78 A Good Man Goes To War

Series 6 Episode 7

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song

Also featuring: Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, Strax

First aired: 4th June 2011

Writer: Steven Moffat

The show's first "mid-series finale" is the highest ranked episode of the first half of the series, pretty comfortably! With Amy missing, Rory goes on the hunt for his wife and child, while the Doctor rallies the troops and calls in old favours to gain control of Demons Run, ran by Madame Kovarian. This episode's somewhat messy, but I actually really enjoy it overall. I think Rory confronting the Cybermen with "a message the Doctor and a question from me" is his best and most badass moment, I love it when he has agency of his own (see also: The Girl Who Waited, still to come). Introducing the Paternoster gang was a stroke of genius, though I think, for smoother storytelling, I'd have preferred all three of them to have been introduced throughout 6A so their presence would have made more sense. Lorna Bucket didn't feel super relevant to the plot in the end so would've preferred that time being spent on other characters. The Headless Monks are terrifying and I'd have loved to see more of them really, they're defeated quite quickly, but a fantastic concept for a villain! Karen Gillan gives an amazing performance in this episode too, from the reunion scene with Rory and the Doctor, to realising baby Melody is a flesh duplicate. Of course, the reveal scene with River is amazing, too (despite Let's Kill Hitler not really following up on this cliffhanger very well). A high energy episode with some fantastic twists, it's pure chaos but the stakes are noticeably high and it's my favourite arc-centric episode of the series.

Voyage I remember enjoying at the time, but not so much anymore - it’s just so long and feels a bit like a chore.

THE/CB i always enjoy and whilst CB is the weaker of the 2 eps, it’s still a great story. Always seems to be hated a bit in fandom, but I always enjoy a fair bit.

AGMGTW - a strong ep and it felt great at the time to have who River is confirmed, some big ideas in this and possibly needed more time to deal with the ending revelation. Also LKH kind of hurts things a bit as it becomes an info dump Episode and it should be dealing more with Amy and Rory and the impact of their child being taken.

Does introduce Jenny, Strax and Vastra too - which is only a good thing

Edited October 12, 2025Oct 12 by ElectroBoy

77 Demons of the Punjab

Series 11 Episode 6

Doctor: 13th

Companion: Yasmin Khan, Graham O'Brien, Ryan Sinclair

Also featuring: Najia Khan, Sonya Khan

First aired: 11th November 2018

Writer: Vinay Patel

One thing I really appreciated about series 11 was the variety of its historical episodes, and the middle one of three was the closest to a "pure" historical the modern show's had. With Yaz keen to explore her heritage, the Doctor hesitantly takes her to see her young grandmother Umbreen to uncover the mystery behind a broken watch gifted to her. What unfolds is a beautifully told story rooted in a culture that the show hadn't touched on before. Umbreen, a Muslim woman, was about to marry Prem, a Hindu man, which itself causes tension amongst the families. Throw in the extra factor of the partition of India being just days away from being finalised, causing further jeopardy for the couple. What I appreciate is how Umbreen's story and the effect of the religious tension is at the heart of the episode, with the alien "threat" turning out to not be a threat at all - the Thijarians are there to watch over an impending death, commemorating them as opposed to causing the death themselves. It has moments of being a bit slow, as it's far from being an action-packed episodes, but quite honestly anything more fast-paced would've ruined the atmosphere here. It's one of Yaz's best episodes and I wish we'd learned more about her heritage and culture through her time in the TARDIS. It's still not perfect, and suffers from some of the same issues as almost every Chibnall script (Graham and Ryan don't really offer much), but it's a unique episode and one of the most educational for me personally.

AGMGTW , great episode, Rory getting a badass moment is always great to see, TPG a great trio but I do agree maybe we should of had more of how we got to them (also I say this every TPG episode why didnt we get that spinoff 😢) the RS/MP was expectedly executed but unfortunately as other of said wasn't followed up well great mid-season finale shame we only had 1 more since,

DOTP a great historical episode, was nice to see more of Yaz backstreet and actually start to flesh out the companions, (even if Ryan and Graham were basically relegated to being wet lettuces) the educational ones were definitely the stronger stories of the chibnal era

Catching up x

The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar - This was generally very solid, some quite naff elements that didn't work so well (take those glasses off, Doctor x) but I really liked the Doctor/Davros connection and feel that's the best presentation of him we've got this era.

The Snowmen - One of the best Christmas specials, Moffat did them very well as it really felt like there was a scary threat and got the emotion right, it sits in between the season arcs so doesn't lend itself the best to rewatches, but I did really like Clara here, better than she was with Smith.

Listen - This is actually a hot take from you I share - I've always found this episode a bit overrated, it's very emotional and I do think it does bring out the human in the Doctor's very cold character at the time, but I just never liked Danny Pink and it was just too slow paced for me to really get into. I do understand it's esteem and appeal, but it's just never quite clicked.

The Christmas Invasion - Probably still my favourite Christmas special, though it is the one I remember the best. My only issue with it is the pacing is really languid before Ten wakes up. The threat is really strong and for a generally silly outing with murderous Santa robots and Christmas trees, the dark images of the population walking close to their deaths and the Doctor's opening ramble and subsequent swordfight and ultimate merciless act I think made him stand out instantly as a more perky yet still PTSD-driven version. My favourite is the ending though, goes very dark after the celebratory scenes and how the Doctor reacts to such a cruel act is such a subtle yet very pertinent way of showing how politicians can become undone by rumours.

Under the Lake/Before the Flood - The classic Doctor Who two parter formula of a very intriguing and tense first act undone by quite an uninteresting second act, I barely remember the conclusion and how it was resolved it was so brushed over, a shame, the Doctor's cue cards were indeed a standout little moment I remember.

The Caretaker - I find this one quite underrated actually, the villain is silly, but the tension building between the Doctor and Clara and Danny is a good set-up for Kill the Moon, and the comedy is excellent, Clara shouting 'HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT OTTERS' in response to the Doctor does make me laugh for some reason x

Voyage of the Damned - I think this is one that I really liked at the time as it was seen as a bit of a blockbuster with the show in it's imperial phase and Kylie featuring, it's not stuck in my mind as well, but I have still got some nostalgic fondness for it. Kylie was a much better character than I was expecting, her death was very sad.

The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood - I get this confused with the Crimson Horror in my mind, I think their aesthetics are similar. I recall both parts being one of those decent but not too memorable episodes of the Smith era.

A Good Man Goes to War - Like most of arc-based S6, very timey-wimey and confusing, but I do recall this being better than how it concluded. Need to revisit this era really so I can give it a fresh perspective.

Demons of the Punjab - Chibnall definitely did the edutainment historical episodes very well, this is a really good episode, at the time, I thought it was just retreading the same paths as Rosa did, but on reflection, I do prefer it to that one. Not only is the concept something that hasn't always had the same level of exposure as the US Civil Rights movement, but the deceiving aliens, as well as having very good designs, have more of a purpose and aren't superfluous and the ending scene hits a lot harder and is more brutal. Plus, I do like that we finally learn something about Yaz (Ryan and Graham are useless as a result of this, but that was par for the course at this point). I think this is my favourite episode from S11 actually, a diamond in the rust x

76 Hell Bent

Series 9 Episode 12

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Ashildr

First aired: 5th December 2015

Writer: Steven Moffat

The finale to series 9 is a divisive episode, particularly following a near-universally loved penultimate episode, but I largely enjoy Hell Bent. Angry over the loss of Clara, the Doctor returns to Gallifrey after surviving his confession dial. Banishing Rassilon and taking control of the citadel, the Doctor uses an extraction window to save Clara in her last second of life, but with her death being a fixed point in time, this isn't without consequence. There are some parallels between 12 and 10 in this episode, with a slightly arrogant expectation that the universe will bend around the Doctor and his decisions, even when they really can't. Peter Capaldi is on top form (unsurprisingly), delivering so much anger in his silence for the first part of the episode. It's pretty epic to see him simply refuse to follow orders from the Time Lords, refuse bribes, and wait them out until he gets what he wants. Extracting Clara and providing her with something of a happy ending, despite her death remaining an inevitability at some point, felt like a more fitting end for such a significant companion, though the tragedy of Face the Raven hit harder when it felt like more of a finality than it was (more on that later though). I don't like the Doctor shooting the General, even knowing regeneration would follow instead of death, because it feels so out of character, though I suppose the Doctor was somewhat out of character in this episode, focusing more selfishly on his reliance on Clara than on the greater good. The quiet moments between the Doctor and Clara were fantastic, especially as Clara realises how long the Doctor was in the confession dial for. All of this interspersed between the Doctor and Clara in the diner - I initially thought this may have been another Clara splinter, then perhaps that Clara's memory was wiped, until the real gut punch comes and it's the Doctor who loses his memories of his friend, a great twist. I can see why some find this to be a messy episode but I really enjoy it as a character study, particularly in the context of 12's character arc and what causes him to mellow somewhat.

As much as FTR was a fitting end to the clara story Im not against the ending of HB, (although would of been nice to at least have a clara and ME episode at some point to justify it a bit more), the doctor doing a lot of out of character things does make sense after all the time spent in the confession dial and he was essentially a desperate man here, was also nice to see the times lords and Rassilon getting his just deserts (again suprised he hasn't retaliated in any way since) definitely one of the stronger finales for me

The reveals in A Good Man Goes To War:

I will admit I don't have strong views on the other two episodes atm, defo would be on a list for a rewatch for me.

75 The Pilot

Series 10 Episode 1

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Bill Potts, Nardole

First aired: 15th April 2017

Writer: Steven Moffat

From a companion farewell to a companion introduction! The start of series 10 gave us our first real companion introduction story since Clara's four years prior*, and the result was a breath of fresh air. University canteen worker Bill Potts catches the eye of the Doctor, whose lectures she continually sits through despite not being a student herself. Offering her the chance to study with private tuition, Bill quickly learns a lot more about her professor as well as the universe. The Pilot is just the reset it felt like the show needed at that point - it had been 18 months since the last series, and series 9 had been a mixed bag for me, but Bill Potts made an immediately brilliant first impression. Pearl Mackie really delivers in portraying a companion who's inquisitive (in ways no other companion has been), but also stands up for what is right and doesn't take nonsense from the Doctor (notably the mindwipe attempt). The threat is relatively thin, as a being made out of fluid chases the Doctor, Bill and Nardole to various locations in the TARDIS, but it works in many ways too. The being taking the form of Heather, Bill's love interest, adds an emotive layer to the episode, and of course that pays off even more later down the line. It gives Bill a whistle-stop tour of the Doctor's life and shows her how the TARDIS works, etc quite quickly. Bill's introduction teaser being integrated was pretty smart, too, even if the Daleks don't really serve much of a purpose in the episode otherwise. It's a strong episode with a good concept and it lays some excellent foundations for one of the most underrated TARDIS teams.

*not counting Nardole here as The Husbands of River Song was before he became companion, therefore he didn't really get a typical companion intro story.

Also shoutout to "asBill" x

Really enjoyed the pilot, other than Martha Bill is another companion that deserved to be in more episodes, the reset was both i trigging and weird considering we knew it was Moffats last, yeah the villian was naff but then again so were the autos in Rose but parralels between the 2 both episodes were great companion introductions, the Heather thing might of packed more of a punch if they kept in the rumoured extended scene of Heather and bills relationship, never the less iit does lead to a bigger moment later in the series, was nice to see Nardole back but PMs Bill was the real star

The Pilot's great and a good reset/ jumping on point. Bill is instantly likeable and has great chemistry with the Doctor. There's some good mystery with the vault and some great tense, moments with the Puddle as it pursues Bill.

Also fun to see cameo's of the Movellans on the space station. I feel I like The Pilot more with each watch as it feels like a perfect introduction to the show... and introduces Bill.

Edited October 16, 2025Oct 16 by ElectroBoy

74 Deep Breath

Series 8 Episode 1

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, Strax, Missy, Courtney Woods

First aired: 23rd August 2014

Writer: Steven Moffat

From one Capaldi series opener to another! A newly regenerated Doctor lands in Victorian London after being swallowed by a dinosaur, because why not? His erratic behaviour leaves Clara feeling isolated both literally and metaphorically, with only Madame Vastra's tough love to help her understand the process of regeneration. Together, they have to team up to investigate the mysterious Half-Face Man and a spaceship disguised as a restaurant, filled with robots. Deep Breath is one of the boldest series openers the show's had, in my view. It had a big job to do in terms of introducing a new Doctor, and it took a considerably less fluffy approach than all of the modern predecessors in that department. 12 is immediately difficult to warm to (put across incredibly by Peter Capaldi, who hits the ground running in a major way), and it's easy to understand why Clara finds it so difficult to warm to such a drastic change from the Doctor she thought she knew. This allows us to get to know Clara on a deeper level than any episode before, and it's where she really begins to click as a companion with agency, who knows her own mind, and has considerable depth to her character. It's also the best episode for the Paternoster gang, in my view - Vastra delivers harsh truths, and Strax's comedy scenes are at their very best, Clara being hit by the newspaper is one of the funniest scenes in the whole show I'm not sure it was a particularly good opener in terms of luring in a casual audience, as it's a little slow at points, but it's a rewarding watch, especially in the context of the full series 8, and the full arc of the Twelfth Doctor. I loved the subtle callback to The Girl in the Fireplace, too - nothing too in your face, but a treat for the fans in an episode that feels primarily written for them as opposed to a wider audience. The ambiguous ending was a part of 12's character I thought we'd perhaps see more of, but it's never picked up on again. Nevertheless, the question of whether the Half-Face Man jumped or was pushed is quite an interesting thought to leave the audience with.

73 The Time of the Doctor

2013 Christmas Special

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Amy Pond

First aired: 25th December 2013

Writer: Steven Moffat

We go just one episode back from Deep Breath now, to the Eleventh Doctor's final outing. When thousands of spaceships orbit a planet, the Doctor and Clara investigate, whilst also juggling Clara's Christmas dinner. The planet, which they discover to be Trenzalore, is transmitting the question - "Doctor who?" - and with the help of Tasha Lem, of the Church of the Papal Mainframe, the Doctor finds a crack in time to Gallifrey. I remember not being too fussed by this episode at the time of airing, as it's very all over the place, and elements of it do rely on having remembered details from earlier Eleventh Doctor stories, which wasn't so easy in real time when some storyline strands had been ongoing for the best part of three years! I've warmed to it considerably in that time, though. Handles is a particular highlight and I'd have loved to see him play a bigger role, perhaps throughout series 7B. Tasha Lem is cool and I wish we'd seen her before now too as it would've tied the episode together even more. The Doctor on Trenzalore is fantastic and it feels like a really fitting way for 11 to see out his final days, defending a small village from an army. Matt Smith has plenty of heart in the quiet moments, with Barnable as well as Clara when she returns from being sent away (the daylight scene is my favourite of the episode), as well as a brilliant fierceness when confronting the Daleks at the episode's climax. As for 11's final scenes, I think he has some of the best closing dialogue of any departing Doctor, and the Amy cameo was beautiful. An episode I really enjoy rewatching and a perfect summary of 11's era.

Surprised TTOTD is so high, given the placement of some of the other Smith stories.

Such a shame Smith didn't stay for another full series and instead a load of arcs had to be compressed down into 60 minutes. I do enjoy the story, but it does feel like it needs to breathe and as though its got too much to do - even if this was a 2-Parter, it probably would've helped massively.

Saying that Smith is superb in this story, especially as he gets older and older - he gives a great, emotional performance and I love his ending line 'I'll always remember when the Doctor was me.'

Deep Breath I feel as the opposite problem - its overly long and I don't think has the plot to really carry its big length. The Paternoster Gang are great, as is Capaldi but it isn't a story I return to that much.

As much as i enjoyed DB, it was weird that it was the longest none special ever (isnt it lile the 3rd or 4th ever), TPG always a great supporting cast and definetly helped with claras understandably strong reaction to the doctor changing (although given she was now aware of her splinters was it hmm) was the matt smith cameo at the end really necessary though, loved the missy (before we knew) cameo at the end and the neversphere was an interesting concept

TTOTD , agree that making it a 2 parter probably would of fleshed it out a bit more and make it feel less rushed with all the plot threads to tie (heck DT got a 2 parter) otherwise was another great episode and the timelord twust was expertly done (even if was later confusd by the timeless child) maybe there was a bit too much to digest on christmas day though ?

72 Time Heist

Series 8 Episode 5

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Danny Pink

First aired: 20th September 2014

Writer: Stephen Thompson & Steven Moffat

Completing a Clara Oswald hat trick, we return to the 12th Doctor's era, and his first series to be specific. Time Heist saw the Doctor and Clara launched into a mission to rob the dangerous high-security Bank of Karabraxos, but they have to do it without their guilt being detected by the Teller. This is an underrated episode, I find, but it's a really fun concept, and one that feels quite unique to Doctor Who, too. The memory worm making its comeback (sadly without Strax) was a genius way to introduce mystery to both the characters and the audience, and the characters of Psi and Saibra are likeable allies too. The Teller's design is fantastic, and Keeley Hawes leans into her villainous role as Ms Delphox with just the right amount of camp, though the only real downside is that I don't think the twist of Madame Karabraxos cloning herself, Ms Delphox being one of those clones, really hit hard enough. The plot ties up excellently at the end as we learn who the Architect is, and it's still really enjoyable on rewatch despite knowing the twist is to come. A much needed relatively light episode in series 8!

Sorry for the slow pace recently, been a bit of a weird few weeks for me, but I'm on half term next week so hoping to pick the pace back up x

Keeley Hawes was definitely the stand out of TH (but she is in everything she is in) do agree that it was nice to have a more fun episode after the more heavier listen, Psi and Saibra were interesting characters that did feel like we may of seen more off though,

71 The Woman Who Fell to Earth

Series 11 Episode 1

Doctor: 13th

Companion: Yasmin Khan, Graham O'Brien, Ryan Sinclair

Also featuring: Grace O'Brien

First aired: 7th October 2018

Writer: Chris Chibnall

A landmark episode of Doctor Who arrived in 2018 as we saw a woman in the lead role for the first time in the show's 55 year history. Jodie Whittaker's first episode saw her encounter new friends Yaz, Graham, Grace and Ryan, and together they faced off against Tzim-Sha of the Stenza, with deadly consequences. It set the tone for the series that followed, and I think it captures the vibe Chibnall wanted better than any episode that came after. The introductions to the companions felt natural and each one, Grace included, played a role in this episode in a way they struggled to replicate after the first few episodes. Tzim-Sha was a good villain in this episode and quite honestly I think he should've been left as a one-off villain without that ropey finale outing. Jodie hits the ground running as you'd expect, and the result is a really enjoyable first episode. Grace's death was gutting and I actually think was a waste of someone who showed more promise than the other three, I'd honestly have preferred watching Jodie and Sharon D Clarke for the whole series without any other companions! Bonus points for the comedy moments - the inexplicable salad man, and of course, "Ryan Sinclair, don't you dare" x