Doctor Who: Every Doctor Ranked From Worst To Best

9. The Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker)

Doctor Who The Power of the Doctor Thirteenth Doctor regeneration
BBC Studios

Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor was the beginning of a new era for the franchise, though it's still too early to say what exactly the impact of her era will be. Controversial from the beginning, the Thirteenth Doctor spoke with an upbeat passion, inviting her new fam to the TARDIS, only to find themselves floating in space. As one does.

The show saw a decline in ratings during her run, though the most consistent critiques are aimed at the writing and direction of the series as a whole. Whittaker's Doctor stands on her own two feet when it comes to making an impact on the franchise. As the first mainline female Doctor, she was faced with heavy criticism from detractors who claimed that a face-changing alien who can travel in time and space simply couldn't switch genders as well. Perish the thought.

It's unlikely that the furor over Chris Chibnall's creative decisions will fade soon, which leaves the Thirteenth Doctor in an unfair position of being tarred with the same brush. We can only hope that time will soften the opinions of those who were Whittaker's loudest critics, and the door will be left open for a return at some point.

 
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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"