Doctor Who: Every Doctor Ranked From Worst To Best

7. The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)

Doctor Who the Seventh Doctor and Ace
BBC Studios

Sylvester McCoy took over the role from Colin Baker, but it was too late to save Doctor Who at this stage. That's not to say that the show dropped in quality - it did give us Mel and Ace, along with some serious acting chops from McCoy himself.

The show was of course cut short in 1989, but McCoy, however, was one of the more fun incarnations of the Doctor up to that point. His relationship with Ace in particular is a stand-out in the show's history.

Seeing them reunite in The Power of the Doctor was a tear-inducing moment for long-term fans, especially as the last time McCoy appeared in the role, he was gunned down as he stepped out of the TARDIS. Quite frankly, it was not the noblest of deaths - so getting to see Seven again was a wonderful surprise.

This incarnation does rub some people the wrong way with his manipulative treatment of Ace, but there's such a depth to McCoy's performance that he arguably feels more like a nuanced character than any Doctor before him. He's also immensely witty, cheeky, and intelligent - a delight all around.

Questionable fashion sense though, even by Doctor Who standards!

 
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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"