Personality

Throughout all of the Doctor's regenerations, there are several characteristics that always appear to stay the same. These include him having an unpredictable, affable, clownish exterior which conceals a well of great age, wisdom, seriousness and even darkness.

First Doctor
The First Doctor is introduced with the appearance of a frail, old man, with nothing about him known. He himself mentions that he was the youngest of the Doctor's incarnations - so far.
To his traveling companions who were forced on him, he at first appeared:

• Mysterious
  
• Mistrusting
  
• Abrasive
• Patronizing
  
• Cantankerous
• Unwilling to cooperate

He also harbored a streak of ruthlessness, being willing to lie — and in one case attempt to kill — to achieve his goals.

However, The Doctor has always had a very close and emotional bond to his granddaughter, Susan, and over time, as the four travelers shared adventures together, The Doctor grew closer to them, and the TARDIS crew came to share almost a family bond.

This gradual softening of The Doctor's personality allowed him to began to enjoy his travels through time and space, taking people along for the ride and he was always reluctant and sad to see them go, even when he knew it was for their own good.

Second Doctor
Fans have nicknamed him the 'Cosmic Hobo' as the impish Second Doctor appeared to be far more scruffy and child-like than his first incarnation.

Although he often acted like a bumbling fool, it was usually so that others would underestimate his true abilities. Underneath this harmless exterior, The Doctor can be:

• Mercurial
• Clever
• Calculating
• Scheming
  
• Manipulative
• And a few steps ahead of his enemies

Although The Doctor has the bluster and tendency to panic when events got out of control, he always acted heroically and morally in his desire to help the oppressed.

Third Doctor
The Third Doctor was exiled from Gallifrey and forced to live his existence on Earth. Once there, he worked for a government agency, UNIT, as a scientific adviser. Because of this exile, and The Doctor's resentment towards it, he often appeared towards UNIT as:

• Criticizing
• Arrogant
  
• Having little patience
• And a waspish indignation

However, The Doctor also genuinely cared for his companions and over time, grew strong bonds to certain members of UNIT, such as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and even, to an extent, his arch enemy, The Master.
His general personality shows him as:

• Suave
• Authoritative
• Charismatic
  
• Courageousness
• And a man of action

Although both the previous Doctor's always attempted to dodge, flee or talk to their enemies, the Third Doctor would more often attack physically. However, he would only do this if he had no alternative, and generally only disarmed his opponents. It was never he that actually started the fight.

Fourth Doctor
The Fourth Doctor permanently left UNIT in order to return to a life of universal wandering. He was thrilled by discovery and adventure and reveled in his advanced abilities, and was:

• Disarmingly loopy (constantly offering friends and foes jelly babies)
• Brilliant and entirely serious, all at the same time
• He had a keen judge of character
• A preference for his brain over his brawn
• Though could fight if he had to
• Was charming
• Humorous
  
• Warm and happy
• Clever
• Eccentric

As well as this, with the Fourth Doctor it was the first time that his relationship with his companions (especially Sarah Jane Smith and Romana) appeared as more than just friendship. The Doctor and Romana would often be borderline flirting with each other, and Sarah Jane comments in much later episodes that she had strong feelings for him.

Despite this seemingly warm and caring side to the Doctor, he was also arguably more aloof and somber than his previous incarnations. He seemed more inclined towards a solitary existence and even said so himself, and could become:

• Brooding
• Serious
  
• Callous
• Furious
• And condemning

But, as with all of the Doctor's, he always maintained a strong sense of justice and wright from wrong, even questioning himself on weather he should cause genocide to an entire race despite them being the Daleks - who had no mercy and the potential to destroy the universe.

Fifth Doctor
The Fifth Doctor was far younger than any previous incarnations (and any incarnation so far) and was considered much more gentle. He would often react to situations rather than initiate them and because of this, could be seen as:

• Vulnerable
• Sensitive
• Reserved
  
• With a nervous energy

This Doctor also greatly abhorred violence and would often hesitate about taking matters into his own hands, more willing to participate in situations under the leadership of someone else.

However, the Fifth Doctor hid the fact that he was a Time Lord of great age and intelligence. He was always calculating and judging of the situation, trying to solve what ever problem he was facing with as little harm and loss to anyone. He often showed:

• Compassion
• Experience
• Was courageous
• Happy
• Understanding
  
• And charming

Unlike his more authoritative predecessors, he would treat his young companions as parts of a team, and grew very close to them. After one of his companions, Adric, died under his care, The Doctor showed remorse and it was occasionally seen that he blamed himself for the young boy's death. In fact, The Fifth Doctor's last words before he regenerated was 'Adric'.

Although the Fourth Doctor had several intensely close relationships with his companions, the Fifth Doctor, also cared so deeply that he made the ultimate sacrifice of his own life in order to save his last companion, Peri.

Sixth Doctor
The Sixth Doctor began as an almost complete reversal of personality when compared to his previous incarnation.

• Egotist
  
• Unpredictable
• Manic behavior
• Volatile personality
• Bombastic outbursts
  
• Of a fatalistic nature

His condescension towards the universe around him also extended to his companions, especially Peri. The idea is suggested that the persona of The Doctor is attempting to return to how it was originally portrayed - far more stern, patronizing and mistrusting.

However, not only did his melodramatic arrogance and caustic wit eventually subside, it actually hid the fact that he had a heart of gold. Underneath the unpleasant image of The Doctor, he could be:

• Confident
• Eloquent
• Moral
  
• Resolute
  
• With an unflappable wit

Underneath his blustering exterior, he was more determined than ever in his universal battles against evil, possessed of a tenacity and a thirst to do what was right that was far more visible than ever before.

Seventh Doctor
The Seventh Doctor is usually seen as acting more like a buffoon than the wise old Time Lord that he is. However, as well as his happy-go-lucky exterior, he was also at this point emerging as 'the dark Doctor' or the 'Kafaraqgatri' - translated as 'the oncoming storm'. Because of this, he could often appear:

• Dark
  
• Ruthless
• Mysterious
  
• Powerful
• Calculating
• Melancholic

Although, like all the incarnations, he does have his lighthearted, noble and just qualities, he tends to subvert them to enhance his heroic and darker ones, and usually preferred to manipulate events from behind the scenes; much like his second incarnation. He was prepared to play the fool in order to trick his foes into underestimating him, leading to their defeat.
His other personality traits include being:

• Empathic
  
• Protective
  
• Understanding
• Caring
• Kind

His had a tendency to reveal only select information to his companions, sometimes even abusing their trust in him - though this is usually to help their personal development. He often frustrates them with his secretive nature as his alien behavior.

The Doctor was absolutely opposed to violence of any sort and he was totally against using firearms, he managed to talk his enemies into submission. He also displayed a talent for hypnosis on various occasions that appeared to be much stronger than in past incarnations.

Eight Doctor
The Eighth Doctor is arguably the most human and romantic of all of his incarnations. However, as with the Fifth Doctor, the debonair Eighth Doctor's youthful, wide-eyed enthusiasm actually hid a very old soul with perhaps a darker side.As this Doctor only appeared in a T.V movie, there was little chance to show weather he had a darker side, and it was never that apparent on the screen. The personality traits he did show, however, were:

• Empathetic
  
• Understanding
• Moral
• Forgiving
• Compassionate
  

He encouraged those around him to seize life instead of withdrawing from it and also seemed to enjoy giving people hints of their own futures, probably to prod them into making the right decisions. He also attracted controversy, breaking the long-standing taboo against romantic involvement with his companions by kissing Grace Holloway.

In all his iterations, the Eighth Doctor has proven extremely prone to bouts of amnesia, as well as revealing he was apparently half-human - though this can be assumed that this is only relevant for this particular Doctor.

Ninth Doctor
The Ninth Doctor is introduced following on from a devastating Time War in which he was forced to destroy Gallifrey and all of the Time Lords in order to stop the Daleks. This incarnation was perhaps the most gritty, working class and informal. Because of the Time War, the Doctor often appeared:

• Lonely
• Guilt-ridden
• Melancholy
• Darker
  
• Angry
• Fatalistic
  
• Merciless
• And vengeful

The Ninth Doctor also did not shy away from using force in situations. Particularly when he believed something to be unjust or when trying to protect his companion, Rose. In fact, because of the growing relationship between Rose and The Doctor, he was able to begin to shrug off his loneliness and become more:

• Sentimental
  
• Emotional
• Compassionate
• Understanding
• Even loving
  

As a character, the Ninth Doctor is less of a central heroic figure than someone who encourages other to think and act upon their more positive impulses.

Despite being impatient with humans, whom he often referred to as 'stupid apes', the Ninth Doctor was far more tactile with, and reliant upon them than previous incarnations, encouraging his companions and other people he met.

Ultimately, because he found people and no longer had to travel alone, the Doctor was able to put some of his demons to rest, restore some of his optimism and self-belief and seemed to find peace towards the end of his incarnation.

Tenth Doctor
Though at first suffering through a traumatic regeneration, the Tenth Doctor generally displays a very optimistic personality, possibly developed through his closeness with companion, Rose. His usual persona includes him being:

• Light-hearted
  
• Easy-going
  
• Witty
  
• Cheeky
• Confident
• Self-assured

The Tenth Doctor faces adventures with a cheerful, almost blasé attitude, even when terror and death happened around them. As well as this, he also has an egocentric sense of unstoppableness when facing his enemies - he's good, and he knows it.

Like the Seventh and Ninth Doctor, the Tenth sometimes uses a cheerful, energetic façade to mask inner emotions and his tendency to use technobabble and act erratically puts his enemies off guard. He can also be rude on occasion, and is not always aware of it.

However, there is also a deep darkness within The Doctor, something which can be put down to the effects of the Time War, his growing age, diminishing mercy, and the loss of Rose Tyler. Though this dark side is not often shown, when it becomes apparent, he can be:

• Ruthless
• Merciless
• Angry
• Manipulative
• Callous
• Unpredictable
  

However, The Doctor sometimes uses these complete opposite of persona's to rapidly switch between moods, from mania to anger to nonchalance, and uses this as a form of reverse psychology on several occasions.

The Tenth Doctor is more extroverted and friendly, quickly establishing a firmer rapport with Rose Tyler's friends and family. He shares kisses with Rose and Madame de Pompadour. In 'School Reunion', Sarah all but confesses that she had been in love with him. In 'Doomsday', Rose tells the Doctor she loves him and before the transmission is cut off, it is strongly suggested that he was going to say it back.

Following on from the loss of Rose, whenever he is reminded of her he becomes depressed. For a while after loosing her, he even becomes slightly suicidal, volunteering himself to dangerous situations, being unflinching in the face of extreme peril, and even at one point demanding to be killed - although this could be seen as the use of reverse psychology.

Because of his deep longing for Rose Tyler, he becomes almost dismissive of his next companion, Martha. He seems not to notice her obvious feelings for him, possibly because he does not want to become close again as he know he will eventually end up on his own. It is only after Martha confronts him, does he appear to realize that he has not treated her as well as he could.

His strong personal sense of justice makes him quick to anger when he feels it is violated, and it has been made clear that the Doctor is, despite constant interaction with others, a lonely person deep down.