Previously on redmangoreviews we counted down the bottom five series of iconic and long running British sci fi show Doctor Who (I’ll provide a link below. I know, I am SO helpful).
For this list will be looking at the cream of the crop, the fish sticks and custard, the top five series. So with a SPOILER ALERT, Allons-y and Geronimo here we go:
#5 Series 3, Smith and Jones – Last of the Time Lords, 2007: Tenth Doctor, Companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)
Tennant’s sophomore season features the Doctor and companion-lite episode Blink which tops many people’s favorite episode lists, and deservedly so. Human Nature/The Family of Blood was also pretty fantastic but Martha’s pining and those awful Dalek episodes drag the season down a bit. Silly pig people.
- Doctor 4/5, Companion 3/5, Villains 4/5
- Mythology 5/5 – introduction of the Judoon, the Ood and the Weeping Angels, reintroduction of the Macra and the Master
- Overall Episode Quality 9/10 – Strongest: Blink & Weakest: Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks
Series 3 Final Score 25/30
#4 Series 1, Rose – Parting of the Ways, 2005: Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)
The triumphant return of The Doctor to television screens and the one season with Eccleston was a great ride. The Ninth Doctor could jump from jolly to menacing in a heartbeat and brought back the show with a bang.
The companions let us down a bit as Rose was yet to really come into her own and this version of Mickey was silly and annoying (the actor, Noel Clarke, reportedly thought it was a kid’s show). But we had ghostly Gelth and ghastly Reapers, silly Slitheen, creepy gas mask people and the supreme Bad Wolf in a really great series.
- Doctor 4/5, Companion 4/5, Villains 5/5
- Mythology 5/5 – psychic paper, Captain Jack Harkness and Face of Boe first introduced, Last Great Time War first mentioned and reintroduction of Daleks
- Overall Episode Quality 8/10 – Strongest: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances & Weakest: Boom Town
Series 1 Final Score: 26/30
#3 Series 6, The Impossible Astronaut – The Wedding of River Song, 2011 – Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), Companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill)
This season was so good it makes me want to do the drunk giraffe dance. Smith was in top form, Gillan was fantastic and Rory was impressive. I will admit I have repeated the line from A Good Man Goes to War “where is my wife?!” when I cannot find my wife.
We are introduced to the super creepy Silent – best monsters since The Weeping Angels – we meet the future members of the Paternoster Gang which quickly became fan favorites, and the mystery of River Song is unraveled. We had a couple of misses such as the uneven Let’s Kill Hitler, the boring Night Terrors and the meh finale of The Wedding of River Song but we also have some great hits like The Girl Who Waited and The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People two-parter. And The Doctor’s Wife is simply perfection. A fantastic series.
- Doctor 5/5, Companions 5/5, Villains 4/5
- Mythology 5/5 – reintroduction of the cybermats, the TARDIS becomes sentient, River Song’s origin explained, and introduction of the Silents and the members of the Paternoster Gang
- Overall Episode Quality 8/10 – Strongest: Tie between The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon and The Doctor’s Wife & Weakest: Night Terrors
Series 6 Final Score: 27/30
#2 Series 9, The Magician’s Apprentice – Hell Bent, 2015: Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi), Companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman)
This series went all out with its opening story that it almost felt like a finale. We had Missy, Davros (not seen since 2008) and the Daleks returning and we meet the creeptastic Colony Sarff, one of the most visually interesting villains ever.
Capaldi was at the top of his game and Coleman was superb, especially in Face the Raven. We had the Zygons back and the continuation of two previous story lines (Day of the Doctor and Death in Heaven). The Girl Who Died and Sleep No More may have been average and stupid episodes respectively but the superb Hell Bent and the aforementioned Face the Raven lifted the overall grade. And I for one am overjoyed that we have Gallifrey back finally.
- Doctor 5/5, Companion 5/5, Villains 4/5
- Mythology 5/5 – reappearance of UNIT, the Zygons, Sisterhood of Karn and the Shadow Architect, first meeting of Missy and Davros, and return to Gallifrey
- Overall Episode Quality 9/10 – Strongest: The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion & Weakest: Sleep No More
Series 9 Final Score 28/30
#1 Series 4, Partners in Crime – Journey’s End, 2008: Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), Companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate)
In preparation for the premiere of Series 8, Capaldi’s debut season, I went back and watched all of Nu Who. And after I watched Series 4 I thought, “my goodness, this is a perfect season.” Tennant played a Doctor at his highest and lowest and was simply brilliant. Tate was flawless as the funny, thoughtful and caring Donna and she tops my best Nu Who companion list; Sarah Jane Smith is overall by the way. And the TnT combination of Tennant and Tate results in the best Doctor/Companion chemistry of Nu Who as well. “You’re not mating with me sunshine.” We miss you Donna.
In terms of mythology we have the Sontarans back, though their two-parter was just okay, UNIT also returns along with the dreaded Classic nemesis Davros, and we also have our first meeting with River Song. And there are a ridiculous amount of outstanding episodes this series. Planet of the Ood, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead and Midnight will blow your socks and shoes off. And seeing all the companions together for The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End resulted in multiple Whovian nerdgasms. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it. It really is the best.
- Doctor 5/5, Companion 5/5, Villains 5/5
- Mythology 4/5 – Reintroduction of the Sontarans, UNIT, Davros, introduction of River Song
- Overall Episode Quality 10/10 – Strongest: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead & Weakest: The Doctor’s Daughter
Series 4 Final Score 29/30
So that’s my list. What’s your favourite series of Doctor Who? Feel free to comment wherever this is posted. And if you enjoyed this countdown how about a share?
For part one of this list you can click here.
And to purchase Doctor Who Series 4 you can click right here to Buy it on Amazon.
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