Doctor Who: Every Doctor Ranked From Worst To Best

13. The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)

Doctor Who Patrick Troughton Second Doctor recorder
BBC Studios

Patrick Troughton was the first Doctor audiences met post-regeneration. He brought a youth and vitality to the role, steering the Doctor away from being a crotchety older man to a sillier, more whimsical figure. This was something that the First Doctor would even remark on when their paths were brought together.

With his Beatles-type haircut and a penchant for playing the recorder, this was a much different Doctor than audiences of the '60s had expected. It was also a brilliant move by the BBC - making the Doctor so different from his predecessor ensured that they could continue swinging for the fences in the future.

Fans were left a little miffed when this Doctor underwent a forced regeneration, condemned to an exile on Earth. Troughton would however return to the role in The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors, and The Two Doctors, showing his support for the role for almost 20 years after stepping away.

 
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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"