Out of all of them, which Doctor stands out as the definitive Doctor to you?
Which Doctor is The Doctor?
- Thread starter Joe Washington
- Start date
The Thirteenth Doctor. He's going to be self-titled. Played by EMH Mark 1 himself.
William Hartnell. He defined the character for all of them. 
strictly speaking they are all the Doctor, but whilst not always true, many would cite the Doctor they grew up/first really remember as their Doctor.
For example in "Time Crash" when DT as the 10th Doctor is talking to the 5th Doctor, PD would have been The Doctor when DT was a child. (Of course PD is now DT's Father-in-law)
For example in "Time Crash" when DT as the 10th Doctor is talking to the 5th Doctor, PD would have been The Doctor when DT was a child. (Of course PD is now DT's Father-in-law)
Tom Baker, of course.
The first time I ever saw him was when I was wandering around to various room parties at a science fiction convention on Thanksgiving weekend in 1982. The episode was Genesis of the Daleks, and the scene was when the Doctor was yakking to Davros and his cronies about getting a cup of tea. "What an idiot," I recall thinking.
Fast-forward a couple of months, to when I met a Doctor Who fan in college, who convinced me to watch the episodes that were on PBS at the time. So my first real Doctor Who experience was watching The Pirate Planet (not recommended for a potential fan's first story if they're unfamiliar with Douglas Adams' brand of humor as I was then). I stuck with it, however, having promised my friend I would. By the end of The Stones of Blood (next story), I was hooked.
The first time I ever saw him was when I was wandering around to various room parties at a science fiction convention on Thanksgiving weekend in 1982. The episode was Genesis of the Daleks, and the scene was when the Doctor was yakking to Davros and his cronies about getting a cup of tea. "What an idiot," I recall thinking.
Fast-forward a couple of months, to when I met a Doctor Who fan in college, who convinced me to watch the episodes that were on PBS at the time. So my first real Doctor Who experience was watching The Pirate Planet (not recommended for a potential fan's first story if they're unfamiliar with Douglas Adams' brand of humor as I was then). I stuck with it, however, having promised my friend I would. By the end of The Stones of Blood (next story), I was hooked.
Matt Smith
I consider Eccleston pretty definitive. To me, the Doctor -- the real Doctor -- is a genius with a working-class accent who looks like the guy you see at the bar, but who saved the world five times that morning and blew up an arms factory in favor of a banana grove.
^yes, but its the difference between what's definitive to you and what's definitive to everyone (which is why I said it was impossible really).
To me the Doctor is the scatty old man in a young man's body who doesn't quite seem like he's in control of the situation, but often is. The man who's genius runs so quickly that somtimes it takes a while for the rest of him to catch up.
To me the Doctor is the scatty old man in a young man's body who doesn't quite seem like he's in control of the situation, but often is. The man who's genius runs so quickly that somtimes it takes a while for the rest of him to catch up.
William Hartnell. He defined the character for all of them.
You misspelled Patrick Troughton's name.
But Tom had the definitive portrayal.
I'd have to say Matt Smith. That doesn't make him my favorite Doctor (I like him a lot, and he's my favorite NuWho Doctor, but he ties with The 6th and possibly the 2nd for overall favorite), but I'd say that when someone just entions The Doctor, he's the one that comes to mind first as "THE" Doctor.
Pertwee
I think for e.g. cartoonists who want to make a Doctor Who joke and want to ensure that the audience immediately know who it is, they'll use curly hair, big eyes, a prominent nose and a long scarf as visual shorthand. That may be in part due to Baker's long tenure in the role and also partly an age thing. Certainly while the show was off the air, I'd say he was the most-recognised Doctor.
In terms of which Doctor can be regarded as the definitive one, I think it can only be subjective. Smith is my favourite Doctor but Tom is still the one I picture when someone mentions The Doctor. Tennant is possibly the best-known and most popular modern Doctor (purely anecdotally) in the UK but I understand that the show became even more popular in the US during Matt's time (again, anecdotally). But I really don't think any one of them can be viewed as THE definitive Doctor. Much as I loved Eccleston, I eventually preferred Tennant's take and almost immediately preferred Smith to either. Capaldi has still to top either, for me, but he may do it yet.
In terms of which Doctor can be regarded as the definitive one, I think it can only be subjective. Smith is my favourite Doctor but Tom is still the one I picture when someone mentions The Doctor. Tennant is possibly the best-known and most popular modern Doctor (purely anecdotally) in the UK but I understand that the show became even more popular in the US during Matt's time (again, anecdotally). But I really don't think any one of them can be viewed as THE definitive Doctor. Much as I loved Eccleston, I eventually preferred Tennant's take and almost immediately preferred Smith to either. Capaldi has still to top either, for me, but he may do it yet.
Jon Pertwee for me, all the way. He was the first I saw, and that's an unbreakable law of Time and Space! He's sometimes testy, usually pompous and very flash. I'm not saying I don't love the others, because I really do. Baker (T) and Troughton fight for second place, McCoy and Hartnell are high up too, and I really don't dislike Baker (C), who was more a victim of rubbish writing and companions (echos of 2014 there...). I find it hard to place after third because while the actors may have been good, most are marred by really bad stories at one point (or even whole series).
I never 'got' Davison - cries of "heretic" ensue! McGann cold have shone, but was probably the right guy at the wrong time. Eccleston was good, but was very different to those of before. Tennant was very enjoyable, but I grew tired of the Rose thing, didn't like Martha all that much. Donna was fun, but the show became somewhat more infantalised in my eyes as Tennant's era went on.
I enjoyed Smith, but by now it was getting silly, and I actually had enough of River Song by the end (although the goodbye was nice in the Name of the Doctor). The Patenosta gang or whatever are really not my bag - I'm much more of a Unit man myself. Hurrah for the Brig (but not as a bloody Cyberman).
Capaldi has been a huge disappointment to me unfortunately. I've never liked Clara but she'd really pissed me off last year, although not as much as Danny Pink - he's rubbish. I don't know, but I get a real sense of the disappointment I feel over a bad Colin Baker or season 24. Tired, repetitive, too many guest stars and generally a bit duff.
Anyway, back to the point, it's all about Pertwee for me.
I never 'got' Davison - cries of "heretic" ensue! McGann cold have shone, but was probably the right guy at the wrong time. Eccleston was good, but was very different to those of before. Tennant was very enjoyable, but I grew tired of the Rose thing, didn't like Martha all that much. Donna was fun, but the show became somewhat more infantalised in my eyes as Tennant's era went on.
I enjoyed Smith, but by now it was getting silly, and I actually had enough of River Song by the end (although the goodbye was nice in the Name of the Doctor). The Patenosta gang or whatever are really not my bag - I'm much more of a Unit man myself. Hurrah for the Brig (but not as a bloody Cyberman).
Capaldi has been a huge disappointment to me unfortunately. I've never liked Clara but she'd really pissed me off last year, although not as much as Danny Pink - he's rubbish. I don't know, but I get a real sense of the disappointment I feel over a bad Colin Baker or season 24. Tired, repetitive, too many guest stars and generally a bit duff.
Anyway, back to the point, it's all about Pertwee for me.
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