10 Doctor Who Controversies Fans Can't Agree On

For a pacifist, the Doctor has a startling amount of nemeses. There are a number of contenders for the title of arch-nemesis, from the Master, to Davros and the Daleks, and the Cybermen.

Although, if we're honest, the Cybermen might think they're in the running... but they aren't.

Let’s take a look at the Master first. This character is textbook arch-nemesis material, playing into the oldest bad guy trope in the book – the same as the protagonist, but evil. They're relatively evenly matched in terms of intellect, have a rich shared history but opposing world views, and more than anything, they both want to be on the same side. This is villain coding 101, but that isn’t to say it’s not one of the most compelling dynamics on the show.

Next up, you have the Daleks, led by Davros. With far more appearances under their belt, their presence is certainly felt more than the Master’s both in the show and across popular culture. During the first RTD era, they’re also clearly positioned as the big-bad of the show, and although they’re not great at exterminating the Doctor, they are very good at taking away the things he cares about. Their plans also tend to be more universe-threatening than the Master’s kooky schemes, which often just serve to provoke the Doctor.

There's a compelling case for both, though the Master's personal connection to the Doctor does make them fit the mould a bit better.

OUR VERDICT: Despite the prevalence of the Daleks, the Master has always felt like the Doctor’s arch-rival, whereas the Daleks are just an enemy to everyone. Besides, everyone knows the Doctor’s real nemesis is Christmas.