The Fantasy Review’s list of Every New Doctor’s First Episode Ranked from Worst to Best, since 2005. In this list we have also included The Star Beast, as it is technically a “new Doctor” story, even if it is David Tennant back in the role.
#7 – Deep Breath (Peter Capaldi)
Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor is one of my all-time favourites, but this first episode was rough. I wasn’t a fan of his first series in the titular role, to be honest, and was very glad to see the following seasons improve.
Deep Breath has some highlights, like the Doctor struggling to grapple with an older, angrier face, or a dinosaur chilling in London. We also get our sneak peek at the overarching series villain.
Where the episode goes wrong is in failing to be of any interest. Clara is mopey; her pretty boyfriend has gone, replaced by a grumpy old man. The side characters are fun, but with no interesting plot to follow, there is little rewatchability to the episode.
#6 – The Woman Who Fell To Earth (Jodie Whittaker)
It is no secret to anyone who has seen my previous articles on Doctor Who that Chibnall’s run has been my least favourite of the post-2005 era. However, this first episode was pretty fun. Not great, but I enjoyed it.
It should be noted, I have not rewatched this since it aired. So, no, it’;s not something I ever return to. I tend to pretend that the BBC skipped 13 altogether, despite Jodie Whittaker’s enjoyable performance in the role as The Doctor.
The Woman Who Fell To Earth has a fun cold open, a decent introduction to new companions, and a great villain (who gets ruined in a future episode). The 13th Doctor is immediately likeable, with a fun attitude that is exemplified in the creation of a new sonic.
#5 – The Star Beast (David Tennant)
Check out: our review of The Star Beast.
As much as it was nice to have Russell T. Davies return to “make Doctor Who great again”, the first episode of the three-part 60th-anniversary was a bit rubbish. The truth is, you can have a lot of fun watching The Star Beast, and it is certainly aimed at a younger audience, so there’s not much to complain about.
David Tennant returns as The Doctor, this time as the 14th incarnation. The writing and his acting depict an older, more mature version of the 10th Doctor; this is a new and different incarnation with his own flaws and personality, while still embodying that 10th Doctor persona many of us know and love.
#4 – The Church on Ruby Road (Ncuti Gatwa)
Check out: our review of The Church on Ruby Road.
Yet another episode seemingly made for a younger audience, The Church on Ruby Road introduced us to Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor (in his first full episode) and the new companion, Ruby Sunday.
Ruby and her backstory are the strongest part of the episode, with Davies taking plenty of time to expand on her foster carers and home life. Davies does best in Doctor Who when he focuses on the characters like this.
Gatwa explodes onto the screen and is a delight to see in the role as The Doctor. I think he is going to be a memorable Doctor for the generation getting into the show right now, just like Tennant was for many people my age.
More: Every Modern Doctor Who Christmas Special Ranked
#3 – Rose (Christopher Eccleston)
I remember my mum sitting me down to watch the return of Doctor Who to our screens all the way back in 2005. I was terrified of the Autons but loved every second and have been addicted to the show ever since.
Christopher Eccleston is too often forgotten in the discourse around this show, but that man helped lead Doctor Who back from obscurity. In Rose, we are introduced to a tired, brooding 9th Doctor who has recently defeated the Darleks in the Time War, but at a terrible cost.
Rose is the perfect companion for him at this point. Billie Piper’s fun, fascinated and kind character pulls the Doctor back from despair and goes on to be one of his most loyal and badass companions.
#2 – The Christmas Invasion (David Tennant)
I still have vivid memories of seeing the killer christmas tree for the first time in The Christmas Invasion and laugh everytime a tree tries to kill someone in one of Russell T. Davies’ Doctor Who Christmas specials!
This is David Tennant’s first episode and he spends most of it unconscious. Despite this, it is one of the best introductions of a new Doctor ever. Here we are introduced to the 10th Doctor, who would go on to be one of the most beloved incarnations of all time, beaten only, perhaps, by Tom Baker (#4).
Those short few minutes we see of the 10th Doctor swinging a sword about and defeating the bad guys is all we needed to see to know that this is one awesome Doctor!
#1 – The Eleventh Hour (Matt Smith)
Saving the best to last, I might have been brought up on Eccleston and Tennant, and Capaldi might be a favourite, but there is a special place in my heart for Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor. At this point in the show’s history, Steven Moffatt takes over from Russell T. Davies as showrunner and decides to take the show in a more fairytale-like direction.
This creative choice works perfectly, with Matt Smith’s “raggedy man” crashing into the back garden of one Amy Pond. She finds him at the bottom of the garden, like you might a fairy, and his magical box takes her, and later Rory, on exciting adventures.
This episode is a mix of everything that is great about Doctor Who. It has horror, mystery, a scene where the Doctor scares the hell out of a villain, and most of all it’s hilarious. I don’t think The Eleventh Hour will ever be topped on a ranking of every new Doctor’s first episode.
