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