Doctor Who Series 1-13 Ranked!
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- Опубліковано 21 січ 2022
- With Doctor Who Flux now wrapped up, it's time to finally start re-doing some of my old Doctor Who rankings. And why not start with my rankings of the series we've had thus far?
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My video on the issue of the BBC's support of Transphobia: ua-cam.com/video/aN4uc0HZrWE/v-deo.html
Shaun's 1st video, which includes some additional confirmed information: ua-cam.com/video/b4buJMMiwcg/v-deo.html
Shaun’s 2nd video, which follows how the BBC is trying to dodge accountability for all of this: ua-cam.com/video/qfjTG6SVjmQ/v-deo.html
Shaun’s recent 3rd video: ua-cam.com/video/fRn1UZ4fhdE/v-deo.html
Laura Kate Dale's recent protest speech outside the BBC offices: ua-cam.com/video/hBjGnWkwAjI/v-deo.html
8:42 I think It Takes You Away was very well done as well.
I will never forget in 2018, I was studying in a Cafe in the West End of Glasgow with some friends just before we were about to go to an exam, and Capaldi (Looking as cool as ever with his shades on) walked in looking for a table. This resulted in me freaking out and screaming "oh my god, Peter Capaldi has just walked in here," at the top of my voice. He looked up with an awkward smile, then chuckled, turned 180 on his heels, and swiftly left the building (probably due to the fear I induced).
Anyways, Capaldi is a stupendous doctor, my personal fave and the show was beyond lucky to have him.
Oh my God I would have absolutely DIED from excitement, he's my favorite doctor as well!!! He KILLED IT as the doctor. Such an amazing actor plus he seems like a great guy in real life as well 🥰
I would have LOST IT if I were in that situation
As a reformed Moffat hater, it's so weird how madly in love I fell in love with 12. Series 10 is also my favorite series, Capaldi is just such an amazing Doctor. The best way I can describe him is the poet Doctor.
People often describe him as the midlife crisis doctor and say it as a negative, but to me that’s what makes him great. He gets to encapsulate all the previous characteristics of the doctor over a life time to truly understand who he is and accept himself by the very end. Enough that he tries to extend that experience to the master.
"Everybody lives just this once" and "let the tardis die" become more and more impactful the more who you watch
i love literally every single thought that comes out of this channel, its either i absolutely entirely agree, or i could just listen for sincerely hours about everything i dont agree with because its absolutely fascinating and i just want to see more of the other side of those coins. frankly, not long enough.
Same. The opinions I don't agree with are put in a way I can understand why they feel that way, and sometimes I look a bit more charitably on seasons/episodes I'm not too fond of
Both shocked and pleased by your number 1. While I can't say Season 10 is my personal favorite of the entire show, it is my favorite of Capaldi's era.
For me, 13's era has so little going for it that I cannot imagine putting any of her series anywhere other than bottom 3. I've also never quite vibed with 11, from the way women are treated in that era to the weird pacing of stories and the unending Moffatisms, watching Deep Breath was a, well, deep breath on my rewatch.
That said, seeing you talk about series 4 and 10 made me remember how much I love this show. Series 1, 4, and the entire Capaldi era are some of my favourite media to revisit and look back on, and I'm excited for the future of the show.
Guess I gotta put my ranking here?
12
11
7
Tennant specials
6
5
2
9
3
8
10
1
4
Agreed even the worst seasons of other series had moments above chibnals era.... s2 for examples final is better than all of chibnals combined
Brilliant list, I'm so glad Series 4 wasn't number one, Doctor Who series lists have become so predictable but this one pleasantly surprised me, Series 10 is probably also my favourite. Respect for putting Series 2 near the bottom, and Series 8 near the top.
Exactly series 8 imo is at number 4 in my list (tbf tho i would still put 1 or 4 at the top)
As much as predictable Series 4 being Numer 1 is, that's a fair placement
However i agree that Series 8 and 10 were awesome and deserve to be apreaciated
Series 4 is my number 3 pick but like um- series 8 is the best.
Bro I watch your videos
For me from best to worst it's:
1st: Series 5
The first Doctor Who series I saw beginning to end when it aired live and I was enraptured by the gothic fairy tale vibe Moffat was going for with this one. Matt had the utterly unenviable task of following up after Tennant and in my not at all humble opinion he not only nails it I think he does better than David in terms of a first season.
2nd: Series 4/Tennant Specials
Donna is probably my favourite tv NuWho companion ever, Tate proves that she's not just absolutely hilarious she can hit all the emotional beats the RTD era is so fondly remembered for. I also include Tennant's last specials here which to this day are some of my favourite stories. Watching the 10th Doctor unravel as he nears his end is peak character drama.
3rd: Series 10
The soft reboot first episode was such a palette cleanser after the mixed previous series. Bill and Nardole are wonderful and make a really cool Tardis team alongside a 12th Doctor who has reached the apex of his arc. Missy's own arc is also wonderful and probably the best writing the character has had in a while.
4th: Series 1
Now I know it's blasphemy to put this in 4th place. The series that single-handedly revived the show is a tightly written gem so don't misunderstand its position. It's not here because it's bad, it's here because this is the middle ground. Series 1 is the bar I hold all the other Series to. The 9th Doctor's arc of healing from the Time War with Rose is short, succinct and impactfully packaged in this one little series
5th: Series 3
This is where Tennant really started getting good for me coupled with the criminally underrated and wonderful Agyeman as Martha Jones. The Master's return is wonderful though I wish Jacobi had stayed longer much as I do love Simm's energy. The whole reset button finale is a bit meh but I could happily rewatch a series with such bangers like Human Nature/Family of Blood or Blink.
6th: Series 7
Some great moments, the Ponds' farewell is heart-shattering and still one of the saddest moments to me. Clara is very lovable in her first outing but she feels more like a plot device than an actual character though later seasons do rectify this. I also count the Night, Day and Time of the Doctor here which is why it's as high as it is otherwise it would probably be below the next one.
7th: Series 8
By all rights, this one should be higher. A sterner more cold Doctor giving an interesting dynamic with bossy control freak Clara is a fantastic dynamic and Gomez's debut as Missy is just *chef kiss* beautiful. Danny I feel was wasted as a character and it really does start to drag the series down a bit for me.
8th: Series 2
For the record, I used to actively despise this series. While I have softened on it I do find Russel's whole obsession with TenRose a little too twee but that's probably down to me being a cynical party pooper. The Satan Pit, School Reunion and so many others reminded me upon a rewatch that this is still a solid series. Even the TenRose is more endearing than annoying to me now but this is far and away the weakest of Tennant's era for me personally.
9th: Series 6
The beginning of Moffat's really bad tendency to leave everything until the final episode cripples this series' story. That and any sort of drama keeps getting undercut by the inappropriate need to insert humour in every instance. River being Melody could've been interesting to me if you know it was treated with any sort of emotional weight but it wasn't so it's not. Loads of decent episodes but it doesn't come together for me.
10th: Series 9
A series of highs and lows, you have your Heaven Sent and your Hell Bent. Your Face the Raven and your Sleep No More. All over the place and a notorious finale that I haven't warmed to at all.
11th: Series 13
I applaud the ambition, Chibnall's writing feels much more relaxed and natural in a serialised setting. The First 4 episodes solid great fun, episode 5 was a disappointment and the finale does not land.
12th: Series 12
Strong start with some misses but it feels like Chibs is trying to be Moffat, RTD and himself in this unholy fusion. Timeless Child twist is delivered in pure expo dump making it the most boring twist delivery ever. Not to mention the idea behind it just isn't that good. Dhawan's Master is wonderfully entertaining but even he couldn't save that finale. Overall much better than Series 11 with a vision but said vision didn't pay off
13th: Series 11
The idea behind this one was solid; A return to roots with an episodic format. Shame Chibnall kind of can't shake his serialised storytelling habits. Too many companions or at least too many for the writers to juggle effectively. Some really great and touching episodes, some utterly indefensibly garbage ones that had me questioning my love for the show.
Sorry for the length.
I pretty much agree entirely on this. For some reason, although I don't like series 11 too much (probably my second least favourite series), I have a bit of a soft spot for it. I always think that if series 11 was a season from another TV show, with some improvements on writing, it would be a pretty decent season. However, with it being a 'Doctor Who' season, especially after following Series 10, a masterpiece, it just falls flat
i genuinely can not see where you’re coming from on the season 6 thing like i’m trying so hard but i just don’t get it 🤷♀️
No thanks for posting this, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts!! My list would have a couple seasons higher (like 9) but I would be grading on personal preference, your list seems more objective than mine would be. And I always love seeing another fan that appreciates Martha Jones and even enjoys Simm as the Master!! They're my favorite companion and master so naturally 3 is my all-time favorite series (I do agree tho that I wish we had Jacobi for a longer period. Like a full episode AS THE MASTER, not in hiding. Bc he was absolutely fantastic for the 10 or so minutes he played the Master).
My personal ranking (edited June 2024):
14. Series 13: Flux
13. Series 12
12. Series 11
11. Series 2
10. Series 3
9. Series 7
8. Series 14
7. Series 1
6. Series 8
5. Series 6
4. Series 9
3. Series 4
2. Series 10
1. Series 5
You're my new most favourite youtube channel.
Not just because you're voicing my own opinions on this new generation of Dr Who (we all love an echo chamber), but because of your passion toward the show.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.
I look forward to catching up with all of your uploads.
Just got to the end, absolutely love the top 2 choices... Peter's speech to The Master/Missy was heartbreaking and sincere. The Zygon one too. I loved it, but for me Peter's best speech, epitomising the Doctor (not just his) is the regeneration speech. Ignore the pears, and the children. Throwaway jokes to lighten the moment.
Never be cruel, never be cowardly...
Hate is always foolish, and love is always wise...
Always try to be nice. But never fail to be kind!
Laugh Hard!
Run Fast!
Be Kind!
I’d have to rank them:
1. Series 9
2. Series 6
3. Series 10
4. Series 5
5. Series 3
6. Series 4
7. Series 8
8. Series 7
9. Series 11
10. Series 1
11. Series 12
12. Series 2
13. Series 13
14. Tennant Specials
I think I'd agree more if you reversed the list.
It's almost like you forget the Tennant specials and added them as an afterthought. Rest ain't bad
@@Huntracony I must confess to not enjoying most of the RTD run and enjoying Moffat as much as the Hinchcliffe era, which I gather is a fairly unpopular opinion! Love Donna though, despite my belief that 10 is the weakest Doctor of them all. Series 4 is fairly strong apart from Journey’s End as well.
@@normandavidtidiman9918 I really dislike the Tennant specials, never understood the hype honestly. I only enjoyed Waters of Mars and even then I wouldn’t call it a classic. I think it’s great that so many people like it though, variety is the spice of life after all.
@@nocturne8333 I agree ‘Waters of Mars’ is easily the best there and to be honest ‘The Next Doctor’ has aged badly.
I have a real soft spot for series 8, yes there are the duds like kill the moon but it's possibly the strongest overall series arc for me. That finale..so many emotions and places I never knew this show would go
Smith and the ponds have always been my favorite.
I never watched the Capaldi series in order for some reason.. You convinced me I should do that!
Also your earrings and hand warmers, I love them!
You should. You can see how he start as "cross" like most oldman and then synchronized with clara and they being companion for quite a long time start to make them too attached in toxic timey wimey way (i'm not complaining, good plot!) And the he got way wise in series 10.
I admire how every time you do a ranking video you don't reference your previous rankings and instead rank them fresh based on how you're feeling in the present as opposed to constraining yourself to your past decisions. Love the love for series 1 and Eccleston's doctor
Jonathan Bailey of Bridgerton and Fellow Travelers fame plays the cyborg in Time Heist.
You are the first person that has the same opinion as me on series 10 and I thank you for that!
Nice video, glad to hear a more fairer and positive side of things rather than the normal more negative views. Even when talking about some bad who series :)
I agree with a lot of your rankings. Series 4 is my absolute favorite. My love for Donna is neverending.
Donna is Amazing, my favorite companion of the Modern series easily.
Yes, I pretty much agree with your ranking and I ABSOLUTELY agree with your no 1 pick. 12 and Bill are my favourite Doctor/companion combo and Bill´s fate broke my heart and left me a sobbing mess.
Excluding Specials.
Just goes to show how different it is from fan to fan and it's okay to think differently.
13. Series 7 (Too much focus on the 50th anniversary really caused this series to pay the price for me.)
12. Series 8 (It was a bumpy first outing for Capaldi's Doctor, Flatline and Mummy are the standouts)
11. Series 11 (Just a winding road of 10 episodes, Demons of the Punjab and It Takes You Away are my go-to rewatches)
10. Series 2 (Some highs and lows throughout, but the campy romanticism was a no-go for me, Impossible/Satan and Fireplace are amazing)
09. Series 3 (So sorry, but Martha pining over the Doctor was a bit much. Blink and Human Nature/Family of Blood are my faves)
08. Series 12 (A rollercoaster series of highs and lows. Villa Diodati and Can You Hear Me? Stand out. Let's not talk about Orphan 55.)
07. Series 13 (I had a blast with this one. Sontarans and Angels are the definite highlights. Give Jodie the right material and she can do it. R.I.P. Jericho)
06. Series 9 (Solid two-parters mixed with not so good ones. Zygons and Heaven Sent. Enough said.)
05. Series 6 (God Complex, Doctor's Wife, A Good Man and the two opening episodes are the highlights. The story arc was confusing.)
04. Series 10 (Capaldi ended on a high. The finale is a masterpiece)
03. Series 1 (Eccleston burn and shone short and brightly)
02. Series 4 (Fantastic episodes towards the end of series.)
01. Series 5 (When Matt Smith became my Doctor. Vincent, Beast Below, Amy's Choice. Nostalgia and a fairytale story to remember)
For my ranking, it was a very binary question, do I like this episode? Yes or no, then I take the amount of yes divided by the total number of eps for a season to find where it lands on me. Here is what my list looks like currently, but if the next two 13th Doctor specials crush it for me, my #14 could jump up to #12. Just to maybe show where my head was looking at the seasons, I also listed my best/worst of each season.
14. S13 - 2/7 - 28.6% (Best: War of the Sontarans, Worst: The Vanquishers)
13. S12 - 4/11 - 36.4% (Best: Spyfall 1&2, Worst: Orphan 55)
12. S11 - 5/11 - 44.5% (Best: The Woman Who Fell to Earth was a great start, Worst: Arachnids in the UK)
11. S9 - 8/14 - 57.1% (Best: Heaven Sent, Worst: Sleep No More)
10. S1 - 8/13 - 61.5% (Best: Father's Day, Worst: The Long Game)
9. S2 - 9/14 - 64.3% (Best: New Earth, Worst: Fear Her)
8. S6 - 9/14 - 64.3% (Best: A Good Man Goes to War, Worst: Night Terrors)
7. S10 - 9/14 - 64.3% (Best: Thin Ice, Worst: The Lie of the Land)
6. S5 - 9/13 - 69.2% (Best: Vincent and the Doctor, Worst: The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood)
5. S8 - 9/12 - 75% (Best: Robot of Sherwood, Worst: Listen)
4. S7 - 12/15 - 80% (Best: The Rings of Akhaten, Worst: The Power of Three)
3. 10th Doctor Specials - 4/5 - 80% (Best: The Next Doctor, Worst: The Waters of Mars)
2. S3 - 12/14 - 85.7% (Best: Gridlock, Worst: 42)
1. S4 - 14/14 - 100% (Best: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, Worst: Voyage of the Damned)
That’s one way to do it.
Hi there. Another fantastic and engaging video. For me, its season 5. And you're right about Capaldi - a magnificent Doctor and the speech to Missy and the master is one of his epic, defining moments. Beautifully written by Moffat, too.
I wouldn't put series 10 at the top, nor my top 3, but hearing you talk about Capaldi's doctor and the series 10 finale makes me realise I feel similarly attached to Tennant and the end of time part 1 and 2, despite it not being perfect. I like the series 10 finale for logical reasons but I love the end of time for emotional reasons I guess, and I'm glad to see people feeling the same way about other series and eras of the show in the comments.
Capaldi is my favorite Doctor! He captures the bombastic, intellectual, alien, and universal-weariness of the character. Bravo video!
Your summation of Series 10, I was raising my fist in solidarity, so true.
I adore this list, I love how different my order is to yours but your reasons are all sound. I would defo put season 2 as my least favourite. And Capaldi is my favourite Doctor too. But I adore Hell Bent 😂😂 and I love your thoughts on the episode 😂 fantastic video, would have happily watched an hour long edition, it was over too quickly 😁
I always enjoy your ranking videos. For me, season 1 was the best, followed by season 4. Eccleston, as you said, nailed the part, his doctors relationship with Rose was the greater and season 1's best stories - Dalek, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances and Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways are still among my top five stories of Nu-Who.
I like to look at Series 7B as it's own season of television beginning with The Snowmen, including Day of the Doctor and concluding with Time of the Doctor.
I was able to grasp “if you don’t like one story you’ll rank it low, if you like the one story you’ll rank it higher” the first time you said it
S7 was deffs a low point of the series and I’m glad to see Whitaker hate did not result in S7 through rose coloured nostalgic glasses 🤝
Good ranking. I agree I love Series 10, it was so good! Honestly I would put all of Capaldi's series in my top five along with series 1, for without it, I would not have got into Doctor Who. I haven't seen Jodie's Series, I will work on that. Overall, you made some good points. I may need to rewatch all of them, to do my ranking.
Series 3 is the best of the show, Series 1 is the second best, Flux is better than Series 12 (though only marginally), Series 6 is just a bit better than Season 5. All else stands, good list and very well reasoned and explained.
Great list I agree with a lot and appreciate all your reasoning.
My ranking of the series go something like this:
1) Series 5 - love the fairytale tone, the story arc is absolutely perfect, Matt Smith fits into the role almost immediately, and there's no real duds quality-wise (except perhaps "Victory of the Daleks" and "Vampires of Venice").
2) Series 4 - Ten and Donna are the best Doctor-companion pairing of the entire revival, hands down. Also, nearly every episode is either good or great, with only "The Doctor's Daughter" being a miss.
3) Series 1 - Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper's performances are excellent, the overarching story works well on both a narrative and emotional level, and yet again there's a refreshing lack of significant duds.
4) Series 9 - Twelve and Clara at their peak, a mature and subversive central story, and some really great stories (including "Hell Bent", which has really grown on me). Probably would be at the top if not for "Sleep No More" dragging it down.
5) Series 10 - hits a consistent level of good but not great up until the exceptional finale, but some highly underrated gems and the best TARDIS team of the Moffat era keep this one high on the list.
6) Series 3 - Tennant finds his footing during this series, Martha's a great character, and the story arc is pretty good, but the individual episodes are kind of hit-and-miss, with strong episodes like "Human Nature" and "Blink" mixed with misfires like "The Lazarus Experiment".
7) Series 6 - started off promisingly, and features strong episodes like "The Doctor's Wife" and "The Girl Who Waited" but the convoluted story arc ends with an unsatisfying thud, and it's mostly carried by the dynamic of Eleven and the Ponds.
8) Series 8 - again kind of hit-and-miss with its quality (from "Mummy on the Orient Express" to "In the Forest of the Night"), but Capaldi's excellent performances elevate most of the weaker material.
9) Series 4 specials - a mostly decent batch of episodes save for "Waters of Mars" which is phenomenal, carried predominantly by Tennant's excellent performances.
10) Series 2 - Ten and Rose are utterly insufferable (though I guess that is the point), and the quality is very uneven with hits like "Girl in the Fireplace" and "The Satan Pit" mixed with failures like "New Earth", "The Idiot's Lantern" and "Fear Her".
11) Series 12 - Whittaker and the rest of the team start to find their footing, and there's some decent episodes ("Tesla's Night of Terror", "Villa Diodati"), but a dull finale and unnecessary retcon wreck my initial enthusiasm.
12) Series 7 - first half is decent enough, and second half is kind of overhated, but a lack of real standout episodes, Clara's weak introduction, and Eleven's flanderisation drag this one down quite a bit.
13) Series 11 - perhaps a little overhated again, but there's a lack of standout episodes (save for the historical stories and "It Takes You Away"), and the characters feel weak and underdeveloped.
14) Series 13/Flux - a few decent episodes and exceptional performances from Jodie Whittaker and the supporting cast aside, this is a hot mess that's fun to watch in the moment but infuriating to try and make sense of later on.
I have to say, this is very similar to my ranking of the seasons and for much the same reasons 👍
12. Series 12
11. Series 11
10. Series 5
9. Series 9
8. Series 1
7. Series 8
6. Series 7
5. Series 3
4. Series 10
3. Series 6
2. Series 2
1. Series 4
I didn't even bother watching series 13 cause series 12 killed my enjoyment of the Chibs era. I hope that the new RTD era puts things back on track and hopfully he will ignore the timeless children.
@MultiFan Then I won't watch RTD2 then. I just hope he ignores it and if he does then I'll watch it.
@MultiFan I can like or dislike whatever I want lol. That storyline ruins the show for me so why would I watch it if RTD dives into that storyline. I will just choose not to watch it if they keep bringing it up. It's simple. You can like or dislike whatever you want
I totally agree with 99.9% of everything u got going here! I'm new to Who I grew up seeing the old episodes like Star Trek vs Star Trek the next generation. I'm 42 so many years went by ignoring this show but I finally broke down in 2020 a watched the modern series and loved it! I haven't watched the original series yet but I'm really looking forward to all things Who moving forward especially your reviews. I feel like we have truly shared a couch watching these! U see the same show I do and I thank you soo much for it!
Classic Who, has a strong mixture of amazing and bad stories like any television show. But even some of the "bad" ones are still fun. Hope you get to watch some of it soon! I recommend the Doctor Who: The Collection sets.
@MultiFan those are all great alternative options.
@Another Scifi Guy thanks I plan on it👍
@MultiFan yeah most likely that's where I'll start 😅 thank you 😊
Great thoughts, but odd that key criticism of S7 is characterisation of Clara yet S11 is higher despite the companions having essentially no (maybe even negative) characterisation
Really love the channel - I've come across it here and there over the years - but I very much enjoy the passion, and finally decided to subscribe to keep up because even if I don't always agree with everything, I think there's some thought, empathy, passion, great explanation behind why, etc. I also like that even if you're not a huge fan of all the different directions Chibnall is taking Whitacre's doctor, that you're not cis white dudebro hating on it in the same way many are.
I don't hate his writing, and I think it's interesting that of all writers he is breaking a lot of the molds that many were getting tired of -- yet despite people really thirsting for change, it doesn't always go over well haha. But ... that is not to say that all change is well executed, but also sometimes things are not to taste, yet change I think is harder for most people to accept than they realize. However, I do think more reviewers (not you) hated Whitacre immediately for being a woman, and then when it was pointed out that her acting was fine and this is sexist, they diverted the hate to Chibnall's writing overall. I saw a lot more complaints about him pushing liberal agendas like conservation and diversity acceptance. I think it's going to be time that will tell how these things are accepted more than objective "this story is bad". I have to give them credit for trying some new things, even if imperfect, because even with criticisms A, B, C... there were massive holes similarly in the older show runners and either in just plain boring / bad shows, or sloppy deus ex machina, and most of all repetition.
RTD had some messy writing a lot and some of the most standout bad episodes that were phoned in as showrunner. Like, if I'm rewatching, his episodes are the ones that bore me the most and I'm most likely to fold laundry during or just skip altogether (and he also has some of my favs even though many of my favs are guest written, but he did write a few of them). I think that a ton of people hated Moffat and I chuckle because I see comments "I'm a reformed Moffat hater" -- my mom asked me about Chibnall and all the hate and I said to her just yesterday, "Well when Moffat took over seemed like aside from the sexism issue just as many people hated Moffat openly as hate Chibnall now, yet in retrospect now that they hate Chibnall they love Moffat." I know that it's been some time, but I do wonder if Whitacre's doctor, her really quite delightful constant companion, and new ideas for direction to knock the show out of what was rightly called a demystified Gallifrey that had grown quite stale might ultimately reveal dividends in the future since showrunners did take a lot out of Gallifrey. Is there some to still tie back together? Sure. But... Could it be done? Absolutely. Doctor Who has gone through and fixed a lot worse inconsistencies through retcon -- or just left MANY horrible inconsistencies alone. With time and patience I think some of these new stories might be a lot more interesting, even if they aren't the "favorites" right now. I think it's kinda like with politicians - we criticize them a lot when they're in, and some we miss dearly when they're gone.
So I'm not ready to rank -- nostalgia plays a big role and what I love and of course I have more nostalgia for the older episodes. And I think it is really telling that I think for everyone Eccleston went into the role easily and right away. But I think that's because we'd had 10 years to even consider if a new doctor would ever come, and really almost 2 decades for serial doctor. The rest of them had to compete against fans grieving the death of their predecessor, and I think that is the thing, even with the same showrunner people resist change. Every other doctor had to take time to take over.
This was a really interesting mini essay. I do seem to remember watching the show during the Moffat era, and there were a lot of Moffat haters around then. Lots of people were pleased when he left, but then we got into the whole female doctor thing. I thought that Chibnall deliberately made the first series he ran low stakes and episodic, but that was kinda overdone. But in the first instance I thought it was a reaction to all the criticism that Moffat made his plots overly complex, and *too* much interlinked. And then he went and did Flux, which had more loose ends than anything Moffat ever did!
it's amazing how spot on this ranking is in my opinion
finally a ranking where series 4 isn’t number one. series 10 is top form because of that journey you see the 12th doctor taking coming to a close. great rankings overall!
My periodic defiant push to consider Season 7 two separate seasons: The first one ends with the Angels Take Manhattan and the departure of the Amy and Rory. Then there’s a Christmas special and another season with a new companion, even a new costume for the Doctor and new Tardis interior. There is also two very different themes for the seasons (the first is about the Amy/Rory eventually leaving and the second is about the “mystery” of Clara Oswald). Yes, Coleman appears in the first episode of Season 7 but Donna Noble also appeared in an episode prior to becoming a full-time companion. I think 7B deserves the second to last ranking but I’d put 7A a bit higher.
Completely agree with your top two picks. Personally, I'd have flipped 3rd and 4th place, because I personally prefer Eccleston to Smith, and I'd put series 11, 12, and Flux above series 2 and 3 (2 because the dynamic between 10 and Rose became annoying and because of the weaker stories, and 3 because the series did Martha so dirty - most of it seemed written as "the Doctor and not-Rose do a thing" to me. Freema made Martha a real character, not necessarily the scripts). Then again, I am one of who finds Tennant the weakest of the new series Doctors (not that he's a horrible Doctor - I love them all, but personally, I find the others - especially Eccleston and Capaldi - stronger in the role).
"Freema made Martha a real character, not necessarily the scripts" -- that's an excellent way of putting it! I think you nailed it there.
My personal ranking:
1) Series 5 - My favorite Doctor, my favorite companions, my favorite episode ("Vincent and the Doctor")-- and most of the other episodes here were really solid, too. "The Eleventh Hour" is great, the Angel two-parter is great, "Amy's Choice" is severely underrated. This, for me, was peak Doctor Who.
2) Series 9 - The strongest season for my second favorite Doctor, in my estimation. I _love_ "Under the Lake / Before the Flood", "Face the Raven"... "Heaven Sent" is still one of the best episodes, period. We also got "The Zygon Inversion", which, if only for that speech, deserves a mention. And... I actually don't hate "Hell Bent", either.
3) Series 6 - This is one of those series that, whenever I go back and rewatch, I remember how much I really liked about it. On the surface, for me, the Silence are (ironically) the single element that I remember the most. But then, on rewatches, it occurs to me... there's also "The Doctor's Wife" , "The Girl Who Waited", "The God Complex"... even "The Curse of the Black Spot", which isn't S-tier, but I do find it to be a fun little self-contained episode nevertheless.
4) Series 4 - David Tennant and Catherine Tate had a really amazing on-screen chemistry together. Starting with "Silence in the Library" and going all the way to the finale, this series has an unbroken streak of what I would call quintessential Doctor Who episodes-- six in a row. No other series has that kind of consistency, even the ones I ranked higher.
5) Series 10 - I love Bill and Nardole as companions, and I do get a lot of enjoyment out of "Thin Ice", "Extremis", "The Eaters of Light", and the finale two-parter... but I had to dock this one a few points in my ranking, just because of the last two installments of the Monks trilogy. I understand and appreciate what it was going for, in terms of its political messaging relative to what was going on in the world at the time, but I just don't think it was executed particularly well.
6) Series 3 - This, for me, is probably the most wildly inconsistent series of them all. These are episodes I either really love ("Gridlock", "The Family of Blood / Human Nature", "Blink") or really don't ("The Daleks in Manhattan / Evolution of the Daleks", "The Lazarus Experiment"). High highs, and low lows, which average out to a middle-of-the-road "meh" overall.
7) Series 7 - This one is a lot higher for me than it'd be for others, I imagine. The break in the middle actually doesn't really bother me. The first half gives us some pretty decent final adventures with Amy and Rory. The second half gives us "The Rings of Akhaten", "Hide", and "Cold War", which are all episodes I enjoy quite a bit. Richard E. Grant's appearance as the Great Intelligence is really memorable to me for how menacing it was.
8) Series 8 - Capaldi's weakest season. Save for "Listen", everything else up to "Mummy on the Orient Express" feels really forgettable to me. I wasn't a huge fan of the Clara/Danny storyline. However, I do like Missy's introduction, and "Flatline" still seriously creeps me out (in a good way).
9) Tennant Specials - This is as high as it is because "The Waters of Mars" and "The End of Time" are so strong, and no higher than this because it's technically not even really a season.
10) Series 1 - This isn't a reflection on Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. I'm just not a huge fan of the camp aspects of this series, and I'm glad the show has largely moved away from them. This is not a series I really go back to for rewatches.
11) Series 12 - I feel bad putting all of Jodie's series so low, but there's nothing to be done about it. The writing is just not as good under Chibnall as it was under Davies or Moffat. But at least this series was a big improvement. I like most of the episodes here; the only ones I really dislike are "Orphan 55", "Praxeus", and "The Timeless Children".
12) Series 13 - I honestly don't hate Flux the way a lot of fans seem to. I like Dan as a companion, I thought the Sontaran episode in particular was fantastic, and I liked Swarm so much as a villain. For me, its ranking here is because it's only six episodes, and it needed to be more if it was going to really sell the concepts here and allow them to breathe.
13) Series 2 - Tennant nostalgia aside, I agree, there are some _really_ abysmal episodes in his first series. Not even "The Girl in the Fireplace" can make up for the one-two punch of "Love & Monsters" and "Fear Her".
14) Series 11 - There are some episodes I like here, like "Demons of the Punjab" and "It Takes You Away", but overall, the poor quality of the writing just makes this the weakest series for me. Virtually nothing here feels like there are any real stakes, and there's nothing to really cement Jodie as the Doctor.
Good list. I disagree with 13s series being so low (my worst are 2 and 3) but I appreciate your points.
Series 6 is my all time favourite.
Yassss, I love under the lake/before the flood!! Genuinely one of the most terrifying episodes imo like I always see people mention blink and silence in the library but lake/flood was the one that hit the fear spot for me- adore it
I always enjoy your reviews, they are always very thought out and well articulated, even if most of the time i think we have very different tastes. so it surprises me how i agree with everything in this video except i would change the bottom two in my ranking, and a bit about series 9 (which i will not mention because it might be my most unpopular opinion)
It's always interesting to hear what various Whotubers have in common and how they disagree on different things about the show. One thing I like about Vera is that she does such a good job explaining why she fees the way she does about each series.
Season 7 was the season that really made me love Doctor who
Interesting at how divergent we all are; just for fun:
excellent overall 4, 5, 1; good to v good 6, Specials; more I liked that disliked 2, 10, 7, 3; more I disliked than liked (but I still liked some) 11, 13, 8, 12, 9
I'm actually surprised at Flux's placement but you have the same favourite as me and I love it. Such an incredible series of performances and dynamics all round
Honestly i am just confused, on what do the fans what?
Cause bold , ambitious, is what keeps things intriguing and interesting fits into the show premise of exploration
Yet fans what to go back to formulaic simplicity that's boring typical sci fi
@MultiFan that makes no sense , cause entertainment has referenced real world issues directly or indirectly since forever!. Great entertainment are the ones who have gone beyond the format of the era and create something new.
I can’t speak for what any other fans do or don’t want, but as I said the simple fact is that the story of Flux didn’t engage me. I can appreciate the ambition of both the scope and the serialized nature of it, much like I appreciate many of the choices made for series 11. But that doesn’t automatically mean that the actual story told within those decisions will be one I like. And I just did not care for Flux’s core story. I don’t know what to tell you.
My favourite is fourth. Donna always will be in my heart and there're a lot of interesting episodes. Actually i like all episodes from this season. And the best episode (Midnight) ever for me is also here. And my favourite Doctor of course. It was destined to become the most beloved 😁
For me Worst to best-
7: The Season where behind the scenes issues and mandates really impacted the structure of the show. From rewriting Clara's entire character from the ground up when the original character was rejected, having two separate seasons be put together and Smith leaving a season sooner than Moffat was hoping, meaning 11's story had to be rushed.
9: Bar Capaldi and a couple of Great stories, not a fan. Moffat just seemed so disinterested in the Hybrid arc.
8: I'm really invested in 12's story and there are some pretty good episodes, but Clara drags the season down for me.
13: There's enough I like, 2 great stories, some fun side characters and Jodie's best performance, but I'm not a fan of the arc and clearly neither is Chibnall so I appreciate him not revealing the lost memories.
12: Mixed, Jodie's best 2 stories and her 2 worst, the rest ranges from mediocre to good.
4 : Probably deserves to be higher, but it's the one 10 season I haven't be able to reappraise much yet. Given how many of my least favourite moments from the post Tennant seasons have been instances where things just happen because that's what the 10th Doctor would do, it's hard for me not get into the hype. 10 and Donna are a good dynamic and Wilf is great.
11: The Chibnall penned episodes, bar the finale which I enjoy, are competent but Dull, the rest of the stories are great.
6: The Most underrated season, Arguably Smith's best material, the ending as you say is disappointing, but some great stories beforehand regardless.
3: The Doctor and the Master's characterisation let down an otherwise great season.
2: Probably Nostalgia, I really enjoy this one. Surprisingly I don't mind happy 10. Aside from the Idiot's Lantern, for the same reasons you cited, All the "Bad" stories I still find Ironic enjoyment out of.
5: Same, though I don't mind the Big Bang.
1: Slept on the season for too long, It's really good and I really wish we could've got more of Eccleston, luckily Big Finish has that covered.
10: Same, The Doctor Falls might be my all time favourite episode of the entire show, in close competition with the Mind Robber.
Finally a list i can get behind
26:00 I thought you were going to have Wilf as your favourite companion. His intimate scenes with Ten have me in tears every time. The scene with the gun; even in the cafe; the Wilf wiggle; being the one who knocks; the goodbye in the rain....
Don't get me wrong Donna is fantastic, but Wilf owns the screen whenever he's on.
I was actually taken by surprise by how high some of your rankings are
So glad to see capaldi getting so much love so many people i kmow stoped at him and series 10 was sooo good
agree with a lot of this! seasons 1, 4, 5, and 10 are my faves as well! not sure what order though…
I'd say a completely fair ranking. May have shuffled a few things around, maybe have bumped S2 up a slot or two and the Tennant 2009 specials down (the only one that really clicked for me from them was Mars).
Would've put 3 a few spots higher but not at the top - mainly because, for me, the second half of that season is the loooongest streak of consistently good episodes (Human Nature right through to LOTTL). In fact, the first third is also pretty good too. Just Lazarus and 42 I don't particularly care for. S&J is a good companion introduction. Shakespeare for me is a lot of silly ol' fun. Gridlock took so many rewatches for me but now I can appreciate just how smart it is (shame about the Macra). Even the Evolution two-parter brought the Daleks back to their smart, skulking-in-the-shadows side rather than their BLOW-UP-ALL-THE-THINGS side which I really dug :)
the idiots lantern just makes me laugh , it’s so stupid I kind of love it
I just realized that I liked Jodie's portrayal of Time's fake Doctor from the Flux finale more than I liked her portrayal of the real Doctor. I don't blame her because part her portrayal includes the writing and direction she was given to work with. However, Time's Doctor seem more like what I was hoping for in a Doctor instead of what we were given where the Doctor often seems like a character from a bad sitcom who has just wandered into a Doctor Who story.
I carry Capaldi's Doctor with me everywhere, everyday. Wonderful list.
From worst to best:
Series 12
Series 11
Series 7
Series 2
Series 13
Series 6
Series 9
David Tennant Specials
Series 3
Series 4
Series 8
Series 1
Series 5
Series 10
(Super excited for Ncuti Gatwa and Russel T Davies)
Okay so full disclosure I stopped watching in season 7 before even getting to Amy and Rory’s exit and now I’m going back through and having so much fun with this show and remembering why I loved it! I’ve just finished season 8! So good!
Ranking
4
3
8
1
6
5
2
7
I just have to share that I have the same fingerless Dr Who gloves AND I love your breakdowns! Spot on about Martha, she didn’t get proper respect/appreciation from the show-runners.
16: Series 13 (Flux)
15: Series 12
14: Series 11
13: Series 7
12: Series 6
11: 2008-09 Specials
10: Series 14 (Season 1)
9: Series 9
8: Series 8
7: 2023 Specials
6: Series 3
5: Series 10
4: Series 5
3: Series 2
2: Series 1
1: Series 4
I wouldn’t attempt to rank them, but I’m interested to see that as far as the 9th to 12th Doctors go, we’re in agreement about their best series, which form the core of my ‘Doctor Who’ DVD collection. If I don’t have any of the 13th, it’s down to the sheer disappointment of the Chibnall era. It could have been incredible, bringing an entirely new perspective on the title character, but has been let down by generally poor writing.
My personal ranking of all the Modern Who seasons would probably go like this:
1. Series 9
2. Series 5
3. Series 4
4. Series 1
5. Series 10
6. Series 8
7. Series 3
8. Series 2
9. Series 6
10. Series 12
11. Series 7
12. Series 13 (aka Flux)
13. Series 11
Ah. I love a good series review! I agree with a lot of what you say, including some of the more controversial things (i.e. thinking Tennant is good but not as great as so many people say). I just have two real differences. First, I think series 7 is better than you give it credit for. It's inconsistent, yes, but with some really good stuff (Asylum, Angels Take Manhattan, Name of the Doctor). Also, while I was not too keen on the second half when I first watched it, most of those episodes have grown on re-watches. Second, I just can't put series 10 at the top. The finales are great but too many are a bit forgettable for me (The Eaters of Light? The Empress of Mars?) and they take it down overall.
Donna is my absolute favourite companion, and I love Tennant, so that season would have made top of the list for me.
This has made me realise how much I've forgotten from about Capaldi onwards. Definitely not as familiar with the new stuff as I am with early modern DW.
That saves me finding a new show to watch this week then 😂
You should watch all of Capaldi again.
I love that Capaldi is your favorite
I really liked Capaldi's Doctor. He embodied something I saw in myself. His smarts giving way to flaws is something am experiencing as I age. I don't disagree with your ratings too much.
My DW Series ranking (this will probably be changed constantly cuz that's how my brain works👍):
1. Series 4
2. Series 5
3. Series 3
4. Series 10
5. Series 1
6. Series 6
7. Tennant Specials (2008-10)
8. Series 2
9. Series 8
10. Series 9
11. Series 7
12. Series 13 (Doctor Who: Flux)
13. Series 12
14. Series 11
My favourite list so far love it
Great ode to Series 10. It isn't my favourite personally but it's massively grown on me and I love the 12/Bill/Nardole dynamic
Twice Upon a Time is probably my most rewatched episode? Special? Would you put it with series 10? So good!
My personal ranking : 1st,3rd,4th,5th,8th,6th,9th,7th,Tennant Specials,10th,13th,2nd,12th,11th
1. Series 4 (Popular choice but I love Tennant and this is easily his best)
2. Series 1 (Eccleston is my favourite Doctor which is the main reason why I rate series 1 so high)
3. Series 5 (Best start to a new Doctor love pretty much everything about this series)
4. Series 3 (I love Martha, even with her falling for the Doctor way too quick I think it works for 10s character development anyway)
5. Tennant Specials (Waters of mars is a top 5 episode for me and I like the end of time more than most)
6. Series 10 (This season surprised me, I don't rate some episodes as highly as some people seem to. But I can't deny it's finale is great)
7. Series 2 (I enjoy this season a lot, despite Fear her being one of the worst episodes ever)
8. Series 6 (Love the Silence, some good episodes but hated the finale and how they handled River)
9. Series 9 (Probably lower than most but I'm not the biggest fan of Capaldi, Hell bent brings this down a lot)
10. Series 7 (Enjoyed Amy and Rory's sending off a lot, but the season doesn't work as a whole at all)
11. Flux (Jodie's best, even if the storyline is weak overall)
12. Series 8 ("In the forest of the night" made me stop watching Who for a while, really not a fan of this season)
13. Series 12 (I don't really acknowledge the timeless child plot, the rest is slightly more enjoyable that series 11 though)
14. Series 11(worst character development of any series, probably Jodie's worst performance but I can't blame her too much because the writing was so poor this season)
This might be because he’s my favourite but Capaldi has the strongest track record overall
It seems that RTD is assembling a familiar team around for his return, with Phil Collinson. So I have high hopes for the next few seasons. I was afraid Chris' tenure would be the death knell for Doctor Who. The repeated Tell Don't show speeches, and the sledgehammer subtlety was painful. I'm heartbroken that Jodie hasn't had the chance to shine. I've only spotted the Doctor (once, briefly) in her portrayal.
Literally my only quibbles are with the order of the bottom five. But the top four... Perfect fit!
I Hate to be so negative with the Whittaker era, but Chibnall's writing just doesn't work for me. I enjoy all of the top nine (maybe even ten) here
1. Series 5
2. Series 4
3. Series 9
4. Series 6
5. Series 8
6. Series 3
7. Series 10
8. Series 1
9. Series 2
10. Series 7
11. Series 12
12. Series 11
13. Flux
If I could be bothered to do a full list, my list would probably be similar to yours, although season 1 would be much higher and season 2 would swap with 10. Your first two listings, probably first three would match mine exactly.
The one main difference that stood out immediately is I would put above season 12 but 12 and 11 would still be last.
Here's My List:
(Based on my lengthy powerpoint I have with every episode ranked in X.X/10 or XX/100 and converted to series average)
14. Series 11
13. Series 13
12. Series 9
11. Series 12
10. Series 8
09. Series 7
08. Series 2
07. Series 10
06. Series 1
05. Series 4 Specials
04. Series 5
03. Series 3
02. Series 6
01. Series 4 (Obviously)
Are these my favourites in order of how much I like them? Nope, this is what my assessment of individual episodes has resulted in their placement. For Example, Series 9 has my favourite episode of all time in it, and it's No. 12. Series 3 is overall my favourite series, but it's at No. 3. It's interesting how Quality doesn't actually always present as co-ordinating with Favouritism.
Christopher Eccleston was so good 😭
You get a like for the disclaimer alone, awesome
i'd always love to do a series or doctor ranking. But while I do enjoy different episodes on their own, I have a problem with rewatching things. Becuase i've seen them so many times I get tired of them. So my series or doctor ranking will almost always go from oldest to newest. Current doctor/series is my favourite doctor/series.
1. Series 4
2. Series 5
3. Series 1
4. Series 3
5. Series 2
6. Series 6
7. Series 10
8. Series 9
9. Series 7
10. Series 8
11. Series 13
12. Series 12
13. Series 11
However, the hardest to rank is series 1-3 and they could be in any order. Also, the only reason Flux is above 12 is for the companion group.
YES! Season 10
100% agree 🍾
I appreciate well-thought out rankings like this. For me though, I'd say series 10 is more of a middle of the road season. I love Capaldi, but aside from "World Enough and Time" and "The Doctor Falls," there weren't any standalone stories that blew me away. Rather, I feel like series 10 is just... solid. A solid season, but not necessarily my favorite. Series 9 is probably my favorite of the Capaldi era actually, aside from that disappointing ending. While it may be a controversial take, Under the Lake/Before the Flood is one of the coolest stories in my opinion.
Probably a predictable answer, but I'd have to put series 4 at the top if I was doing my own ranking. David Tennant and Catherine Tate are just... amazing together. That scene in Fires of Pompeii where she begs him to "save someone" is one of the big defining moments of the series for me.
It's so hard when I get to the top of these types of lists. Capaldi is my favorite doctor so I do agree with the top spot but then I start arguing with myself. 10 and Donna are the best NuWho combo ever, but I really loved Matt's first season and I adore Amy. Same with the best 2 parters- once you get to the top I constantly talk myself out of my ratings and I never settle anything- World Enough & Time/Doctor Dances/Family of Blood are just all tied for me for very different reasons. How do you make a call like that? :)
13: Series 13 (Flux)
12: Series 12
11: Series 11
10: Series 7
9: Series 8
8: Series 6
7: Series 9
6: Series 10
5: Series 5
4: Series 3
3: Series 2
2: Series 1
1: Series 4
perfectly aligned with my taste but even if that wasn't the case it's a great list with solid arguments why.
I wouldn't say Flux is the very worst, but it is the most disappointing, as it promised so much in the first couple of episodes but really dropped the ball in the end
Capaldi is my favorite modern Doctor. Series 10 was fantastic
Series 10 s also my favorite version of the 12th Doctor, he reminds me a bit of Pertwee here.
I forgot how good the finale for Season 10 was. I just wish we had gotten 12's regeneration in the finale and Twice Upon a Time had never happened. People like to say Timeless Children was an insult to Hartnell's legacy, but I don't get that. Imo the real offender is Twice Upon a Time.
I’ve softened on Twice Upon a Time on a rewatch but yeah would have been stronger to end on Doctor Falls.
Great list - agree with a lot of it.
I'd say series 1 is quite bad - but as you say, Christopher Eccleston carries it. Agreed series 2 is quite bad. I'd put both of those much lower. Fear Her is worse than anything in 11 or 12 and even the likes of The Twin Dilemma. The only time new Who was able to get that bad!
In all of new Who, I'd put series 5 at the top. For the reasons you say! Apparently Matt Smith wasn't familiar with the show and was seen watching some Troughton DVDs, which was smart. Unlike almost any other Doctor, he seemed to get it straight away and was essentially doing a Troughton impression. Don't disagree about the finale, but personally I find it hard to like any of the new Who finales.
Actually my other big gripe with series 2 is actually one of the best stories. Who isn't Star trek, but was always essentially humanist and pro science. The idea that there was an actual satan and the Doctor was really scared that it was real was really, really ill thought out for me.
My thing with Tennant's Doctor is he just works so much better with someone like Donna who can call him out when necessary, pull him back when necessary. He doesn't work well on his own, and he doesn't work well with someone like Rose who loves him too much to call him out or pull him back.
Yess, someone who hates the idiots lantern as much as me!
1 - Series 3
2 - Series 10
3 - Series 1
4 - Series 4
5 - Series 6
6 - Series 5
7 - Series 8
8 - Series 13
9 - Series 9
10 - Series 2
11 - Series 7
12 - Series 11
13 - Series 12
And so so happy im not the only one whose favourite is season 10. The doctor falls is my favourite episode of new who. (Unless death of the doctor? From sja can count too)
This is probably the list one youtube I can relate most to because this is the only list where my top 3 are the same. This is the first list that gives Bill and Capaldi enough appreciation. In the first part of the video I also agree with a lot of things the Rose season for Tennant is also my least favourite of him.
100% agreed. Perfect list
Love the pun at 22:40
My top three would be Series 1, 5 and 10. I am in the minority that really doesn’t like series 4 (apart from that four episode stretch from Silence in the Library to Turn Left)