Who is The Doctor? There have been many people and creatures who have wondered that.   The Doctor is a Gallifreyan and a Time Lord, and he could travel in time and space, in a machine called a Tardis.   The Doctor has two hearts and can live for a long time due to his ability to regenerate.

The Doctor, also known as Doctor Who, started off on November 23rd 1963.   He was an old cantankerous individual who was distrustful of those he didnt know.  He and his grand-daughter Susan lived in London in the early 1960’s.  Then, a pair of curious teachers of Susan’s, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, who were worried about her safety, followed her home and confronted The Doctor and forced themselves onto his ship, which at the time appeared as  a 1950’s Police Public Call Box.  They found out, as did many others through-out the years, that the ship as bigger on the inside than on the outside. This was due to a key Time Lord science called transdimensional engineering.  The Doctor, not wanting to discovered, decided to take off, with Barbara and Ian and began a great adventure.

See this Tardis at WowCoolStuff.com

The Doctor can regenerate 12 times, so far he has done so 9 times and can regenerate only 3 more times.  There are some extraordinary circumstances that may allow him to live longer.  The Master for example, has found various ways to extend his lives, once by taking over another’s body, The Keeper of Traken, and also by the High Council of the Time Lords in the Time War. So far, the Doctor hasn’t needed to extend his life, but that may change someday.

All of the Doctor’s incarnations have been very different.  The First Doctor was a mysterious figure. He appeared to be a frail old man, but he was wiry and tough as an old turkey.  He dressed in an  Edwardian style, often changing parts of his clothing when needed.  He obviously held tremendous knowledge of scientific matters, and yet was unable to pilot his TARDIS time ship reliably; his granddaughter Susan explained this by saying that her grandfather was “a bit forgetful”. He was abrasive, patronising, and cantankerous towards his human travelling companions, yet shared a deep emotional bond with his granddaughter Susan. He also harboured a streak of ruthlessness, being willing to lie — and in one case attempt to kill — to achieve his goals. Initially, he distrusted his first two human companions, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, who were forced on him. Over time, however, as they shared adventures together, he grew closer to them, and the TARDIS crew came to share almost a family bond.

The 2nd Doctor has been nicknamed the “Cosmic Hobo” as the impish Second Doctor appeared to be far more scruffy and child-like than his first incarnation.  He dressed similarly to his earlier self, though in far less natty fashion, the trousers now clownishly large and the cravat replaced with a bow tie. He quickly abandoned the blue signet ring as it no longer fit him.  Mercurial, clever, and always a few steps ahead of his enemies, at times he could be a calculating schemer who would not only manipulate people for the greater good but act like a bumbling fool in order to have others underestimate his true abilities (The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Evil of the Daleks, and The Dominators). But despite the bluster and tendency to panic when events got out of control, the Second Doctor always acted heroically and morally in his desire to help the oppressed. More than any other perhaps, this incarnation of the Time Lord was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The 3rd Doctor was a suave, authoritative man of action, who not only practiced Venusian Aikido (or Karate), but who enjoyed working on gadgets and riding all manner of vehicles, such as the Whomobile and his pride and joy, the canary-yellow vintage roadster nicknamed “Bessie” which featured such modifications as a remote control, dramatically increased speed capabilities and even inertial dampeners. This Doctor had a personal manner of dress which is the most ornate of his various incarnations, favouring frilled shirts, velvet smoking or dinner jackets in blue, orange, green, burgundy or black, evening trousers, formal boots and opera and hunting cloaks for his regular outfit, with variations and accessories including bow ties, cravats and leather gloves, earning him the nickname “the Dandy Doctor”.  Perhaps due to his time spent on Earth, or maybe just as a function of his pacifistic and authoritative tendencies, the Third Doctor was a skilled diplomat (keeping talks going in The Curse of Peladon, for example) and linguist, as well as having an odd knack for disguises – all of this, combined with his formidable galactic experience, often allowed the Third Doctor to play a central role in the events he found himself in.

The 4th Doctor is a natural bohemian who permanently left UNIT in order to return to a life of deep universal wandering. More so than his previous incarnations, he is thrilled by discovery and adventure. Imposingly tall, with eyes that seem to constantly boggle, a mass of curls for hair and prominently displayed teeth, the Doctor favours an outfit that usually consists of a shirt, waistcoat, wide-legged trousers, a frock coat (with pockets containing a seemingly endless array of apparently useless items that would nevertheless suit the Doctor’s purposes when used), a wide-brimmed hat (on occasion) and, most famously, his impractically long, multicoloured striped scarf, which was apparently knitted for him by Madame Nostradamus (whom he refers to as a “witty little knitter”).  Galvanised by higher purpose, he is disarmingly loopy (constantly offering friends and foes jelly babies), brilliant and entirely serious, all at the same time.  To an extent, the Fourth Doctor is the most unpredictable of his incarnations, befuddling all with his intelligence, constantly leaving others wondering if they have his full attention and using his more off the wall mannerisms against adversaries to distract them while arranging to take control of the situation. His keen judge of character also enables him to navigate his way through situations with new people, helping him to discern friend from foe. Despite his charm and offbeat humour, the Fourth Doctor is arguably more aloof and sombre than his previous incarnations. He could become intensely brooding, serious and even callous, and would keenly scrutinise his surroundings even when playing the fool. He could also be furious with those he saw as stupid, frivolous, misguided or evil.

The 5th Doctor was far more vulnerable, sensitive and reserved than his previous incarnations, and would often react to situations rather than initiate them. This Doctor’s chosen mode of dress was a variation of an Edwardian cricketer’s uniform, and he was even seen to carry a cricket ball in one of his pockets (which saved his life in one adventure). He wore a cream-coloured frock coat, on which he wore a stalk of celery, striped trousers, plimsoll shoes and occasionally a pair of spectacles. Unlike his more authoritative predecessors, he would treat his young companions as parts of a team, and would often willingly participate in situations under the leadership of someone else who had the strong command presence that he apparently lacked. However, the Fifth Doctor’s boyish appearance, nervous energy and charm all hid the fact that he was a Time Lord of great age, compassion and experience. This Doctor greatly abhorred violence and would often hesitate about taking matters into his own hands. For the first time indecision weighed seriously on the character, and it had its consequences – yet this Doctor was also one of the most courageous of his incarnations.

The 6th Doctor’s  brightly coloured, mismatched clothes and brash, overbearing personality set him apart from all his previous incarnations, in some ways hearkening back to the early irascibility and undertones of untrustworthiness of the First Doctor.  He was an unpredictable and somewhat petulant egoist, whose garish, multicoloured attire reflected his volatile personality. He was both portentous and eloquent — even for any Doctor, of whom he saw himself as the finest incarnation yet — and his unpredictability was made even wilder by his mood swings, manic behaviour, bombastic outbursts and glib, unflappable wit. His personality also displayed occasionally fatalistic overtones. Underneath his blustering exterior, he was more determined than ever in his universal battles against evil, possessed of a tenacity and a thirst to do what was right that was far more visible than ever before. Despite his often unstable demeanour, he was always ready to act when necessary, and very little — even his companions — could hope to stand in his way.

The 7th Doctor displayed perhaps the most profound change in attitude of any of the Time Lord’s personae, beginning as perhaps the most outwardly amiable and bumbling (to the extent of putting himself in danger but not at the cost of his overall great intelligence and benevolent intentions) and progressing into a driven, dark gamemaster whose plans to defeat his adversaries, both old and new, would play out across space and time. The Doctor’s outfit in this incarnation was calmer than his previous attire (“Thank goodness in this regeneration I’ve regained my impeccable sense of haute couture” – Time and the Rani), but as idiosyncratic as any other. It consisted of a off-white safari-styled jacket with a red paisley scarf worn under its lapels and a matching handkerchief in the left pocket, a fob watch chained to the left lapel, a plain white shirt, a red paisley tie, a yellow fair isle-inspired pullover adorned with red question marks and blue-green zigzag patterns, sand-coloured tweed plaid trousers, white/brown brogued spectator shoes, a white colonial-styled Panama hat with a paisley hatband and an upturned brim (a possible reference to the similar accessory he wore as the Fifth Doctor) and an umbrella with a red question mark-shaped handle (though early Season 24 episodes see him either without an umbrella, or with one with a bamboo handle).  He generally displayed an affable, curious, knowledgeable, easygoing, excitable and charming air. However, as he began to choose his battles and keep a tighter grip on his secrets – from his plans to his very identity – he also presented more serious, contemplative, secretive, wistful and manipulative sides with undercurrents of mischief and authority, constantly giving the impression that there was more to him than met the eye. The Doctor would sometimes act like a buffoon, usually preferring to manipulate events from behind the scenes; much like his second incarnation, he was prepared to play the fool in order to trick his foes into underestimating him, inevitably leading to their defeat at his hands.

The 8th Doctor, a Byronesque figure who is arguably the most human and romantic of all of his incarnations, encouraged those around him to seize life instead of withdrawing from it.    He also seemed to enjoy giving people hints of their own futures, probably to prod them into making the right decisions. It is unclear if the eighth Doctor’s knowledge of people’s futures comes from historical expertise, psychic power or precognitive ability.  As with the Fifth Doctor, the debonair Eighth Doctor’s youthful, wide-eyed enthusiasm actually hid a very old soul with perhaps a darker side. This Doctor wore a Wyatt Erp outfit that someone was supposed to be wearing for New Year’s Eve, he decided not to use the guns.

The 9th Doctor is less of a central heroic figure than an enabler, encouraging his companions and other people he meets to act upon their more positive impulses.  Those he meets (in particular Captain Jack Harkness) often credit him with making them better people (this is indirectly referenced in the penultimate episode of Series 3 when the Master calls the Doctor “the man who makes people better”). He uses this quality alongside his intelligence and the information he gathers to inspire and allow others to act to end the dangers they face, rarely taking direct action himself (although he tended to find himself incapacitated in some manner at crucial moments, therefore requiring the interventions of others).  This ninth incarnation was perhaps the most gritty, and informal, masking a lonely, guilt-ridden and melancholic personality with a jovial, witty, forthright and almost manic exterior. Similar to the Fourth Doctor, he would often make jokes in the face of danger, but then become grim and serious when on his own. Like the Sixth Doctor, he also tended to be fatalistic at times, to the point of near-panic when he and Rose were cornered in “The Unquiet Dead” and he realised that he was going to die (this despite the knowledge that he would probably just regenerate). Despite being impatient with humans, whom he often referred to as “stupid apes” — and Mickey receiving particular scorn and being dubbed “Mickey the Idiot” — the Ninth Doctor was far more tactile with, and reliant upon, his human companions than previous incarnations. He was notably both sentimental and emotional, especially where his closest friend, Rose, was concerned, to the point of allowing her to view her parents’ wedding and later, her father’s last moments — this being just one example of his occasional lack of caution. In stark contrast to the extravagant dress of most of his predecessors, the Doctor wore a plain leather jacket (mistaken in World War II for that of a German U-boat commander; DW: The Empty Child), red, green or black jumper (which Charles Dickens thought made him look like a navvy; DW: The Unquiet Dead) and dark trousers. Unlike previous Doctors, this Doctor wore his hair close cropped.

The 10th Doctor generally displays a light-hearted, talkative, easy-going, witty and cheeky manner, but combines this with a somewhat egocentric sense of unstoppability when facing his enemies. The Doctor seemed disappointed that his tenth incarnation was not “ginger“, but has worn his own dark brown hair in various ways throughout the series: unstyled in “The Christmas Invasion“, a fifties-style quiff in “The Idiot’s Lantern“, and flattened forwards in “The Runaway Bride“. He is also perceived by most, including companions and other characters as “just a little bit foxy”.   He wears a dark brown (with blue pinstripes) or a blue (with brown pinstripes) suit, a shirt and a tie (otherwise, open-shirted with a light grey t-shirt/vest (“Tooth and Claw“, “Planet of the Ood“), a red-hued t-shirt (“42“) or a black t-shirt (“Midnight“), a light brown overcoat (which he claims was given to him by Janis Joplin), and a pair of trainers, in colours ranging from white (brown suit), black (dinner jacket) or burgundy (blue suit), a costume which Tennant described as “geek chic“. The blue suit debuted in Series 3 episode 1, “Smith and Jones“, and both suits were worn from his adventures with Martha Jones onwards, until the fourth series finale “Journey’s End” in which an identical Doctor donned the blue suit and was left in a parallel universe with Rose Tyler.  He is perhaps as ruthless and dangerous as his seventh incarnation ever was, although much less inclined to complex schemes and set goals. This emerged early on when he sent the Sycorax leader (who was attacking him from behind) falling to his death while commenting that, with him, there were “no second chances.” Like the Seventh and Ninth Doctor, the Tenth sometimes uses a cheerful, energetic façade to mask inner emotions. He has a tendency to babble, mixing apparent nonsense with vital information, sometimes acting erratically to put his enemies off guard like some of his earlier incarnations. He can also be rude on occasion, and is not always aware of it, being prone to making comments that to outsiders seem obtuse or rude, sometimes to his own embarrassment. In “The Christmas Invasion” and “Tooth and Claw“, he is surprised at his own unintentional rudeness when making disparaging remarks, and Jack Harkness, after reuniting with the Doctor, notes that his “new regeneration (is) kinda cheeky.” He has a tendency to use technobabble to describe scientific concepts before substituting it with a simpler, analogous explanation. Further to this, he tends to infantilise names and concepts — his description of non-linear temporal physics as “a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff” is perhaps the most well known example.

The 11th Doctor is still yet to come. Stay tuned.