10 Behind The Scenes Reasons For Doctor Who Characters' Quirks
1. The Doctor Is Tom Baker
As alluded to throughout this article, Tom Baker's Doctor is the most iconic. From dishing out Jelly Babies, his distinct multi-colored scarf, to his mesmerising performance, Baker's incarnation of the beloved Time Lord has stood the test of time, and still remains an icon. You could argue that he is the definitive article.
There are so many memorable quirks to be enjoyed by Baker's Doctor. Particularly his instantaneous transitioning between his various personality traits. Seamlessly we could have multiple embodiments of this incarnation in one scene. One minute he comes across childish, then he can be stern, then dark, almost cruel even, before reaffirming his peculiar alien nature through the likes of his comically strange behavioural patterns, or simply coming across as quite distant in his tone and wording. All the while remaining absolutely charming with that grin of his.
This is all a testament to Baker himself. But it goes beyond that. It's not simply Baker being a terrific actor. He himself was, and still is, the Doctor. Every actor embodies the role to a certain degree, and injects something personal into their particular variation of the Time Lord. With Baker it was all him.
He has gone on record time and time again that he was simply playing Tom Baker. This is why the role meant so much to him because he was allowed to explore himself and shine light on all of his best qualities, and in the process discover himself, while also being able to bring joy to the world.
His love for the character was undying, and he respected it, and the show, with all his heart, to the point where he became very protective of it over the years, resulting in many clashes with directors and executives who tried to tell him how to play the role he himself created.
It's little wonder why he stayed on for so long, but even he realised by Season 18 that the tides were changing and it was time he backed down from the long fight to move onto other projects. But even to this day Baker enjoys telling stories of when he was the Doctor, and how it still leaves an impact on his life and legacy.