1982 - 1984
"That's the trouble with regeneration. You quite never know what you're going to get."Portrayed by; Peter Davison (1951-)
The Fifth Doctor was far more vulnerable, sensitive, and reserved than his previous incarnations, and often reacted to situations rather than initiating them. Frequently, he made decisions by flipping a coin.
Unlike his more authoritative predecessors, he treated his young companions as parts of a team, and often willingly participated in situations under the leadership of someone else who had the strong command presence that he apparently lacked.
However, the Fifth Doctor's boyish appearance, nervous energy, and charm all hid the fact that he was a Time Lord of great age, compassion, and experience.
This Doctor greatly abhorred violence and often hesitated about taking matters into his own hands.
For the first time, indecision weighed seriously on the character, and it had its consequences - yet this Doctor was also one of the most courageous of his incarnations.
He was willing to take chances with companions like Turlough and Kamelion, who were originally threats, even as he pretended to be unaware of it at first in order to grant his companion the opportunity to do the right thing.
He was also willing to make enormous personal sacrifices (Mawdryn Undead) simply to keep his word and liberate others from suffering.
It was perhaps the awful realisation that his very existence begat violence and the weight of companion Adric's death on his conscience, and perhaps Tegan's near emotional breakdown as well, that led him to sacrifice his own existence to save his last companion,
Peri.
Televised AdventuresCastrovalva;
Four To Doomsday; Kinda;
The VisitationBlack Orchid;
Earthshock; Time-Flight;
Arc of InfinitySnakedance
The Guardian Trilogy: Mawdryn Undead; Terminus; EnlightenmentThe King's Demons;
The Five Doctors; Warriors of the Deep
The Awakening; Frontios;
Resurrection of the DaleksPlanet of Fire;
The Caves of AndrozaniTime Crash