122 The Crimson Horror

Series 7 Episode 11

Doctor: 11th

Companion: Clara Oswald

Also featuring: Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, Strax

First aired: 4th May 2013

Writer: Mark Gatiss

It's another Eleventh Doctor episode now, but this one's actually overperformed. I ranked this second from last in my previous countdown, so it's come a long way since then! A fresh rewatch helped me re-evaluate this episode. The Crimson Horror's largely a Doctor-lite episode for the first half of the episode, with the Paternoster gang stepping in to lead the narrative as Jenny goes undercover in Sweetville, a community led by Mrs. Gillyflower, to uncover the truth behind the "crimson horror", a cause of death that leaves its victims' skin a dark shade of red. It's certainly a unique style of episode and that's worth praising, and the Paternoster gang are extremely watchable. Dame Diana Rigg is pretty strong as the evil Mrs. Gillyflower, with some dark undertones as we learn she experimented on her daughter Ava. I find the episode gets a little silly when we learn Mrs. Gillyflower's partner, Mr. Sweet, is a tiny red leech, a parasitic creature attached to his partner, and the climax suffers a bit for it. That said, I'm willing to hold my hands up and say I was much too harsh on this episode, and there's more to enjoy than dislike in this.

TL did really feel like it was a lighthearted story between 2 heavy ones, never been a fan or corden but considering their prior history (pun intended) matt and jamss do work well as a pairing again the bad guy took a back seat and was defeated too easy not a terrible episode but very fille esque

TCH another one which really teased a PG spinoff [damn you Moffat why didnt you pull the trigger] again not a bad episode feels like it could of easily been a 2 parter, my standout character was Ava and may or may not of cheered when Gilyflower and the red leech got their comeuppance, not a masterpiece so a low ranking is justifiable though

121 Robot of Sherwood

Series 8 Episode 3

Doctor: 12th

Companion: Clara Oswald

First aired: 6th September 2014

Writer: Mark Gatiss

We arrive at Mark Gatiss' highest placed episode already, though he does star in one more to come. Robot of Sherwood was Peter Capaldi's third episode in the role of the Twelfth Doctor, and it sees him and Clara meeting Robin Hood. It's definitely the lightest episode of the series in terms of tone, and Robin feels like a direct contrast to this incarnation of the Doctor, who can't stand his loud laughter...! Their rivalry makes for great entertainment, particularly when they're captured and spend more time bickering than finding a way out, and it pays off when they join forces to ensure the robots' spaceship is in orbit before it explodes. Much like The Lodger, the alien threat feels a little thin on the ground here, but Ben Miller gives a memorable performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham at least. Whilst it's a bit of a fun, silly episode on the whole, I think it's a necessary episode in terms of providing a lighter tone to series 8, and there's no other episode quite like this one in Capaldi's entire run!

I think ROS works because it was such a lighthearted episode in a dark series, was interesting that they delved into the fictional character realm especially with so much emphasis being put on "Noddy nots real" in series 4 (although the idea of the doctor meeting Noddy would be inteeesting) it was also nice to see Peter show a bit more of his comedic side for chang, enjoyable standalone episode that can be enjoyed without context