All 16 Doctors’ First Adventures in Doctor Who, Ranked

Over its 62 years on television, Doctor Who has featured 16 different actors playing the iconic Time Lord. Because the Doctor can regenerate into a new body and personality, the show has been able to stay fresh for decades. Each actor naturally faces a challenge making their first full adventure as the Doctor memorable, and some have made a stronger initial impact than others.

It’s common for viewers to quickly become attached to the actor playing the Doctor, so each new Doctor faces a lot of pressure. Their first episode is particularly important, as it often defines their entire run on the show. Unfortunately, not all new Doctors get off to a strong start. While some take time to make an impact, others immediately capture the audience’s attention and deliver a debut that becomes one of the most iconic and significant episodes in Doctor Who history.

16) Sixth Doctor — “The Twin Dilemma” (1984)

“The Twin Dilemma” is widely considered one of the worst episodes in Doctor Who history, and a particularly weak start to Colin Baker’s time as the Sixth Doctor. Baker’s portrayal, while accurately reflecting the Doctor’s intended new personality, was jarring after the beloved Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison. The episode was criticized for its unlikeable Doctor, who often mistreated companion Peri Brown, and suffered from a poorly written script, a boring storyline, shallow supporting characters, and low production quality.

15) Seventh Doctor — “Time and the Rani” (1987)

Sylvester McCoy’s first story as the Seventh Doctor, “Time and the Rani,” didn’t get off to a great start, coming after a lot of drama surrounding Colin Baker’s departure. In fact, a 2014 poll in Doctor Who Magazine (#474) ranked it as one of the worst Doctor Who episodes ever. Critics found the plot weak, the writing shallow, and the overall experience lacked excitement and strong performances. While the introduction of the villain, the Rani (Kate O’Mara), was a potentially interesting addition, it wasn’t enough to make McCoy’s debut a success.

14) Fourth Doctor — “Robot” (1974)

Although it introduced Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, the serial “Robot” wasn’t a hit with viewers. Its weak special effects, lackluster villains, and uninspired story didn’t reflect the quality Baker would bring to the role. However, Baker himself was immediately praised for his performance. Many felt he seamlessly took over from Jon Pertwee, offering a fresh take on the Doctor with more emotion, energy, and charm.

13) Eighth Doctor — “Doctor Who” (1996)

In 1996, BBC Worldwide and Universal Pictures tried to bring back Doctor Who after a seven-year break, introducing Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor. The previous Doctor, played by Sylvester McCoy, regenerated in San Francisco after being shot, and McGann brought a charming, sophisticated, and romantic energy to the role. While McGann’s performance and the TV movie’s visuals were well-received, the project struggled with exaggerated acting, plot inconsistencies – particularly a revelation about the Doctor being part-human – and attempts to appeal to an American audience. Despite its flaws, fans still hope to see more adventures featuring McGann’s version of the Doctor.

12) Fourteenth Doctor — “The Star Beast” (2023)

Seeing David Tennant and Catherine Tate back together in “The Star Beast” was a highlight of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary celebration in 2023. Tennant’s debut as the Fourteenth Doctor coincided with Russell T. Davies’ return as showrunner. However, the episode felt a bit dated, reminiscent of the show’s style in 2008. While the production quality was excellent and the actors had great chemistry, the villain, the Meep, wasn’t very compelling. The story also felt rushed, especially considering the emotional weight of one particular storyline, and it tried to introduce too many new elements instead of celebrating the show’s history. The pacing was also uneven.

11) Fifth Doctor — “Castrovalva” (1982)

The change from the Fourth Doctor to the Fifth was arguably the most significant shift in Doctor Who’s history. Tom Baker was hugely popular as the Fourth Doctor, so the debut episode for Peter Davison as the Fifth, “Castrovalva,” had a lot to prove. The episode is quite strange – the Doctor and his friends encounter a town that’s literally collapsing in on itself – but it works surprisingly well. It was creative, thrilling, and visually engaging, and it allowed Davison to immediately showcase the unique energy he brought to the role.

10) Thirteenth Doctor — “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” (2018)

Jodie Whittaker began her run as the Thirteenth Doctor alongside Chris Chibnall’s first episode as showrunner, but this pairing proved divisive among fans. Although some of Whittaker’s later stories received criticism, her debut, “The Woman Who Fell to Earth,” is widely seen as a strong start, successfully introducing her as the first female Doctor. While the villain, Tim Shaw, wasn’t particularly memorable, Whittaker brought a vibrant new energy to the role, and the interesting group of companions and updated look of the show were both well-received.

9) War Doctor — “The Day of the Doctor” (2013)

The 50th anniversary special of Doctor Who was a major event, introducing the War Doctor (John Hurt) and revealing a previously unknown part of the Doctor’s history. This Doctor fought in the devastating Time War and ultimately destroyed Gallifrey. While ‘The Day of the Doctor’ was enjoyable, it focused on the end of the War Doctor’s time. Many fans, including us, would have preferred to see stories about his earlier adventures and how he became the Doctor we met in the special.

8) Second Doctor — “The Power of the Daleks” (1966)

The changing of the guard from William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton as the Doctor was a landmark moment in television history, happening at the end of “The Tenth Planet” in 1966. However, it was “The Power of the Daleks” that really showed viewers the new Second Doctor and established the pattern for future cast changes. The story, featuring the Doctor alongside Ben Jackson and Polly, was well-paced and told a fantastic, though unusual, tale of a confrontation with the Daleks on a human colony on the planet Vulcan, all with a surprising level of sophistication. While it shows its age now and isn’t perfect, it remains a remarkably smooth handover to a new lead actor.

7) Fifteenth Doctor — “The Church on Ruby Road” (2023)

Ncuti Gatwa’s first appearance as the Fifteenth Doctor generated a lot of buzz, but his debut was also met with criticism. The way the story introduced both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors through bi-generation in “The Giggle” proved to be a controversial decision, and it negatively impacted later episodes. While Millie Gibson joined as Ruby Sunday, bringing an intriguing character and strong connection with Gatwa, the villains – the goblins – were disappointing, and the musical numbers didn’t quite fit. Overall, viewers were hoping for a stronger first full story with Gatwa as the Doctor.

6) Tenth Doctor — “The Christmas Invasion” (2005)

Though David Tennant briefly appeared in a previous episode, “The Christmas Invasion” in 2005 was his official debut as the Tenth Doctor. This episode was unique because it showed the Doctor weakened and struggling after regenerating – something the show hadn’t fully explored before. While this added an interesting layer to the show’s mythology, it meant Tennant didn’t have much to do throughout the episode. When he was fully awake, he was fantastic, and his confrontation with the Sycorax leader (Sean Gilder) became a memorable moment, but viewers were eager to see more of him in the role.

5) First Doctor — “An Unearthly Child” (1963)

The very first serial of Doctor Who, “An Unearthly Child,” released in 1963, was essential to shaping the show into what it is today. It introduced William Hartnell as the First Doctor, along with his original companions: his granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford) and her teachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Cartwright (Jacqueline Hill). It also established the core idea of the series. While some episodes had issues, “An Unearthly Child” launched Doctor Who brilliantly and remains one of the most memorable stories in television history.

4) Twelfth Doctor — “Deep Breath” (2014)

The transition from Matt Smith to Peter Capaldi as the Doctor was a significant change, moving from a young, lively Doctor to a darker, more complex one. The episode “Deep Breath” effectively highlighted this shift, allowing Capaldi to establish his version of the character and introducing a grittier tone to the series. While the episode unfolded at a deliberate pace, it gave viewers ample time to understand the new Doctor and his evolving dynamic with returning companion Clara Oswald, played brilliantly by Jenna Coleman.

3) Third Doctor — “Spearhead from Space” (1970)

As a huge Doctor Who fan, I always come back to “Spearhead from Space.” It’s often called one of the very best stories the show has ever done, and for good reason! It was Jon Pertwee’s first outing as the Doctor back in 1970, and it really kicked things up a notch. Seeing him battle those creepy Autons felt so fresh and modern for the time. More than just a new face, though, this story changed the whole show – the Doctor was stuck on Earth, and everything felt bigger and bolder. It was the first one filmed in color, too, which honestly made a huge difference. It just felt so much more real and vibrant – a real step up in production value and a genuinely cinematic experience.

2) Ninth Doctor — “Rose” (2005)

After being off the air for 16 years, Doctor Who returned in 2005 with a new series. The acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston debuted as the Ninth Doctor in the episode “Rose,” which also introduced his new companion, Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper. Eccleston and Piper had fantastic chemistry – a playful nod to the story, perhaps – and the episode cleverly brought back the terrifying Autons. “Rose” was a brilliant way to relaunch Doctor Who, establishing a fresh look, energetic pace, contemporary storylines, and powerful acting. While not flawless, it’s considered one of the most memorable and iconic episodes in the show’s history.

1) Eleventh Doctor — “The Eleventh Hour” (2010)

Okay, so everyone talks about the very first episodes with Nine, then with Rose, but for me, “The Eleventh Hour” is the perfect introduction to a new Doctor. It really launched both Steven Moffat’s run as showrunner and Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, and it became an instant classic. It’s just so much fun, really tense, and has these clever twists – especially with the introduction of Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan. It did a brilliant job of moving things forward after David Tennant, who a lot of fans, myself included, consider the best Doctor, and it seamlessly introduced Matt Smith’s take on the character. He had huge shoes to fill, but honestly, he absolutely nailed it.

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2025-11-19 19:50