David Tennantis an actor who’s had a hand in all sorts of performances, from theater to filmmaking, but his best TV shows showcase some of his greatest work to date. Many ofDavid Tennant’s best roleshave been on television, and certainly his most famous ones, as the actor has become synonymous with his character on the hit sci-fi seriesDoctor Who. Despite this, Tennant has never let himself be pigeonholed into the sci-fi or fantasy genres, tackling crime and slice-of-life realism with just as much ease as he does everything else.
David Tennant’s timeline as the Tenth Doctorspanned many years, which has kept this role in the minds of fans and critics who have kept up with the actor’s career. In some ways, because he’s so well known for portraying the Doctor, it’s even more fun to see him dive into a new genre and vastly different character. Of course, these series aren’t just notable because Tennant is in them. The other performers and vivid stories are just as vital to the success of these projects. However,seeing Tennant onscreen indicates that viewers are in store for a treat.
8Inside Man (2022)
As Harry Watling
Tennant’s turn in the 2022 seriesInside Mandidn’t quite live up to his other contributions to the crime genre, but it did showcase his chemistry with his costars.Though only four episodes long,Inside Mandraws a complex picture of the communityit explores and the characters whose lives are unraveled by the events. Tennant’s character, Harry Watling, is a vicar whose extreme actions quickly spin out of control. It’s a shocking show that takes many dark turns, but it piques the viewers' interest from the beginning.
All the twists and turns can be difficult to keep track of inInside Man, but the series is worth exploring for Tennant alone.
There are many intersecting layers of the story as Harry’s crimes grow in scale while death row prisoner Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci) manipulates events from behind the scenes. All the twists and turns can be difficult to keep track of inInside Man, but the series is worth exploring for Tennant alone. As always, he tackles the complex roles he’s given with nuance and emotion, forcing the audience to question what they want the outcome of the story to be.
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7Rivals (2024–Present)
As Lord Baddingham
Hulu’s surprise hitRivalsappeared suddenly but made quite a splash,and the charismatic cast likely has something to do with this. Based on the novel of the same name by Jilly Cooper,Rivalsfollows the elite high society of the Cotswolds in England. The characters fight for supremacy in the world of television in the 1980s. Tennant’s character, Tony, AKA Lord Baddingham, struggles to find his place within the world of the old money families and quickly lets this corrupt him, using others for his own gain.
However, few characters are above reproach inRivals, and part of the fun of watching the series is witnessing the characters pull off wild betrayals and double-crossings. AsRivalsseason 2approaches, it’s difficult to wait to see how Lord Baddingham’s arc progresses, and what the truth is surrounding his uncertain fate in the season 1 finale. Though the show doesn’t shy away from being over-the-top and shocking, this allows actors like Tennant to revel in their morally questionable roles and have fun with the story.
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6The Legend Of Vox Machina (2022–Present)
As General Krieg
ThoughTennant’s voice role inThe Legend of Vox Machinais small,his sound is unmistakable. Garnering perfect Rotten Tomatoes critic scores throughout its three-season run,The Legend of Vox Machinais the best take onDungeons & Dragonsthat we’ve seen on TV, and it’s fitting that Tennant would have a place in this world. Even though his accent is distinct, Tennant still disappears into the character of General Krieg, booming with power and intrigue that draws the central characters in.
Even for audiences unfamiliar withD&D,The Legend of Vox Machinais worth watching.
The core cast ofThe Legend of Vox Machinameets a lot of interesting characters throughout their journey, and the series takes full advantage of this by tapping iconic actors to voice these roles. As the series progressed,The Legend of Vox Machinabecame more refined, narrowing its scope and leaning into the character development as well as the adventures, sparking even more interest in the project. Even for audiences unfamiliar withD&D,The Legend of Vox Machinais worth watching.
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5There She Goes (2018–2023)
As Simon
Even when Tennant isn’t working in sci-fi or fantasy, most of his TV shows take place in a heightened reality or have intense drama and crime elements. This isn’t the case inThere She Goes, the heavily realistic exploration of day-to-day life for a family caring for their differently-abled daughter. Tennant plays Simon, the father of Rosie (Miley Locke), who has DYRK1A syndrome, and the audience sees Simon and his wife and son navigate this with unprecedented honesty.
There She Goesdoesn’t hold back from showing that Simon and his wife Emily (Jessica Hynes) are far from perfect and make many mistakes while raising Rosie. They get frustrated and behave selfishly, butThere She Goestreats even their worst moments with empathy. The characters are vivid and real, allowingThere She Goesto be as truthful as possible, asit’s based on the real experiences of the writer-creator, Shaun Pye.He and his wife, Sarah Crawford, imbuedThere She Goeswith the best and hardest parts of their lives.
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4Jessica Jones (2015–2019)
As Kilgrave
After Tennant’s Kilgrave leftJessica Jonesat the end of season 1, his presence was still felt throughout the show. Beginning with the best villain of the series can be a challenge, asJessica Jonesstruggled to find an antagonist as iconic and compelling as Kilgrave. Even when he isn’t onscreen, his power and legacy lurk in the background, driving everything Jessica (Krysten Ritter) does. Though he’s truly evil,Tennant’s portrayal lends nuance to a character that could’ve easily been one-dimensional.
Tennant’s brief but memorable work in the MCU gaveJessica Jonescredibility and a storyline audiences will never forget.
While Kilgrave wasn’tDavid Tennant’s MCU dream role, his turn as the irredeemable villain elevated the entire series.Jessica Jonespremiered when Marvel was just starting to dip its toe into television, exploring new, darker heroes with backstories that were difficult to watch. However, this is what makesJessica Jonesso interesting and unique, especially when compared to other series from the studio. Tennant’s brief but memorable work in the MCU gaveJessica Jonescredibility and a storyline audiences will never forget.
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3Good Omens (2019–Present)
As Crowley
Tennant and Michael Sheen make a striking pair inGood Omens,the fantasy series based on the novel of the same name that follows the war between angels and demons. As Crowley the demon, Tennant slowly grows closer to Sheen’s angel Aziraphale over the millennia, and they begin to realize they might like life on Earth and want to avoid Armageddon. The series unfolds much like the book, but it found a way to explore new territory in season 2 after the show made a splash.
The visual style and offbeat humor ofGood Omensconnected with audiences of all kinds, and a project like this was a natural fit for Tennant based on his background in sci-fi and fantasy. Hilarious, heartfelt, and ultimately one of the most hopeful depictions of human fallibility and life on Earth,Good Omensis a fun ride with a poignant message.While it will be hard to say goodbye to Tennant and Sheen as the demon and angel pair whenGood Omensends, it was a thrill to watch their story unfold.
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2Broadchurch (2013–2017)
As D.I. Alec Hardy
The star-studded and critically acclaimed crime dramaBroadchurchis a must-watch show for any fan of the genre, as not only are the performances fantastic, but the story is shocking. Tennant plays D.I. Alec Hardy alongside Olivia Colman as D.S. Ellie Miller, and the actors' chemistry helps propel every scene they share. Though the second and third seasons ofBroadchurchare compelling,it’s season 1 that gets audiences hooked with its tight storyand deliberate world-building. Each character and piece of the small town feeds into the narrative’s progression.
For those used to seeing Tennant as the Doctor, his work as Hardy is very out of character, as he plays his thoughts and feelings close to the chest and plays by the rules. However, this showcases Tennant’s range as a performer, as viewers' preconceived notions about him slip away, leaving only Hardy and his experiences within the world of the show.Broadchurchwas quickly hailed as a masterclass in small-town crime drama television,and it holds up brilliantly today.
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1Doctor Who (2005–Present)
As The Tenth Doctor
There have been many Doctors since the classic sci-fi seriesDoctor Whowas revived in 2005, butTennant is credited with being a large part of how the show hit its stride.Joining the cast as the Tenth Doctor in the second season, Tennant was a new kind of Doctor, ushering in some of the best seasons of the modern era and helpingDoctor Whoappeal to a new generation of viewers. Though the series has had its ups and downs since he left the show, it’s unsurprising thatDoctor Whokeeps bringing Tennant back for additional cameos.
Blending elements of sci-fi and fantasy, the modern era ofDoctor Whotook a less educational approach, focusing on action and adventure, as well as a little bit of romance. When thinking about the Doctor as a character, Tennant’s iteration likely comes to mind, as his boyish charm, intelligence, and quick temper all lent themselves to the embodiment of an ancient genius being from the stars. Almost every contemporary sci-fi TV show owes a lot to bothDoctor WhoandDavid Tennant.
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