Throughout the Doctor Who revival, The Doctor was turned into a swashbuckling modern hero, performed by younger stars who continuously de-aged the ancient Time Lord. Falling in love with companions, sprinting down corridors, and acting less so like the ancient alien being that became a hallmark trait of the character.
With the inclusion of Peter Capaldi in the role of the Twelfth Doctor, the mysterious and grumpier Time Lord got a modern take. Full of furrowed eyebrows and guitar solos, this Doctor always had his way or the highway. Though he brought on a new sense of age and attitude, this Doctor was still just as bold as his younger counterparts. He did his share of shameful things.
His Tiny Victory Dance
Though this is a minuscule moment in the entire run of Peter Capaldi's Doctor, it is still a perfect example of when his stiff exterior crumbled, giving way to a far sillier version of everyone's favorite intergalactic Grandpa.
During the events of "Flatline," The Doctor was trapped inside his TARDIS as it began to shrink from the influence of interdimensional beings. This little victory dance resulted from The Doctor realizing his chances of escape finally appeared, meaning that his TARDIS would return to standard size.
His Turn (Bigger on the inside)
For a long time, fans were used to the traditional Companion introduction. Every time they would go through the same hoops, asking the Doctor what his true name was, whether he was really an alien, how on earth time travel was possible, and how much bigger the TARDIS was from the inside.
Finally, in the Christmas special "The Husbands of River Song," The Doctor got to have a go at the classic intro. Faking his true identity, The Doctor bombastically glowed in the glory of the TARDIS's true shape and size. Dancing around the ship, The Doctor wouldn't stop repeating the iconic lines.
Spoon Attack
In his early episodes, this version of The Doctor wasn't one to make a ton of jokes. He would glare at most humans and remark on their insignificance. Like William Hartnell's First Doctor, this version of the Time Lord was one who rarely winked at the camera, let alone the other characters.
But, finally, a few episodes in, The Doctor started to relax a bit, thanks to a familiar rouge scoundrel. The Doctor and Clara came face to face with none other than the literary hero Robin Hood. Robin challenges the Doctor to a duel, but The Doctor responds not with a rapier, but with a spoon.
Kicking Rassilon Off Gallifrey
While this Doctor eventually warmed up a bit, he contained a lot of his icy coldness, especially to those who crossed him the wrong way. Few characters betrayed and upset him as much as Lord President of Gallifrey, Rassilon. After entrapping the Doctor and being the cause of Clara's Death, he had a cold reception coming.
When The Doctor finally arrived home, he came face to face with the Lord President and commanded he exile himself off the planet. While he deserved it, it was a moment that harkened back to that of the Tenth Doctor's The Time Lord Victorious.
A Tower Sized Romantic Gesture
When it came to those who betrayed him, this Doctor had little patience. But, for all his coldness, he still had a big heart. Few characters stole it more from him than his own wife: River Song. This iteration and River finally met up in "The Husbands of River Song."
The couple synced up, for the last time. In this final adventure, audiences got to see the fabled last night on Derilium, where The Doctor and River say goodbye. Luckily, the Doctor made the biggest romantic gesture in the galaxy, creating a luxury resort and restaurant on a planet whose nights last 24 years.
Playing Electric Guitar On Top Of A Tank
For all his stuffiness, this Doctor was still as immature and silly as some of his predecessors. Like both the Eleventh and Tenth Doctors, this Doctor was faced with impending death. Of course, like the aforementioned versions, he also attempted to avoid it.
The Doctor hid away in medieval Britain, holding the longest party of his life. In a final gesture, this Doctor rocked his very own concert, making a grand appearance aboard a giant tank while playing an electric guitar. It was a moment that showed how young at heart this character has always been.
Shut Up AKA His Catch Phrase
There is a defining version of this Doctor's character that is shameless all on its own. Unlike his recent previous incarnations, this version had little patience for humans and stupidity. His quick temper resulted in a perfectly fitting catchphrase: Shut Up!
Maybe a little less remarkable or fun as Geronimo or Allonsy, but "Shut Up" certainly made its point known. Whenever he was distracted by the pettiness of arguing humans, or whenever their arrogance got in the way, this was his perfectly succinct response. It could have been way worse, considering Capaldi's previous role in "The Thick of It."
Shooting The General
Few things are more dangerous than when villains and foes put the Doctor in a corner. Like the Doctor says in "The Time of the Angels," there's nothing worse you could put in a trap than him. This was certainly the case for the head General of Gallifrey during "Hell Bent."
After he tells The Doctor that Clara cannot be saved and that he must return her back to her own time, The Doctor shoots the General. While he still regenerates, giving audiences their first on-screen Time Lord gender change, the murder of The General was still done in cold blood.
Killing The Half-Face Man
In his introductory episode "Deep Breath," the Twelfth Doctor had to make an entrance that was unlike any before him. He has to be known as a brand new version of the character, one that will go to any length to protect the innocent and unprotected.
The Clockwork Androids return resulted in their leader facing off against The Doctor in a floating restaurant. The two sparred words, and eventually fists. The Half-Faced Man eventually fell and was impaled, with his murder heavily implied to be the Doctor. Like Ten and the Sycorax, this was a moment in which mercy was absent.
Tricking Someone Into Dying
For all the fun moments, and every cold one between, the Twelfth Doctor remained a beacon of good. There was, however, one moment which is still unforgivable, and maybe one of the worst things he ever did.
In the episode "Into the Dalek," The Doctor and Clara journeyed, well, into a Dalek. Along with a band of troops, they tried to figure out why a particular Dalek turned against its own kind. Along the way, The Doctor shamelessly allows one of the soldiers to be killed, tricking him into thinking that he is going to be fine. It was one of the most shocking and needless moments of cruelty from an otherwise beloved character.