All 13 of them (Day of the Doctor)

In an episode that sees the Tenth (David Tennant) and the Eleventh (Matt Smith) team up with the War Doctor (John Hurt) and summon all all their past incarnations to save the day, it is the Twelfth Doctor who steals the spotlight with just a shot of his scowling eyebrows as he corrects the General of Gallifrey’s count of 12 Doctors saying — “No sir, all 13”. All we saw was the future Doctor’s eyes and we were won over.

Attack eyebrows (Deep Breath)

The Doctor’s just regenerated and he ends up in an alley and accosts a man and goes on a rant about his own eyebrows: “These are attack eyebrows. You could take off bottle-tops with these.” And he doesn’t stop there. He goes on to complain that the eyebrows are cross. “They are independently cross. They probably want to cede from the rest of my face and set up their own independent state of eyebrows.” 

Duelling with a spoon (Robots of Sherwood)

Only the Doctor can give Robin Hood a subtle middle finger (check him putting on his glove) and insult him further by flourishing a spoon, as Robin Hood challenges him to a sword fight. He wins the fight (how dare someone cut a button off his coat!) and proceeds to polish his spoon on his elbow before putting it away.

The Doctor riding the sleigh (Last Christmas)

Not just any sleigh but Santa’s sleigh pulled by reindeer. He is overjoyed, even though he believes Santa is a dream construct of his recovering or dying mind. That childlike enthusiasm, his beaming face and the wonder as he says, “Look at me! I am riding a sleigh” is priceless.

Riding a tank to a duel (Magician’s Apprentice)

Subtlety is not often the Twelfth Doctor’s cuppa tea so instead of “the slightest, tiniest anachronisms” that Missy asks Clara to look for, the Doctor arrives at a 12th century duel riding a tank and playing an electric guitar. Oh, and he wears dark glasses while he is at it! Now, that’s an entrance.

Remembering his face (The Girl Who Died)

This is one of the best Doctor Who scenes, ever, where the Doctor tries to persuade both the Zygons and the UNIT to stand down from the war they are on the brink of. The impassioned speech — sometimes angry, sometimes pleading, sometimes heartbroken — about the consequences of war is unforgettable.

The war speech (The Zygon Inversion)

Everyone who has stepped into the TARDIS has said this, of course the Doctor wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity when River Song couldn’t recognise him and asked him to come into the TARDIS so she could steal it. His first reaction? “Finally, it’s my go”. And of course he overreacts!

It’s bigger on the inside (The Husbands of River Song)

Everyone who has stepped into the TARDIS has said this, of course the Doctor wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity when River Song couldn’t recognise him and asked him to come into the TARDIS so she could steal it. His first reaction? “Finally, it’s my go”. And of course he overreacts!

Last night with River (The Husbands of River Song)

Ever since we met her for the first time at The Library with the Tenth Doctor, we knew that Darillium meant the Doctor’s last night with River. And though River was mostly an ally of the Eleventh Doctor, Capaldi’s much older version found the right note of familiarity and fondness with River. And that last night was made even more bittersweet thanks to that. 

Stand with me (The Doctor Falls)

Him starting to regenerate and refusing to change may be the tearjerker of the final Capaldi episode (he has the Christmas special to go though), but the scene where he pleads with The Master and Missy to stand and fight with him and show a little kindness is absolutely the best. And the Master’s response to him — “this is the face that did not listen to a word you just said” — makes it even more effective.

Text: Chandreyee Chatterjee
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