Probably) and a keen sense of idealism are all traits he shares with Bertie Wooster.
Plus, he likes yelling Haii, mugging shamelessly and wearing ostentatious clothing.
Thus was a TV legend born.
Pertwees background was in comedy.
He doesnt deliver punchlines as such, but theres a lot of character-based comedy delivered straight.
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Take his first meeting with Jo Grant, for example.
Theres a lot of funny dialogue in it, but the Doctors not trying to make a joke.
Rather hes just genuinely annoyed that this ham-fisted bun vendor is to be foisted upon him.
The Pertwee era featured two distinct tones and approaches to the show.
In Season 7,Doctor WhobecomesQuatermass.
The regular characters are not necessarily the Doctors friends.
Working for UNIT and being a named character is no guarantee of survival until the end of the story.
Certainly, he strongly empathises with their plight in some cases.
Then, in Season 8, the show relaxes a little.
Crucially, the Doctors arrogance is usually either justified or punctured by the events surrounding him.
Theres a very funny child-like streak to the Third Doctor.
He even sulks at one point.
Whats wrong with being childish?
So, sometimes he acts like a pompous ass, and its a bit overbearing.
Hes clearly revelling in the childishness of it, while also making a personal ideological point.
Plus, he just looks so damn happy.
Hes also the first Doctor to officially offer an alien a square-go.
But if anyone lays a finger on him, hes completely willing to turn that aggression against them.
This Doctor was a man of action.
Next time you watchCasino Royale, imagine Pertwee doing the opening free running chase sequence.
So, thats the Third Doctor, then.
A violent, dandy, Buddhist, action pacifist.
You cant say they werent taking the character into new places.
