The Fantasy Review’s list of the 8 most underrated Doctor Who episodes since 2005. These underrated Doctor Who episodes aren’t necessarily disliked, but I often notice that they are missing from “Top 10” lists despite how good they are!
#8 – Father’s Day
One of the best episodes of Doctor Who is Father’s Day, but it often gets overshadowed by the rest of Christopher Eccleston’s one season as the 9th Doctor. When you are competing with Dalek and The Empty Child, it isn’t really a surprise.
Father’s Day is when we meet Rose’s father, Pete Tyler for the first time. It is an emotional and exciting episode that shows us a vulnerability to Rose’s character we were yet to see.
#7 – Mummy on the Orient Express
I am not a fan of Peter Capaldi’s first season as the 12th Doctor, despite him becoming my favourite actor to play the lead role. However, there are two episodes from that season I will rewatch, and one of them is Mummy on the Orient Express.
I love it when Doctor Who has an episode that mixes with another genre. This doesn’t always work (see: The Unicorn and the Wasp), but when it does, it’s absolutely amazing.
Mummy on the Orient Express is a fun, wacky romp with a killer mummy on a train and I’m a sucker for it. I remember doing a rewatch of Calapdi during the Chibnal era (skipping most of series 8) and absolutely loving this one!
#6 – Thin Ice
Arguably Capaldi’s best season as the 12th Doctor, Thin Ice is the third episode of series 10. This season was aimed at new audiences to the show, and it did the best job at introducing the crazy world of Doctor Who to newbies since the 2005 season 1.
Thin Ice is set in London, 1814, on the Thames. This time there isn’t a dinosaur (see: Deep Breath) and instead we get a fun story about the despicable nature of capitalism – if a little on-the-nose.
#5 – Amy’s Choice
Out of all Matt Smith’s episodes as the 11th Doctor, Amy’s Choice is probably the one I have rewatched the most. It’s a perfect, epic tale told in one solitary episode.
When the “villain” is the Doctor, you know you’re going to have fun!
There were moments at the start of this season where I think the fan base collectively groaned at another romance plot between companion and Doctor. Amy’s Choice put our fears to rest and set up the three protagonists in their roles, with the Doctor playing the eccentric third-wheel to Amy and Rory.
This episode is also just before The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood, which is when Rory disappears from Amy’s timeline. So, on a rewatch it makes what happens at the end of Cold Blood even more powerful.
#4 – The Magician’s Apprentice / The Witch’s Familiar
After a difficult series 8, Peter Capaldi came back in series 9 with a BANG! This two-parter sets up Missy as one of the most interesting “villains” in Doctor Who and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Which is a good thing, because it’s set on Skaro and takes the mick out of Davros. The premise was primed to irritate many long-time fans of Doctor Who, but somehow, through Capaldi’s fantastic performance and the tongue-in-cheek humour, it just worked!
#3 – Let’s Kill Hitler
Series 6, Matt Smith’s second season as the 11th Doctor, was a complicated one. Moffatt arguably made the plot too wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey, but if you have rewatched it a lot, like me, then that hardly matters anymore.
Let’s Kill Hitler was an episode I initially ignored. I watched it when it came out and then forgot about it. There are parts of it that don’t make sense and River’s storyline was so weird I just wanted to move on.
However, on a rewatch, it’s actually an awesome introduction to River Song and shows how much that character has changed over time. From a traumatised little girl to a badass, River Song’s storyline is epic in every sense, and Let’s Kill Hitler is a great “prequel” to who she will become.
#2 – Time Heist
Other than Mummy on the Orient Express, Time Heist is one of the only good episodes from Capaldi’s first season as the 12th Doctor.
I adore this episode and have shown it to people totally out of context (people who don’t watch Doctor Who) and they loved it too! Because Time Heist captures the excitement of an Ocean’s 11 plot and mixes it with the magic of Doctor Who.
If there is one episode of Doctor Who that needs to be on more “Top 10” lists, it’s Time Heist.
#1 – The God Complex
Time Heist might be my favourite of these 8 episodes, but I think The God Complex is objectively better and definitely one of the most underrated Doctor Who episodes since 2005.
This episode does everything that Doctor Who does well. It has an intense plot, plenty of horror, and it gives us a monster to fight who we can understand.
There are so many easter eggs and incredible moments, The God Complex is endlessly rewatchable.
