Geek Syndicate Issue 7 | Page 8

Geek Syndicate
As well as having classic Dalek stories, Baker was lucky to have some of the best writers the show has ever seen working with him. When you have superb writers and an actor who has as much charisma as Tom Baker you are likely to be on to a winner. From Tom Baker’s classic scarf that is so symbolic now to Doctor Who, that even after three Doctors in New Who it would probably be the single piece of clothing that someone would think of when they think of the Doctor. The longest running Doctor, Tom Baker is a special actor who brought something very different to this role and should always be credited for that. Baker’s greatest downfall is that he probably hung onto his scarf for a season or two too long. By the time he regenerated, I think the audiences were ready to see who would come next.
Image © BBC Tom Baker, Truly Alien Adventurer

4. The Eleventh Doctor – Matt Smith (2010-2012)
When Matt Smith was announced as the Doctor he had a difficult time. Before he had even been given any chance to play the role, people were saying that he would never live up to David Tennant, who many were seeing as the best Doctor of the modern era if not ever. Further terror came when they saw his costume: his now infamous bow tie and tweed jacket. I was hooked when I saw this and thought it suited Smith perfectly. Smith decided that he wanted a costume that has a look of The Second Doctor after watching Tomb of the Cybermen and he pulls it off well with a modern twist. When Smith’s first episode, The Eleventh Hour, finally aired he put all the doubters to shame. He was a Doctor who was more alien than the very human Tenth Doctor and instantly watchable. Smith’s erratic behaviour and quick wit keeps the viewers enthralled. He manages to perfectly portray a man that looks young and yet is old, with bags of wisdom to boot. Both Smith’s greatest strength and the thing that works against him is the writing. Smith is the reason you continue to watch as he is so good as the Doctor that you just have to see him week in, week out. There have been many great moments from the Eleventh Doctor such as The Pandorica Opens and the phenomenal The Name of The Doctor. Unfortunately, his middle season was very disappointing, plagued by plot holes and storylines that were so farcical that they beggared belief. Yet even as story lines floundered and other characters behaved in a contradictory manner from week to week, Smith still brings us in. He is moody and seems wise: an old man trapped inside a giddy young man’s body. On top of this, he’s funny. He is everything we could want from the Doctor. I am truly upset to see him go as I feel that he was really starting to get cooking but maybe it is better to leave when you are still wanted.

“ A r a a g h , slower…slower! Concentrate on one thing…one thing!”

3. The Fifth Doctor – Peter Davison (1982-1984)
Davison was another actor who had a difficult time when he replaced
Peter Davison, Vulnerable Veteren

8

Image © BBC