Doctor Who: Most Divisive Episode Revealed
By David Hill
In the long history of Doctor Who, there have been quite a few episodes that have split the opinion of the audience. While some episodes are almost universally reviled, and others almost universally beloved, there are a select few that straddle the line. Of those, the most divisive episode of Doctor Who has been revealed.
When one imagines what the most divisive episode in the history of Doctor Who would be, chances are that one would expect an episode from the Classic Era. After all, as the show was winding down towards being put on hiatus, the support from the BBC had waned, leading to some of the least enjoyed episodes in the history of the program.
Instead, if we were to hop aboard our own TARDIS and go back to that divisive episode, we would only travel back a couple of years to Series Eight. There, we would stop on October 25, 2014, the day that ‘In the Forest of the Night’ originally aired.
More from Winter is Coming
- For All Mankind finally gives us information in Episode 405, “Goldilocks”
- Watch a stunning VFX breakdown of The Wheel of Time season 2
- Of course Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) thinks Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) should rule Westeros
- Confirmed: The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025
- Final season of Star Trek: Discovery will have “a lot of action, a lot of adventure, a lot of fun”
A very different episode, with the feel of a fairy tale brought to life, ‘In the Forest of the Night’ had mixed reviews. Some fans of the show loved it, while others considered that episode to be the embodiment of everything that was wrong with Series Eight. Given that reception, it may not be a surprise that ‘In the Forest of the Night’ was voted as the show’s most divisive episode in a recent survey by Radio Times.
However, one has to wonder if that title will last for long. Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the writer of ‘In the Forest of the Night,’ is returning to Doctor Who to pen another episode for Series Ten. This revelation is not surprising, given the praise that Steven Moffat gave that episode, but it will be interesting to see what his second effort for the show will be like. Will we get another episode like ‘In the Forest of the Night,’ dividing the fanbase once again, or will we get an episode that will be considered an instant classic?
(Article continues below the related and next story links.)
Related Story: ‘In the Forest of the Night’ Review
Related Story: What’s With the End of ‘In the Forest of the Night’?
Related Story: Does ‘In the Forest of the Night’ Deserve a Second Viewing?
Next: Life, Death, and the Doctor