TFOP was definitely a unique one in planting the seed for capaldis regeneration which in the end was a huge impact as we though, the idea of always trying to at least save someone was beautifully done showing Donna was a very key companion to this doctor, it really put the foot on the pedal and accelerated on what was already a great start to series 4 , was also nice to see Karen gilan before she became a companion, similar to freema having minor roles first😀

42 Asylum of the Daleks

Series 7 Episode 1

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Also featuring: Oswin Oswald

First aired: 1st September 2012

Writer: Steven Moffat

The first series to lose all of its episodes is, unsurprisingly, series 7, as its opening episode just misses the top 40. The Daleks assemble the Doctor and a now-estranged Amy and Rory, unusually, to get their help. They're sent down to the Dalek asylum, a planet for the insane and damaged Daleks, to assist in its destruction. There's little I have to criticise about any episode at this point of the countdown, but my only qualm about this episode is Amy and Rory's separation - the fact it happened off screen made it feel extra unnecessary as it wasn't actually explored, and felt engineered just for the sake of a plotline. Thankfully, it's not a big part of the episode, and it's one of my most rewatched episodes of the Smith era. I love the concept of the Dalek asylum, and the Daleks themselves actually being scared of it...! Rory getting separated makes for a great scene with the reactivating Daleks, and Amy hallucinating a ballerina from a spinning Dalek is lowkey hilarious. The real exciting part of this episode was the surprise appearance of Jenna Coleman, having been announced already as the next companion, though of course, she plays Oswin Oswald in this episode and not Clara. Nevertheless, the twist of her appearance is just the beginning, as the twist of her actually being a Dalek is an even better one! Loads of great Dalek ideas and undoubtedly the best Moffat era Dalek episode in my opinion, with some brilliant new ideas in there.

Is that 42nd place or 42 sneaking another position?

Asylum of the Daleks always holds up well on re-watch for me. Moffat's take on Dalek stories was always so interesting and delving that bit deeper into the psychology behind them, motives, providing different landscapes for them to be explored, the politics among them. And of course Jenna's surprise appearance in the episode, will always remember where I was and how shook I was

AOTD will always be remembered for that shock Jenna early appearance just a shame the rest of the impossible girl arc didnt quite live up to its potential, seeing all the different Daleks was a visually pleasing too id have to agree that it's the best episode of series 7 or at least on par with Angels, my only gripe is the Ponds divorce drama seemed a little rushed and put of nowhere (yes i knkw the minsodes) especially after we spent the last 2 series building up such an unbreakable bond

41 Dot and Bubble

Season 1 Episode 5

Doctor: 15th

Companion: Ruby Sunday

First aired: 1st June 2024

Writer: Russell T Davies

As mentioned already, Doctor-lite episodes in 8 episode seasons shouldn't feel like a necessity, though I know for Ncuti Gatwa's first season as the Doctor, they had to work around the tail end of his Sex Education schedule. That said, each of the Doctor-lite episodes has actually been a home run for me. Dot and Bubble followed Lindy Pepper-Bean in the world of Finetime, where each resident has their own "dot and bubble" - a device around their head which easily connects them to their friends, and even guides them on how to walk and what to do, not to mention keeping them fully oblivious to the slug-like creatures eating the people around them. Though the Doctor and Ruby don't feature much in this one, their presence is significant in furthering the narrative, and I don't think any Doctor Who episode's prompted such interesting discussions, as everyone recognised the microaggressions and racist behaviour that Lindy displayed at different moments. Of course, as uncomfortable as that element was, it's an important topic to tackle, and it really shapes the later part of the episode, where the gorgeous (and I mean, gorgeous) Ricky September is thrown to the wolves, or rather, the dot, as Lindy saves her own life without any regard for the man who'd previously helped her out. This sets the scene perfectly for Lindy to finally meet the Doctor, and reject his offer of an easy way out. The Doctor's reaction to this was heartbreaking, and is one of Ncuti's very best moments in the role, in one of the first scenes he filmed. A unique episode, potentially gimmicky to start with, but with an important message that certainly inspired interesting discussions online and in my own household.

DAB was definitely a different kind of episode and could plausible be something that becomes accurate in the future with the way social media is going, lindy was definitely well cast as a character that took you on an emotional roller coaster from initial sympathy , to Hated by episode end, Cutie was great in his very emotional speech at the end too overall another great episode that gets a lot of unwarranted hatridge

40 The Time of Angels / Flesh and Stone

Series 5 Episode 4-5

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Amy Pond, River Song

First aired: 24th April and 1st May 2010

Writer: Steven Moffat

Bringing back the Weeping Angels was always going to be a risk. They worked so well in Blink that a return appearance could risk jeopardising the mystery and fear factor that comes with them, but at the same time, with Steven Moffat taking over as showrunner, it felt inevitable that he'd revisit not only his most famous creation as a guest writer, but the most notable new monster from modern Who's run, whilst also picking up on a character he'd introduced in a different episode. The Doctor and Amy join River Song to find a missing Weeping Angel in the wreckage of a crashed ship, but a dark cave must be crossed before the wreckage can be reached. This story totally succeeds in keeping the Angels as a force to be reckoned with, while introducing new elements to their lore - "that which holds the image of an Angel becomes itself an Angel" was an incredible twist, and I didn't mind the shots of the Angels moving (though I'd never want to see anything more than that). River's a delight as always and I was really excited to see her again after loving her in series 4, and she immediately had great chemistry with Matt Smith's Doctor. Amy really comes into her own in this two-parter too, though I'd rather forget about the last few minutes of Flesh and Stone...!

The Time of Angels / Flesh and Stone really did do well to keep the Angels as a menacing, mysterious presence without giving too much away when we eventually saw them move. Sadly I do feel later down the line though they were milked for appearances where they weren't totally necessary (see: The Time of the Doctor however fleeting).

Graham Norton will never be allowed to forget how he ruined the cliffhanger moment either x

21 minutes ago, Calum said:

The Time of Angels / Flesh and Stone really did do well to keep the Angels as a menacing, mysterious presence without giving too much away when we eventually saw them move. Sadly I do feel later down the line though they were milked for appearances where they weren't totally necessary (see: The Time of the Doctor however fleeting).

Graham Norton will never be allowed to forget how he ruined the cliffhanger moment either x

I'll agree with that - it's the cameo appearances that were the problem I think. Not so much in The God Complex but I don't think they were necessary in The Time of the Doctor or Hell Bent at all, for example.

TTOA/ FAS was a great reappearance of the angels that managed to expand on the mythology without ruining them, and we got to see River again (who was apparently only supposed to be a one off character) and really kickstarted her mystery, Karen gilan continued to be strong and her chemistry with Matt Smith and Alex Kingston is through the roof, the pairing was spot on, the less said about that last scene the better even Moffat regrets it, I will say the reveal that the angels killed Bob by snapping his neck seemed dark but definitely added to their menace

The Time of Angels/ Flesh and Stone - top 10 Who for me

Dot and Bubble is fantastic too, I think its my most rewatched Gatwa story.

Edited January 11Jan 11 by ElectroBoy

39 The Haunting of Villa Diodati

Series 12 Episode 8

Doctor: 13th

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

First aired: 16th February 2020

Writer: Maxine Alderton

With a known Cyberman finale around the corner, this episode felt a little like it could be the calm before the storm in series 12. How wrong I was! The Doctor and companions arrive at Villa Diodati, where Mary Shelley, Claire Clairmont, Dr John Polidori and Lord Byron are staying, but with Mary's fiancé Percy Bysse Shelley missing, and an unusual figure materialising in the lightning, literature is no longer the top priority. This episode somewhat pulling a Utopia was really exciting at the time - the Lone Cyberman arriving an episode early was a great surprise, and what a strong episode for it to happen during! A part-converted Cyberman in a haunted house, alongside Frankenstein writer Mary Shelley, feels very appropriate, and it feels like the closest connection between a "celebrity" historical figure and the associated monster possibly since The Shakespeare Code. It's a tense episode and I love that we see a darker side to the 13th Doctor too, Jodie really pulls it off well. A fantastic prelude to the finale but also a great episode in its own right.

The only thing The Haunting of Villa Diodati suffers from is, once again, the Chibnall-era-wide problem of having such a large guest cast that Yaz, Graham and Ryan are essentially just fodder to add a couple of lines here and there. Other than that, this was a sensational first script from Maxine Alderton (future showrunner chances scuppered now though I fear) and I agree with your Utopia comparison; a brilliant lead-in to the finale. Jodie definitely delivered one of her finest moments as the Doctor here too with her speech towards the end.

I've watched THOVD a few times and its a story I just don't get the hype for really. I know its fairly popular, but it always drags for me. Might have to give it another go as there are a couple of good moments and off course the episodes gives way to the series finale... but it never really does it for me when I've watched it.

38 Rosa

Series 11 Episode 3

Doctor: 13th

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

First aired: 21st October 2018

Writer: Malorie Blackman & Chris Chibnall

Series 11 taps out with this episode, marking my favourite from Jodie Whittaker's first run as the Doctor. Attempting to return to Sheffield in the present day, the TARDIS instead lands in Alabama in 1955, where the Doctor and her new friends find a hostile environment, traces of artron energy, and the legendary Rosa Parks. Realising that a meddling time traveller wants to prevent Rosa's historic bus protest against racial segregation, the "fam" must work together to ensure history runs its course. Malorie Blackman was an inspired choice of writer for this episode, and it's undoubtedly down to her that it feels so sincere. Krasko is a pretty arbitrary villain, but he does enough to keep the plot moving and to allow the important plot points to unfold, as well as the exploration of Rosa Parks, who is an inspired choice of historical figure to represent. It's also a rare case of this TARDIS team actually working well together, with everyone having a role and some great discussions happening, and I'd argue that it's Ryan's best episode, though I wish he'd been written to have a deeper understanding of black history than he was. The climax, as it turns out Graham is the reason Rosa is asked to stand up, brings me goosebumps every time. A touching episode, and an important one too, and a shoutout must go to Vinette Robinson who is superb as Rosa.

THOVD ngl the only 3 memorable bits are the comparison to Mary shelly frankenstein, the lone cyberman and bodies speech at the end otherwise it was a pretty forgettable episode probably due to too many characters because of the fam

Vinette Robinson will always be Helen Hopewell from Waterloo Road to me, so to see her playing a role like Rosa Parks so beautifully is such a contrast and she knocked it out the park completely agree re the ending too. The most heartbreaking thing ever them realising that they are playing a part in the events unfolding (a highlight of Bradley Walsh in the show for me). For all his faults, one of Chibnall's strengths was definitely utilising lesser-known (or at least, those that aren't given their flowers in the regular TV/film merry-go-round) historical figures.

Now Rosa thats how you do a historical episode, I was blissful unaware about how important she was going into this and learnt a lot about her since, that ending has got to be one of the most impactful in Doctor who history and finally Ryan was actually given something to do as well probably the best episode of the series for me special shout out to vinette Robinson for her portrayal if Rosa Parks

1 minute ago, 777666jason said:

finally Ryan was actually given something to do as well

He was in 2 (two) episodes before Rosa (with one of them being pretty much all about him)

3 minutes ago, Calum said:

He was in 2 (two) episodes before Rosa (with one of them being pretty much all about him)

I think thats testimant to how memorable a character he is that I forget Grace is actually his grandmother 🤣