Doctor Whois a show that is all about change, growth, and exploration, and these episodes capture that more than any other.Doctor Whois a sci-fi series that follows one man, named the Doctor, on his adventures through time and space. At its core, it’s a simple tagline, but as the series reveals in each episode, the show goes so much deeper.
In addition to being the longest-running sci-fi series of all-time,Doctor Whoends up being one of the largest franchises, with thousands of episodes that dig into the heart of the character and unpack what it is all about. Of course, it changes and evolves over time, especially when new Doctor’s take over the role, but the foundation is solid, and it often appears in glimpses throughout the show.
10The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances
Season 1, Episodes 9 & 10
When the series was revived in 2005, there was a huge hurdle to overcome in making this series feel like something the original fanbase could still connect with, and appeal to new audiences. By and large, Russel T Davies and Christopher Eccleston managed to achieve that in spades with season 1, but one of the stand-out episodes in that run has to be the two-part adventure, “The Empty Child,” and “The Doctor Dances.”
10 Best Feel-Good Episodes Of Doctor Who Perfect For A Bad Day
Doctor Who is one of the most wonderful feel-good shows around, lifting emotions to extraordinary heights thanks to powerful storytelling and fun.
The episodes contain a spooky haunted element, an unlikely villain, and a well-known historical setting. But in combining all of these elements, the episodes deliver some of the most profound, clever, and intriguing episodes in the show’s history. And then, topping off this incredible win of a storyline,“The Doctor Dances” sees the Doctor save the day, not just for a few people, but he manages to save everyone, and it makes it clear that this is not typical, but when it happens, it’s worth celebrating.
9The Eleventh Hour
Season 5, Episode 1
I have to admit that I may be biased in saying this, but I believe “The Eleventh Hour” isthe single best first episode for a new Doctor in the history of the show.Matt Smith immediately understands his Doctor’s identity, without remembering his name, in an episode that delivers intrigue, mystery, action, aliens, mind-control, and a girl who waits.
The episode uses the time travel narrative to the very best of its ability, and creates a story that launches Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor into the hot seat as the new pilot of the TARDIS. It also creates a bond between the Eleventh Doctor and his companion, Amelia Pond, played by the incredible Karen Gillan as an adult, and the talented Caitlin Blackwood as the younger version.
8The Daleks
Classic Series - Season 1, Serial 2
Going all the way back to the beginning,“The Daleks” is the first serial of the show to feature the Daleks, who would go on to define the show as an ongoing antagonist and rival to the Doctor. This is made all the more impressive when noting that this was only the second serial in the show’s history, and would serve as one that shaped its entire future.
It’s a powerful story, and one that would serve to further refine who the Doctor is, due to pitting him against this bitter rival for the first time.
The Daleks are a prominent rival to the Doctor, and serve as his antithesis in many ways. They seek out destruction, death, and domination, while the Doctor wants to explore, roam freely, and engage with fellow inhabitants of the universe. It’s a powerful story, and one that would serve to further refine who the Doctor is, due to pitting him against this bitter rival for the first time.
7Dalek
Season 1, Episode 6
By the time the Ninth Doctor meets a Dalek again in the modern era, he has had the distinct displeasure of fighting them countless times, butseeing a lone Dalek for the first time since the mysterious Time War, the Doctor is incredibly shaken. For new viewers, this is the first introduction to a character that genuinely strikes fear into the heart of the Doctor, but in the context of the Time War, it’s even more tense for the Doctor.
This episode helps to shape the modern series, and to update the Daleks to fit in with modern viewers. It’s tense, shows the Doctor in an unfamiliar state of fear, and sets a tone for future encounters betweenthe Doctor and the Daleks. It also shows how far the Doctor’s compassion extends, as despite his intense fear, he still has empathy and care for the monstrous creature.
6Utopia / The Sound of Drums / Last of the Time Lords
Season 3, Episodes 11, 12 & 13
Another classic era villain who returns to wreak havoc in the modern show is the Master. The Master is another Time Lord, and while the Doctor generally finds himself mourning the loss of his people, the Master is not exactly someone who the Doctor has room to mourn. Instead,the Master is obsessed with control, power, and dominating specieswhich he views as being less than, which, due to his massive ego, is everyone else.
Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor Revived A Character Trait Doctor Who Had Ignored Since William Hartnell’s Era
William Hartnell’s time as the Doctor introduced something fascinating to Doctor Who lore, but it didn’t return until Steven Moffat took over.
This three-part episode sees the Doctor reach new lows as his rival gains the upper hand, but it alsoreveals that the Doctor is nothing without his companionsand the people that believe in him, and when he has that support, he is infinitely capable. It’s a groundbreaking story, and one that explores every aspect of the show in exciting and engaging ways.
5Fires of Pompeii
Season 4, Episode 2
While the Doctor often makes an effort to save whoever he can, he also has an understanding of time, and how there are set moments in history that cannot be changed. This gives him no great pleasure knowing the limits of his abilities, but it’s also a concept that can be challenged under the right circumstances.
For instance, when theDoctor and Donna Noblevisit Pompeii before the volcano, he spends time among the locals, investigating a plot by aliens hiding in the volcano, butDonna finds herself particularly moved by the people she meets. As the volcano erupts, the Doctor retreats to a safe limit, but Donna pleads for him to do something. Initially, he resists, but then he considers what Donna is saying, and makes the bold choice to save just one family, in one of the most influential moments of the show’s history.
4Vincent and the Doctor
Season 5, Episode 10
The Doctor’s compassion only grows as the series continues, and by the time theEleventh Doctor meets Vincent van Gogh,he is willing to bend the rules a lot. Vincent was not well respected during his lifetime, and it caused him to endure incredible suffering. While he stands out as a modern visionary and one of the world’s most influential artists, Vincent lived and died in poverty and relative anonymity.
The episode does something that no other show has the ability to do nearly as well: The Doctor gets to engage with the most remarkable and praiseworthy figures in history, such as van Gogh, Shakepseare, and Dickens. But thanks to his TARDIS, he also has the distinct ability to take these great minds and give them experiences they could never have dreamed of, like seeing an art gallery that prominently and proudly displays the works of the great Vincent van Gogh.
3Boom
Season 14, Episode 3
In the latest era ofDoctor Who, there have been moments where the beating heart of the series shines through. “Boom” is just such a moment, as this incredibly creative episode plays out with the Doctor standing in one place during the entire narrative. It gets clever, innovative, and twisty, in a way that satisfies the audience, and firmly positionsNcuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.
It’s no wonder, then, that this episode was written by the incredible Steven Moffat, a man who helmed the show as showrunner for several years while both Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi took on the role of the Doctor.It’s a wonderful, dialogue-rich episode that pushes the story forward, without needing to physically change location.
2Midnight
Season 4, Episode 10
Another spectacular episode thatbuilds intrigue, mystery, and rich discourse, is “Midnight.” David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor is a spectacular talent who gives incredible speeches, and knows how to influence the people around him. So, when he is trapped inside a small metal box on an alien planet, with a mystery monster knocking at the door, things get tense.
Doctor Who’s 15 Best Seasons Of All Time
Doctor Who is a show that has run for a very long time. Because of this, the series has both incredible seasons and some really weak seasons as well.
The episode delivers some incredible thought-experiment material, and sees a group of people turn on one another under pressure. It also sees the Doctor getting possessed, and after all is said and done, it never reveals the monster responsible. It’s challenging and confronting, but Doctor Who often is, and this single episode delivers a great example of that contained in one single episode.
1The Day of the Doctor
50th Anniversary Special
Perhaps it’s cheating, but the 50th anniversary feature-length special ofDoctor Whodeserves a spot on this list. Not only does it follow a story with three different Doctors starring, butit also digs into the Doctor’s history, and explores the reasoning behind some of his choices. This episode fundamentally changes the Doctor’s onward journey, and creates a magical story that redefines the show.
It also contains a lot of important history for the character, and when watched in association with the short, “The Night of the Doctor,” it ties the classic era to the modern one.
In the wake of 50 years on the air, “The Day of the Doctor” delivers aquintessentialDoctor Whoadventure from Steven Moffat, and it does so with extraordinary finesse. It also contains a lot of important history for the character, and when watched in association with the short, “The Night of the Doctor,” it ties the classic era to the modern one. Within all of these episodes,Doctor Whois in top form, and it adds to the foundation that makes the show so compelling all these years later.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
