As someone who is new to Who, recently binged Series 1 - 7 Part 1 (on Part 2 now) wanted to give me feedback in this thread to see what lines up with general opinion and what doesn't.
So my feelings:
Series 1: Boy that was rough... didnt like much at all about the first few episodes, however my friend said I'd love it if I stick with it, and other shows start off bad and turn great (B5, Star Trek TNG/DS9). I almost couldn't make it past the farting alien episode, never have i wanted to turn something off so bad, but i kept with it. And it paid off, the last few episodes of the season not only made me like the 9th Doctor, but made me start enjoying the show. I think the turning point was, surprisingly, where they bring back the farting alien lady and they tip the episode on its head and make it a very personal sad story.
Series 2: So.. I did not like the introduction of the 10th doctor, I felt his delivery and overall look in the episode was weird (but expected given the context). I was watching thinking "this is the mighty 10th doctor who everyone loves? I'm a bit... disappointed (spoilers, I am now and always will be deeply in love with the 10th doctor). Regardless, the first few episodes didnt sell me on David Tennant, I couldnt tell where he was trying to go with the charter. Though on the plus side, Face of Boe! Love that Boe theme song (and love thinking now that Boe is Jack, makes it feel soooo much more epic). As season 2 went on David grew more and more on me all the way up till the finale, where I felt his emotional range finally showed through and made losing Rose actually work.
The Christmas special with Donna is when things completely changed for me, The 10th doctor became insanely good and I adored his chemistry with Donna. I was sad to see she didnt become the next companion (I had not know any spoilers on the show, so I didnt know she came back in a season!). Special note: My wife rolled her eyes everytime I was watching this "stupid" show. But suddenly I noticed her paying attention and watching the Christmas special with me. After it, she asked if I wouldn't watch new ones unless I was with her because somehow she had started to like the show.
Season 3: So 1. I hated Martha Jones, I still hate Martha Jones (not as much, but still do) I didn't like her as a companion, I didnt like her puppy dog desires for the doctor, but I am glad the writers/show runner used it appropriately and made her basically a "rebound" companion. What surprises me is even though I hated her as a companion, I loved almost all of season 3. Season 3 was basically where the show turned from "its ok, I'm enjoying this" to "This is one of my favorite shows!". "The Family of Blood" and "blink" was an insane one two punch of top quality that absolutely has not been topped on the show yet. Just so damn good. And having watched Torchwood made "Utopia" all the better given Torchwood turned Jack into a semi-likable character (grandson killing and all). The finale with the Jack = Boe reveal made me smile (though the actual episode of the finale was one of the worst in the whole series, the whole "speak the doctors name to make him into a demi-god stuff was just bad. This seems to be a problem with season 1 - 4, great characters, weird ideas that sometimes were just stupid and didnt do well in actual production.
Season 4: DONNA!!! I love her. I loved this season, the 10th and Donna's chemistry was just off the charts. It all came together at the Left Turn episode, which was absolutely wonder. The ending with "bad wolf" is, in my opinion, the absolute best moment of the entire series so far. Just so well done. Also the library episode of this season cemented the 10th as one of my favorite characters of all time. The finale was OK, it was fun seeing everyone together, but again suffered from some insanely silly/stupid ideas. What happen to Donna was tragic, but it was obvious she was either going to die or something when she said "ill travel with that man forever".
Season 4 Specials: So I almost jumped to season 5 by accident because Amazon Prime doesn't put these things in a good order and you can easily miss the David Tennant specials. Regardless, I course corrected the moment I saw the 5th season title say "the 11th hour", and double checked a google watch order list and made sure not to spoil my self (though I obviously knew the 10th doctors time was coming to an end). Overall I LOVED the production change and better quality, seeing the 10th in HD was great, seeing some more creative use of the camera was nice, though the plots were paper thin. Waters of Mars was... interesting. I wouldn't say I liked it, but it made sense. What did not was how the ending connected to the beginning of the finale, the 10th just had some huge emotional trama happen to him and yet a little vacation seems to have fixed it and his meddling with time is never mentioned again. *shrugs* oh well. Regardless the finale was ... ok, well produced but never really felt good to me plot wise. I loved all the characters (common thread of season 1 - 4, great characters, not so great plots at times). I really liked Wilf in this. But yeah the plot was forgettable... accept that ending! "I dont want to go". I cried. My wife cried. we both felt like we lost something. And given how much we both dislike the 11th doctor and show from the 5th season on, we did lose something
Season 5: -_- What the fuck. The 11th doctor is an arrogant asshole, overly silly and just annoying. Amy Pond is gorgeous but cant hold a candle to previous characters. The beginning was pretty bad, but at least somewhat interesting. I did not like the more serious tonal shift. By the end of the season I really disliked it. It feels like everything the 10th doctor stood for was flushed out the window. This doctor will pick up guns, this doctor will show boat, make corny stupid speeches and acts like a dumbass most of the time. Every single episode has major pacing issues (usually extended intros, barely any middle at all, and endings that feel overdone). The show seems to have lost a lot of its heart and characters. The finale didn't do anything for me.
The Steampunk Christmas Special: LOVED IT!!!! Absolutely great. Its the only thing giving me hope the 11th doctor can be saved.
Season 6: BLAH! Even worse. Amy really is pissing me off this season. The whole river arch was obvious the moment Amy suggest she's pregnant. The "death of the doctor" was just silly to start a season with and neither my wife nor I were moved an inch by it (as obviously it has no weight what so ever). The whole season just felt like it was from a different show. I didnt like it... but the last few episodes were better. The 11th doctor is far better on his own then without Amy. I loved his stand alone episode where he's the roomate, worked amazingly well.
The Christmas special with the living trees: Horrible episode, worst Christmas special of them all. Why was this even made?
Season 7 Part 1: Woah, what happened! Suddenly the doctor is likable. The whole writing style for his character has changed. He's better acted, better spoken, doesnt seem as intentionally silly anymore and just overall feels like what I thought the 11th doctor should feel like. Love that they had the guts to kick off Amy finally, and great way to do it! Also I ADORE Clara (didnt know we'd see her again, so happy!!!! Great actress and great plot point so far)
Season 7 1/2 Christmas special: I loved it, loved seeing Clara again, loved the surprise ending.
Season 7 Part 2: So far I'm enjoying it. I know the 50th special is coming and have been spoiled by past media that the 10th will come back for a short appearance in the episode, so super excited about that.
So the TLDR version: I enjoyed 9th by the time he was leaving, 10th I absolutely adored and loved after a rough first season, 11th I've hated with a passion until season 7 where he's finally seemed ok, but still I'd take the 9th or 10th over him. I liked Rose, dislike Martha, LOVED Donna, Dislike Amy, so far love Clara.
Soon as i hit season 8 - 10 I'll post most. Judging from what I've been told, I'm going to hate them with a burning passion. But hearing BBC is trying to go back to season 3 & 4 for feel, I hope its only a few seasons of hell before I get real Who again.
