I'm continuing my countdown of, in my opinion, the best 50 Doctor Who TV stories. CONTAINS SPOILERS!
40. The Vampires of Venice
Series 5, episode 6. (2010)
11th Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams
Writer: Toby Whithouse
Director: Jonny Campbell
Photo ©BBC
The Doctor takes Amy and Rory on what is supposed to be a romantic trip to Venice in 1580. However, mysterious creatures who appear to be vampires complicate things.
39. A Town Called Mercy
Series 7, episode 3. (2012)
11th Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams
Writer: Toby Whithouse
Director: Saul Metzstein
Photo ©BBC
A western that takes place in Nevada. This episode examines the consequences of war and the desire for revenge. It contains one of my favorite quotes, “Violence doesn’t end violence, it extends it.”
38. The Haunting of Villa Diodati
Series 12, episode 8. (2020)
13th Doctor, Yasmin Khan, Graham O’Brien, Ryan Sinclair
Writer: Maxine Alderton
Director: Emma Sullivan
Photo ©BBC
This episode had three things I love: a historical setting, Cybermen, and Mary Shelley.
37. Aliens of London / World War Three
Series 1, episodes 4-5. (2005)
9th Doctor, Rose Tyler, Jackie Tyler, Mickey Smith, Harriet Jones
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: Keith Boak
Photo ©BBC
Aliens invade London. The introduction of Harriet Jones. This story is a little cheesy, as is most of series 1, but I enjoy it.
36. Planet of the Ood
Series 4, episode 3. (2008)
10th Doctor, Donna Noble
Writer: Keith Temple
Director: Graeme Harper
Photo ©BBC
What’s not to love about his episode? The Doctor and Donna investigate a shady corporation and end up helping a peaceful species escape slavery.
35. The Unquiet Dead
Series 1, episode 3. (2005)
9th Doctor, Rose Tyler
Writer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Euros Lyn
Photo ©BBC
Incidents of the dead rising in Cardiff in 1869. The Doctor and Rose meet Charles Dickens. The first episode (of new Who) set in the past.
34. Partners in Crime
Series 4, episode 1. (2008)
10th Doctor, Donna Noble
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: James Strong
Photo ©BBC
The Doctor and Donna reunite. This episode features the Adipose, possibly the cutest aliens on the show.
33. The Time of the Doctor
Christmas special. (2013)
11th Doctor, Clara Oswald, Handles
Writer: Steven Moffat
Director: Jamie Payne
Photo ©BBC
The end of the 11th Doctor’s story. I liked a lot of things about this story: the convergence of the universe’s deadliest species to prevent the return of the Time Lords, the conclusion of so many 11th Doctor-era storylines (the Silence, the crack in time, the salvation of Gallifrey, and “the oldest question”), and the significant aging of the Doctor as he protects the town called Christmas and the crack in time for 900 years. I also really love Matt Smith’s final scene as the Doctor.
32. The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon
Series 6, episodes 1-2. (2011)
11th Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song, Canton Everett Delaware III
Writer: Steven Moffat
Director: Toby Haynes
Photo ©BBC
The Doctor invites Amy, Rory, and River to witness his death in Utah in 2011. He also invites a younger version of himself who they then travel with (it’s a very wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey episode) and go on to investigate the mystery of a little girl in a space suit in Florida in 1969 where they meet FBI Agent Canton Everett Delaware III and President Nixon. We learn more about River and her backstory.
31. The Lodger
Series 5, episode 11. (2010)
11th Doctor, Amy Pond, Craig Owens, Sophie
Writer: Gareth Roberts
Director: Catherine Morshead
Photo ©BBC
The TARDIS is stuck in a materialization loop with Amy inside. In order to investigate, the Doctor must pretend to be a normal person and find a roommate.
Comments