Gold introduced "I am the Doctor" in "The Eleventh Hour," Matt Smith's premier episode. Since then it's become almost as essential as the show's 50-year-old theme song. Like Smith's Doctor, it's swift, energetic, and not afraid to go big--adventure personified in song. And once it's in your head, just try getting it out.
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The Doctor has had other themes over the years, including "The Doctor's Theme," from David Tennant's last full season. Like "I Am the Doctor," it goes big, and it's perfectly in character with season four's ambitious arc.
While not my favorite companion theme, it's an essential pick for two reasons: 1) For the way it sums up the emotional sweep of Rose's arc (just try listening to it without thinking of this):
And 2) it also sets the stage for other companion themes, like...
The Doctor and Amy Pond's storyline always had the feel of a fairy tale, something that comes through nicely in her dreamy, melancholic theme, which was also introduced in season five's "The Eleventh Hour."
With the return of The Master, the Doctor's long-standing nemesis, in season three, the Face of Boe's prophecy was proved right: he was not alone. And with The Master's return, Gold had the chance to create this powerful theme centered on Gallifrey, their home planet.
"Midnight" is one of the most intense episodes in the revived series, and it gets much of that intensity from its theme. I've lost count of how many times I've listened to it, but those furious horns at the end always give me goosebumps.
At the other end of the spectrum, but also from season four, is "Song of Freedom," in two varieties: one slower and sadder and the other uplifting. If you need a refresher on where this one shows up, it's in this climactic moment from "Journey's End."
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"The Vampires of Venice" isn't a standout episode, but the theme for it always gets my attention when it comes on. Consider it a case of Murray enriching what has always seemed to me like fairly serviceable material.
Coming at the end of season five, "The Sad Man with a Box" mixes "I Am the Doctor" with "The Mad Man in a Box," beautifully summing up Smith's first season as the Doctor in a single piece.
The sixth season presented one mystery after another: Who killed the Doctor? Why? Who are The Silence? And why does that lady with the eye patch want Amy's baby? Answers came in due time, but not before another long-running question was answered: Who exactly is River Song? Whether you liked the answer or not, the song accompanying that revelation (from "A Good Man Goes to War") is a standout piece of work.
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"Forgiven" is a short one, but it builds to a beautifully realized climax, accompanying one of my favorite moments from season six, when River puts time and space in danger by changing the Doctor's future:
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I can't listen to this one without thinking of Smith's excellent performance in season seven's "The Name of the Doctor." This song, combined with the look in his eyes at the mention of Trenzalore, gets me every time.
Do you have a favorite theme that didn't make the list?
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