David Tennant will always be my favorite Doctor, but Matt Smith had my favorite storylines!
this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2023
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I can’t put my finger in it, but David Tennant brought something unique to the show that I loved.
Tennant reminded me a lot of Tom Baker. Similar chaotic energy. Just not enough jelly baby.
Biggest complaint about Tennant's series. And much of new who is how sloppy and reliant on senseless babble, techno and otherwise as a crutch for sub par writing. The arc with Donna Noble got real bad. And it's cropped up elsewhere.
Sure old who had their briode nebulizer or some other techno mcguffin that gets mentioned. But it was always just a bit of extra flavor or a point in a much larger plot. And not some far too small Band-Aid thrown over a gaping plot hole.
David Tennant's episodes gave me nightmares 😅 brilliant though
So hard to choose but honestly I'd probably say Eccleston. I used to be a major Tennant fan but since watching some classic who and listening to big finish Tennant just feels a bit like he's constantly preaching how smart and right he is about everything compared to all the other doctors.
I love Smith and Capaldi too as they really deliver when it comes to the alien side of the doctor compared to Tennant and Eccleston who are more humanish. Sadly I'm not such a fan of season 6 onwards, not that there's nothing good there but I feel like seasons 1-5 had more episodes that interested me. I think Eccleston also has the advantage of being a 1 season doctor so you're left wanting more, plus he's such a phenomenal actor every scene he's in feels so rich and there's a lot of depth to his lines and delivery.
Capaldi is honestly the most Doctorish doctor in my opinion and I'd like to put him first especially considering how much I liked season 10, but I can't deny I enjoyed Ecclestons season more.
It's also a toss-up for me between Eccleston and Capaldi. The Doctors in between were all good in their own ways, but I enjoyed the fresh air of a plain-spoken, sardonic Eccleston in the reboot, bookended by Capaldi at the end.
It's also about the Companions and their relationships with the Doctor. Eccleston and Rose were perfect, as was the inclusion of Rose's family. I liked the come-hither look of Rose's mum. Then there was the superb combination of Capaldi with Bill and Nardole.
After that, it all went to hell in a handcart. Not because of Jodie Whittaker - I'd always wanted there to be a female Doctor - but because that ass Chris Chibnall ruined the show by turning them into social workers in space. The episodes felt like being bludgeoned by a simplistic protest placard.
I'm glad the show is back in good hands and looking forward to Steven Moffat restoring the wit, nuance, subversiveness, and the gods forbid - fun.
I used to be a major Tennant fan but since watching some classic who and listening to big finish Tennant just feels a bit like he’s constantly preaching how smart and right he is about everything compared to all the other doctors.
Yeah, I feel that. There's something I just find slightly grating about 10's attitude, and as a result he's at the bottom of my personal ranking of new series Doctors. Still, I don't hate him in any objective sense, mind you.
Ten is definitely high on his own supply, but ironically, that's one of the reasons I love him. He's easily the darkest of the nuWho Doctors, the one most in danger of letting his arrogance tip into megalomania and his pain consume him. But there's also so much good in him, too-- he is the Doctor, after all. IDK, guess I've always been a sucker for a tragically flawed hero (see also: Star Wars).
(I do agree, though, that the narrative doesn't call Ten out on his bullshit nearly often enough. And some of the more worshipful things the other characters say about him make me roll my eyes-- the whole "he's like fire and ice" speech makes me cringe so bad I can't listen to it and have to fast-forward to the end on rewatches (no hate to people who love that speech, different strokes for different folks!))
Such a tough call to make as each brought their own magic to the role. However I lean more towards Capaldi. His journey echoed 1 and 6 starting as a harsh alien, turning towards a warm character at the end of the run.
Plus Capaldi had the banger of the episode Heaven Sent, which is such a masterpiece puzzle box.
heaven sent was so good!!
Mine is Capaldi His arc to me is absolutely outstanding.
Either Matt Smith or Capaldi for me.
Matt was a genuine joy, out of nowhere and just embodied the character so wonderfully.
Capaldi I already enjoyed in other things, and knew he was a long time fan, but I really enjoyed the weight he brought to the role.
I do on the whole like Moffat's writing too, though his ambition didn't always get realised fully, but that definitely affects my choice.
I don't want to choose! If I must, I'm going with Peter Capaldi. I liked the Pertwee-esqe qualities he exhibited and since Jon Pertwee is the Doctor I started with years ago, Capaldi it is.
For me, I'd have to lean towards Peter Capaldi with probably Matt Smith and David Tennant a very close 2nd and 3rd.
After watching the first season though, I do wish that Eccleston would have had more time as the Doctor. My first run through that season he didn't click with me, but after the 2nd or 3rd time through, I grew to have a certain appreciation for his style.
12, hands down. S10 sang, wish his entire tenure was that good.
It's a difficult call to make, as they each have their own quirks, but as a fan of the classic series, I have to say Capaldi - it's a real shame he didn't stay longer
I usually rank them as follows:
- 10: Favourite Doctor
- 11: Favourite era, best stories, best Doctor actor
- 12: Best Doctor(!)
I skipped 13 after her first series. I wish she had better writers and a better showrunner, because Jodie kicks *ss.
chibnall destroyed this show. I hope his work is retconned
I think a better path forward would be to just ignore his changes and never mention then again. That way, Chibnall fans can still headcannon them as being true, while the rest of us can headcannon them as never having happened at all. Everyone wins!
Second vote for Eleven! I'm biased since he was my first Doctor, but I feel like he did the best job balancing the goofy / lighthearted side of the Doctor with the darker / more dangerous side. Also, the fact that he totally sold he was a thousand-plus year old alien in a young man's body.
He was great. Mine is Capaldi loved the darker tone of his first few stories.
Eccleston, either Capaldi, either Whitaker or Tennant (I wish Jodi'd gotten better stories), and then Smith.
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