It's not easy being the new kid on the block. But which Doctor did it best? For more awesome content, check out: whatculture.com/topic/doctor-who Follow us on Instagram: / whoculture Catch us on Twitter: / whoculture #DoctorWho #Ranked
when Matt Smith said "I'm the Doctor. Basically....run." that was it. That was the Doctor right there. He quickly not only proved the show could survive the Tennant era, he became my favorite Doctor (until Capaldi, who was born to play the role)
It was smiths second episode that made him one of my favourites with the line “nobody talk to me, nobody HUMAN HAS ANYTHING TO SAY TO ME TODAY!”, for me that summed up the Doctor
I think Patrick Troughton (2nd Doctor), Peter Davison (5th Doctor) and Christopher Eccleston (9th Doctor) had it the hardest. Troughton had to pull off the "Time Lords can regenerate when close to death" idea, to replace Hartnell. Peter D had to take over from Tom Baker, the longest-running actor to play the Doctor for 7 years. As Tom has pointed out, many British children knew no other Doctor but him. And Eccleston, of course, had to launch the new series in 2005 and became many Whovians' first Doctor, including mine. (Interesting fact about how cool Tom Baker is: He refused to smoke in public when he was playing the Doctor, because he didn't want children to think smoking's cool 'cause the Doctor does it.)
I mean, I think Paul McGann had it pretty hard too. Doctor Who hadn't been on air for 7 years and many fans never thought it would come back. So there was heaps of pressure on Paul McGann as if the movie was successful, it would have led into a full series. Whilst contextually it's very similar to Christopher Eccleston, the Movie wasn't successful like the 2005 relaunch and therefore failed to revive the series. I don't know about you but if I was Paul McGann I would feel like I let down an entire fandom. That may not be true and McGann has done incredible things for the series since but yeah. Definitely agree with your points, just wanted to add one more :)
The Eleventh Hour was the first episode of Doctor Who I ever watched. It serves not only as an excellent regeneration story, but it's also really subtly good as a starting point for the show and tells you everything you need to know to jump on board. It's also incredible in hindsight just how well it establishes the character of 11 from the get go. Silly action hero with dark undertones, all right in his very first appearance.
And ine of the best pieces of TV ever. A perfect mix of fairy tale, comedy, sci-fi, and horror, performed by a brilliant cast, with a topping of wonderfully written dialogues and scenes. Matt Smith was exceptional in this, as well as Karen and Arthur of course.
Delighted to see “The Eleventh Hour” in first place. I love the meta here-every fan’s dream, right, to be introduced to the Doctor as a kid and be completely enchanted by him, tell everyone you know, talk about him incessantly, only to be disbelieved, and then, as adult, to learn… HE’S REAL. And to fly off with him! Add the daft redesign of the Tardis interior, Smith’s brilliant “I’m the Doctor. Basically, run” moment, Murray Gold’s equally brilliant “I’m the Doctor” theme building us up to it! Sheer joy!
I thought the behind 11 phoning Clara was to remind her that despite everything, 12 was scared and will need her help to get used to this regeneration, so please, don’t leave yet?
i will stand y the fact that the woman who fell to earth is a solid intro and Jodie is a really good doctor, just unfortunate that the writing let her down
As someone *who* is in the very middle of the 13th's run, I couldn't agree more. Jodie Whittaker is a great actor for the role of the doctor, but many of the episodes have felt rather boring, anticlimactic, or uneventful. Luckily, Jodie and the rest make it just that much better.
Couldn't agree more. She was fantastic as the Dr, but the writing often let her down. There were some crackers - the Punjab one makes me cry a lot! But there were some stinkers too. Having said that, actors can only say the lines they're given and act in the scenery built for them. And work for the current show runner... Imagine her stories if RTD or _maybe_ Moffat were in charge. I think they'd have tried harder to make her very much her own invention.
Thank *you* for pointing out that Christopher Eccleston was excellent in introducing the Doctor to a new audience (and new century.) Granted, we don’t see his regeneration and all that entails, but that makes it easier to meet him. He’s already settled into the new body and temperament; no freaking out necessary.
#11 (Matt Smith) has to be my favorite introduction. I mean, fish fingers and custard? Really? Only an alien would find that yummy. Plus he's also the one who said - in gleeful delight - "Dinosaurs! On a space ship!" It was perfect for an old dude who still found child-like joy in the Universe around him.
I don’t quite get the love for Tom Baker’s Doctor, I’ve watched a lot of his stories, I just can’t get into them, some are ok but it’s quite a boring era
@@igorschmidlapp6987 my first doctor would have been the end of Tom baker, I still remember Peter Davison pivcking his clothes from a stand, but from classic sylvester McCoy is my favourite and William Hartnell is my 2nd from new who Matt smith, Christopher Eccleston and John hurt
I Quite agree with your number 1 debut as I thought of The 11th Hour right away! It was by far the best new Doctor Who Intro ever! Matt Smith was my favourite Doctor & it was very sad to see him go!
I really like Deep Breath. It's probably in my top three new Doctor first episodes. That moment when the villain falls to his death, Capaldi looks into the camera, and you're not sure if the villain fell or if the Doctor pushed him. You're thinking, "Of course the Doctor didn't push him. It's the Doctor." But there's this second voice that says with uncertainty, "Right...?" I just love it.
Eleventh Hour is insane. Imagine any other show riding off its most successful and popular run of episodes ever and deciding to replace the entire cast, most of the production team, new titles, new branding, new vision. And still pulling it off.
Sean what you said about An Unearthly Child being taught in schools it was taught in my Media Studies Class in High School which actually ended up being on my GCSEs and since it was Doctor Who I passed with flying colours
The phone call from 11 was the best part of that episode for me. It was the first regeneration I had experienced watching the show and it meant so much to hear both doctors saying "Don't worry, it's still me, I'm still the doctor.". Without that phone call I would've had a much harder time accepting 12 as the new doctor (and a bloody good one too).
In the late 80s, my PBS station put together a plan to show "regeneration episodes", which to all of us (including those at the station) meant the *last* episode of each Doctor, which in the classic series were usually epic and favourites. Unfortunately, to Lionheart, it meant the *first* episode, which as noted were not always the greatest for lots of reasons. This was only realised once they'd shipped all the tapes; shipping was far more expensive than buying the rights to show the episodes, so there was no question of fixing the issue.
I dunno, I kind of liked when Capaldi's Doctor was more abrasive. It felt a refreshing take that got even my Doctor Who-disliking friend interested in the show. It was almost disappointing when he softened so much.
I love the links between Spearhead From Space and The Eleventh Hour, from jumping right into saving the earth down to both Doctors getting their outfits from the physician's changing room.
I'd have Castrovalva higher and the top two swapping places (Spearhead From Space is one of my top 3 Who stories ever), but I think this pretty much nails it
Any ranking should be based on three factors: how well does it introduce the new Doctor, to what extent and how well does it introduce the general audience to premise of the show and its universe as a whole, and, simply, how good is the story on its own as isolated work.
Deep Breath is just a very chaotic episode. I watched it like 4 or 5 times and everytime I scratch my head... they wanted to cram in way too much stuff - dinosaurs, robots, The Gang, the call... It's a good episode, but it could do without, let's say, a random T-Rex.
I like Ecclestons Doctor, especially after you see Hurts War Doctor. He's just come off of being the War Doctor, so all his anger and rage towards the Daleks is very understandable, still under the surface of his new face.
In defense of Matt's cameo in DB, 12 was not too far removed from the brash, darkness of 6, so I can understand Moffat wanting to reassure viewers given how badly 6's era went in the 80s
@thestormageddn Me too 😊 The only real problem with Deep Breath is the unnecessary phone call from 11 at the end, though I do get why they felt the need to include it, and it does seem like something 11 would do tbf
Not really I think the woman who fell to earth is a lot better then those stories Church on ruby road is a good episode but doesn’t feel like the doctors first episode
Something that I thought was interesting (and I don't know if it was done again) is that The Eleventh Hour was actually the fourth episode filmed for Series 5. The Angel 2 Parter was the first (and honestly I think you can kind of tell that the performances are still slightly fresh in that story) and I think it really helped with the chemistry going into Eleventh Hour.
For me, The Eleventh Hour and the Angels two-parter were 11's best stories. When you add in Vincent and the Doctor, I'd say Matt Smith's first series was his best.
I was in my prime adolescence when I saw the eleventh doctor's seasons and the Elevent Hour and I istantly fell in love with him and his seasons are my favourites, I still get emotional every time Smith's Doctor is on screen, he'll always be my favorite even if I prefer other doctor's runs overall, like Capaldi's doctor, which is the pefect modern incarnation of Doctor Who in my opinion
'The Eleventh Hour' is indeed the best post-regeneration episode of the show's history. But ranking 'The Star Beast' below 'Time and the Rani'? That's just not cricket.
I'm 31 and grew up watching classic Who episodes, courtesy of my mother and sister. Jon Pertwee is still my favourite Doctor to this day, so seeing Spearhead from Space second on this list was brilliant!
My first introduction to doctor who was Rose back in 2005 and it remains such an iconic episode for me! Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper's performances were incredible and it had a really great story which left me wanting the week to go quicker so I could watch the next episode! The ninth doctor was fantastic in this episode and his speech about the turn of the earth is still so iconic! 😊😊
Personal ranking 15. The Twin Dilemma 14. Castrovalva 13. Time and the Rani 12. The Starbeast 11. The Church on Ruby Road 10. The Women who fell to earth 9. Eleventh hour 8. Deep breath 7. Rose 6. Tv movie 5. Xmas invasion 4. An unearthly child 3. Robot 2. The Power of the Daleks 1. Spearhead from Space
Deep breathe is a good episode. He thinks clara is handles and that's hilarious. The phone call at the end of the epaidoe was brilliant. I'd probably put it around 8
great list. I would've personally put The Star Beast and Deep Breath much higher (heck, I'd put Deep Breath at number 1) but that's just me. Capaldi is my favourite Doctor after all Also, crazy how the TV movie got eighth place on this list, given it's McGaan's debut
Castrovalva could rank a little higher. I love the device of him spending much of the episode unraveling the giant scarf from the previous seven seasons, getting to the end, and asking 'who am I "?
My Personal Ranking: 15). The Twin Dilemma 14). Time and the Rani 13). Castrovalva 12). Deep Breath 11). The Church on Ruby Road 10). The Woman Who Fell to Earth 9). The Star Beast 8). The Enemy Within (The TV Movie) 7). The Christmas Invasion 6). Rose 5). Robot 4). An Unearthly Child 3). Power of the Daleks 2). Spearhead from Space 1). The Eleventh Hour
Just ranking the ones I've seen, as I haven't watched a huge amount of Classic Who: 1. Deep Breath 2. The Eleventh Hour 3. The Christmas Invasion 4. Rose 5. The Star Beast 6. An Unearthly Child 7. The Woman Who Fell to Earth 8. The Church on Ruby Road 9. The Twin Dilemma
When I first saw Castrovalva it made an enormous impression on me. I thought the sets and the conundrum at the heart of the episode were so fresh and different from the last Tom Baker season. I was glad to have a new Doctor as being a fan since 1963 I thought Tom was brilliant but I itched to see what a different actor would do with the role. Peter Davison was perfect, as light as air, when Tom had been as rich as a fruit cake. It is in my opinion the most inspired choice of actor and for all John Nathan Turner's daft choices, this was the best choice he made. I saw it snowed in, January 1982 - the cold, gleaming snow outside enhanced the experience as well.
Putting The Star Beast below Deep Breath is criminal lol - I think it sets the tone of the 14th doctors short span on the show quite well, whereas seeing Deep Breath at its premiere was some of the most disappointing viewing I've ever had from the show
Disagree with the rankings somewhat (would rank Deep Breath & Christmas Invasion higher than the 13th) but rly appreciate the time taken for the run-up this week. Suddenly feeling the need for a few rewatches… but no time!
I love Sean as a presenter, but I am oddly too invested in Star Trek to watch TrekCulture regularly. Weird, I know. So whenever he is on WhoCulture I cheer.
I am pleased 11th hour is number one. Matt Smith is my favourite doctor from both new who and classic who. I think Smith had an advantage in that the 11th hour was not the first episode he filmed - so he had had the chance to really get into the character before filming his post regeneration episode.
I would put The Woman Who Fell to Earth lower. I can agree that Jodie was good in this episode but the story was weak and bland, new companions werent interesting. Easily The Christmas Invasion would be higher for me and even Deep Breath. I also adore The Star Beast but I havent seen all the classics so not sure where I would place that.
Despite my overall disdain of everything from the Chibnall era onwards, I do agree that Jodies first episode had more impact than Capaldis. Didn't mean he didn't get better, he was excellent. Christmas Invasion was done dirty though.
For me it’s the “hello I’m the doctor… basically… run” is what secures that Matt will be an amazing one and the show will survive without tennant (11 is also my favourite)
I think each first episode of each Doctor is special in it's own way. As tome has gone by and I've seen more of Hartnell and Troughton I've come to love their doctors more and more. Ironically its not necessarily the first episode that can really hook me. I'm also one of those people who keep an open mind and am willing to give each new iteration of the Doctor a chance.
I consider the very first "Doctor Who" story to be a single episode, "An Unearthly Child"; the second story is a three-parter about cavemen and fire. But that's just my own head canon. But I do watch that single episode every November 23!
Matt Smith absolutely nailed his first episode and showed he and Steven Moffat could carry on the show with no issue after Tennant and Davies left. Matt put his mark on the doctor right away and when he says hes the doctor you believe it
David Tennant first episode shouldn’t be on this list (I don’t know if it is, only halfway through) he was asleep for most of it, so he really didn’t hit the ground running
