The Thirteenth Doctor’s time on Doctor Who will come to an end in October 2022 when Jodi Whitaker exits the series. With Ncuti Gatwa’s Fourteenth Doctor on the horizon, it’s worth looking into what makes the Doctor so charming. As it is, it’s the protagonist’s humor that’s most inviting.
The Doctor’s amusing quality ranges from the Second Doctor’s clownish attitude to the Thirteenth Doctor’s extreme enthusiasm. It’s interesting to see the funny moments and tendencies that define the iterations’ humor and will make fans appreciate all the versions of the protagonist so far. This doesn’t include incarnations like the Fugitive and War Doctors since their official placement remains dubious.
First Doctor
The First Doctor was the most serious of the character’s incarnations and the one with the least propensity for jokes. The First Doctor liked to shoot people down for their opinion and didn’t take it kindly when someone talked back to him.
The few times he was funny were when he looked to insult the person before him, which included his own incarnations — he was known to call the Second and Third Doctors a “dandy and a clown.”
Fifth Doctor
The Fifth Doctor was a sensitive individual who was polite but upfront, with his humor coming from is old-fashioned attitude contrasting with his then-modern environment. The Fifth Doctor’s time was mainly focused on science, and humor took a backseat.
The Doctor was funniest when he brushed aside people accusing him of something, as he had the habit of diverting the conversation to another topic entirely. His knack for playing cricket and tea when the time didn’t call for it was among the funnier aspects of his character.
Third Doctor
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The Third Doctor wasn’t unfunny as much as he was more of a dashing James Bond-like figure. He was prone to one-liners and diving into the action, which made most of his dialogue cool. His humor came from his lack of understanding of his environment, usually leaving him clueless about modern lingo.
The Third Doctor could come across as a bumbling scientist as well, which was the go-to method for Doctor Who to inject comedy into the character. While he wasn’t outright funny, his unintentional comedy can amuse more than a few fans.
Sixth Doctor
The Sixth Doctor is largely remembered for being an egotistical jerk who considered himself to be the smartest person in the room. However, he could be quite funny once people looked past his acidic exterior and focused on his witty insults.
The Doctor could turn just about anything into a compliment of himself, which was especially funny when he and his companions were stuck in dire circumstances. While his brand of humor isn’t for everyone, the Sixth Doctor is hilarious for those who appreciate dark comedy.
Eighth Doctor
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The Eighth Doctor didn’t have much screen time but had some notable comedic moments. These mainly came from his adorable attitude, such as becoming a fanboy over shoes he liked. He wasn’t an overall funny personality mainly because he was presented as more of a romantic.
The Eighth Doctor was a compassionate and enthusiastic person whose eccentricity was played for laughs through his companions’ point of view. Doctor Who largely wanted viewers to note the Doctor’s zest for life and his idealist attitude.
Tenth Doctor
Most fans see David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor as the best overall due to his well-rounded personality. That meant he had a lot of darkness and sad moments, which prevented his humor from becoming the focal point. This version did have times when he was hilarious, though.
The Doctor’s banter with Donna Noble was one for the ages, while his witty remarks on people like Mickey and Jack Harkness were also great avenues for comedy. His laidback attitude during the early days of regeneration was the funniest until later storylines dove into his inner turmoil.
Ninth Doctor
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The Ninth Doctor’s aloof humor was mainly so he could avoid feeling the trauma from the Time War. Still, he was a real hoot for the most, ranging from his claim that his accent was justified because “lots of planets have a north” to his knack for double entendres.
The Doctor may well have been seen as a funnier individual had he lasted longer onscreen, as some of the humor was offset by his guilt at losing Gallifrey. But his tendency to joke about every seemingly doomed scenario and his love for dancing still hold fresh in memory.
Seventh Doctor
The Seventh Doctor’s progression was remarkable, going from a whimsical buffoon to a calculating mastermind who could be the stuff of nightmares. When looking solely at his funny side, however, the Seventh Doctor had a devil-may-care attitude that was amusing to watch.
The Seventh Doctor’s twitchy mannerisms, his fondness for making up magic tricks, and even his style and appearance made him a funny character. His later stories were set in a darker tone, but fans can still appreciate the times when he was more humorous.
Thirteenth Doctor
The Thirteenth Doctor’s attitude makes her a walking meme, with this incarnation not shy about acting goofy, overzealous, and hyper-friendly. She behaved like a fish out of water, often being fascinated by trivial matters and laughing out loud over small matters.
Her humor was understated a few times because her stories were generally very heavy in tone, such as the Timeless Child, which meant she couldn’t be funny all the time. But the Thirteenth Doctor was generally a delight to watch for her bright demeanor and sentimentality.
Twelfth Doctor
While the Twelfth Doctor initially started out unpopular, he quickly grew into one of the most beloved incarnations. That was mainly due to his initially dark attitude being later played for laughs, as the Doctor came across as a grumpy grandpa who hilariously hated everyone.
The Doctor became funnier when he started behaving like an out-of-touch man, such as his fondness for sunglasses, playing the guitar, and acting like a rock star. He was also amusing to watch for how clueless he was around people, needing cue cards to show empathy.
Fourth Doctor
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Some of the funniest Doctor Who episodes surrounded the fourth incarnation. He was a silly man who wore a long scarf, made goofy expressions, and was obsessed with jelly babies. While he had his moments of anger, the Doctor was largely a pleasant man to be around.
The Fourth Doctor was one of the most kid-friendly incarnations for his gentle giant attitude and way of finding amusement in little things. His slapstick style and over-the-top mannerisms remain evergreen in quality, and fans of every age can be amused by them.
Eleventh Doctor
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The Eleventh Doctor was like a happy old man stuck in a young person’s body, prone to losing his concentration easily and blabbing about stuff on his mind. His humor came from his love for strange things, deeming things to be “cool,” such as fezzes and bowties.
The Doctor had a habit of flapping his hands about and acting awkwardly, all of which made him an adorably amusing character to follow. His zest for life was especially funny when the Doctor couldn’t get a clue when he wasn’t wanted someplace, generally overstaying his welcome without even realizing it.
Second Doctor
The Second Doctor was nicknamed the “cosmic hobo” for behaving like a scruffy Charlie Chaplin-esque tramp. He had a habit of playing the flute to annoy people and taking jabs at others just because he knew they couldn’t come up with a wittier line.
Humor was primarily what defined the Second Doctor’s tenure, with Doctor Who being its funniest at this time. The character never took anything seriously and was an absolute contrast to the First Doctor in every way. His touch for comedy was such that even other Doctor incarnations couldn’t stand him.
