Doctor Who began way back in 1963 with the memorable First Doctor, played by William Hartnell. The character started out as a crotchety and impatient old man who morphed into a benevolent father figure for the Tardis crew, but that was just the beginning. When Hartnell's ill health prompted the BBC to replace him with another actor, the showrunners conceptualized the idea of regeneration.
Not only did the Doctor's physical appearance change with each near-death regeneration cycle, but so did their individual personalities. While technically the same person, each iteration of the Doctor had particular idiosyncrasies and quirks that fans either loved or loathed. Some took a bit of getting used to, while others were instantaneous hits with fans of all ages.
The Sixth Doctor (1984–1986)
Doctor Who had started down an unfortunate path in 1984, hot on the heels of an excellent run by Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor. Colin Baker was introduced to audiences near the end of the 21st season, and he started out by trying to attack and strangle his companion Peri to death. Needless to say, it didn't go well.
This Doctor was abrasive, aggressive, and reckless in comparison to his predecessors, and he swung from carefree and lighthearted, to ultra-serious in the blink of an eye. Though audiences warmed up to the Sixth Doctor by the time Colin Baker departed the role, he ended up becoming the least liked of the bunch.
The First Doctor (1963-1966)
The First Doctor becomes harder for fans to relate to as the years go by. He's a byproduct of a particular time period and the grandfather-type figure isn't quite as charismatic as he used to be. It didn't help that the First Doctor himself was impatient, stubborn, and downright mean, a large portion of the time.
Though this was something that changed as the show progressed into the second season, William Hartnell's First Doctor is still the most antiquated of the bunch. He managed to stick around for three years until ill health forced him out of the role, paving the way for the first of many Doctor Who regeneration sequences.
The Thirteenth Doctor (2018-present)
Almost all Doctor Who fans were happy to see a switch-up to the traditional formula when it was announced that Jodie Whitaker would play the first female Doctor. Unfortunately, a combination of bad writing, poor direction by showrunner Chris Chibnall, and extremely divisive storylines turned off lots of fans.
The Doctor herself was difficult to like, given her personality. She was often cold and unfeeling towards her companions, as well as aggressive, belligerent, and mean-spirited. The character has softened a bit since then, but the show has been dogged by a decline in ratings.
The Twelfth Doctor (2014–2017)
After an initial run of young Doctors following the 2005 restart, the time had come for an older and more seasoned Doctor to take the lead once more. Peter Capaldi was cast in the role and quickly made it his own with a combination of thick-browed dagger stares and heroic, fun-loving gallantry.
It was a bit confusing for fans of the series, however. Ratings began to take a hit, despite some particularly strong writing and inventive stories. A number of questionable creative decisions, such as the Doctor's infamous sunglasses and penchant for playing the electric guitar only harmed his run even more.
The Third Doctor (1970–1974)
Jon Pertwee is still a fan favorite as the Third Doctor, but he had quite a lot of trouble along the way. Often seen as a cold, calculating, and domineering Doctor in comparison to his previous two incarnations, the Third was a bit too authoritative for the youngsters, and a bit less charismatic than the older fans might have liked.
Still, Pertwee's performance was spot on and hampered only by budget constraints which effectively stranded him on Earth in a series of formulaic episodes. Thankfully, the Third Doctor would travel the stars once more in later seasons, giving him a much-needed boost with the fan base.
The Seventh Doctor (1987–1989)
By the time Sylvester McCoy took over as the Seventh Doctor, ratings for the show had largely gone downhill. McCoy was a great Doctor, bringing a lighthearted and campy tone to the series which was juxtaposed against some rather dark storylines. As such, many fans felt confused by the thematic shift.
McCoy would assume the role one final time for the 1996 Doctor Who movie, where his character was gunned down and forced to regenerate into the Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann. Ironically, this would later pave the way for the 2005 restart of the series, picking up where the original show left off.
The War Doctor (2013)
Acting legend John Hurt played the War Doctor, created to be a warrior against the Daleks during the Last Great Time War. This Doctor was far different from all his previous iterations, acting as something of an anomaly within his own time stream, dedicated to one purpose only. As such, he is one of the most underused Doctors in the franchise.
It was this Doctor who destroyed both Gallifrey and the Daleks in order to save the entirety of creation, and it was a moment that lived in infamy throughout time and space. Despite it all, Hurt's War Doctor was likable, primarily because he retained the essence of the Doctor in comparison to his warlike persona. It was this essence that allowed him to team up with the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors to go back and save Gallifrey from destruction, which was a moment of rare triumph.
The Eighth Doctor (1996/2013)
In a similar way to how George Lazenby had a small impact on the James Bond franchise, Paul McGann didn’t have long to make his mark on the series. He started out playing the Doctor in the 1996 TV movie, co-starring Eric Roberts as the Master. After that, little was spoken of regarding the Eighth Doctor, and he fell into relative obscurity.
Since that time, McGann has reprised the role on the new series, starring in the episode "The Night of the Doctor," which was a setup for the show's 50th-anniversary story. He's also played the Doctor in a number of audio dramas, picking up new fans along the way. His easygoing, benevolent, and kind-hearted attitude made him an instant favorite.
The Fifth Doctor (1982–1984)
After the long bliss of Tom Baker’s tenure as the Doctor, it was time for another actor to fill in the role, and that was a bit of a shock for the fans. Peter Davison came into the role as the youngest Doctor up to that point, which was no doubt an attempt to attract a younger audience. It worked in many ways while failing in others.
Davison's Doctor gave audiences some of the best, and darkest, stories in Who history, arguably paving the way towards its narrative climax. His short tenure as the Doctor might have played a role in the series' downfall, serving up too many changes, far too quickly. Nevertheless, Davison played the Doctor with zest, energy, and conviction, making him one of the greats.
The Ninth Doctor (2005)
Christopher Eccleston had the incredibly difficult task of portraying the Doctor for the first time in many, many years. Yet, in the space of a single season, he managed to bring the character back to life in a big way. Eccleston was just as silly and goofy as he was serious and aggressive.
It was he who set the tone for a new Doctor – one traumatized by the Last Great Time War between his race, the Time Lords, and the dreaded Daleks. Eccleston's Ninth Doctor was forced to make one agonizing decision after another, all while rediscovering his innate humanity, thanks to his companion Rose Tyler.
The Second Doctor (1966–1969)
Patrick Troughton had the incredibly difficult task of playing the first post-regeneration Doctor, and it was a gamble that could have spelled doom for the entirety of the show. Fans had become so used to William Hartnell by that point, and it was almost unfathomable to simply replace him with another actor.
Not only did the BBC do just that, but they cast a completely different-looking actor in the role. Patrick Troughton helped sell the idea that each new regeneration of the Doctor brought with it a series of personality changes, allowing each actor to make the role their own. Troughton himself was extremely likable, fun, jovial, and witty, making him far more accessible for new fans.
The Eleventh Doctor (2010–2013)
Matt Smith was only 28 years old when he took the mantle of the Doctor, making him the youngest in the series next to Peter Davison, who took the role at 31 years of age. Rather than let youth get the best of him, Smith played the Doctor as a wise old soul trapped in the body of a very energetic and unhinged young Gallifreyan.
It worked, and the Eleventh Doctor quickly became one of the best, if not the best in some fans' eyes. This was a tough nut to crack, considering David Tennant's incredible performance as the Tenth Doctor. Smith had to take a character brought to his lowest point, and give him a new reason for being, all without losing the weight of everything that came before.
The Tenth Doctor (2005–2010/2013)
David Tennant is widely regarded as the best of the "new" Doctors, following the 2005 restart of the series. He was introduced at the very end of season one, and made his proper introduction in the first Christmas special, paving the way for several years of excellent performances.
The Tenth Doctor was a people person who loved adventure, had a zest for life, and found humor in nearly everything. Tennant first portrayed the character as a charismatic fan favorite, before gradually dwindling him down to a lonely man running from his own fate. His performance in the two-part final episode "The End of Time" is one for the ages.
The Fourth Doctor (1974–1981)
No other Doctor is as famous as the Fourth, and that's entirely due to Tom Baker's bombastic and impossible-to-hate performance. This Doctor was completely wild, and it played out in everything from his bug-eyed and toothy smiles to his ridiculously long scarf. No matter how bad things got, the Fourth Doctor was always ready for adventure.
Children especially fell in love with Tom Baker's performance, akin to a kooky uncle prone to getting tangled in the Christmas lights every year. Baker took the role very seriously, and made it his own for a grand total of seven years, blending madcap humor with excellent dramatic acting and a series of timeless Fourth Doctor quotes, set against some of the best stories in Who history.