History Characters / DoctorWhoDoctors

Theta Sigma. The Renegade Time Lord. The Traveler from Beyond Time. [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E1TheEleventhHour The Madman with a Box]]. [[TheDreaded The Bringer of Darkness]]. [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E13ThePartingOfTheWays The Oncoming Storm]]. [[TragicTimeTraveler The Lonely God]]. [[HorrifyingTheHorror The Predator of]] [[Characters/DoctorWhoDaleks the Daleks]]. The Ka Faraq Gatri.[[note]]Which translates to Destroyer of Worlds. Or "Nice guy, if you're a biped".[[/note]] [[FutureMeScaresMe The Shadow of]] [[EvilCounterpart the Valeyard]].

* NothingIsScarier: How the Valeyard even came into existence is unknown...[[spoiler:[[DownplayedTrope until his origins were revealed in the Big Finish audio dramas that featured his return]]]].

'''The Doctor''' is the main character of [[Series/DoctorWho this long-running show]], who [[IHaveManyNames has been known by many names]] and [[TheNthDoctor has worn many faces]] in their adventures throughout time and space. Like all [[Characters/DoctorWhoTimeLords Time Lords]], [[AmbiguousGender they]] have a life span measured in centuries/millennia, some degree of psychic ability, and the ability to [[TheNthDoctor regenerate into a new form]] when near death. Unlike other Time Lords, they became bored and/or terrified by the Gallifreyan way of life when they were "young", stole [[Characters/DoctorWhoTheTARDIS an antique TARDIS]], skipped town and "never stopped running". Their real name is unknown, hence the title of the series, but it's ([[AmbiguousSituation presumably]]) not [[IAmNotShazam "Doctor Who"]].

* BerserkButton: The Titan comics show at least one very good reason she abandoned Division: she and a young Time Lady fresh from the Academy were tricked into destroying several Time Lord outposts, since they were established in planets where they were drifting further and further from the Rassilon humanoid standard with each regeneration, and the responsible Senator wanted to scare others into returning to Gallifrey. While the Doctor succeeded in saving the colonists, this casual show of racism and isolationism so infuriated her that it sowed the seeds for her eventual withdrawal from Gallifrey.

The Doctor remains the same ''person'' throughout their lives and maintains the same core mindset and ([[AbsentMindedProfessor for the]] [[LaserGuidedAmnesia most part]]) memories, but different incarnations have different appearances and [[EraSpecificPersonality unique personality traits]]. {{Showrunner}}s tend to cast each Doctor as [[ContrastingReplacementCharacter a subversion of the previous one in both attitude and appearance]]. Hence, [[Characters/DoctorWhoFirstDoctor the original stubborn old grandfatherly git]] became [[Characters/DoctorWhoSecondDoctor clownish]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoThirdDoctor suave]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourthDoctor loopy]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifthDoctor calm]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoSixthDoctor peremptory]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoSeventhDoctor manipulative]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoEighthDoctor romantic]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoWarDoctor weary]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoNinthDoctor harsh]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoTenthDoctor hyperactive]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoEleventhDoctor dorky]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoTwelfthDoctor caustic]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoThirteenthDoctor plucky]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourteenthDoctor emotional]], and [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifteenthDoctor exuberant]]. After the show's return in 2005, it's added a bit more CharacterDevelopment than the classic series.

* FlatEarthAtheist: The Doctor, despite being a person who flies through space/time like it was a Sunday drive and has fought monsters, has very little patience for non-science based explanations, and refuses to accept there are such things as ghosts, gods, and devils (though Twelve finally comes to accept ghosts). It becomes very obvious when they come across things, creatures, and events that have ''no'' reasonable explanation, sometimes going so far as to ignore explanation and adopt an "It happened let's move on" mentality.

** [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourteenthDoctor Fourteen]] [[spoiler:wears a blue duster, a brown and blue plaid suit without a jacket, and a pair of trainers]].
** [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifteenthDoctor Fifteen]] is another aversion, generally being more fashion-conscious than his predecessors.

** Seemingly averted for Fourteen, as Thirteen choosing to regenerate outside to watch the sun rise means the TARDIS is landed and spared from an in-flight regeneration. Time will tell if any post-regen disorientation plays this straight, however (though it remains averted in the ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' strip, which takes up immediately after the regeneration).

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/curator_1724.png]]

** The Tenth Doctor is most similar to [[Creator/PeterDavison Davison's]] Fifth Doctor, whom Creator/DavidTennant grew up watching. Both Doctors are the most emotional and human, deadly-accurate with a cricket ball, have bad luck with commuter planes, put glasses on when focusing, broke their sonic screwdrivers, inexplicably wear trainers to accompany their formal wardrobes, semi-frequently encounter the Master, and face [[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E6TheCavesOfAndrozani tragic endings]] to [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime their lives]]. (Most of these traits are lampshaded when the Doctors [[Recap/DoctorWho2007CiNSTimeCrash meet up]].) Davies' [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E11Utopia "Utopia"]] also owes a debt to [[Recap/DoctorWhoS21E3Frontios "Frontios"]], in which the TARDIS "drifts too far into the future" and discovers a colony of humans struggling to survive on the outer rim. Other obvious homages include [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E5BlackOrchid "Black Orchid"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E7TheUnicornAndTheWasp "The Unicorn and the Wasp"]] (Merchant Ivory whodunnits) and [[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E3MawdrynUndead "Mawdryn Undead"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E3SchoolReunion "School Reunion"]] (both set at a boarding school and showcasing a semi-retired companion), and they also have their hairstyle parted in a certain way [[note]]Five's was parted to the right throughout his tenure (he's the only confirmed doctor whose hairstyle is parted this way) and Ten's was parted to the left initially before switching it up to different styles, his successor Eleven would fully part his hair to the left as would the Thirteenth Doctor, who also has the same hair color as Five[[/note]]. It gets even more {{Meta}} as they're now related in real life.

The Valeyard was a particularly antagonistic Time Lord, who first appeared in "The Trial of a Time Lord". It was eventually revealed in Part 13 the Valeyard is really the Doctor. Or, rather, a future aspect of all the Doctor's evil and malice born from his 12th and final regenerations ([[UnreliableNarrator except that information came from the Master]] and which regenerations he's referring to exactly is [[ContinuitySnarl a bit muddled at this point]]). Though the Valeyard only showed up in the TV series for that one season-long story, [[BadFuture there is a chance of him being brought to life during the Doctor's future]]...

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/MichaelJayston (2003-present)

The Valeyard was a particularly antagonistic Time Lord, who first appeared in "The Trial of a Time Lord". It was eventually revealed in Part 13 the Valeyard is really the Doctor. Or, rather, a future aspect of all the Doctor's evil and malice born from his 12th and final regenerations ([[UnreliableNarrator except that information came from the Master]] and which regenerations he's referring to exactly is [[ContinuitySnarl a bit muddled at this point]]). Though the Valeyard only showed up in the TV series for that one story (possibly), presumed dead ''and'' alive at the same time, [[BadFuture he will happen someday]]...

* NothingIsScarier: How the Valeyard even came into existence is unknown.

* PutOnABus: It's been over 30 years since the Valeyard last appeared(?) on-screen in his "am I dead or not" ending.
** The Dream Lord from [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E7AmysChoice "Amy's Choice"]] is another manifestation of the Doctor's dark side, suggesting the Valeyard is still around.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_valeyard.jpg]]

** The Twelfth Doctor, in the wake of betrayal and capture by Ashildr and the Time Lords (people he had saved rather than let die/destroy), the death by SenselessSacrifice of his beloved companion Clara Oswald (who had become his DistaffCounterpart along with a LivingEmotionalCrutch), and subsequent lonely torture in his own confession dial under the watch of the Time Lords is DrivenToMadness and endures a SelfInflictedHell for billions of years to escape said dial. He emerges as TheUnfettered WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds, willing to defy his people (it doesn't help that the powers-that-be show NoSympathy for his suffering), become a renegade runaway again, ''and'' risk the universe's existence on the TragicDream of saving Clara Oswald from the grave and giving her a "happy", '''safe''' life without memories of him — an action that again defies a fixed point in time and which he usually tries to ''stop'' others from doing. Clara finally manages to induce a HeelRealization in him and beyond giving her up for good, ends up also losing his key physical and emotional memories of her, unable to recognize her or why he was willing to go so far to save her. As he succumbs to MindRape, he tells her that this is only right and proper because he broke his own rules, and amends his creed to "Never be cruel and never be cowardly, and if you ever are, always make amends." In his final journey, the Doctor has all those memories returned because he learns to accept change and loss so long as there is a time and place to remember precious history.

Theta Sigma. The Renegade Time Lord. The Traveler from Beyond Time. [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E1TheEleventhHour The Madman with a Box]]. [[TheDreaded The Bringer of Darkness]]. [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E13ThePartingOfTheWays The Oncoming Storm]]. [[TragicTimeTraveler The Lonely God]]. [[HorrifyingTheHorror The Predator of]] [[Characters/DoctorWhoDaleks the Daleks]]. The Ka Faraq Gatri.[[note]]Which translates to Destroyer of Worlds. Or "Nice guy, if you're a biped".[[/note]]

[[caption-width-right:350: ''[[MyFutureSelfAndMe Me, myself and I and him]] / [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Are all the same guy]]!'' [[note]]Left column from the top: [[Creator/WilliamHartnell One]], [[Creator/PatrickTroughton Two]], [[Creator/JonPertwee Three]], [[Creator/TomBaker Four]], [[Creator/PeterDavison Five]]. Right column from the top: [[Creator/ColinBaker Six]], [[Creator/SylvesterMcCoy Seven]], [[Creator/PaulMcGann Eight]], [[Creator/JohnHurt War]], [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston Nine]]. Middle column from the top: [[Creator/DavidTennant Ten/Fourteen]], [[Creator/MattSmith Eleven]], [[Creator/PeterCapaldi Twelve]] and [[Creator/JodieWhittaker Thirteen]]. Not pictured: [[Creator/MichaelJayston The Valeyard]], [[Creator/JoMartin Fugitive]], countless other incarnations and [[Creator/NcutiGatwa Fifteen]][[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350: ''[[MyFutureSelfAndMe Me, myself and I and him]] / [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Are all the same guy]]!'' [[note]]Left column from the top: [[Creator/WilliamHartnell One]], [[Creator/PatrickTroughton Two]], [[Creator/JonPertwee Three]], [[Creator/TomBaker Four]], [[Creator/PeterDavison Five]]. Right column from the top: [[Creator/ColinBaker Six]], [[Creator/SylvesterMcCoy Seven]], [[Creator/PaulMcGann Eight]], [[Creator/JohnHurt War]], [[Creator/ChristopherEccleston Nine]]. Middle column from the top: [[Creator/DavidTennant Ten/Fourteen]], [[Creator/MattSmith Eleven]], [[Creator/PeterCapaldi Twelve]] and [[Creator/JodieWhittaker Thirteen]]. Not pictured: [[Creator/JoMartin Fugitive]] and [[Creator/NcutiGatwa Fifteen]][[/note]]]]

[[Characters/DoctorWhoClassicSeriesCompanions Classic Series Companions]] ([[Characters/DoctorWhoK9 K9]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoRomana Romana]]) | [[Characters/DoctorWhoRevivalSeriesCompanions Revival Series Companions]] ([[Characters/DoctorWhoRoseTyler Rose Tyler]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoJackHarkness Captain Jack Harkness]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoRiverSong River Song]], [[Characters/DoctorWhoClaraOswald Clara Oswald]]) | [[Characters/DoctorWhoOtherSupportingCast Other Supporting Cast]] ([[Characters/DoctorWhoThePaternosterGang The Paternoster Gang]]) | [[Characters/DoctorWhoUNITStaff UNIT Staff]]\\

[[Characters/DoctorWhoFirstDoctor 1]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoSecondDoctor 2]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoThirdDoctor 3]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourthDoctor 4]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifthDoctor 5]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoSixthDoctor 6]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoSeventhDoctor 7]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoEighthDoctor 8]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoWarDoctor War]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoNinthDoctor 9]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoTenthDoctor 10]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoEleventhDoctor 11]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoTwelfthDoctor 12]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoThirteenthDoctor 13]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourteenthDoctor 14]] | [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifteenthDoctor 15]]\\

* [[Characters/DoctorWhoFourteenthDoctor Fourteenth Doctor]]
* [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifteenthDoctor Fifteenth Doctor]]

* RacialTransformation: The Timeless Child [[spoiler: retroactively makes every Doctor except for Ruth into this, along with GenderBender for the first 13, as her first incarnation was black and female.]]

* FictionAsCoverup: Mentions in the novelization that the Brigadier hated his idea to novelize The Doctor's adventures so people would think they were fiction.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: Most of the various Doctors face their regenerations with composure and grace, the exceptions being the Second and Tenth ([[FaceDeathWithDespair who go out kicking and screaming]]) and the Seventh ([[UndignifiedDeath who goes out rather unceremoniously with no time to process the situation]]).

** [[Characters/DoctorWhoThirteenthDoctor Thirteen]]'s look, comprising a top with rainbow stripes, short blue trousers with suspenders, and a long pale lilac coat, is described on her own page as "raided the wardrobe of a 1980s' British kids' TV show". She got it from a charity shop, so this is the incarnation to play this trope most literally.

'''The Doctor''' is the main character of [[Series/DoctorWho this long-running show]], who [[IHaveManyNames has been known by many names]][[note]]but [[IAmNotShazam "Doctor Who"]] is ([[AmbiguousSituation probably]]) not one of them,]][[/note]] and [[TheNthDoctor has worn many faces]] in their adventures throughout time and space. Like all [[Characters/DoctorWhoTimeLords Time Lords]], [[AmbiguousGender they]] have a life span measured in centuries/millennia, some degree of psychic ability, and the ability to [[TheNthDoctor regenerate into a new form]] when near death. Unlike other Time Lords, they became bored and/or terrified by the Gallifreyan way of life when they were “young”, stole [[Characters/DoctorWhoTheTARDIS an antique TARDIS]], skipped town and "never stopped running".

'''The Doctor''' is the main character of [[Series/DoctorWho this long-running show]], who [[IHaveManyNames has been known by many names]][[note]][[IAmNotShazam but "Doctor Who" is not one of them,]][[/note]] and [[TheNthDoctor has worn many faces]] in their adventures throughout time and space. Like all [[Characters/DoctorWhoTimeLords Time Lords]], [[AmbiguousGender they]] have a life span measured in centuries/millennia, some degree of psychic ability, and the ability to [[TheNthDoctor regenerate into a new form]] when near death. Unlike other Time Lords, they became bored and/or terrified by the Gallifreyan way of life when they were “young”, stole [[Characters/DoctorWhoTheTARDIS an antique TARDIS]], skipped town and "never stopped running".

Theta Sigma. The Renegade Time Lord. The Traveler from Beyond Time. [[MrSmith John Smith]]. [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E1TheEleventhHour The Madman with a Box]]. The Sandman. [[TheDreaded The Bringer of Darkness]]. [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E13ThePartingOfTheWays The Oncoming Storm]]. [[HorrifyingTheHorror The Predator of]] [[Characters/DoctorWhoDaleks the Daleks]]. The Ka Faraq Gatri.[[note]]Which translates to Destroyer of Worlds. Or "Nice guy, if you're a biped".[[/note]]

''{{T|ropeCodifier}}he'' {{Time Travel}}ling {{Human Alien|s}}, who also [[DoctorWhomage inspired plenty of copies]].

'''''{{T|ropeCodifier}}he''''' [[TheNthDoctor cross-actor character]].

[[IAmNotShazam And no, their name isn't "Doctor Who".]][[note]][[AmbiguousSituation (Presumably)]][[/note]]

A [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Time Lord]] from the planet Gallifrey, the Doctor ([[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname real name unknown]]) is the main character of [[Series/DoctorWho this long-running show]]. Like all Time Lords, [[AmbiguousGender they]] have a life span measured in centuries/millennia, some degree of psychic ability, and the ability to [[TheNthDoctor regenerate into a new form]] when near death. Unlike other Time Lords, they became bored and/or terrified by the Gallifreyan way of life when they were “young”, stole [[Characters/DoctorWhoTheTARDIS an antique TARDIS]], skipped town and "never stopped running".