There have been quite a few memorable episodes of Doctor Who since it returned to the airwaves in 2005. Which episode was the best of each season?
On March 26, 2005, after a 16 year absence (aside from the 1996 movie), Doctor Who made its triumphant return. From the moment that the Ninth Doctor told Rose Tyler to run, to the most recent episode, the Christmas special in which the Twelfth Doctor finally meets up with River Song at the Singing Towers on Darillium, there have been some truly excellent stories.
Even in the stellar seasons, where virtually every episode is a classic, there are those that truly stand out. Those episodes that, when they end, seemed to have passed by in seconds. These are the ones that, when going to Netflix or when pulling out the DVD from that season, are the first episodes that one watches. These are the stories that made an impact upon the program, and helped shape our fandom.
And so, let us step aboard our own TARDIS, and take a trip from the first series of the revival of Doctor Who all the way through Series Nine as we look back at the best episode from each. Chances are, a few of these may end up being watched after this post is finished.
Next: Making gas masks extra creepy
the Ninth Doctor in ‘The Doctor Dances’ (credit: BBC)
Series One: ‘The Empty Child’/’The Doctor Dances’
As Doctor Who was making its return to the airwaves, the first season of the revival needed to be almost perfect as the BBC sought to draw viewers back to the show. With such instant classics as ‘Dalek’ and ‘The Unquiet Dead,’ it was evident that Doctor Who was back with a vengeance.
Of all of the excellent stories during the first season, none stood above the two parter ‘The Empty Child’/’The Doctor Dances.’ Not only were we introduced to Captain Jack Harkness for the first time, but we were given one of the creepier episodes of NuWho. We all remember Jamie, the young child with the gas mask, asking “Are you my mummy?” and the fear that his presence invoked. This is especially so after learning that the same horrific condition could overtake others — witnessing this happen to Dr. Constantine certainly helped to underscore the situation.
It was later learned that nanogenes were the cause of the mysterious symptoms, as they had been attempting to heal everyone due to the bombings in London. Not being familiar with humans, they thought that all people would have similar injuries and wear gas masks. Once Nancy finally admits to being Jamie’s mother, the symptoms are reversed, and humanity, at least in the area, goes back to normal. It was a moving moment on various levels.
The obvious joy of the Doctor as he shouts “Everybody lives!” also helped show the vulnerability of the character. Given such a long lifespan, and seeing so many people — including some of his friends and companions — die, having one moment where he was able to help save everyone was one of the best moments in the show’s history.
Almost universally loved by the critics, this two part episode had just about everything. While the Ninth Doctor may have only had one season, it was a strong one, and a fantastic highlight of Chris Eccleston’s acting career.
Next: A window into the Doctor's life
Madame de Pompadour and the Tenth Doctor in ‘The Girl in the Fireplace’ (credit: BBC)
Series Two: ‘The Girl in the Fireplace’
As David Tennant took over as the Tenth Doctor, the attractive and charismatic Scottish actor helped broaden the appeal of Doctor Who, causing a surge in popularity. This lead to the massive and still growing fan base that the show currently enjoys.
He also brought a vulnerability to the role that was apparent in ‘The Girl in the Fireplace.’ The Doctor saved Madame de Pompadour originally when she was seven, appearing through her fireplace to rescue her from clockwork robots, and saved her once again at age 37, when those robots were coming to harvest her brain for a ship named after her.
The Doctor would appear throughout her life from time to time, always promising to return, but showing up years later. At one point, he even told her to pack a bag to be ready to leave with him, but showed up seven years later, which was tragically right after her death. Meeting King Louis XV, he received a letter professing her love for him. It was a heartbreaking letter from someone who was literally able to look deep into the Doctor’s soul.
In moments like these, we fully see the vulnerability of the Doctor. Yes, he travels through time and space with his friends, and seemingly has a friend at each place during his journeys, but he outlives them all. His loneliness, and his resignation to his fate, were brought painfully to the fore in this episode.
Next: Don't blink
Sally Sparrow in ‘Blink’ (credit: BBC)
Series Three: ‘Blink’
What type of Doctor Who episode doesn’t feature the Doctor, or even his companion? In the case of ‘Blink,’ such an episode turned out to be an instant classic.
It was a true mystery, centered around hidden Easter eggs featuring the Doctor hidden in unrelated DVDs. Sally Sparrow, the main focus of the episode, is visited by the grandson of her best friend, who had just disappeared in the abandoned house that she was investigating. An inspector with whom she had just spoken before his disappearance calls her from his deathbed, explaining that he put those hidden segments in the DVDs for her to listen to.
‘Blink’ also marked the debut of the Weeping Angels, perhaps the best creature to debut in NuWho. Their statue-esque appearance — coupled with how many of those types of statues exist within cemeteries and other locations — made the Weeping Angels a foe that could practically be hiding anywhere. And with the fact that they simply sent people back in time, instead of killing them outright, it is no wonder that they made an impact upon the show.
Typically, a Doctor Who episode that does not feature the Doctor would not work. However, in this instance, having the Doctor appear only in those hidden DVD segments before having the TARDIS sent back to where he was trapped in the 1960s, works perfectly. It is a highly relatable story about human inquisitiveness and mortality that many fans list as their favorite Doctor Who episode of all time.
Next: She was somebody after all
the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble in ‘Journey’s End’ (credit: BBC)
Series Four: ‘The Stolen Earth’/’Journey’s End’
Of all the companions in the revival of Doctor Who, Donna Noble may be the best representation of the average person. Stuck in a variety of dead end temp jobs, all she ever wanted was to be someone.
That happened in the two part episode to end Series Four. With the Universe literally crumbling, and the Earth among 27 planets that were stolen from their orbits, the Doctor, Donna, and a host of allies — who would come to be known as “The Doctor’s Army” — it was time to face down Davros and try to save the Universe.
Not only did the Doctor have an aborted regeneration that became a half-human version of himself, but Donna absorbed that regenerative energy, becoming empowered and all-powerful. She helped to save the day, as songs were sung and legends would be told about “Doctor Donna.” Unfortunately, she would never know what she meant to so many other races and civilizations, as the Doctor needed to wipe her memories in order to save her brain from overloading, which would have resulted in her death.
In the end, Donna Noble got what she wanted. She was somebody, a hero to the multitudes stretching across the Universe. However, not only will she tragically never know just what she means to so many, but she does not remember her time with the Doctor at all.
Next: A window into a complex dynamic
the Master and the Doctor in ‘The End of Time’ Part 2 (credit: BBC)
The David Tennant Specials: ‘The End of Time’ Parts 1 & 2
The Doctor and the Master have always had a complex relationship. As frenemies, they have had their moments where they work together, only to find that their end goals are at odds. Then, there was the Master’s selfless actions for the Doctor.
‘The End of Time’ began with what seemed like a typical scheme for the Master. He had changed almost everyone’s DNA to become replicants of himself, having been brought back by a cult dedicated to him. Meanwhile, Rasillon — who created the drums within the Master’s head as a signal to pull Gallifrey out of its time lock via a white point star — used this as a chance to bring the planet back. Meanwhile, this return would likely result in the end of time, something that Rasillon also relished.
With Gallifrey suddenly appearing above Earth, and the likely continuation of the Time War, it was pressing for the Doctor to act fast. As he needed to break the link between the planets, his choices were to either shoot the Master, or Rasillon. Instead, he used the bullet to destroy the link, sending his home planet, and the leader of the Time Lords, back into the time lock. Rasillon attempted to kill the Doctor, but the Master sacrificed himself to keep that from happening. Nonetheless, a regeneration began, and the Tenth Doctor soon left us behind.
Of all of the moments that the Master has appeared on NuWho, this episode showcased the dynamic between the two Time Lords perfectly. Yes, the Doctor was about to foil his plans, but he was still a friend. The Master, knowing full well that the Doctor would do the same, made sure that his friend survived, free to go forth and continue his adventures.
It may not have been typical villain behaviour, but the Master is not the typical enemy either. In fact, one could say that the Master and the Doctor are just the opposite sides of the same coin.
Next: How he suffered for his sanity
Vincent van Gogh, Amy Pond, and the Eleventh Doctor in ‘Vincent and the Doctor’ (credit: BBC)
Series Five: ‘Vincent and the Doctor’
Most of the time, whenever Vincent van Gogh is portrayed in film, or on television, his madness and eccentricities are emphasised. In ‘Vincent and the Doctor,’ however, the focus was on Vincent the person, creating a truly memorable Doctor Who episode.
Capable of seeing things that no other known human could, he helped guide the Doctor and Amy against a Krafayis, a creature that was blind and abandoned on Earth. In the final showdown, it ended up impaling itself on van Gogh’s easel, with the Doctor soothing the dying creature and the artist empathising with its pain.
The episode ended on a bittersweet note. First, we had the touching moment in which Doctor and Amy showed van Gogh what he would end up meaning to others in the future. Listening to the professor gush about the artist’s work, and seeing his paintings hung up for the multitudes to marvel at, he came to learn that his artwork was not valuable only to himself. While he would still commit suicide weeks later, there was one window of happiness in his life… and he dedicated the third version of the Arles Sunflowers painting to Amy.
While the episode itself was either loved or hated, the more human van Gogh certainly worked well. For anyone that has ever dealt with depression or feeling worthless, to see the artist struggle with those feelings, and to realize what he would mean to so many, struck a chord. This was not just another Doctor Who episode, but something that could resonate beyond the usual fandom. It is also another one that many fans cite as an all-time favorite.
Next: What are those tally marks?
River Song, Rory Williams, the Eleventh Doctor, and Amy Pond promo for ‘The Impossible Astronaut’ (credit: BBC)
Series Six: ‘The Impossible Astronaut’/’Day of the Moon’
Another of the creatures that came into being during NuWho, the first episodes of Series Six marked the introduction of the Silence, creatures that made a tremendous mark during their one season on Doctor Who (that is, until the 2013 special, ‘The Time of the Doctor’).
Their first appearance displayed the true potential that the creatures had. Appearing randomly, instantly forgotten when one looked away, they were truly a formidable enemy for the Doctor. Adding how they sought to “silence” the Doctor, and how he was shot and killed by a mysterious astronaut early in the first part, the season got off to a literal bang.
This would also be the most intriguing season opener of NuWho. What was the question that the Silence were so eager to keep from being asked? Was Amy really pregnant? Who was the woman with the eyepatch? And what of the fate of that little girl who regenerated in front of a homeless man in New York?
What we had was a two part episode that combined true horror themes, fast paced action, and a brilliant new enemy. Bringing River Song into the episode served to help maintain the almost constant action. And in setting up the themes for the rest of the season, one could not have asked for anything better.
The Silence made their mark on Doctor Who, and that journey began with this two part episode.
Next: A tale of redemption
Kahler-Jex and the Eleventh Doctor in ‘A Town Called Mercy’ (credit: BBC)
Series Seven: ‘A Town Called Mercy’
Westerns and Doctor Who do not seem like they would mix. In ‘A Town Called Mercy,’ however, the combination came together perfectly.
It was another tale of redemption and finding a new path in life. The story began with Kahler-Jex, who had escaped to Earth after working as a scientist for an alien race, experimenting on volunteers to create a race of cyborgs. He had crashed in the town and, after being rescued, served as a doctor, as well as provided electricity.
Then came The Gunslinger, a cyborg who hunted those who had created him. Kahler-Jex was his final target, and even though he had changed his ways, was still to die. After the sheriff shoved Kahler-Jex out of the way of a fatal shot, he committed suicide the next day, blowing himself up in the wreckage of his ship to face his reckoning in the afterlife.
With nothing left to do, the Gunslinger was poised to destroy himself as well, until the Doctor pointed out that a new Marshall was needed. By taking on this role, the cyborg could change his path, finding redemption in helping others, just as Kahler-Jex had done. In the end, it turned out that the creator, and his creation, were not so different after all.
Sometimes, it can be hard to see that people have changed, as past perceptions color their current actions. In this case, Doctor Who showed, in quite the excellent fashion, that the past does not always self-represent.
Next: The best of the worst
‘Mummy on the Orient Express’ promo (credit: BBC)
Series Eight: ‘Mummy on the Orient Express’
It took eight episodes into Series Eight, but we finally had one that felt like it was written for the Twelfth Doctor. Even then, there are still questions left unanswered, making the episode feel incomplete.
Nonetheless, it was almost the perfect episode. We had a more cerebral plot, as the Doctor needed to figure out why people were dying after seeing a mummy invisible to others. There was the computer program aboard the Orient Express, Gus, who tasked the Doctor with stopping the Foretold, lest he see the passengers die off one at a time. Even the guest stars were a perfect fit for the show, as was the feel of the luxury space train.
In taking the place of the one of the intended victims, the Doctor realized that the Foretold was an ancient warrior, simply continuing his battles because he did not know that the fight was over. After getting the creature to stand down, defeating him, Gus shut off the oxygen, seeking to kill everyone else on board. Then, when the Doctor looked to find out what was controlling Gus, the program blew up the ship.
Yet, this episode did not feel complete. Gus, and the entities that utilized it, seemed set to be a recurring enemy, or even a part of an overarching storyline for Series Nine. Instead, it was just left there, a loose end twisting in the breeze — something of which Steven Moffat seems rather fond.
At least we had a chance to see the Twelfth Doctor in his element. Considering how rare that was in Series Eight, that opportunity alone helped make this episode stand out. Even without that caveat, ‘Mummy on the Orient Express’ was one of the few standout episodes in a somewhat muddled mess of a season.
Next: Facing the consequences
the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald in ‘Face the Raven’ (credit: BBC)
Series Nine: ‘Face the Raven’
The overall theme for Series Nine, where one has to face the consequences for their actions, was hammered home in ‘Face the Raven.’
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Throughout the series, we saw Clara become more and more like the Doctor, becoming increasingly careless as she continued on her adventures. In her case, however, to do so was unduly. The Doctor kept warning her that she was not immortal, and did not possess regenerative abilities, but Clara just laughed those warnings off. Alas, those prophesies came true when she took the countdown tattoo from Rigsy, leaving her to be sentenced to death by facing the raven since the tattoo could not be removed.
It was here that we began to learn just what the Doctor could be capable of in anger — setting up the final two part episode, as he was to be whisked away to another location for unknown purposes. Yet, Clara asked him not to give in to that anger, knowing that her end was her own fault.
This was the culmination of Clara’s turnaround. She had gone from being a manipulative person to someone who could truly be considered the Doctor’s best friend. Their dynamic had changed dramatically and she became the perfect companion, someone whom he could trust implicitly. Now, she was ripped away, leaving the Doctor to face his demons on his own once more.
Next: Steven Moffat May or May Not Include Bill’s Intro Scene in Series Ten