The long-running sci-fi TV show Doctor Who is an optimistic adventure serial, starring the titular Doctor as he saves all of space and time from all kinds of monsters and plots. He faces the Daleks, the Master, space vampires and demons, and just about anything in between.
The Doctor has many faces, and for older fans, the Fourth Doctor is the iconic look for this character. Played by Tom Baker, he was the franchise's centerpiece from 1974 to 1981, and his companions included Romana, Leela, and the robotic dog K-9. Who doesn't love the 4th Doctor's charming wit, cool hat, and distinctive long scarf? So, we're going to check out ten cosplayers who truly bring Tom Baker's Doctor to life.
Greatest Enemy
We begin the list the best we know how: pitting the Fourth Doctor against the franchise's greatest villains, the Daleks. Better yet, this cosplayer made it into a charming but serious scene at the same time.
Our lady 4th Doctor has a wonderfully colorful outfit, from the trademark scarf to her vest and hat, and she's got that sonic screwdriver trained on a plushie Dalek that took up position in a bush. What comes next?
Original Gang
Doctor Who's original TV run extended from 1963 to 1989, with a total of seven Doctors on the screen (the 8th Doctor was in the 1996 TV movie). Here, four of the original Doctors join up to rescue the universe in style.
Naturally, the 4th Doctor is roughly in the center, seeing how he is the name and face of the original series. This cosplayer in particular dressed up in Four's later outfit, one that focuses more on dark red than the varied colors of his first outfit. He's looking good!
The Things The 4th Doctor Does
In the revival Doctor Who series, the 10th and 11th Doctors are the most eccentric and energetic incarnations of the character, and at this rate, the 13th Doctor will catch up. But in the old days, the 4th Doctor was the firecracker among the character's incarnations.
In this four-panel shot, a 4th Doctor Cosplayer shows us the true range of this character, from his love of everything new and exotic (like learning a new language) to checking out magazines and tipping his hat in a greeting. He never sits still.
Hello, Dearie
Spoilers! River Song, the daughter of Amy and Rory Pond, is the Doctor's lover, and we first met her during the 10th Doctor's mega-library story. The 11th Doctor and 12th Doctors often went on adventures with her, too.
Alas, we never got a chance to combine River with the 4th Doctor, but suppose they did meet? That would probably result in Doctor Who stories of a whole new caliber, and these two cosplayers were gracious enough to show us such a meeting, face to face.
Fan Club
The Doctor is not always alone, and in the old series in particular, he had many allies and friends. During the old TV show, the Time Lords were right there, healthy as ever, and the Sisters of Karn were ready to support the Doctor, too.
This charming cosplay shot gives us a rather flustered 4th Doctor as the Sisters surround him, and we love that look on his face. It seems he's been away for a long time, and the Sisters miss him dearly. Can't he at least send a postcard?
Cease-Fire
At last, the 4th Doctor found a Dalek that's considerate enough to stop shooting so a nice picture of them can be taken together! This cosplayer brings us a hip, trendy 4th Doctor, not to mention Romana in a charming pink outfit.
We must say, the Dalek costume is a real scene-stealer here, even with two Time Lords around. It looks like it rolled right off the set, and according to the description, someone is in there to operate it. Neat!
My Queen
For our seventh entry on the list, the 4th Doctor has some pretty distinctive companions this time around. There is K-9 right over there, the faithful robot dog. As a bonus, K-9 returned in a 10th Doctor story, along with Sarah Jane Smith.
And anyone would know who that is on the right: Queen Elizabeth the I! She's looking good, and rather haughty, too. The 4th Doctor will have to say or do something remarkable to impress her. We're sure he'll think of something.
A Great Burden
This next 4th Doctor cosplayer has such a fascinating expression, we simply couldn't leave him out of this list. This gentleman is a cosplayer who makes for a pretty convincing Doctor, and best of all is that face.
The Doctor, for all his antics and charm, is a tragic figure, and he bears the great weight of centuries of experience and loss. He's met many people, but also lost many, and not every adventure ends the way he would like. Here, the 4th Doctor is in the middle of a party... but he's feeling pretty bittersweet. We don't blame him.
A New Kind Of Robot
Now this is a crossover we can all get behind. Some fans like to debate whether Star Trek or Star Wars is better, but Doctor Who isn't here to pick a fight... the Doctor will get along with anyone's fandom, no matter what.
The 4th Doctor would just love to get his hands on a droid, and in this charming cosplay shot, Four has come face to face with a Gonk droid, and out comes the sonic screwdriver. What will the readings show?
Doctors, Unite!
If that crossover wasn't enough for you, how about this one? Doctor Strange of the MCU joins the 4th Doctor on a quest, and we're certain that once these two guys put heads together, no bad guys can get in their way.
We love everything about this shot, from the high-quality TARDIS prop to the rich detail of both costumes to each cosplayer's uncanny resemblance to their respective characters. They could almost be stunt doubles.