DVD Corner

Top 10 Doctor Who Episodes (2005-2022)

With the 15th Doctor’s debut season set to hit Disney+ tomorrow in the U.S., Whovians everywhere (myself included) are itching to see a new era begin. In the meantime, I thought I’d take a look back at the 2005-2022 “Doctor Who” era with a top 10 episode list. For those that are wondering, yes, I will do a Top 10 Classic Doctor Who list down the line.

1. Blink- It’s ironic that Steven Moffat’s best episode was not in his own era, but in RTD’s. This stand-alone episode introduced viewers to one of the best modern foes (The Weeping Angels), focused on a new character (Sally Sparrow) wonderfully played by the would be movie star Carey Mulligan, and contained a deeply clever script that managed to use DVD easter eggs as a major plot device. It’s perfect.

2. Father’s Day- A tear jerking 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) era story about Rose Tyler meeting her father in the past.

3. Human Nature- For reasons that later become clear, “Human Nature” finds David Tennant’s 10th Doctor ending up in England in the early 1900’s posing as a human school teacher (while Martha Jones acts as a maid). The mystery-centric story (which is based on the DW novel of the same name) is a breath of fresh air. It goes without saying that the second part (“The Family Of Blood”) is equally excellent. 

4. The Doctor’s Wife- A wonderfully creative Neil Gaiman scripted story that makes you look at the TARDIS in an entirely different way.

5. The Girl In The Fireplace- An emotional and ultimately heartbreaking story about the passage of time.

6. The Doctor Dances- An instance where a happy ending feels so earned and rewarding. “Everybody lives!” indeed.

7. The Lodger- The 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) goes domestic in this funny, sweet, and superbly written episode.

8. Midnight – I went back and forth between “The Waters Of Mars” and “Midnight,” but “Midnight” won out. It’s an eerie, intense, and mysterious story that explores fears and paranoia in a compelling fashion.

9. Fugitive Of The Judoon- One of the 3 Dalek specials of the 13th Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) era could have taken a spot here, but at the end of the day, any episode that can surprise you not once but twice with the return of Captain Jack and the reveal of the Fugitive Doctor deserves a place in the top 10.

10. Face The Raven- I pondered “Heaven Sent,” “The Magician’s Apprentice,” and “Listen” for the last slot, but ‘Raven’ hit harder for me. Not only is The 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) powerless to save Clara, but he’s teleported away to somewhere by himself without his TARDIS (we know where in “Heaven Sent”). It’s a dark episode but an unforgettable one.

Special Mention: Night of the Doctor- The best thing Steven Moffat ever did was to give Paul McGann a special 8th Doctor short showing his regeneration into The War Doctor. If there was ever a Doctor who needed more time on screen, it’s McGann.

May 9, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | List | 10th Doctor, 11th Doctor, 12th Doctor, 13th Doctor, 15th Doctor, 8th Doctor, Blink, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, Martha Jones, Matt Smith, Paul McGann, Peter Capaldi, Rose Tyler, RTD, Steven Moffat, TARDIS, The Doctor Dances, Top 10 Doctor Who Episodes(2005-2022)