The Fantasy Review’s list of Chris Chibnall’s Worst Doctor Who Episodes.
Also check out: Chris Chibnall’s Best Doctor Who Episodes
#8 – 42
We begin this list of Chris Chibnall’s worst Doctor Who episodes by starting with the least offensive of the bad stories. On Doctor Who, season 3, episode 7, Chibnall wrote 42 under the then-showrunner, Russell T Davies.
42 is Chibnall’s first Doctor Who episode and makes absolutely no sense, however, you can have fun watching it. Overall, this is a pretty standard dud episode that most fans of the show will be used to, and better than much of what Chibnall would produce himself as showrunner…
#7 – The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood
In season 5, episodes 8 and 9, Chibnall brings us the two-part story, The Hungry Earth and Cold Blood where we meet the Silurians as we have never seen them before and oh wow what a stinker.
The fact that this is split into two parts is insane in the first place, with such a simple, one-episode plot. Sure, you can watch it, and maybe even enjoy it a bit, especially with some great performances from the cast, but overall it felt less like an examination of racism and intolerance, but instead a wasted Silurian storyline that could have been epic!
#6 – Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
Seeing Mr. Weasley taking a trip in the TARDIS and bumping into some dinosaurs on a spaceship was the highlight of season 7, episode 2. Other than that, it was a struggle to stay awake.
This was the second time they decided to split the seasons into two parts (for some reason), and with no overly complex mystery left to mine for plot devices, we were left with Filch trying to take over the world, or something, and it was Mr. Weasley’s job to stop him…
I’m being sarcastic, but you will know what I mean. Look, if you enjoyed Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, I am glad. When I do a rewatch, I still watch this one through to the end. I forget it soon after though.
#5 – The Ghost Monument
After a mediocre start with The Woman Who Fell to Earth (still one of two decent episodes of this season), The Ghost Monument (season 11, episode 2) shattered all my hopes that season 11 might be good.
Chibnall is the new showrunner, and while you might forgive him some missteps in his first season, have you watched Steven Moffatt’s first season as showrunner? Now that’s how you make an entrance.
The Ghost Monument is a slow, meandering “race” with so little worldbuilding you fail to care you forgot everyone’s names. I don’t know who these people are, I don’t know why they are competing, I don’t… oh, look, the TARDIS is back. Let’s get back to it!
Oh, Sweetie… you redecorated… What happened?
#4 – The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos
Tim Shaw (Tzim-Sha) is the funniest joke in Chibnall’s entire run, and they killed it after the second use in The Woman Who Fell to Earth. What could have been a pretty epic new villain for Doctor Who lore was ruined in the season 11 finale, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos.
By this point in the show, audiences should expect to have an emotional connection to the Doctor and their companions. We should understand these characters’ motivations so when they make certain decisions, we can nod our heads and say “yes, that makes sense for X character, because they said/did Y before.”
Unfortunately, we got none of that characterisation and again, with a lack of worldbuilding we also understood nothing of the situation we were placed in. The problem with season 11 wasn’t the new characters, it was that the conclusions to their arcs were never satisfying because the writers ignored the basics of storytelling.
#3 – The Power of Three
Yes, we meet Kate Stewart and see UNIT again. I was as excited as you! However, The Power of Three (season 7, episode 4), made just as little sense as Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.
Moffatt regularly played around with having the Doctor stuck with humans on Earth for prolonged periods of time, but by this time the joke had been played out. And, while the Doctor is restless, especially this version of him who is constantly running away so he forgets the Time War, he once spent a long time living on Earth without going crazy (well, crazier than you would expect from the Doctor).
Also, Amy and Rory were going to stay home at the end, chill, have a life. Sure, they still get to do that, but by being violently displaced in time instead. Thanks for convincing them to go, Mr. Weasely.
#2 – Arachnids in the UK
I mean… the Doctor pleads with Donald Trump-ish to be merciful… then is absolutely horrific. If you need an example of poor character writing, Arachnids in the UK (season 11, episode 4), is the perfect “How to” guide.
The Doctor’s character makes no sense. The villain’s character makes no sense. The companions… What are their names again?
I’ll tell you how bad this episode is. I will rewatch Love & Monsters when I’m going through the seasons. I will not rewatch Arachnids in the UK.
Okay, to be fair, I’ve never rewatched any of Chibnall’s seasons. How could I, when there is barely a recognisable part of Doctor Who in them?
#1 – Ascension of the Cybermen / The Timeless Children
I love it when a writer or showrunner on Doctor Who does something different. The show is old! It needs to be “rebooted” now and again!
Moffat’s fairytale-like tone for the show was perfect! Missy/The Master working alongside the Doctor worked amazingly well! Moffatt’s colourful Daleks… absolutely flopped, but they were retconned and never spoken about again.
I don’t have space in this article of Chilnall’s worst Doctor Who episodes to go over all the reasons why The Timeless Children also flopped, but it just doesn’t work. I don’t even mind the idea of it, but you need to make it make at least some sense…
The greatest betrayal of season 12, episodes 9 and 10, however, is the destruction of Galifrey and murder of every Time Lord. Again.
Moffat just saved them all! That arc from season 1 in 2005 all the way to the 50th Anniversary was PERFECT! We had closure, we had a satisfying ending, and what? Suddenly the Master, who is smart but not that smart, manages to destroy it all again?
What a waste of such a fabulous opportunity with Sacha Dhawan’s Master, too, who gave one of the best performances in the role I think we have ever seen.
