Doctor Ranking

[omorka]

Not exactly a meme, but redneckgaijin did a post in which he ranked his preferred Doctors, and I thought I'd do something similar, albeit somewhat less linear.

Dishonorable Mention: The "extra Nines," Rowan Atkinson and Richard Grant. The second for presumably obvious reasons, and the first because I hate Atkinson with the fire of a thousand sentient and

Comments

[redneckgaijin]

There's a marked difference IMHO between McCoy's Mel eps and his Ace eps. I think Omorka's complaining about Seven's "chessmaster/God" personality and tactics, which are the main things I see carrying over to Eleven.

[omorka]

Not the god-complex, because I actually see that stretching as far back as Three (although the loss of the rest of the Time Lords in NuWho certainly dials it up to eleven, you'll pardon the phrase), but - the chessmaster bit, yes. Four didn't do Xanatos Gambits, and Seven and Eleven both do.

[omorka]

There is a sloppy generosity and gregariousness to Four that Seven has replaced with a sort of precisely calculated grace. The similarity in the performances sells it for me - it's the same Time Lord, just another facet of him - but I don't particularly like that aspect of him.

I've been watching as long as you have, BTW. ;-)

[redneckgaijin]

Have you watched "Tomb of the Cybermen"? It's only four episodes (as opposed to 8 for "The Invasion" and 10 for "The War Games"), and it's as good IMHO as either of those two. You get a decent feel of how Troughton's Doctor is in it, like or hate.

[omorka]

No, and in fact I probably haven't seen any Two stories straight through, although I'm not sure how much of that is because of the missing episodes problem (and its having been even worse prior to the NuWho revival).

[colorwhirl]

I'm really fond of Two, although I can't really pin down why.

[redneckgaijin]

Two is whimsical and, at least as much if not more than any other Doctor, openly enjoys discovery.

Two is nothing like as godlike as his later incarnations; he doesn't have as many tricks at his disposal, his knowledge of (human) history and culture is less extensive. He's much less omnipotent and omniscient.

Two lacks the overbearing arrogance of most of his other incarnations.

Two is portrayed by a superior character actor who could make sudden mood swings, and swings from fawning ingratiation to serious challenge believable.

There are more reasons I could give for my own preference, but it's late and I'm tired.

[omorka]

See, the Doctor-as-wandering-god is part of what I like about Who in general and NuWho in particular. I should perhaps point out that as of "Last of the Time Lords," the Doctor (or possibly the combination of the Doctor and the TARDIS) completely meets my definition of a god; if he were real, I would have no reservations about adding him to my pantheon. I imagine it's more irksome for monotheists and those recovering from monotheism.