Before you start reading this blog, we must admit that we have seen some of the “old series” shows, but not many, so we will not be commenting a lot on the older series.
Read more about Doctors Who 7 to 12.
Herewith a summary of Doctors 1 to 7.
1st Doctor – William Hartnell (1963 – 1967)
- Characteristics: He is type-cast as a grumpy old man. The episodes that we’ve seen of him, he looked very unsure of himself or even indifferent to things. He was also quite arrogant.
- Companions: His grand-daughter Susan, Ian and Barbara. After them there was a variety of other companions.
- Favorite episodes: I must be honest and say that I tried watching the older Doctor Who episodes, but because of the sluggishness the episodes (in comparison with what we are used to now a days), I just didn’t love it. It was good to see where Doctor Who started, but definitely not my favorite episodes.
- Other: The 2013 movie, “An Adventure in Space and Time”, tells the story of BBC executive Sydney Newman, novice producer Verity Lambert and actor William Hartnell – the first Doctor Who. In this story it seems that William Hartnell had to step down due to his health. If it was not for him, Sydney and Verity there would not have been the Doctor. We are forever grateful!
“One day I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine” – 1st Doctor Who – William Hartnell
2nd Doctor – Patrick Troughton (1966 – 1969)
- I unfortunately have not seen any of his episodes.
“Life depends on change and renewal” – 2nd Doctor Who – Patrick Troughton
3rd Doctor – Jon Pertwee (1970 – 1974)
- I unfortunately have not seen any of his episodes.
“Courage isn’t a matter of not being frightened, it’s being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway” – 3rd Doctor Who – Jon Pertwee
4th Doctor – Tom Baker (1974 – 1981)
- Characteristics: He was quite friendly, loved jelly babies and who could forget his memorable scarf and hat. Don’t forget his creepy grin!
- Other: Tom Baker has had the most successful run in the Doctor Who Franchise with over 7 years playing this character. He is also one of the most favorite Doctors up until today. Tom Baker made a special appearance in the 50th anniversary special of the show. One of the companions of the 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, actually got her own television spin-off series with cameo appearances by the 10th and 11th Doctors. Unfortunately the series was cancelled with the untimely death of Elisabeth Sladen in 2011 due to breast cancer.
“Well, of course I’m being childish! There’s no point being grown up if you can’t be childish sometimes” – 4th Doctor Who – Tom Baker
5th Doctor – Peter Davidson (1982 – 1984)
- Characteristics: All I can think is cricket clothes and a celery stick! I unfortunately have not seen any of his episodes.
“Dreams are important. Never underestimate them” – 5th Doctor Who – Peter Davidson
6th Doctor – Colin Baker (1984 – 1986)
- Characteristics: I watched a documentary about Colin Baker. He was supposed to be a confused and angry Doctor. I think this is something that Doctor Who is trying to bring back with the 12th Doctor.
- We also haven’t watched his episodes as yet.
“Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing can be eternal.” – 6th Doctor Who – Colin Baker
7th Doctor – Sylvester McCoy (1987 – 1989)
- Characteristics: To me he was a bit of a clown. The episodes I saw he had an umbrella and question marks on his collars. Not my cup of tea. He was also a bit of a darker Doctor Who and probably why the serious failed at this point. Unfortunately due to bad writing (in my opinion), Sylvester McCoy was the last doctor before the series got cancelled.
“Every great decision creates ripples, like a huge boulder dropped into a lake. The ripples merge, rebound off the banks in unforeseeable ways. The heavier the decision, the larger the waves, the more uncertain the consequences.”- 7th Doctor Who – Sylvester McCoy
