How many times have we seen it: “All the Doctors, Ranked Best to Worst” (or “Worst to Best”)? Every fan will have their own preferences, and that’s as it should be; different strokes for different folks, and all that. But to try to codify any one viewpoint by publishing it for the world to see makes no sense to me at all.

I mean, what can one possibly hope to accomplish? Unless your goal is to get people arguing with you on the Internet (and I’ll grant that for some, there appears to be no greater pleasure), you can’t win. No matter who the article writer’s personal #1 turns out to be, somebody’s gonna come away pissed. “They call that idiot ‘best’?” “How could you rank my fave at #5?” At best, you find the one or two other fans who are in complete agreement with your opinions of every Doctor; at worst, you get death (or other) threats.

Instead of trying to do something so controversial (and, frankly, impossible—not only do my opinions change from day to day, but it’s kind of like choosing your favorite child/pet/other loved one), I thus thought I’d spend a little space sharing my thoughts on why each Doctor is awesome in his own way. Though I’m sorry—if you want to see either Peter Cushing’s version or “the War Doctor” discussed, you’ll have to peruse a different blog (although that could be a different post; stay tuned).

William Hartnell (First Doctor):
This is one Doctor whom I would argue is severely underrated. Especially for fans who started with post-Hiatus Who, his initial brashness and the production values which are so much a product of their time often turn first-time Hartnell viewers off.

But I love seeing his character develop. There are moments when this Doctor is more completely alien than any of his successors, and yet he has an undeniable soft side, too, if one is willing to watch long enough to find it. I wish more fans appreciated his performance.

Patrick Troughton (Second Doctor):
I can’t say enough in praise of Troughton’s Doctor. Without him the show would’ve died a few short seasons after it began. Aside from his historical importance, though, his portrayal of the character is impeccable.

Especially when one compares the Second Doctor with (for example) Salamander, it’s obvious how carefully Troughton has chosen to play him as he has. There is a definite air of cunning running almost undetected under the guise of bumbling ineptitude (and many later actors have used that same trick). This is the first Doctor we see really rely on subterfuge and thinking his way out of situations. It’s wonderful to watch.

John Pertwee (Third Doctor):
When Pertwee arrived on the scene, the Doctor became an Action Hero. There is no truer way to describe the way this Doctor approached the cosmos and his place in it. Though he embodied a few too many of the chauvinistic ideas of a well-to-do, white British “chap” whose appearance he had taken on, he also exhibited a clear fondness (which I’d characterize as avuncular, though some would claim it was romantic) for his Companions.

Aside from his love of fine food and drink, any fast-moving vehicle, and a bit of martial arts, the Third Doctor is characterized by a truly glorious rivalry with the original Master. If one can appreciate nothing else about this incarnation, surely the banter between Pertwee’s Doctor and Delgado’s Master should satisfy something deep in the fannish soul.

Tom Baker (Fourth Doctor):
Many fans who grew up watching the show, especially those in the US, really connected first with Tom Baker’s toothy smile and unruly locks. Although I don’t adore him the way those fans do, there’s something undeniably infectious about that mischievous grin and the twinkle in his eye (at least, in the cases in which he’s not obviously taking the piss).

The other great thing about this Doctor is that his run was so long, there is an enormous variety of stories; almost anyone can find one that appeals. Sometimes he can be serious (which is when he gets alien and frightening), though he more often uses Troughton’s trick of masking his intentions with clownish humor.

Peter Davison (Fifth Doctor):
Another favorite among fans-of-a-certain-age, Davison’s Doctor dialed back the strange significantly. A more approachable, openly emotional man, Five tended to appear almost hesitant sometimes.

But that vulnerability makes him more directly relatable than perhaps any other Doctor, too. We can see the struggle to make difficult decisions, to puzzle out sticky situations. And the fact that he was, until the relaunch of the series came along, the youngest actor ever to play the part probably helps make him seem even more like a cool big brother figure for the audience.

Colin Baker (Sixth Doctor):
Ol’ Sixie can be a tough guy to love (for many; I know there are folks out there for whom he’s their favorite). It took me a good, long time to get past my initial impression and really give him a chance. Once I did, though, I could see the gem that had been hidden under the, uh, manure-rich scripts.

One of the strengths of this Doctor is his trust in and friendship with his Companions, particularly Peri. The aforementioned scripts do their best to obscure that mutual regard, but when you look closely it’s there. Further, what I once thought of as brashness I can see now is merely a self-confidence that contrasts so starkly with the previous incarnation as to seem abrasive in comparison. After adjusting one’s expectations, the Doctor-ness of Six comes shining through.

Sylvester McCoy (Seventh Doctor):
Not everyone likes a sneaky bastard, but I have to admit I really like the slightly underhanded nature of the Seventh Doctor. This more secretive, calculating Doctor does what Troughton’s Second Doctor did against his adversaries, except instead of hiding it underneath an inept facade, he lets it shine out from his scheming eyes.

Perhaps more importantly, though, he and Ace are my all-time favorite TARDIS team. He is her teacher, her friend, occasionally her adversary, but always someone who cares deeply for her. The two of them together are delightful, and I’ll never not love Seven.

Paul McGann (Eighth Doctor):
Oh, the pretty, pretty man… If nothing else, the Eighth Doctor gets points for being a very attractive human being—er, Time Lord. His on-screen time is in sadly short supply (though “The Night of the Doctor” added another 10% to it), and was a regeneration story to boot (those are rarely indicative of how the incarnation will play out long term), so it’s hard to judge him on those few minutes alone.

Including the Big Finish audios, though, we get a more well-rounded character. McGann’s Doctor incorporates elements of many of his predecessors, yet presents a unique personality. He also has the honor of being a bridge between old and new, being the first to turn the Doctor into a romantic lead. I, for one, don’t mind that as long as it’s not overdone.

Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor):
You never forget your first Doctor. Nine was mine, and I’ll always love him for that no matter what. But he’s also, in his way, the measure by which I judge all other Doctors. There’s a part of me that believes deep down that a Doctor isn’t the Doctor unless/until I can see that gruff, damaged side of him.

But Eccleston’s take on the character—something I didn’t appreciate until much later in my fandom—was a really unusual one. For the first time, he looked about ready to give up on the whole “travel around to see the universe, and maybe save it if it needs” gig. Being able to watch the character sort of work through a healing process was a fascinating arc to watch, and I loved (nearly) every minute.

David Tennant (Tenth Doctor):
For a long time I considered Tennant “my” Doctor, because it was with him that my fandom solidified. There are still many things I love about him, but as some fan camps declared their love for him, foreswearing all others (anathema in my book—the foreswearing part, that is), my own enthusiasm has begun to fade.

Not to say I don’t still love him; the memory, at least, of what he made me feel is something I still cherish. And when he’s being cheeky or goofy (I enjoy him most when he’s with Donna), I get a glimpse of that joy again.

Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor):
It’s been said often before that Smith’s Doctor was an old man in a young man’s body, and with good reason. The Eleventh Doctor had a combination of ancient experience and pure youthful exuberance that’s unmatched by anyone else.

Again, there’s a strong Matt-and-only-Matt kind of following out there, so it almost seems redundant to explain this incarnation’s merits. For those who might not see it, though, I’ll say that I like him when he’s all off-the-wall and weirdly extraterrestrial. He does that almost as well as broody.

Peter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor):
Twelve is a hard one to defend to those who dislike him, and to those who do see the Doctor in him, there’s nothing more to be said. But I’m going to try anyway. As I mentioned above, my first Doctor was a cranky cuss, so seeing Capaldi step onto the scene in all his grumpy glory felt like coming home. I know some people think him callous, hurtful, and oblivious, but I prefer to think of it as his regeneration having reset him to factory settings: he doesn’t understand humans any more because he has to figure them out all over from first principles.

Mostly, I was ready for someone to be a bit more mentor-like toward his Companion again, and adding back some mystery (see McCoy’s Seventh Doctor, too) certainly didn’t hurt. I love this sea urchin of a Doctor (prickly on the outside, soft and squishy on the inside), and I just keep hoping my friend who don’t like him yet will some day come around to my point of view.

Every Doctor is a wonderful character in his own right. Sometimes it takes some time to find the piece of a given Regeneration that clicks with you as a fan, but if you give it enough time and patience, I feel confident everyone can find it. That’s why those best/worst polls are ridiculous; no Doctor can ever be objectively “best” or “worst”—they can only be personal favorites.