To all you lonely Whovians on EpicMafia...
...this thread is for you!
Here I rank my personal favorite Top Ten Doctor Who episodes of Series 1-7.
I will do a ranking of Series 8 when I am able to see all of it. (Spoiler Alert - Flatline and Listen are pretty high on the list!)
Spot 10: The God Complex
To kick off my list i thought I'd begin with somewhat of a contoversial choice...however I think this episode is one of Matt Smith's best.
The whole 1980's hotel setting adds to the tension and sense of dread evident throughout the episode. The characters are well defined, the pacing is solid, and it would have been an acceptable sendoff to Amy and Rory for good.
Spot 9: Rose
Of the 4 intro-to-the-doctor episodes, this one has a soft spot in my hear. It was MY FIRST episode of Doctor Who, even though it was a little bit goofy with the trash can scene.
What a way to start a show.
Spot 8: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
"Are you my mommy?"
shudders
Seriously, gas-mask zombies in WW2 is one of the scariest things Moffat has thought up, and he created the Weeping Angels!
So much character development, it felt like I was watching a full-length movie. Eccleston at his finest, Piper with Barrowman, this is how you make a piece of film/TV.
Just think that 11 is with Churchill at this time as well, and he knows exactly what is going on...
Spot 7: The Eleventh Hour
Oh Matt. What an episode to start on. It can only go down from here.
And it did. Regardless, this episode is so spooky. It introduces way more questions then it answers, but that's my favorite part about it. (why are there no ducks in the duck pond?"
Edges out "Rose" by the smallest of margins.
Spot 6: Dalek
This is how you make a Dalek story. Eccleston's scene with the beast is one of my favorite TV moments of all time. Van Statten makes for a menacing villain who is motivated by money. The only downside is that "DALEKS CAN FLY NOW? WHAT???"
Spot 5: Amy's Choice
The pure tension of who Amy chooses is wonderful. Also both realities are equally interesting, and Toby's performance as the Dream Lord is scarily good. All of the development, all of the monsters, it's stellar. Amy and Rory at their finest.
Spot 4: The Waters of Mars
This episode is scary. Plain hide-behind-the--couch scary. Having the Doctor know what will happen to everyone, and then HIM INTERFERING IN A FIXED POINT just shows how far he is willing to go to save a few lives. Acting is stellar, the threat is nervewracking, just an all around good episode.
Spot 3: Father's Day
This will certainly turn a few heads. I love this episode. The fact that it takes the age-old concept of going back to save someone you lost...and showing the consequences of that...I love this. Billie Piper in this is amazing as seeing her dad for the first time. The Doctor also acts as the one who has to play the bad cop, but you know he's right. The reapers were a lil' underwhelming tho...but that's just nitpicky. My favorite episode of the Eccleston era.
Spot 2: Blink
'WAT BLINK ISN'T NUMBER ONE UR CRAZY MYTHS WAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME'
Don't get me wrong, this is Moffat's best episode since...this. This defines the creepiness that Doctor Who is known for. Carey Mulligan stars as an amateur investigator whose friend goes missing, only statues are the clues. So creepy, well acted, it won the FREAKING HUGO AWARD! However, there is a story better...
Honorable Mentions
The Doctor's Wife
- Neil Gaiman's Writing
- Karen/Arthur's Acting
- The TARDIS is hot
Cold War
- Clara actually DOES something
- The Ice Warrior redesign
- Fast Pacing
AND THE NUMBER ONE BEST DOCTOR WHO EPISODE OF SEASONS 1 - 7 IS...
Don't.
Spot 1: Midnight
The tense, claustrophobic atmosphere really gets to you. Spending 40 minutes on that tin can is enough for me. Since the whole point of the episode is saying 'humans are the monsters' is chilling. Everything about this is scarily scary. AMAZING ACTING (yes that is Colin Morgan) just adds to the whole equation. The first time i watched this I couldn't sleep. imo, 'Blink' has the substance, but this has a distinct style which adds to the episode's greatness.
Well that's my list. Leave a comment on how you think it's wrong!