While all of David Tennant’s episodes of Doctor Who are great, there are some that stand out as the very best. There are many actors who played the Doctor in Doctor Who, but Tennant is unique, as he has portrayed not one, but three versions of the character over the years: the Tenth Doctor, the Fourteenth Doctor, and the Metacrisis Doctor.
As the face of Doctor Who’s modern era, Tennant’s multiple stints in the hit sci-fi show are remembered fondly by audiences. The Doctor is undoubtedly the most notable figure of David Tennant’s best TV characters, despite his blossoming career in the years before and after Doctor Who. His performances are always astounding, but David Tennant’s best Doctor Who episodes are memorable for a few reasons.
“Silence In The Library/Forest Of The Dead”
Season 4, Episodes 8 & 9
“Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead” mark the beginning of River Song’s story in Doctor Who, at least from viewers’ perspective. Tennant does a fantastic job of pushing the Doctor outside his comfort zone, from the way the Time Lord deals with Alex Kingston’s River Song to his reaction over losing Donna to the library’s computer system.
The Vashta Nerada are one of Doctor Who’s scariest monsters, and one of the show’s most underrated. The Doctor’s realization that he can’t stop shadows makes for some interesting character development, too. Although we don’t know what River does at this point, the Doctor’s actions in these episodes heavily imply his dark fate later down the line.
“Army Of Ghosts/Doomsday”
Season 2, Episodes 12 & 13
Doctor Who’s season 2 two-part finale, “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday,” are classic Tenth Doctor episodes. “Army of Ghosts” sees the Tenth Doctor at his best, throwing himself headfirst into a mystery and offering witty remarks to anyone who will listen. This episode proves just what a natural Tennant is at playing the iconic Time Lord, and how quickly he settles into the role.
“Doomsday” does the same, but in a very different way. “Doomsday” is heartbreaking, and Tennant and Billie Piper’s performances in the Bad Wolf Bay scene are among the most powerful throughout the whole show. Not only are “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday” two of Billie Piper’s greatest Doctor Who episodes, but they’re also two of Tennant’s, too.
“Last Of The Timelords”
Season 3, Episode 13
Even though Tennant spends the majority of “Last of the Time Lords” somewhat resembling The Lord of the Rings’ Gollum, he still dominates the screen every time he appears. This episode sees John Simm as Doctor Who‘s Saxon Master age the Tenth Doctor hundreds of years, and by the climax, the titular Time Lord eventually shrinks to the size of a toddler.
His profound statements to the Master are enthralling, even if Tennant is mainly CGI in these scenes. Even after the Doctor returns to his full form, there’s plenty of emotion. The Doctor cradling the Master as he dies is one of Tennant’s most underrated acting moments ever, and his performance leaves you deep in thought long after the credits roll.
“School Reunion”
Season 2, Episode 3
“School Reunion” features the long-awaited return of the Doctor’s truest companion, Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith. It’s brilliant that the show introduces the classic era icon to a new generation of audiences, and it’s clear from Tennant’s performance just how excited he is to work with Sladen.
The Tenth Doctor and Sarah Jane immediately make an amazing team, proving the companion holds a place in the hearts of every incarnation of the Time Lord. Tennant also offers a rather comical portrayal in “School Reunion,” especially in scenes in which Billie Piper’s Rose and Sarah Jane clash over the Doctor’s affections.
“Wild Blue Yonder”
60th Anniversary Specials – Episode 2
“Wild Blue Yonder” is a fascinating episode of Doctor Who which only stars Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble, except for the brief appearance of Nathaniel Curtis as Isaac Newton in the first scene. Tennant and Tate once again prove why the Doctor and Donna are the perfect platonic pairing.
It’s amazing to see the pair reflect on their experiences without each other in the years since “Journey’s End.” We learn more about Donna’s past and her family life, as well as more on the Doctor’s thoughts on the Flux and the Timeless Child. Even though both are very different compared to the last time they saw each other, they’re still Doctor Who’s DoctorDonna.
“The Girl In The Fireplace”
Season 2, Episode 4
“The Girl in the Fireplace,” one of Steven Moffat’s best Doctor Who episodes, is a great watch. We see the Tenth Doctor face a new villain, the Clockwork Droids, and watch him in a romantic context with someone other than Rose. The Doctor pretending to be drunk is a hilarious moment, as is the horse following him around the ship.
Tennant’s report with Sophia Myles as Madame de Pompadour is fantastic, and it’s no surprise the pair went on to briefly date after filming this episode. The actor demonstrates the Doctor’s classic heroic ways brilliantly in “The Girl in the Fireplace,” and it’s one of Tennant’s best standalone episodes throughout the show.
“Human Nature/The Family Of Blood”
Season 3, Episodes 8 & 9
“Human Nature” and “The Family of Blood” make up one of Doctor Who’s best two-part stories, and sees Tennant play yet another character. Tennant portrays the Tenth Doctor in certain scenes, but for the majority of this story, he plays the Doctor’s human alter ego, John Smith. John is his own character, but he’s still the Doctor at his core.
However, this allows Tennant to show off his acting prowess. He plays a layered figure, and so he has to take not only the Doctor’s quirks into account during his performance but also John Smith’s. His rapport with Jessica Hynes as Joan Redfern is stellar, too, and it’s hard not to feel heartbroken for John when he realizes their future is impossible.
“The End Of Time” (Parts 1 & 2)
2008-2010 Specials – Episodes 4 & 5
One of Tennant’s best performances as the Tenth Doctor is in his final adventure, “The End of Time.” Tennant once again provides an incredible back and forth with John Simm’s Saxon Master, and his budding friendship with Bernard Cribbins’ Wilfred Mott is both hilarious and heartbreaking. There are two scenes in particular that stand out in these episodes.
The first is the Doctor’s standoff with the Time Lords, and the image of him pointing a gun at them while covered in broken glass is iconic. Tennant’s regeneration scene in Doctor Who is also an astounding moment in TV, and even those who aren’t fans of the show recognize how emotional and powerful it is.
“Waters Of Mars”
2008-2010 Specials – Episode 3
“The Waters of Mars” is renowned for the appearance of Doctor Who’s Time Lord Victorious, which allows Tennant to show just why he is one of, if not the, best actors to play the Doctor. The build-up to the Tenth Doctor’s fallout is gripping, and Tennant’s ability to portray the Time Lord’s descent into madness is nothing short of amazing.
This episode is a fantastic way to start bringing the Tenth Doctor’s arc to an end. Tennant really saves his best performances for last, and there’s no doubt that his last standalone episode as the Tenth Doctor is a knockout. The image of the Doctor and Ood Sigma in the snow is one Doctor Who audiences will never forget.
“Midnight”
Season 4, Episode 10
While David Tennant provides some truly incredible performances as the Tenth, Fourteenth, and Metacrisis Doctors in Doctor Who, one stands out from the bunch. One of the most notable things about Tennant’s performance in “Midnight” is how he alters the atmosphere of the episode so beautifully.
One moment, he’s delivering a typical comical Tenth Doctor monologue, and the next, he’s petrified of Doctor Who’s enigmatic Midnight monster. “Midnight” is a very dialogue-heavy episode, too, and Tennant thrives in this environment. He proves that he doesn’t need a fancy set, a companion, or even a non-human looking threat in front of him in order to deliver a chilling and enthralling performance.
For a lot of us, David Tennant will always be our Doctor. Over the years, many talented actors have taken on the role of the iconic Time Lord, but nobody does it quite like Tennant. There are many episodes of Doctor Who that are considered the very best, and Tennant’s installments are some of the most prominent.
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Doctor Who
- Release Date
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2005 – 2022-00-00
- Directors
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Graeme Harper, Euros Lyn, Douglas Mackinnon, Jamie Magnus Stone, Charles Palmer, Rachel Talalay, Joe Ahearne, James Strong, Jamie Childs, Saul Metzstein, Toby Haynes, Wayne Che Yip, Nick Hurran, Richard Clark, James Hawes, Daniel Nettheim, Colin Teague, Keith Boak, Azhur Saleem, Adam Smith, Andrew Gunn, Nida Manzoor, Lawrence Gough, Paul Murphy
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Jodie Whittaker
The Doctor
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Doctor Who
5/10
- Release Date
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May 11, 2024
- Network
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BBC One
- Directors
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Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
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- Birthdate
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April 18, 1971
- Birthplace
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Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
- Height
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6 feet 1 inch
- Notable Projects
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Ahsoka, Doctor Who, Jessica Jones
