Wouldn't let you watch Torchwood? I never watched Torchwood, didn't pique my interest.

28 minutes ago, Henessy Lake said:

Wouldn't let you watch Torchwood? I never watched Torchwood, didn't pique my interest.

For context, I was 9 when series 1 aired! Given the nature of some of the episodes (episode 2 very particularly), I understood their decision

I was allowed to watch the pre-watershed edited versions of series 2 (the only series they did it for, removed the swearing/gore/etc but it was a lot tamer than series 1 anyway) and of course did watch series 1 eventually, then 3 and 4 as they aired. Series 3 (Children of Earth) is a masterpiece IMO, one of the greatest things I've ever seen on TV. 2's largely good as it learns from the mistakes of 1, but 1 isn't without merit, it's just a bit tryhard at times and struggling to find its tone. 4 ends up a mess despite the cool concept sadly.

1 minute ago, JosephStyles said:

For context, I was 9 when series 1 aired! Given the nature of some of the episodes (episode 2 very particularly), I understood their decision

I was allowed to watch the pre-watershed edited versions of series 2 (the only series they did it for, removed the swearing/gore/etc but it was a lot tamer than series 1 anyway) and of course did watch series 1 eventually, then 3 and 4 as they aired. Series 3 (Children of Earth) is a masterpiece IMO, one of the greatest things I've ever seen on TV. 2's largely good as it learns from the mistakes of 1, but 1 isn't without merit, it's just a bit tryhard at times and struggling to find its tone. 4 ends up a mess despite the cool concept sadly.

Yeah the first half of series 1 you can tell they were trying a bit too hard to make it adult at times, 🤣🤣

49 Mummy on the Orient Express

Series 8 Episode 8

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Danny Pink

First aired: 11th October 2014

Writer: Jamie Mathieson

We return to series 8 for the first time in a while with a concept that was teased three series earlier, in the closing moments of series 5 finale The Big Bang! We finally visit the Orient Express (the space version) as the Doctor takes Clara on what is supposed to be one final trip. When they arrive, they find a passenger has been killed by a mummy that no other passenger could see. There's some really fantastic concepts in this - the mummy that you could only see if you're its next victim is a chilling idea, and the mummy, aka the Foretold, has a fantastically gruesome design. I really like Frank Skinner as the ship's engineer Perkins, definitely one of the most memorable side characters of series 8. This episode also highlights one of the strengths of series 8 - the continuity and consistency is the best of any Moffat series, in my view, as we don't forget about Clara's anger towards the Doctor from the end of the previous episode (Kill the Moon), and actually explore it further. Between that and the pure scientific approach of the Doctor and the other assembled experts aboard the train, this episode ticks every box, and is the third highest episode from series 8.

MOTOE was a great episode in exploring the knock on effect of companions having to make devastating decisions in the previous episode quite often they get forgotten about and carrying on never to be brought up again, capaldi and Coleman chemistry and aminosity really shine through, frank skinner acting chops are great to and show he's a lot more than just a comedian, definitely one of the stronger episodes of an overall strong series

48 The Angels Take Manhattan

Series 7 Episode 5

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song

First aired: 29th September 2012

Writer: Steven Moffat

It's been a while since we've herd from series 7 - the last episode was The Power of Three at #104! The first half of the series ended with a trip to New York in the present day, where the Doctor, Amy and Rory's calm trip quickly turns disastrous as a book, written by Melody Malone, eerily begins to describe their situation. Quickly, the Doctor and Amy embark on a race to find Rory through time, with the help of River Song, before the Weeping Angels catch up to them. Now, let's get the obvious out of the way - the Statue of Liberty being a Weeping Angel is absolutely daft, despite it being ambitious, iconic imagery! It's the only daft part of the episode, though, because I think it manages to capture the same tense, terrifying vibes of the Angels, even if this is my personal least favourite outing of theirs. It's a fitting send off for both Amy and Rory, and I like that Amy vows that her and Rory stay together, even when he's at the top of the building - it speaks volumes about how far her character's come since her introduction. Their final scene, particularly Amy's goodbye, is heartbreaking, and definitely one of the best companion departure scenes we've had. An ambitious timey-wimey episode but a fitting end to Amy and Rory's story.

Mummy On The Orient Express sefo in top 20 for me just brillant epiaode and again we see that poweful dynamic between Doctor and Clara :wub:

I dont think ill ever recover from the angels take manhatran ending

47 Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel

Series 2 Episode 5-6

Doctor: 10th

Companion: Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith

Also featuring: Jackie Tyler, Pete Tyler

First aired: 13th and 20th May 2006

Writer: Tom MacRae

Among the first episodes I saw overall, my first encounter with the Cybermen is one that holds up well for me. The TARDIS crash lands on a parallel Earth, where zeppelins cover the sky, and Rose's dad isn't just alive, but he's rich, albeit daughterless. In this technologically advanced world, dying businessman John Lumic has created a solution to his (and everyone's) mortality, and upgrade isn't optional. This episode feels very dystopian from the start, with the uncanny valley-style eeriness to a planet that's similar to ours but not quite the same, and Rose not existing in that timeline encapsulates it well too (though Rose the dog is hilarious x). I think the Cybermen are really well (re)introduced here, and they actually appear as a strong, credible and terrifying threat, because there's a strong focus on them being humans. One of my favourite scenes is the Doctor and Mrs Moore talking to a Cyberman without the emotional inhibitor working - chilling! The upgrade process being a key part of this episode is why I think the fear factor is high, too, particularly when Jackie is captured and upgraded, not to mention seeing people just walk into the upgrades without reacting at all because they're being brainwashed by the ear pods. So many great ideas in this story and I don't think it gets the credit it deserves!

These episodes are so good. Mickey really steps up, Rose finding out she's been replaced with a dog in this storyline is really funny and there's some really touching moments with her and her dad and with Mickey at the end

46 The Zygon Invasion / The Zygon Inversion

Series 9 Episode 7-8

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Osgood

First aired: 31st October and 7th November 2015

Writer: Peter Harness & Steven Moffat

The 50th anniversary saw an inspired choice of returning villain - the Zygons. Previously only seen in 1975 Tom Baker serial Terror of the Zygons, The Day of the Doctor set up an interesting premise - humans and Zygons living side-by-side in society. This two-parter picks up on that idea directly, as the truce begins to fail and a faction of Zygons begin to fight back, taking Osgood, the keeper of the peace, hostage. There's some really inspired ideas in this one, including a shapeshifting race rebelling by appearing as the loved ones of the soldiers supposed to be fighting them, and I love the twist of Clara actually being a Zygon duplicate - Jenna Coleman excels as the vengeful Bonnie! Of course, the real shining moment of this story is the Doctor's monologue on war in the second part, as both Bonnie and Kate find themselves desperate to end the war between their species with the Osgood boxes. It's both well written and well acted, and arguably one of Capaldi's finest moments as the Doctor.

TATM, was a great episode and a very fitting end to the ponds tenure on the show and went a long way in undoing the damage done to them In the earlier series 7 episode, the will they won't they bait and switch right up until the end was expertly done and I do love how they git both a tragic and a happy ending at the same time also fitting that Amy and rivers first and last episodes together were weeping Angel based

ROTC brought the cybermen back strong the parallel world concept was interesting and plant seeds well for future episode, ws good to see a different side of Noel Clarke with Ricky honourable mention to parallel Rose being a dog 🤣TAOS concludes the story well although bumping of Ricky and Parallel Jackie did conveniently set up obvious resolutions in later episode 🤣🤣 a great pair of cybermen episodes really ramped up why they were such iconic foes but with a modern twist

TZI/TZI another decent pair of episodes the Zygons were well built upon their previous appearance in TDOTD Jenna Coleman was fantastic in her dual roles as Bonnie and Clara and that cliffhanger to part 1 beautifully done, with an interesting resolution that I didnt quite see coming oh and Osgood 🙌🙌🙌 brilliant character that needs to come back again (like half these characters that work for unit but dont seem to turn up for works 🤣🤣)

45 The God Complex

Series 6 Episode 11

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

First aired: 17th September 2011

Writer: Toby Whithouse

With how arc-heavy series 6 is, I've always really appreciated the standalone episodes, and sure enough, the two episodes that feature in my top 50 are both largely separate from the series arc. The Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves in an old-fashioned hotel, where a Minotaur is killing the "guests" trapped there. Even more creepy is that everyone has a room containing their deepest fear, and after seeing it, you wish for the Minotaur to kill you...! Undoubtedly the eeriest episode of series 6 and one of the most creepy in all of Doctor Who for me - the dummies!!! The concept is fantastic, elevated by a varied and interesting guest cast, particularly Rita, who's very much a "companion who never was", and I love the idea of the rooms. I do find the conclusion a little forgettable for such a great episode, and the way the hotel just...fades to reveal a simulation is a little disappointing, but the rest of the episode is really strong and has some great ideas and conversations about faith, too.

Love The God Complex! Such a great story - the editing is amazing too.

Good to see it in your Top 50!

TGC a very enjoyable episode nice break from the arc heavy series my only minor gripe is the ending, considering how much the leads had gone through it seemed a tad off especially with 2 episodes left, other than that the minotaur character and Rita were well done,

44 Last Christmas

2014 Christmas Special

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Danny Pink

First aired: 25th December 2014

Writer: Steven Moffat

Suitably, the highest festive special is the one that actually features Santa Claus...! The Doctor reunites with Clara as they visit a base on the North Pole infested with Dream Crabs, which distract their victims with a dream state while they devour their brains, but why is Santa Claus there, and how can you tell when it's a dream and when it isn't? There's a lot to love in this episode, and the closure on Clara and Danny's relationship feels fitting, even if it happens inside a dream, and I love the Doctor and Clara realising that they lied to each other at the end of Death in Heaven. There's a good guest cast, including Shona, at one point a consideration for a new companion had Jenna Coleman chosen not to return for series 9. The concept of the Dream Crabs makes for a fantastic episode where you're doubting everything you see, as dreams are wrapped up in dreams which are wrapped up in dreams. It's the type of script only Steven Moffat could pull off, and pull it off he absolutely does.

LC like how can you not against actual santa clause, and the dream crabs were a great villain definitely one that can be enjoyed as a one off without any context at all, part of me is intrigued what could of been if Jenna Coleman did leave here, series 9 was fantastic, and would we of still gotten Bill all ifs and buts but Clara staying was still well done

The God Complex is definitely a great episode that holds up well on rewatches of series 6, but with 6 being one of my favourite series I don't know if it'd rank quite so high.

Last Christmas is up there with The Snowmen as one of the best Christmas specials

I saw a tweet recently that compared Moffat Christmas specials to RTD ones, noting that Moffat had a flair for making Christmas specials about Christmas, very magical and grand stories whereas RTD merely used it as a backdrop that's forgotten about in the grand scheme of things with the content itself, episodes just coincidentally happening at Christmas. Last Christmas (and maybe all of Capaldi's other specials actually lmao?) is probably Moffat's biggest example of adopting RTD's approach instead and it works really well.

43 The Fires of Pompeii

Series 4 Episode 2

Doctor: 10th

Companion: Donna Noble

First aired: 12th April 2008

Writer: James Moran

When I think of the structure of a Russell T Davies series, I think of it often starting very light-hearted and jovial, before the real meaty episodes arrive in the second half of the run, but series 4 really bucks the trend. Sure, its opener is a total hoot, but already, on Donna's first proper trip in the TARDIS, she's faced with the most impossible situation. The TARDIS arrives in Rome in 79 AD, except it's not Rome, it's Pompeii, and it's the day Mount Vesuvius erupts. However, something is wrong, and creatures made of fire and stone have infiltrated the city. This episode is the moment I realised Catherine Tate wasn't just hired for comedic value, and that she had a superb range to bring to the role of Donna. Quickly, Donna challenges the Doctor on his "fixed point" approach, particularly as they get to know Caecilius and his family. The scene where the Doctor and Donna realise the real choice - the volcano wasn't supposed to erupt, but they must make it do so, killing the residents of Pompeii and creating history, to save the world from the Pyrovile invasion. It's heartbreaking but so well acted, even more so when Donna insists that they at least save Caecilius, Metella, Quintus and Evelina. An emotionally charged episode and one of the strongest examples of why Donna is a phenomenal companion.

Last Christmas and Fires of Pompeii are stories I feel I should like more.

I like the set-up of both, but they just lose me part way through and they become a bit dull for me. Pompeii brings it back with Tate's brilliant performance when Donna first of all has to make the decision about Pompeii or the world, and again when she asks the Doctor to save someone.

They're ok, but I don't think they'd make my top 50.

Pompeii I do find a little boring in parts but the last act is so good