9 Reasons Why Doctor Who’s 9th Doctor Is The Show’s Greatest Doctor

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The newest season (or series for our British counterparts) of the BBC hit show Doctor Who is in full swing. The franchise is stronger and more popular than ever with Peter Capaldi taking the reigns from Matt Smith as the newest incarnation of the Doctor. However, while all eyes are on the 12th Doctor, it is not Capaldi, Smith or even David Tennant’s version of everyone’s favorite time and space traveling timelord that I will be analyzing. Today I would like to discuss the work of not only my favorite doctor, but the one I feel to be the most underrated in show history. Of course I am talking about the 9th doctor, played by the fantastic character actor Christopher Eccleston. Here are 9 reasons why I think the 9th Doctor is the greatest Doctor of the show’s run.

1. He Re-Introduced The World To Doctor Who

Eccleston played a big role in helping re-introduce millions to the Doctor Who franchise. The show had been off air for a staggering sixteen years, sans a failed revival attempt with a TV movie featuring Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor. When Doctor Who was brought back I was engrossed with not only the direction of the show, but Eccleston as an actor. I personally feel nine doesn’t get as much credit as he should. Perhaps it’s because Christopher decided to leave after one season (series) or because most fan girls didn’t find him as attractive as the likes of David Tennant or Matt Smith, but the fact of the matter is he paved the way for future doctors to come. Without the success of Christopher Eccleston there would be no David Tennant, Matt Smith and especially no Peter Capaldi.

2. His Depth

9 was unlike any Doctor we have seen before. He was darker, edgier than the Doctors of old. He was a Doctor born out of war. For those unaware with the Doctor Who saga, Eccleston’s Doctor was created out the “Last Great Time War” where the timelords and long-time enemy, the Daleks destroyed one another. Born out of that was a tortured, angry, dark yet witty Doctor that brought more depth to the character then any of the previous incarnations.

3. He Was A Badass

One of my favorite badass nine moments came in the episode Dalek when nine tortures the last Dalek in existence after the Time War out of pure, unfiltered anger. Yes he had his eccentric side but it was subtle and not as blatantly obvious as say, Matt Smith. In the end, nine was a total badass and it showed from his attitude down to the leather jacket he wore.

Speaking of…

4. The Outfit

I mean look at this. Which would you be more afraid of if you were one of the many Cybermen or Daleks.

5. Rose Tyler

Yes, David Tennant’s doctor was associated with Rose as well but nine was associated with her first and to me the on-screen chemistry between Eccleston and Billie Piper equated to some of the best television I’ve ever seen. She stuck with the Doctor through and through. She humanized and gave warmth to the Doctor. This wonderful, selfless and heroic companion, the first one of the rebooted Who just tells the Doctor the pretty much save the world and she does so along with him without a second thought. The on screen romance between Rose Tyler and the Doctor has often been criticized by Who purists but there is a reason why ratings were always a major success with her around. It made for wonderful television and Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston just played off each other so fantastically. Both Nine and Ten had the pleasure of being side by side one of the best companions in Who history but it’s Eccleston’s doctor that introduced us to not only Rose Tyler but that on-screen romance. The way he takes Rose’s hand throughout his series was simply fantastic stuff.

6. The Show’s Tone

Perhaps this is more of a nod to former showrunner Russell T Davies but when you compare the episodes (or serials) for the ninth doctor in comparison to a incarnation like, eleven, it’s truly night and day. Ironically I would say the episodes for nine were more light-hearted than the dark, complicated plot of the Matt Smith era which were written by new show front runner Steven Moffat (and still are with new Doctor Peter Capaldi). However that’s what makes the ninth doctor’s run so great, the lighter stories combined with a darker doctor made for an excellent contrast. I mean, the very first episode of new Who had to do with the Autons – which were killer mannequins of all things! In comparison the darker plots with Matt Smith’s doctor, especially the “God Complex” storyline just came off as silly given how childlike the eleventh Doctor was.

7. The Villains

It also goes back to the first point that he introduced us all to the classic villains such as the Daleks and Autons. Nine’s interaction with the Daleks are also much more darker and convincing:

8. The “Everybody Lives, Just This Once” Speech

9. He Was Genuine

Even with newer villains created for the reboot like the Slitheen, the ninth Doctor just shines. Especially when not being a dark brooding timelord and instead showing off his more funny side. In fact, I feel like there were more genuine moments with nine then with any other Doctor, with exception to David Tennant. Again, that just goes back to the writing of Davies. He wrote real, emotional characters. Something that current showrunner Steven Moffat doesn’t really do. Moffat isn’t as interested in the backstory of the companions or even really in continuity as his predecessor which in my opinion downgrades the show. The Ninth Doctor was one of the most emotional, brooding, dark, witty and fun to watch incarnations in the show’s history and hands down my favorite within the history of the show. Although Mr. Eccleston was only around for thirteen episodes, there is no denying how fantastic he truly was and the impact he had on the Doctor Who franchise.

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Why Christopher Eccleston Was The Greatest Doctor Who Star After All