Rating the Doctors

Tomorrow sees the broadcast of the first new Doctor Who episode since Easter. And it is one of the last episodes to star young David Tennant. So as we are winding down yet another regeneration of the Doctor, I though I would take a look at the previous incarnations of the Doctor. But rather than just doing a Top 10, I though I would instead arrange them into three categories - Failed Incarnations, Average Incarnations and Successful Incarnations - and explain why I've placed them in the different categories. To fellow fans, the classifications may be controversial. To those who aren't fans... well, I'd be surprised if you have read this far.

Failed Incarnations

Jon Pertwee - Some people really rate the Third Doctor, and there can be no doubt that at the time he was a very popular Doctor. Yet in retrospect, Jon Pertwee's portrayal of the Doctor poor, and one that seems out of character with what came before and after. The Third Doctor looks like, as I remember reading once in Doctor Who Magazine, "your granny after a gin bender". He is like one of those tedious TV action heroes that were inexplicably popular in the 1970's - he dresses and acts like Jason King, with added tedious moralising. This isn't to say that there weren't some great Doctor Who stories during Pertwee's tenure; it is just that almost all of those stories would be enhanced by having another actor in the lead role.

Colin Baker - everything about the era, from the costume, through to the blustering yet paper-thin portrayal, through to the generally very weak stories, shows why Colin Baker's time as the Doctor is notorious and understandably short. In fact, this era is probably where the "classic" series jumped the shark. It is a shame, because somewhere within Colin Baker's portrayal there is an excellent and interesting character trying to get out. Yet every decision made by the production team seem to undermine what Baker was trying to do. They failed to make this Doctor into more of an alien; instead, they made him into a bit of a wanker.

Paul McGann - the Eighth Doctor is always going to be undermined by the fact that he only appeared once on the TV - and then for only part of the adventure. But it isn't just about the limited screen time. It is also down to McGann's performance. It isn't a lazy performance. It is just tremendously bland. There is no attempt to anything other be nice. There is no complexity whatsoever to his Doctor, and there is little to actually remember about the Eighth Doctor after the end credits on his only TV story have rolled. Sure, had he had more adventures, then maybe he would have developed a stronger and more memorable character. But then again, had he been a more memorable character, maybe more adventures would have been commissioned...

Average Incarnations

William Hartnell - William Hartnell struggled with the role of the Doctor. It isn't just the fact that William Hartnell struggled to remember his lines; his whole portrayal shifts from slightly scary old man into doddering old fool, and loses a lot of its power in that transition. But he deserves some respect for being the first Doctor. And he (along with the Daleks) clearly clicked with the public, since it launched a programme that has been running for over four decades.

Peter Davison - Davison's portrayal is similar to McGann's in that it is instantly likeable and not that distinctive. Yet Davison brings an edge to his Doctor - there is a weariness, an impatience that gives him a gravitas that belies his relatively youthful appearance. Furthermore, Davison is one of those actors who deserves credit for what he did to move the show on - he replaced Tom Baker, a man who had become synonymous with the Doctor. And he managed to create a new version of the Doctor that, whilst not being as memorable as Baker's portrayal, did at least keep the series going and - crucially - kept it popular during one of the most important transitions it ever went through.

Sylvester McCoy - hated by some, forgotten by many, McCoy actually gave a very interesting performance as the Doctor, and made him perhaps the most alien and powerful that the Doctor has ever been. Watch Ghost Light or Survival, and see a Doctor who clearly isn't human playing games with others as he combats great evil. Don't get me wrong, there is much wrong with the McCoy era - the first season's tone is jarringly inappropriate; his Doctor wears a sweater that frankly needs burning and McCoy has a curious inability to play angry convincingly. But there are just flashes within his time as the Doctor that show there was something truly original going on, and I reckon that had McCoy had a longer time playing the role, then we would have seen something very special emerge.

Successful Incarnations

Patrick Troughton - you cannot underestimate just how important Patrick Troughton is in the history of Doctor Who. Prior to Troughton taking over the role, Hartnell was the Doctor, and the idea of changing the lead actor would have seemed insane. Now it is considered both normal and, in fact, expected. And that is down to Troughton. Because, as well as being a highly skilled actor who is one of the most convincing people to play the Doctor, he also made his Doctor distinct from Hartnell's. His Doctor is not the same as Hartnell's, and as a result TV history was made and the idea of the ever-changing face and personality of the Doctor was born. Put simply, if the second Doctor had not been such a great actor as Patrick Troughton, I doubt that the show would be on TV today.

Tom Baker - yep, for many people, Tom Baker is the Doctor. Now, I see many limitations in Tom Baker's portrayal, and he is helped by having some of the best stories ever contained within his time as the Doctor. But even I cannot deny the power of Tom Baker's Doctor. He looks convincing alien, and Baker is such a magnetic actor that he dominates any scene he is in. Part of this is down to the way Baker looks - with his mad eyes and demented grin, he naturally looks alien. But he is also a talented actor who seems to know that he is giving the performance of his life - or, at least, the performance he will be always remembered for.

Christopher Eccleston - just as Troughton saved Doctor Who by replacing Hartnell, so Eccleston ensured a bright future for the series by becoming the Ninth Doctor. Crucially, Eccleston seemed to understand that his character needed to be interesting. Rather than pursuing the bland, by the book type of portrayal of Paul McGann, he instead made the Doctor intense, damaged, brittle and difficult. There are certain moments in the history of Doctor Who where casting choices ensured its longevity - Eccleston becoming the Doctor is one of those examples. Put simply, had just about anyone else played the Doctor in 2005, then I don't know whether it would still be on the TV today.

David Tennant - like Tom Baker, I have some serious issues with the way Tennant plays the Doctor. Particularly since, at certain points, he comes across as just, well, a little bit irritating. But there can be no doubting that Tennant has been a tremendous success as the Doctor, and I think that for a whole new generation of fans if you mention the Doctor, they will instantly think of Tennant even after he has left the role. He has become an iconic Doctor, and is perhaps the only actor who can rival Tom Baker in his claim to be the Doctor.

Anyway, that's enough from me - roll on The Waters of Mars...