[user104658]

The Capaldi era is impacted by the Clara “is her your dad or your boyfriend” grossness but I do like his interpretation of the Doctor, especially latterly, and I though the “grumpy old doctor” following on from the lighthearted-but-clearly-very-angry Smith who spent hundreds of years fighting a war before regenerating was great writing. It made a lot of sense, essentially, and is what made me realise that this far the doctor has “regenerated into how he’s feeling at the time”.

Eccleson liked Rose so he became a young doctor in converse she could like back. Tennant became weary and jaded so he became the irreverent “fresh slate” of Smith, Smith grew old and battle-hardened inside and that reflected on the outside with Capaldi, Capaldi eventually softened and became more open and that comes through with Whittaker. I hope they continue this trend. Whittaker’s run, she started out seeming upbeat but a bit … incompetent and craving company. Throughout the run she’s taken on an air of seeming much wiser, calmer, but still lonely despite being surrounded by companions. Is it intentional? I’m not sure but I like to think so, so I hope they keep it up and cast the next one well. We need a Doctor who realises they’ve been trying to fill a “void” with a string of companions, but has never actually managed to do it.

He was a love interest for Rose, a big brother for Amy, a weird daddy/boyfriend for Clara, a grandad/teacher for Bill (and dysfunctional besties with Missy). He had a relationship and marriage with River than spanned Smith and inevitably ended with Capaldi, while he carries on alone. Finally, tried desperately to build a “family” with The Gaggle o’ Companions.

The overall narrative threads are great and I hate that the writing hit the skids in the last few years .