he is really great. He's not my 1st but he is high up there. Eccleston was genius in this role.
I absolutely understand your points for 2 & 1, but David will always be number 1 for me. Really wish Chris had more seasons though man.
Interesting, how you linked Peter Capaldi's Doctor with Colin Baker's. I didn't notice how much they have in common. I always saw more similarities between 1st and 12th, which was very cool to think about since 12th is the first Doctor off of the new regeneration cycle.
I also really appreciate his character development, and while it's kinda short and makes him appear like two different Doctors (Series 8 and Series 9/10), I could feel it very naturally as the character has grown in me. From a cold and dark exterior, born at the despair of 900 years fighting in Trenzalore, he was confused, and trying to protect his heart, too tired of losing people again and again (Series 8). As he answered to the question "Am I a good man?", he stops caring about protecting himself, or how he should act or look like, so he could enjoy himself more (Series 9, especially talking about the guitar lol. It literally symbolizes how 12th stopped caring). Then he loses Clara and falls into despair again, doing extremes just to save her. And after Clara makes him forget her, he then becomes the fully-realized 12th Doctor (Series 10), a kind man, one of the kindest Doctors actually, showing what he has learned after all this. Capaldi's best highlights do concentrate at Series 9 (especially Heaven Sent) and most of Series 10, and was THE BEST actor possible for this character. And yes, his run suffered from very poor scripts to inconsistent changes of pace to anticlimatic moments, but I really liked it despite those faults. Easily Top 3 for me.
Capaldi will be my number 1
@sonicsera7979
Ditto!! 👏👏👏👏
Fun fact I actually met Matt smith and got to say he is just as nice in real life as he seems in interviews which is not something I would expect for that reason he’s my personal fav
He is a truly lovely person. And my favourite as well. 😊
From what I’ve seen all the doctors are quite lovely people in real life and truly embody there doctor even off screen it’s kind of uncanny to be honest
I'm not even a fan of Doctor Who, never watched a full series, but after catching Chris Eccleston on TV, I was fascinated by his performance. He elevates the material instead of simply relying on it to make a memorable show. He's my fave and glad to see he got a great showing in this video.
Phenomenal list, phenomenal commentary, phenomenal video all round. I love your explanations and deep dives into each Doctor, their traits, personality, the acting talent behind them, it's all so well analysed and conveyed here and I loved every minute of this two hour marathon! Also we share the same favourite Doctor!!! Ecclestone is so incredibly deserving of that placement! Great job and please keep doing what you're doing!
Capaldi will always be my favorite, the stories he was in were always carried by him. You could tell he actually cared.
he's overrated
@@wro2snort No he is not. Tennant is the one who is overblown and overrated.
I could tell Capaldi actually cared but the writers didn't. Once again, ranking of Doctors, not eras though.
@@wro2snort I mean.. you are not wrong, I think he would have been a good doctor if mottaf didn’t write doctor who’s build up like Sherlock Holmes the build up in the write gonna be honest bored the heck out of me
His favorite Doctor only appearing in 1 season is similar to my favorite actor who played James Bond. Timothy Dalton, for me, is and always will be the quintessential 007. His 2 Bond films are in my top 3, along with Goldeneye. It always leaves you wanting more, but I guess we should be thankful for what we got. He didn't get the chance to outstay his welcome like some of the other Bonds, but I will always wonder how his 3rd film would've turned out if he had gotten the chance to return 1 last time.
Dalton played Bond closer to the Books than any of the others
Goldeneye (I felt) lacked another big action sequence somewhere
@@farmerned6 That's fair. I'm not gonna lie, although Goldeneye is one of my favorite Bond films, I am WAY more familiar with the Nintendo 64 game than I am the movie...lol
1:58:10 "Who will the next Doctor be? Will it be David Tennant?"
Yes. Yes it was David Tennant.
I just made my boyfriend watch nuwho for the first time and for the first time since I was a teenager, I changed my rankings of Doctors. 9 is far and away my favorite, and I dearly wish we had gotten to see more of what Chris Eccleston would’ve given us. I have nothing but respect for him as an actor and I’m sure he had his reasons and principles for leaving. But God do I wish we had gotten even 2 seasons with him
Eccleston is my favourite and u summed up why perfectly, thank you for giving him the recognition he deserves
Tom Baker because without him be no DR WHO
Honestly, the first Doctor is one I grow to love more and more with time, it's very difficult to rank him higher considering the quality of many other doctors but I believe you've done him justice here, not by placement but with everything you said about his incarnation
I remember watching your previous Doctor Who videos and loving them. Discovering this today was an absolute joy! Fantastic work, I laughed many times
Thanks a ton bro. I’ve also enjoyed your DW content a lot.
That was amazing. I like many other people would obviously rank things a little differently but the whole thing was very respectful, well researched and engaging to watch. You caught me off guard with the scene where Rose asks the doctor about his accent and says KYS. I pissed myself laughing at that. Great video
"will it be David Tennant?"
ah, back when that could be said jokingly...
"No spinoff media will count"
Okay, I understand this for every other Doctor, but ATLEAST give it to Paul McGann, He even references his companions from the side media, making it canon.
Anyway, here's my ranking, note i love all The Doctors
13. 13th Doctor (only seen series 11, maybe she'll grow)
12. 5th Doctor (eh, i like him, his more subdued act isnt really meshing well, not that The Doctor cant be subdued, just that theres needs to be more flamboyance)
11. 10th Doctor (do NOT Crucify me for having this opinion. He's GOOD, i LIKE him, but i think his character arch doesnt work well and his performance while amazing is too segmented)
10. 3rd Doctor (I've only seen season 7. Ill say that i liked him but at times it felt like too much or not enough)
9. 1st Doctor (Ah yes, the original, going from grumpy grandpa, to the caring soace wizard of justice, he will always be the original template)
8. 11th Doctor (my first Doctor, I'll always remember, when The Doctor, was him.)
7. 9th Doctor (Wish there was more of him, he has Big Finish, haven't listened to it yet however, he is, indeed, FANTASTIC.)
6. 8th Doctor (i like to think he perfected the more human and romantic sides of the Doctor, something that not even the 9th Doctor did. That and the rapid descent into Darkness starting from the TV Movie and Ending with Night of the Doctor is so engaging... too bad its so expensive cause Big Finish isnt cheap)
5. 6th Doctor (First off, his TV era is underrated, only time lash and twin dillema hurt it. Second, his Big Finish is arguably even better than the 8th Doctors, heck for these 2 i can only aee them grow the more Big finish i have)
4. 2nd Doctor (this man saved the show. He's arguably Flawless in the sense that, imo, theres no fatal flaws to his character or dynamic. Not the absolute best, but definitly flawless)
3. 4th Doctor (Tom Baker is a legend... what? You expecting more? Sorry, nothing else to add)
2. 7th Doctor (i like the mysterious nature of him, the fact he's so much more like a villian more than anything but still clearly the hero wanting to save and protect everyone, but in a more dark and twisted manner.)
1. 12th Doctor (this to me, is what The Doctor is like. Everything he does, i think its done right. Even his era, while mixed in series 8 and 9, tbat was it, it was mixed, if you saw a very bad story, you knew you were getting a treat soon. And series 10 is easily my favorite series of NuWho. Peter Capaldi is THE Doctor for me. Thats something that wont change anytime soon)
Capaldi was a brilliant doctor. I think from my memory of the british culture surrounding the programme, every time a new doctor came in it was hard for us to accept the change. Especially in the newer series. Though, they all turned into brilliant brilliant doctors one after the other apart from 13 but as mentioned that was mainly just horrific writing. But after David Tennant's departure nobody wanted anyone else. We wated Tennant to stay forever, though Matt did a great job and held the ranks well. Then we didn't want him to leave and got Peter... Who we then also didn't want to leave... A lot of Doctor Who can also be put down to the side-chick that he runs around with, who we also had amazing runs of with rose, donna, amy and especially clara... But I don't even remember who played next to capaldi after clara... right when the ratings started to drop. I highly doubt that it's coincidence, nor that capaldi's portrayal dimmed or worsened in any way.
i love bill. i won't take slander. but her ending was badly written, to be honest
Thank you Martin Luther King that was a mighty fine upload. My dad was a Who junkie since day one of the show and so upon its revival wee me became a reluctant fellow addict and aside from my initial enthusiasm resulting in being subjected to Dimensions In Time I don't have many regrets. Also eleven's never ending speeches. YES. Finally someone on here said it.
Big Finish gave the 6th Doctor a proper death (he was killed by radioactive fallout in the ship), fortunately. As has been stated many times before, Big Finish is where to go to see what 6's potential truly was, and finally got to be.
I dislike it; while there's a pretty good reason for him getting hit by the only radiation that would kill him but leave Mel unharmed (tl;dr it was more-or-less deliberate), it doesn't make too much sense that there is some form of radiation like that at all.
Capaldi was the reason I got into the show, he's so damn good and that speech made me cry.
praise Lord Peter and his cute curly hair
Love this list. The 9th Doctor has been my #1 favorite since I first saw him (and I watched his run after the 10th and 11th Doctors). I don't think he gets enough love. He was the perfect blend and ratio, to me, of everything I like about the Doctor. And though I kinda wish he'd stayed longer, him having one season means none of his episodes feel like fluff to me.
Also, people talk about 10 and Rose being in love. But if so, the Doctor first fell in love with her as the 9th Doctor.
I have nothing short of incredible respect for the ranking and the work you put into justifying each and everyone. Eloquently put might I add, and worth every last second, good on you! Can't wait to watch more 💙
McGann really is great in the audios. He’s a special case.
Thanks for reminding how low cut Peri’s blouses were…
that's hell of a work done, strange I came across it only now. the analysis's great, but the editing and those little humorous inserts are even better. burst with laughter couple of times hd
just binged it all at once and got inspirational mood for all day. haven't seen such detailed videos on the Who and lacked it badly. thank you for your content, it really is unique :з
I think the humanity of 10 perfectly mixes with his alien behaviour, he’s perfectly done and endlessly entertaining.
I once met sylvester McCoy when I was about 8 at a comic con. I really wanted a fez so sylvester asked if i could get one for free but the people at the comic con said no. He looked after the fez until I got my mum to give me money to buy it. He acts like the doctor on and off screen
This is just amazing ,
In my opinion, the tenth doctor is the best. I haven't seen many of the earlier series though. The tenth brought such a deep character into the story. A man who has lost everything who loves to show people new world but when he is alone a much darker and powerful side comes in like in the "waters of mars".
the 10 was the definition of can't leave him alone if he is leading a group he sets a example when he is alone the dude goes full war criminal like he was in the time war
Lmao, no.
@@lordsathariel4384 like this take lol
Waters of mars scares me
I cannot watch that episode again
@@songdrop_350 yeah, it's terrifying but that's what makes it so good. It's not scary but genuinely horrifying.
The metacrisis doctor does not have the same personality, he has an unstable mix of donna and 10’s personality
Baker had a chaotic auta to him, giving him an unpredictable air to him. It felt like anything could happen.
He was energetic.
Capaldi's speech was fire I'm now subbed to the official dr who youtube channel.
Personal theory: A part of the "mistreatment" of staff Eccleston speaks of which made him leave was the Noel Clark stuff being quieted down. From what I've heard it was kind of known but hush-hush...
Your description of Aikido is, I think, exactly how it works. By utilising lever on opponents limbs and using their strength and momentum against them, you force them to go down willingly, as their self-presevation prevents them from having anything broken.
Gorgeous video. I love the analysis you did for each doctor, setting the context both for your comments and for the time in which the doctor appeared. Lovely. Thanks for doing this.
I really loved that you not only ranked every doctor, but you gave each one time to actually give your take and explain them props man I watched every second of this
As someone who grew up with both classic and reboot
and spent way too much time reading the wiki as a kid-
I really enjoyed hearing your opinions on the different doctors over the run of the show
I mostly agree with your rankings - and super glad to see you give Eccleston the credit he's due. I liked Baker, Tennant, Smith, and several of the others. Baker was the first Doctor I ever watched, on PBS in the 80s and 90s. But Eccleston broke the mold in all the right ways.
I can't believe someone else actually has Eccleston as #1, I feel so validated.
Interesting. I undoubtedly would've ranked them differently, but I appreciate the thought you put into this. I agree that Capaldi and especially Eccleston are underrated - Smith too in some respects. My Doctor (Ever notice how everyone has 'their' Doctor?) was Tom Baker, so kind of a tough act to follow. In my book, he was and always will be 'The' Doctor.
What I liked about the 10th Doctor is when faced with death he would ask it what it wanted, when it answered a soul to chew on he would travel back in the TARDIS to find someone who was dying just to make it go away.
It’s rare I’d watch a video this long. You did a great job!
Can I just say, I watched this entire video in one sitting, fantastic!
I feel like this ranking list hit the nail on the head, Christopher Eccleston is so underrated
the 13th is a literal joke, its the funniest joke they ever put in the show
I think the 6th doctor's outfit would have made more sense if he had cobbled it together out of damaged clothing and scraps of fabric, so self-centred he can't even trust a tailor
Christopher Eccleston is the goat. Salford accents just work in drama, source, im from there and everyone is dramatic
I was a wee kid in the 70s in the UK. You're right, Sutekh was terrifying.
I'm only 8 minutes in, but "Humane natural death" is already the new "It's going to release more cubes" for me.
I'd unironically fuck with a Chibnall cube story revival. Just imagine how awful it would be.
@@DoctorCyan It's the type of thing people see during sleep paralysis lol.
@@Jeff-qk7jj 😂
They didn't put any flaws into the 13th doctor because they didn't want to be called sexist for singling out the female one, ironic that making her the only one without flaws and subsequently the worst doctor singled her out
"I'll just leave you to stew in the regret of knowing you just spent hours watching a UA-cam video instead of doing that one thing you've been putting off but now the video is done and you have to do it."
Uh...I watched this while cooking, and then eating, dinner. So...mission accomplished? 😅
My heart will always go to the 11th Doctor, 10th coming in to a close second, but I honestly respect your ranking and reasons. I can see why you ranked them, which makes me actually enjoy this video, unlike other ranking videos lel
To everyone reading this comment, I hope you have a good day! And please go do that thing you've being putting off, I'm sure it's important. Alright bye!
Edit: And yes, the next Doctor was indeed David Tennant
Edit 2: ALSO YES, I know I'm incredibly late to this video but shut it okay- /lh
wow i was surprised to see the 9th doctor's rank. he was always my favorite despite the fact the 10th and 11th were always more popular by the fanbase.
May I just say, for someone trying to get into Doctor Who, this is an amazing video for a beginner
You forgot that the fourth doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to unscrew a bench in the episode “The Ark in Space.”
“whoniverse, which is word i’ve never used before and hopefully never will again’”…. you’re not gonna believe what i’m about to say
the part where you said "ok england is still ruled under queen elizabeth" sure hasnt aged all that well
Personally Mcgann is my number 1, mostly carried by the divergent universe arc and season 4 of the 8DAs. Box set 8 does feel a lot more phoned in, but so does everything else in the box set era of big finish. And I definitely agree with some others that because 8 named his companions in the night of the doctor, those runs are at least partially canon. But God I want nothing more than to see the 8th doctor on TV again.
ATM my top would probably be
1. Mcgann
2. Eccleston
3. Colin Baker (with audios taken into account)
I haven't consumed enough of the other classic doctors, and I'm quite mixed on all the other new who ones, but Capaldi is undeniably great in the role despite some of the writing decisions.
God I hope Jodie does some Big Finish Adventures at some point. A different writer with a more concrete vision of her character would allow her to actually go deeper and bigger with her characterization of the Doctor.
I hate the thought that we might not get another female doctor in the next years because too many fans think of Jodie as the main reason why the Chibnall era was bad.
In every scene I've seen of Jodie I felt like she would have been absolutely BRILLIANT as a doctor if she was written well. Whitaker is frankly talented and would have killed it if given the chance, but alas... Chibnall
Jo Martin will get some (and Dhawan's Master), but let's see if Jodie will.
I wish people gave Hell Bent a better chance. It’s not a bad episode, especially coming off of Heaven Sent. The Doctor spent 4 and a half billion years in his own hell in order to not give the Time Lords what they want and to save Clara, so it makes sense that he’d go to extremes to save her, consequences be damned, and he broke his own rules and didn’t see how far he went in order to save her until the end, which shows how much the confession dial affected him
I agree! My complaints are more that it’s a bit undercooked. Coming back to gallifrey could have been a huge story in itself, whereas it feels more sidelined for Clara. Clara is my favourite companion tho and you feel their compassion for each other so much, just wish it didn’t have to sacrifice the pay off of gallifrey so much
@@popscape8490 I get that, I feel like people get mad at the episode because, at the end of Heaven Sent, it seems like the Doctor accepted Clara’s death, but he never accepts death if he can prevent it, and because of that, Clara had a literally unlimited lifespan since she was frozen between one heartbeat and her last and has a TARDIS, but I loved the episode when I first saw it
My only problems with Hell Bent are the recasting of Rassilon - if they couldn't get Timothy Dalton, they should have gotten an actor who could project a similar aura of power and menace - and the General's gender swap. Missy's great but she should have been a unique case because the Master has a history of using many methods outside of regeneration to stay alive. Swapping Time Lord genders at random simply doesn't work. If it's going to happen, it should be because the normal rules of regeneration are being broken.
Part of me wonders if the episode might have been a bit stronger if the Clara in the diner was an echo, perhaps the same one who directed William Hartnell to the right TARDIS, instead of the original Clara. After Name of the Doctor, her echoes were barely acknowledged but until the confirmation that this is the real Clara at the end of the episode, I thought she was one. However, echo or not, seeing Clara fly away in her own TARDIS was so cathartic after the depressing misery of Heaven Sent that I can't bring myself to really care. She's still my favourite companion either way and I would have been heartbroken if she hadn't survived. Clara's already died for the Doctor a million times over, so she needed a future that didn't constantly revolve around him.
@@tomnorton4277 I really like that echo idea they should have done something like that!
Fantastic overview! Just discovered. Thank you!
The quality and production and comedy edits on this is stellar, baller video man
You have no idea how happy I am with this list. Spot on!
Comparing the Matt Smith Doctor to the social skills of other incarnations seemed strange to me. That is what I love about regenerations, they are a completely new being. They can be completely different to any other incarnations. It is not just the same person with a new face. Over the years a sort of central set of traits have developed for the Doctor but they are not written in stone.
Couldn't agree more! I actually think that was my only gripe with this ranking 😂
I think that there is a limit though (imo). It’s one thing for the Doctor to regenerate and be slightly more silly. It’s another thing that he regenerates and suddenly becomes incapable of basic social interactions. The Doctor is, if nothing else, an Uber diplomat. He… kinda has to know how to talk to people. Or at least realize the purposes of clothing, which is shown not to be an exclusive concept to human beings in the Whoverse. I don’t think that this should ever be negotiable.
That said, I get where you’re coming from!
the thing is, the doctor can change personality-wise but he should never lose knowledge. he should never forget how to act -- it was really out of character to suddenly have him think it's appropriate to be naked at a dinner party, or forget how to comfort people when they're sad. i think those things are not only integral to the doctor's character, but i think they also didn't make any sense and they wanted him to seem alien so hard he forgot how to be human, despite literally hundreds of years around humans and human society
But they aren't a "completely new being" they are all one ancient being but with many faces. Moffat with all his faults got it right, "Same software, different case" yes there are some differences with some Doctors, but they are no different than a person changing at different points in their life. Ultimately it is the same person with a new face because they still remember things, they did with those other faces not when they were a different person.
@@pheebthedweeb5652 This is the right answer. You couldn't have said it any better.
The editing and your objective points without using too much bias and purely focusing on the actual doctor was great!
As a 19 year old American who just got into doctor who about 9 years ago, my rankings are as follows.
1. Patrick Troughton
2. Paul McGann
3. Peter Capaldi
4. William Hartnell
5. Christopher Eccleston
6. Sylvester McCoy
7. Jon Pertwee
8. Matt Smith
9. Colin Baker
10. Peter Davison
11. Tom Baker
12. David Tennant
13. Jodie Whitaker
I've seen every episode since 1963 including recons of all the missing episodes, and animations. I've also started listening to big finish this past year and have really gained an appreciation for McGann and Colin from it (I've made it up to dark eyes for McGann and have listened to the majority of the Evelyn era with Colin). I know I've got an unorthodox list, but it's my genuine opinion.
1:42:41 God that episode of Room 101 with Michael Grade makes me absolutely rage. He evidently had an axe to grind and repeatedly cut its budget, and he got exactly what he wanted. What a sod