avatarIlana Lydia

Summary

The article presents a curated list of favorite "Doctor Who" episodes totaling under 24 hours, heavily favoring the Nu-Who era and the work of writer Steven Moffat.

Abstract

The author of the article has compiled a personal selection of "Doctor Who" episodes that add up to just under 24 hours of viewing time, emphasizing their preference for the modern series and the episodes penned by Steven Moffat. The list includes iconic two-parters like "The Impossible Astronaut" and "The Day of the Moon," as well as standalone episodes such as "Blink" and "Listen." The selection spans various Doctors, with a notable absence of Jodie Whittaker's era due to the author's dissatisfaction with her showrunner's work. The episodes chosen are praised for their villains, emotional depth, and the introduction of significant characters like River Song and Captain Jack Harkness. The article also acknowledges the impact of classic episodes such as "Genesis of the Daleks" and "The Day of the Doctor," the latter being the show's 50th-anniversary special. The author concludes by inviting readers to share their favorite episodes and recommends further reading on the show's profound implications.

Opinions

  • The author admits to a bias towards Steven Moffat's writing, considering him a genius.
  • The Silence and the Weeping Angels are regarded as some of the creepiest and most memorable villains in the series.
  • The River Song arc is highly praised, particularly her introduction in "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Damned."
  • The author expresses a preference for David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor, highlighting his performances in several chosen episodes.
  • The 50th Anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor," is celebrated for its successful incorporation of multiple Doctors and significant moments in the show's history.
  • The article criticizes the handling of Jodie Whittaker's era as the Doctor, attributing the shortcomings to her showrunner rather than her acting abilities.
  • "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" are noted for their strong writing and introduction of Captain Jack Harkness.
  • The author finds "The Fires of Pompeii" notable for featuring both David Tennant and Peter Capaldi, the latter of whom would later become the Doctor.
  • The emotional depth of "Vincent and the Doctor" and the character study of Vincent Van Gogh are highlighted.
  • "Heaven Sent" is recognized for its powerful performance by Peter Capaldi and the concept of the Doctor trapped in a time loop.
  • The author enjoys the humor and plot of "The Husbands of River Song," particularly the dynamic between River and the Doctor

If I Had 24 Hours to Be Lazy and Watch All the TV I Wanted, What Would I Choose?

Or: What are my favorite episodes of Doctor Who totaling under 24 hours?

Steve Collins, Wikimedia Commons

So I had a merry war in compiling the episodes for this article. Part of me thought, “I really should represent all of the Doctors with this. Make it fair.” But it’s not fair, and can’t be fair, can it, ever, as Eight only has one full-length and the War Doctor may or may not count.

So I ceded over to the other part of me, which said, “Make this list as you really want to. Don’t try to be fair. You know you’re biased. Let it show!”

I will warn you: this list is Nu-Who heavy, and has A LOT of Steven Moffat in it. Why? Because he’s a genius, that’s why. It’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

The list is not chronological. Instead it’s based on personal preference within the mythology of the series.

I would like to apologize for not including any Jodie Whittaker. It’s not her fault. It’s her showrunner’s. I think she’s a great actor and am all for a female Doctor. Perhaps next time it will be done right.

As River would say so sweetly, “Spoilers.”

And now, onto the dancing girls!

1. and 2. The Impossible Astronaut (45 minutes) and The Day of the Moon (45 minutes)

Debatably the creepiest villains in the whole series, the Silence flex their collective muscles on Earth, able to move freely in and out of human society because they can’t be remembered immediately after a person has stopped looking at them.

This leads to one of the most startling images of the show, a person covered with hash marks that they’ve made to jog their memory as to how many times they’ve seen them.

Smith is the perfect Doctor in the perfect two-parter. The resolution of these episodes is laugh-out-loud funny, as it takes the iconic words of Neil Armstrong and turns them on their heads.

3. Blink (45 minutes)

Almost universally crowned the pinnacle of all episodes Doctor-related, Blink is unique for how little the Doctor (Tennant) and his companion Martha are in it. Instead, the story centers around the captivating Sally Sparrow and the stellar villains the Weeping Angels, who simply zap you back in time and use up your residual energy.

The Weeping Angels are another creation of Moffat’s which soar. They look like normal statues until you look away — until you blink — because they’re quantum locked. But the moment you do blink, they’re able to advance on you.

4. and 5. Silence in the Library (45 minutes) and Forest of the Damned (45 minutes)

So much good stuff. The beginning of the River Song arc, where the Doctor (Tennant) is confronted by a woman who he doesn’t know at all, but who has spent her life getting to know him (in the future). Another unforgettable Moffat villain, leading to Whovians everywhere not wanting to let their shadows cross. An excellent child actor. A no-dry-eyes-in-the-house ending.

6. Genesis of the Daleks (150 minutes)

A bit long, and the clam-creatures are silly, but solid, chilling development of the Daleks through their creator Davros (pictured above). The war on Skaro (the home planet of the Daleks) has been going on for ages, and Davros has bred the perfect war-survival machines for his race to evolve into.

Tom Baker has a speech, now infamous, asking if you could go back in time and kill a child who would grow up into a mass murderer, if you should. Wouldn’t you become as bad as they are if you were to do that?

7. and 8. Magician’s Apprentice (46 minutes) and The Witch’s Familiar (48 minutes)

And then comes Moffat’s reply. This episode starts with the Doctor (Capaldi) giving hope to a child in the middle of a mine field. “What’s the name of the little boy who doesn’t die today?” he calls to him. The boy answers, “Davros.” Beat. Beat. Beat. “Hello?” calls the boy. We hear the TARDIS dematerialize.

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at a turn of events in Doctor Who.

And the episodes continue to delight. Missy — the new regeneration of the Master — uses and abuses the Doctor’s companion Clara, to the point of sticking her inside a Dalek and telling the Doctor that it was this Dalek that killed Clara itself. Something keeps the Doctor from murdering the Dalek, something which brings the episode full circle.

Did I mention the land mines were actually “hand mines,” hands on wrists sticking up out of the mud, with one large, cyclopean eye in the middle of the palm? I love these episodes.

9. and 10. The Empty Child (45 minutes) and The Doctor Dances (45 minutes)

These episodes introduce Captain Jack Harkness, show an intense look at wartime Britain, but once again, it is the “villain” of the story that takes the cake.

Picture a little boy in a gas mask, with a cut on his hand, asking “Are you my mummy?” Now imagine that everyone who touches him, becomes like him — with a gas mask fused on their face and a wound on their arm, focused on finding their Mummies — and everyone who they touch, becomes like them too.

Right out of the gate, in the first series of the new Who, Moffat masters the form.

11. Listen (48 minutes)

Creepy creepy creepy, with a “don’t-meet-your-grandparents-while-time-traveling” subplot that’s also interesting. But it’s the revelation that the Doctor (Capaldi) in his youth slept out in the barn, apart from the other boys, which makes this episode so powerful and endearing.

12. Face of Evil (100 minutes)

This episode has one of the coolest visuals of the classic series. We see Tom Baker’s Doctor standing in a room of monitors, with his face projected all around him, shouting “Who are you?” in many different voices, a computer who he inadvertently had given his personality to suffering from multiple-personality disorder.

The humanitarian, atheistic aesthetic flows strongly in this episode. A tribe has obviously been visited in the past by a space-fairing race, as remnants of that race are littered around their encampment and are used in their religious ceremonies.

13. Robot (100 minutes)

Okay, I could have put down The Mask of Mandragora or Robots of Death here. The writing for Baker was at an all-time high, and there are many worthy choices. Heck, a few Pertwees are also strong contenders. But Robot is one of my favorite Sarah Jane episodes, so it had to make it on the list. Sarah’s compassion and kindness are unequalled, surely leading to her being the most popular Classic-era companion and getting her own spin-off series.

14. The Day of the Doctor (77 minutes)

Who wasn’t impressed by the 50th Anniversary show? I don’t know how they packed this one so full — three Doctors, Hurt, Tennant, and Smith, which by the end grows to 13 . . . if you count the eyebrows, which we all should — but Moffat managed to get everything but the kitchen sink in this one.

Taken with its companion pieces, An Adventure in Space and Time (the show’s origin story), The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, and the science and show history specials, the 50th will long be remembered as a success.

15. Army of Ghosts (45 minutes) and Doomsday (45 minutes)

For any Rose fan, this set is sure to break your heart. I don’t know why Moffat gets all the grief for hard endings when a show like this from Davies exists. Tennant’s Doctor sees his companion literally ripped out of the fabric of space and time and whisked away to a different universe.

16. and 17. The Pandorica Opens (50 minutes) and The Big Bang (50 minutes)

A whimsical premise: what creature in the universe does every race fear? Who would bring the Daleks and the Cybermen and the Sontarans together by being a common enemy to one and all? The Doctor, that’s who. And it’s the memory of Smith’s trusted companion Amy (Amelia as a little girl) that is the key to rebooting the whole wide universe.

The Waters of Mars (60 minutes)

Don’t watch this one alone. Just . . . don’t. A Tennant special, The Waters of Mars is a terrifying look at what could happen to the first settlers on Mars, who unleash an organism in the frozen water that turns people into worse-than-zombies.

The Fires of Pompeii (50 minutes)

Tennant? Check. Capaldi? Check. Karen Gillam? Why not. This episode brings together two Doctors before they were both Doctors. A fun plot and a touching story round out this adventure-filled episode.

Vincent and the Doctor (45 minutes)

So tragic. Vincent Van Gogh is visited by the Doctor (Smith) and Amy, but his depression wins in the end. The Doctor breaks a few rules and takes Vincent forward to present time to show him how beloved his work is. The character work on this episode is excellent.

Heaven Sent (54 minutes)

What a heavy episode. The Doctor starts his time in a confession dial again and again, living life after pointless life, until he figures out the pattern and manages to chip just a slice off the exit, for his next incarnation to find. After ***billions*** of years (which we discover by his knowledge of the stars), he has finally broken out of his prison. Beautifully acted by Capaldi.

The Husbands of River Song (56 minutes)

A great, light romp through River Song’s many amours. She doesn’t recognize Capaldi’s Doctor because she hasn’t met him yet, and lets her many indiscretions slip. Yet, when her life is threatened, she nearly bursts with praise of the Doctor, not realizing he is standing right next to her.

Twice Upon a Time (60 minutes)

The Twelfth meets the First — or at least, a new version of the First — and we see how cringe-worthy the Doctor started, especially with his attitude towards women. Plus any list of Doctor Who shows to watch must contain at least one regeneration episode. They’re the best.

To sum up: 24 hours is 1440 minutes. Without stooping to mini-episodes, this is the best list I could come up with that would take nearly the right amount of time, 1399 minutes. Chalk the rest up to water, stretching, and potty breaks. I would love to spend this day, and am grateful for 24 Hours challenging me with coming up with the list.

Now, to start working my way through some of these again.

Have different episodes you love, or different shows? Leave them in the comments.

If you liked this article, you might also like: 13 (+1) Episodes of Doctor Who Where the Implications Are Staggering | by Ilana Lydia | Life and the Performing Arts | Sep, 2021 | Medium

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