Doctor Who: 10 Reasons Why The Third Doctor Is The Best Ever

2. The Wild Rover No More

As well as introducing colour, the Master, Silurians, Sarah Jane Smith and UNIT, Jon Pertwee€™s tenure started off by changing the show€™s basic concept, too. The Doctor had been a wanderer. He popped up in random trouble spots, saved the day and moved on to pastures new. Exile to Earth put a stop to that. For the first time, there was a regular location and supporting cast in the shape of the UNIT team and HQ. Perhaps more significantly, the Doctor was no longer a meddling traveller. He had become the defender of the Earth. Not such a big deal? OK, so let's just imagine if similar changes took place in NuWho in Series 9. While the Doctor is hanging out in future deep space, the TARDIS is attacked by an alien space ship. An Earth military ship pursuing the raiders finds the damaged time machine and brings it onboard. The TARDIS is banjaxed and the Doctor needs a certain rare crystal to effect repairs. He is forced into staying with the Earth military ship as it pursues the aliens, who have kidnapped hundreds of colonists for reasons unknown. In return for stopping at planets, they pass to search for the vital crystal and the Doctor agrees to assist his new shipmates as they travel deeper into unexplored space. For the next three series, viewers follow the adventures of the Doctor and the crew of the HMS Wotsit. Strange new planets and alien encounters against the backdrop of the Doctor's reluctant but growing affection for his 'soldier' hosts. Outrageous. Unacceptable. Moffat€™s killing the show. This is Doctor Who, not Star Trek. Etc etc. You can hear the protests now. The Ninth Doctor deserves credit for leading in major changes to the show, but only after a hiatus of several years. The Third Doctor took a successful show and boosted it even further with a courageous shift in tack. The Third Doctor wins yet again. See. There really is no contest, is there?