POLL: Which was the best season since Dr Who came back?
- Thread starter Lance
- Start date
Tough choice. But I think the most consistently good one was the fifth, even though other season's highlights might have an edge.
I want to vote for series 4, but not the 2008-10 specials. I consider the specials a seperate series. And series 7 was 2012-2013, surely.
Not a great way to list the series, then.
Not a great way to list the series, then.
I agree, in retrospect it isn't an ideal listing. But the specials are a part of Series 4 (DVD home releases notwithstanding), and I just didn't feel comfortable listing them seperately as a "season" within themselves anyway. Still, it's all moot. It's too late for me to change it now. 
Five.
Up to that point, each season was better than the last, then season 6 was crap (as a season, even though I loved the individual episodes). Season 7B was perhaps even better, but since we're counting season 7 in one piece, the first half holds it back a bit, allowing 5 to take the point.
Up to that point, each season was better than the last, then season 6 was crap (as a season, even though I loved the individual episodes). Season 7B was perhaps even better, but since we're counting season 7 in one piece, the first half holds it back a bit, allowing 5 to take the point.
But it IS a different season. The fourth series dealt with Donna and the stolen planets arc, which all culminated with the Stolen Earth two-parter. The 2008-2010 Specials, essentially Series 4B, dealt with the Tenth Doctor's upcoming demise by the "four knocks".I agree, in retrospect it isn't an ideal listing. But the specials are a part of Series 4 (DVD home releases notwithstanding), and I just didn't feel comfortable listing them seperately as a "season" within themselves anyway. Still, it's all moot. It's too late for me to change it now.
I don't quite agree. Series 2 was a definite step down from series 1.
Series 1 for sure was the best. Was the only series where I've adored every episode. I'd say Series 6 was the weakest for sure, and I have to agree the listing is awful. The Tennant specials are definitely a separate series, although I wouldn't be sure if I'd join series 7 and the 2013 specials togather as there was only two episodes in the second specials and they sort of followed series 7 closely.
Its so hard to decide. I've enjoyed all the modern Doctors. I can't really give it to Series 1 because, while I really like the 9th Doctor and his series, 10 and 11 had longer runs and probably more solid stuff. Series 2 gave me one of my favorite 10th Doctor Stories (The Girl in the Fireplace) and had some good episodes, but it also had two of the worst episodes with the 10th, Love & Monsters and Fear Her, not to mention The Idiot's Lantern. So, its a bit of a weak season, although I still liked it.
Series 3 had Human Nature/Family of Blood, and since those are my most hated Doctor Who episodes/story, it almost disqualifies the series by itself, plus it shares the series with the high potential but poorly done Blink and probably the weakest Dalek episode of modern Who, Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks. Series 4 had some awesome episodes, like Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, The Doctor's Daughter, The Unicorn and The Wasp, Midnight, and what I thought was a a really, really good finale for the series, The Stolen Earth/Journey's End. Its probably the best ending of a series in modern Doctor Who, and End of Time, while having problems, had a great farewell to the 10th.
Matt Smith's first series, Series 5, was pretty good, with more good than bad, and a good intro to a new Doctor.
Series 6 in retrospect, episode wise, was pretty good. That's a weird thing to say, because I thought the series 6 arc with the Doctor's upcoming, "totally unchangeable" death was stupid. But most of its episodes were good, including some standouts like The Doctor's Wife, A Good Man Goes to War, and Closing Time.
Series 7 was ok, but even if you include Day of the Doctor as part of the series, it had some flaws and didn't feel as strong as some of the earlier seasons.
Anyway, thinking about the 11th Doctor's episodes, and those of 10's, I've tried to decide the best series based off the strength of its individual episodes. Series 4 is a strong one, and while I like both of them I think I still prefer 10 to 11, but Series 5 had some good things going for it, and honestly, so did Series 6. But, in the end, I think I have to go with series 4. The best series finale, and (since we're including the specials) the best farewell to The Doctor (even if End of Time as a whole is kind of a weak story).
Series 3 had Human Nature/Family of Blood, and since those are my most hated Doctor Who episodes/story, it almost disqualifies the series by itself, plus it shares the series with the high potential but poorly done Blink and probably the weakest Dalek episode of modern Who, Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks. Series 4 had some awesome episodes, like Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, The Doctor's Daughter, The Unicorn and The Wasp, Midnight, and what I thought was a a really, really good finale for the series, The Stolen Earth/Journey's End. Its probably the best ending of a series in modern Doctor Who, and End of Time, while having problems, had a great farewell to the 10th.
Matt Smith's first series, Series 5, was pretty good, with more good than bad, and a good intro to a new Doctor.
Series 6 in retrospect, episode wise, was pretty good. That's a weird thing to say, because I thought the series 6 arc with the Doctor's upcoming, "totally unchangeable" death was stupid. But most of its episodes were good, including some standouts like The Doctor's Wife, A Good Man Goes to War, and Closing Time.
Series 7 was ok, but even if you include Day of the Doctor as part of the series, it had some flaws and didn't feel as strong as some of the earlier seasons.
Anyway, thinking about the 11th Doctor's episodes, and those of 10's, I've tried to decide the best series based off the strength of its individual episodes. Series 4 is a strong one, and while I like both of them I think I still prefer 10 to 11, but Series 5 had some good things going for it, and honestly, so did Series 6. But, in the end, I think I have to go with series 4. The best series finale, and (since we're including the specials) the best farewell to The Doctor (even if End of Time as a whole is kind of a weak story).
Hard to say, since in my mind every season has had about an equal number of strong episodes and weak episodes. But forced to choose I'd probably have to go with Series 5.
Not only were there some damn good episodes (Eleventh Hour, Amy's Choice, Vincent, and Pandorica), but the fairytale ambiance mixed with Moffat's clever writing and Smith's brilliant acting all worked together absolutely perfectly. And most importantly, I found myself more excited about DW than I've probably ever been.
Not only were there some damn good episodes (Eleventh Hour, Amy's Choice, Vincent, and Pandorica), but the fairytale ambiance mixed with Moffat's clever writing and Smith's brilliant acting all worked together absolutely perfectly. And most importantly, I found myself more excited about DW than I've probably ever been.
Series 1
Strong, strong series. But then again it needed to be if it were to introduce Doctor Who to a new generation. Every episode was almost if not completely flawless. A masterpiece and although Tennant is my doctor, this series is by far my favourite and the best. Probably the best in the show's entire 50 year history actually. The quality was pretty much similar, high!
Series 2
Well......it wasn't as good as series 1. :P There were some ok moments and watching some episodes years later on box set, I have come to warm to it. One thing that did piss me off though throughout series 2 was The Doctor and Roses girly romance. Sure I don't mind a bit of romance in the TARDIS, in fact I love it and adore the relationship between 8 & Grace and 9 & Rose, but 10 & Rose was too soppy for my liking. While the previous two relationships I talked about were nice and strong, touched you in the right places in your hearts, this one just reminded you of the annoying and soppy relationships teenagers have before they break up two weeks later. I think I did remember though while watching Doomsday live for the first time as a kid I almost cried a bit. But I'm hard-core so I didn't! :P There are some fantastic stories though, mainly ones including cybermen.
Series 3
A vast improvement over series 2. Some great episodes with a fantastic finale. I literally shouted "YES!" or something when Yana was revealed to be the Master in Utopia. The Lazarus Experiment is another favourite of mine with what I think had a very scary monster, way more scary than those bloody weeping angels I didn't think much of. When I was a kid I HATED Blink, was just so boring. Saw it recently though again and I warmed to it. It liked it, but I didn't love it. I mean it was ok, but not outstanding and very far from best doctor who episode ever. Plus I naturally don't like "doctor-lite" episodes anyway. It's just not doctor who without doctor who.
Series 4
Probably one of my the most nostalgic series. Series 3&4 were probably the series I have more childhood memories from than the rest. Although at the time I would have said series 4 was the best and at the time though each series was getting progressively better than the previous (save for series 1), over the years I think I've changed opinion. Many good episodes in this series. The Sontaran's returned, Davros returned, the Ood returned (which I've always loved), and some nice cuddly little fat things turned up! Yeah it was a good series. And to be honest the last series that really felt complete to me.
2008-2010 Tennant Specials
For the whole of 2009, I was left starving for Doctor Who. Horrible, just horrible plus having to wait for a year or two until a regeneration! But apart from Planet of the Dead which I thought was just average at the time (and have not seen in years), every episode has been outstanding. I loved the Next Doctor, apart from End of Time, probably the best Christmas special yet, The Waters of Mars was good fun, and End of Time was just perfect to me. A perfect swansong for a perfect doctor.
Series 5
In hindsight, the best series of Matt Smith's disappointing rein, but still not brilliant. At least it was complete though, although it didn't feel that complete as nothing wowed me that much and the series finale didn't really even compare with any of the past ones. The opener of series 6 was really more of finale to series 5 and to be honest, probably could have done with being at the end of series 5. Cut out some of the shit episodes like "Vampires of Venice" and I probably could have easily lived without "Victory of the Daleks". And maybe could have got rid of the finale we actually got.
Series 6
Sigh. Groan. Sigh again. This is without the worst series of the revival. Apart from closing Time which was average, there were no classic villains in it which at the end of the day are very important. The series opener was outstanding and a favourite Smith story. Then after that nothing outstanding really happened. In some ways, it felt a bit too Americanised. Like you know how a lot of American series follow one storyline and devote entire episodes to it? Supernatural comes to mind. While it works with Supernatural, it really doesn't cut the mustard for Doctor Who. Plus by then I was already sick of the Ponds so there wasn't really any emotional investment in the characters. Just a flat feeling series. Series 6 shall forever be remembered as the series which fell flat.
Series 7
Probably the only series which felt like two. The first part although an improvement on the horrendous series 6 was still disappointing. I expected Asylum of the Daleks to be on the same level of quality as the series 6 opener. The name also sounded outstanding. Boy was I wrong! Too short, and focussed too much on characters which I loathe anyway. The second episode although mildly entertaining was utterly baffling and was home to some moments that made me cringe including the doctor riding on a dinosaur and "the doctor's gang". Unneeded. Was probably Moffat's only way of being able to add characters to a storyline which does not really accommodate them. And those fucking camp robots, Christ they made me cringe like hell. The Third cowboy episode was also awful. the Power of Three was the better than the previous episodes of the series using few themes that reminded me of my beloved RTD era, but had a rushed ending and was a bit silly in general. The Angels in Manhattan was great and finally got rid of the damned Ponds! Then after that, it felt like a whole different series. A better series. For a start, there was the only Matt Smith Christmas special which didn't make me want to kill things with fire, then a satisfactory mid-series opener but after that oh no, the goodness had to end at some point. A terrible episode which was basically a musical. Then the rest of the series was filled with shitty episode like "Hide" and "The Crimson Horror". I did like "Cold War" a lot though. So in conclusion, I can't even judge Series 7 as one series.
2013 50th Anniversary Specials
This is sort of a mixed bag. Only had two episode in it and it manages to be a mix bag! :P The Day of the Doctor was outstanding. By far Smith's best episode (although Tennant and Hurt were probably the best parts of it). Probably the only episode in the entire Moffat era that could rival the best of RTD. So greatly written, even my mother liked it, and she hates Moffat! I suppose The Night of the Doctor counts too. An outstanding episode, finally got to see McGann again! I think for the 50th, pretty much everything that could go right did go right!
I got to see both McGann and I fell in love with a whole new doctor in the form of John Hurt. The Night of the Doctor was actually very good too, especially for a 7 minute minisode. Definitely would have been better as a longer episode, but I'm happy. At least I finally got to see the last days of the 8th doctor! But good things never last forever and The Time of the Doctor arrived. YUCK! Not including The Time of the Rani which to be honest isn't that much worse than it (if it is even), The Time of the Doctor is easily the worst regeneration story of all time. It was a shitty swansong for a shitty doctor and a shitty era. Not very engaging. The regeneration scene was also shit. Wasn't a fan of that "flash" effect. Too fast.
Strong, strong series. But then again it needed to be if it were to introduce Doctor Who to a new generation. Every episode was almost if not completely flawless. A masterpiece and although Tennant is my doctor, this series is by far my favourite and the best. Probably the best in the show's entire 50 year history actually. The quality was pretty much similar, high!
Series 2
Well......it wasn't as good as series 1. :P There were some ok moments and watching some episodes years later on box set, I have come to warm to it. One thing that did piss me off though throughout series 2 was The Doctor and Roses girly romance. Sure I don't mind a bit of romance in the TARDIS, in fact I love it and adore the relationship between 8 & Grace and 9 & Rose, but 10 & Rose was too soppy for my liking. While the previous two relationships I talked about were nice and strong, touched you in the right places in your hearts, this one just reminded you of the annoying and soppy relationships teenagers have before they break up two weeks later. I think I did remember though while watching Doomsday live for the first time as a kid I almost cried a bit. But I'm hard-core so I didn't! :P There are some fantastic stories though, mainly ones including cybermen.
Series 3
A vast improvement over series 2. Some great episodes with a fantastic finale. I literally shouted "YES!" or something when Yana was revealed to be the Master in Utopia. The Lazarus Experiment is another favourite of mine with what I think had a very scary monster, way more scary than those bloody weeping angels I didn't think much of. When I was a kid I HATED Blink, was just so boring. Saw it recently though again and I warmed to it. It liked it, but I didn't love it. I mean it was ok, but not outstanding and very far from best doctor who episode ever. Plus I naturally don't like "doctor-lite" episodes anyway. It's just not doctor who without doctor who.
Series 4
Probably one of my the most nostalgic series. Series 3&4 were probably the series I have more childhood memories from than the rest. Although at the time I would have said series 4 was the best and at the time though each series was getting progressively better than the previous (save for series 1), over the years I think I've changed opinion. Many good episodes in this series. The Sontaran's returned, Davros returned, the Ood returned (which I've always loved), and some nice cuddly little fat things turned up! Yeah it was a good series. And to be honest the last series that really felt complete to me.
2008-2010 Tennant Specials
For the whole of 2009, I was left starving for Doctor Who. Horrible, just horrible plus having to wait for a year or two until a regeneration! But apart from Planet of the Dead which I thought was just average at the time (and have not seen in years), every episode has been outstanding. I loved the Next Doctor, apart from End of Time, probably the best Christmas special yet, The Waters of Mars was good fun, and End of Time was just perfect to me. A perfect swansong for a perfect doctor.
Series 5
In hindsight, the best series of Matt Smith's disappointing rein, but still not brilliant. At least it was complete though, although it didn't feel that complete as nothing wowed me that much and the series finale didn't really even compare with any of the past ones. The opener of series 6 was really more of finale to series 5 and to be honest, probably could have done with being at the end of series 5. Cut out some of the shit episodes like "Vampires of Venice" and I probably could have easily lived without "Victory of the Daleks". And maybe could have got rid of the finale we actually got.
Series 6
Sigh. Groan. Sigh again. This is without the worst series of the revival. Apart from closing Time which was average, there were no classic villains in it which at the end of the day are very important. The series opener was outstanding and a favourite Smith story. Then after that nothing outstanding really happened. In some ways, it felt a bit too Americanised. Like you know how a lot of American series follow one storyline and devote entire episodes to it? Supernatural comes to mind. While it works with Supernatural, it really doesn't cut the mustard for Doctor Who. Plus by then I was already sick of the Ponds so there wasn't really any emotional investment in the characters. Just a flat feeling series. Series 6 shall forever be remembered as the series which fell flat.
Series 7
Probably the only series which felt like two. The first part although an improvement on the horrendous series 6 was still disappointing. I expected Asylum of the Daleks to be on the same level of quality as the series 6 opener. The name also sounded outstanding. Boy was I wrong! Too short, and focussed too much on characters which I loathe anyway. The second episode although mildly entertaining was utterly baffling and was home to some moments that made me cringe including the doctor riding on a dinosaur and "the doctor's gang". Unneeded. Was probably Moffat's only way of being able to add characters to a storyline which does not really accommodate them. And those fucking camp robots, Christ they made me cringe like hell. The Third cowboy episode was also awful. the Power of Three was the better than the previous episodes of the series using few themes that reminded me of my beloved RTD era, but had a rushed ending and was a bit silly in general. The Angels in Manhattan was great and finally got rid of the damned Ponds! Then after that, it felt like a whole different series. A better series. For a start, there was the only Matt Smith Christmas special which didn't make me want to kill things with fire, then a satisfactory mid-series opener but after that oh no, the goodness had to end at some point. A terrible episode which was basically a musical. Then the rest of the series was filled with shitty episode like "Hide" and "The Crimson Horror". I did like "Cold War" a lot though. So in conclusion, I can't even judge Series 7 as one series.
2013 50th Anniversary Specials
This is sort of a mixed bag. Only had two episode in it and it manages to be a mix bag! :P The Day of the Doctor was outstanding. By far Smith's best episode (although Tennant and Hurt were probably the best parts of it). Probably the only episode in the entire Moffat era that could rival the best of RTD. So greatly written, even my mother liked it, and she hates Moffat! I suppose The Night of the Doctor counts too. An outstanding episode, finally got to see McGann again! I think for the 50th, pretty much everything that could go right did go right!
I got to see both McGann and I fell in love with a whole new doctor in the form of John Hurt. The Night of the Doctor was actually very good too, especially for a 7 minute minisode. Definitely would have been better as a longer episode, but I'm happy. At least I finally got to see the last days of the 8th doctor! But good things never last forever and The Time of the Doctor arrived. YUCK! Not including The Time of the Rani which to be honest isn't that much worse than it (if it is even), The Time of the Doctor is easily the worst regeneration story of all time. It was a shitty swansong for a shitty doctor and a shitty era. Not very engaging. The regeneration scene was also shit. Wasn't a fan of that "flash" effect. Too fast.
Well, here's my ranking, from best to worst:
Season 1 - My favourite series of DW, simply because it remains its most consistent. Really, I don't think there's anything at fault, and even the one story that I don't quite care about (The Long Game), is still not exactly bad. Contains classic such as Father's Day, Dalek, the Empty Child two-parter, Boom Town and of course, the Bad Wolf two-parter. OK, so it had farting aliens - but really, thats about as annoying and/or insulting as it got (at least to me, don't know if anyone found anything particularly insulting in this series). Some say this is a rather raw series, but I think that feeling of new fits this series rather appropriately. A superb series, with a Doctor that should have, like the Eighth before him, lasted longer.
Season 4 - My second favourite series, with my favourite Doctor-companion dynamic in all of DW (Donna is simply superb). However, it does have one of the absolute worst stories of all DW: The Doctor's Daughter. And, it also destroyed the character of Martha Jones in the Sontaran two-parter, almost beyond repair (though it was End of Time that put the nail in that coffin). Still, it has some of the absolute best stories in Fires of Pompeii, Planet of the Ood, Midnight, Turn Left and the Stolen Earth two-parter, which I understand isn't so well-loved as the former two, but I still think its pretty good - and the very last time that the Daleks were threatening in any sort of way. [Not to mention, it also has the single greatest multi-Doctor scene (since thats all Time Crash really is, a long scene between the Fifth and the Tenth Doctors]. Great series, sealed my love for DW.
Season 3 (including The Infinite Quest) - OK, it contains some of the very worst stories of all DW in the Daleks in Manhattan two-parter, The Lazarus Experiment, and the most horrendous, insulting series finale in the shameful Last of the Time Lords (curiously, the other two parts of that three-parter are actually quite good, especially Utopia). That much cannot be denied. However, it also does contain two of the greatest stories of all DW: Blink, and the Human Nature two-parter. Simply amazing stuff, and for those stories alone, not the worst series of DW, and in fact one of the very best. But still, it could've been better so, so easily.
Season 7 (including Day of the Doctor) - A wildly uneven series, with some of the worst episodes in it (Crimson Horror, I'm looking at you), but I like it overall, and the Clara mystery is, IMO, the sublest arc in the Moffat era, and after the heavy story arc-ing of the previous series, this was a much needed change. Plus, the Ponds leave lovingly, and Day of the Doctor is awesome! Which, despite that obvious lack of Eccleston, and criminally McGann (who thankfull still had his own minisode!), was still a superb celebration.
Season 4B (including Dreamland) - So-so series, with only one really bad story (The Next Doctor), but with two rather meh ones (Dreamland and Planet of the Dead), and a bloated mess (all of End of Time, apart from the last 30 minutes), leaving only for one really good story, the excellent Waters of Mars. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly - though I rather wish End of Time was script-edited before shooting.
Season 5 - Great opening year for Smith, his most consistent series. Decent story arc, too, although its this series that firmly put Doctor Who into the fairytale ground. Really, the series finale, although wonderful and absolutely enjoyable, makes very, very little sense - not to say that the RTD finales made more sense, but they had a verysimilitude that is absolutely not part of Moffat's understanding of Who. Not a negative criticism necessarily, but I still hope the fairytale aspect will go as Capaldi starts.
Season 6 - As far as stories unconnected to a bigger narrative, its an OK series. As far as the story arc goes... yeah, pretty weak. The Doctor-die arc I liked it, moreso now in light of Time of the Doctor than when I first viewed it, but the River Song revelation simply sucks. Really, I didn't dislike the character before, at all, but I think I've had enough of her with this series. Also contains the best Christmas Special, and the weakest series finale.
Season 2 - IMO, a definite step-down from the previous year. There weren't nearly as many memorable stories in this one, and the story arc really did seem like it was too busy setting up the spin-off rather than tell a story about the Doctor and/or his companion. Still, it had classic in School Reunion (2006's equivelant of Night of the Doctor, as I read somewhere recently, and not an entirely inaccurate statement, comparatively speaking) and The Girl in the Fireplace, the latter of which is, basically, the Amy storyline told in 45 solid minutes. Not a bad year, but not a great one - but thankfully, Tennant had better material ahead of him.
NOTE: I actually do agree with the fellow poster about the 2013 specials not necessarily belonging to series 7.... Nevertheless, I do like to consider the 50th anniversary as part of series 7, and its essential series finale, at that.
Similarly, I take Infinite Quest and Dreamland as being part of series 3 and 4B, respectively, even if they're not REALLY part of tha production line - however, chronologically they fit in those eras, and they star the Tenth Doctor.
Finally, I kinda consider Time of the Doctor as part of series 8, as weird as that might sound, so I'm gonna rank it alongside that series when it has been transmitted and all. But suffice to say, I like it.
Season 1 - My favourite series of DW, simply because it remains its most consistent. Really, I don't think there's anything at fault, and even the one story that I don't quite care about (The Long Game), is still not exactly bad. Contains classic such as Father's Day, Dalek, the Empty Child two-parter, Boom Town and of course, the Bad Wolf two-parter. OK, so it had farting aliens - but really, thats about as annoying and/or insulting as it got (at least to me, don't know if anyone found anything particularly insulting in this series). Some say this is a rather raw series, but I think that feeling of new fits this series rather appropriately. A superb series, with a Doctor that should have, like the Eighth before him, lasted longer.
Season 4 - My second favourite series, with my favourite Doctor-companion dynamic in all of DW (Donna is simply superb). However, it does have one of the absolute worst stories of all DW: The Doctor's Daughter. And, it also destroyed the character of Martha Jones in the Sontaran two-parter, almost beyond repair (though it was End of Time that put the nail in that coffin). Still, it has some of the absolute best stories in Fires of Pompeii, Planet of the Ood, Midnight, Turn Left and the Stolen Earth two-parter, which I understand isn't so well-loved as the former two, but I still think its pretty good - and the very last time that the Daleks were threatening in any sort of way. [Not to mention, it also has the single greatest multi-Doctor scene (since thats all Time Crash really is, a long scene between the Fifth and the Tenth Doctors]. Great series, sealed my love for DW.
Season 3 (including The Infinite Quest) - OK, it contains some of the very worst stories of all DW in the Daleks in Manhattan two-parter, The Lazarus Experiment, and the most horrendous, insulting series finale in the shameful Last of the Time Lords (curiously, the other two parts of that three-parter are actually quite good, especially Utopia). That much cannot be denied. However, it also does contain two of the greatest stories of all DW: Blink, and the Human Nature two-parter. Simply amazing stuff, and for those stories alone, not the worst series of DW, and in fact one of the very best. But still, it could've been better so, so easily.
Season 7 (including Day of the Doctor) - A wildly uneven series, with some of the worst episodes in it (Crimson Horror, I'm looking at you), but I like it overall, and the Clara mystery is, IMO, the sublest arc in the Moffat era, and after the heavy story arc-ing of the previous series, this was a much needed change. Plus, the Ponds leave lovingly, and Day of the Doctor is awesome! Which, despite that obvious lack of Eccleston, and criminally McGann (who thankfull still had his own minisode!), was still a superb celebration.
Season 4B (including Dreamland) - So-so series, with only one really bad story (The Next Doctor), but with two rather meh ones (Dreamland and Planet of the Dead), and a bloated mess (all of End of Time, apart from the last 30 minutes), leaving only for one really good story, the excellent Waters of Mars. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly - though I rather wish End of Time was script-edited before shooting.
Season 5 - Great opening year for Smith, his most consistent series. Decent story arc, too, although its this series that firmly put Doctor Who into the fairytale ground. Really, the series finale, although wonderful and absolutely enjoyable, makes very, very little sense - not to say that the RTD finales made more sense, but they had a verysimilitude that is absolutely not part of Moffat's understanding of Who. Not a negative criticism necessarily, but I still hope the fairytale aspect will go as Capaldi starts.
Season 6 - As far as stories unconnected to a bigger narrative, its an OK series. As far as the story arc goes... yeah, pretty weak. The Doctor-die arc I liked it, moreso now in light of Time of the Doctor than when I first viewed it, but the River Song revelation simply sucks. Really, I didn't dislike the character before, at all, but I think I've had enough of her with this series. Also contains the best Christmas Special, and the weakest series finale.
Season 2 - IMO, a definite step-down from the previous year. There weren't nearly as many memorable stories in this one, and the story arc really did seem like it was too busy setting up the spin-off rather than tell a story about the Doctor and/or his companion. Still, it had classic in School Reunion (2006's equivelant of Night of the Doctor, as I read somewhere recently, and not an entirely inaccurate statement, comparatively speaking) and The Girl in the Fireplace, the latter of which is, basically, the Amy storyline told in 45 solid minutes. Not a bad year, but not a great one - but thankfully, Tennant had better material ahead of him.
NOTE: I actually do agree with the fellow poster about the 2013 specials not necessarily belonging to series 7.... Nevertheless, I do like to consider the 50th anniversary as part of series 7, and its essential series finale, at that.
Similarly, I take Infinite Quest and Dreamland as being part of series 3 and 4B, respectively, even if they're not REALLY part of tha production line - however, chronologically they fit in those eras, and they star the Tenth Doctor.
Finally, I kinda consider Time of the Doctor as part of series 8, as weird as that might sound, so I'm gonna rank it alongside that series when it has been transmitted and all. But suffice to say, I like it.
But it IS a different season. The fourth series dealt with Donna and the stolen planets arc, which all culminated with the Stolen Earth two-parter. The 2008-2010 Specials, essentially Series 4B, dealt with the Tenth Doctor's upcoming demise by the "four knocks".I agree, in retrospect it isn't an ideal listing. But the specials are a part of Series 4 (DVD home releases notwithstanding), and I just didn't feel comfortable listing them seperately as a "season" within themselves anyway. Still, it's all moot. It's too late for me to change it now.
See, this is a thing I don't understand. If the Tennant specials are not part of Series 4, then the 'Smith specials' are not part of Series 7, surely? Both sets of episodes take place outside the realms of their respective "season", and are not sold as such on home media but as seperate entities.
I mean, if the two Matt Smith specials 'count' as part of Series 7 because they wrap up the Series 7 arc, then the brief reprise of Donna's story in "The End of Time" has got to count towards tying that one into Series 4 too? Isn't it very nearly the same thing?
"Continuity in Doctor Who is... fluid. Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey... stuff."
Let's see
Series 1 (2005)
Did excatly what it need to, was relatively strong throughout, with my highlights of the series being "Dalek" and the "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances".
Series 2 (2006)
Overall I think it was about the same level of quality as the previous series with both having good and not as good episodes. My highlights would be "The Girl in The Fireplace" and "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit"
Series 3 (2007)
Not as strong as the previous series at least in the first half but the last half from "Human Nature" through "Last of the Time Lords" was very good. But I think i might pick "Blink" as the stand out from this season.
Series 4 (2008)
Another strong batch of episodes but I think there were one or two which held it back a bit (at least for me).
The Specials (2008-2010)
A decent bunch of episodes but nothing major to shout about. They each had there moments which were good.
Series 5 (2010)
For me this was a weaker series, there weren't that many episodes that made think that was fantastic. Overall average.
Series 6 (2011)
Slightly better than the previous series but not as strong as the earlier ones.
Series 7 (2012-13)
The split season didn't exactly help, I'm not sure what my thoughts are on this season, though I think I prefered the second half with the new companion Clara, but perhaps that's part of the reason for my apathy for series 5-7a, is that whilst I don't dislkie Amy much like how we can prefer one Doctor to another we can prefer one companion to another.
Series 1 (2005)
Did excatly what it need to, was relatively strong throughout, with my highlights of the series being "Dalek" and the "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances".
Series 2 (2006)
Overall I think it was about the same level of quality as the previous series with both having good and not as good episodes. My highlights would be "The Girl in The Fireplace" and "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit"
Series 3 (2007)
Not as strong as the previous series at least in the first half but the last half from "Human Nature" through "Last of the Time Lords" was very good. But I think i might pick "Blink" as the stand out from this season.
Series 4 (2008)
Another strong batch of episodes but I think there were one or two which held it back a bit (at least for me).
The Specials (2008-2010)
A decent bunch of episodes but nothing major to shout about. They each had there moments which were good.
Series 5 (2010)
For me this was a weaker series, there weren't that many episodes that made think that was fantastic. Overall average.
Series 6 (2011)
Slightly better than the previous series but not as strong as the earlier ones.
Series 7 (2012-13)
The split season didn't exactly help, I'm not sure what my thoughts are on this season, though I think I prefered the second half with the new companion Clara, but perhaps that's part of the reason for my apathy for series 5-7a, is that whilst I don't dislkie Amy much like how we can prefer one Doctor to another we can prefer one companion to another.
Like Emperor-Tiberius says, Season Donna would be an easy win. But add in the specials and it's down there with Season Clingy-Rose at the bottom.
Those Nicknames In Full:
Season 27/1/Sullen Manc
Season 28/2/Clingy-Rose
Season 29/3/Soppy-Martha
Season 30/4/Donna
Season Not a Season/Sinatra
Season 31/5/Fairy Tale
Season 32/6/Silence
Season 33/7/Impossible Girl.
Yep, I realise there's less review in the later nicknames!
Those Nicknames In Full:
Season 27/1/Sullen Manc
Season 28/2/Clingy-Rose
Season 29/3/Soppy-Martha
Season 30/4/Donna
Season Not a Season/Sinatra
Season 31/5/Fairy Tale
Season 32/6/Silence
Season 33/7/Impossible Girl.
Yep, I realise there's less review in the later nicknames!
The two Smith Specials don't consistute a story arc, though, whereas the series 4B does. In fact, a stronger argument can be made that they both belong to series 7 due to their titles being so similar - all having ... of the Doctor at the end.
Now, I agree that I should probably have viewed the 2013 specials seperately, but... The Day of the Doctor pays off to the cliffhanger of Name, which itself said was to be continued in the said special. Time of the Doctor, on the other hand, is less dependant on series 7, thus why I like to think of it as a series 8 starter. Plus, neither of them consistuate, as I said, a story together. One talks about the Doctor's redemption by himself, the other about his death and renewal.
But you're not wrong about the 2013 Specials technically not belonging to series 7 - I just arbitrarily do one of them because of the associated War Doctor character appearing at the end of one of 'em.
No. Because one said the story of Donna's importance and the stolen planets. The other said the story of Time Lord Victorious and his downfall, and Donna's importance wasn't the story's focus - Wilf was. Simple as that.
Without the constant presence of Donna as a companion, the Tennant specials will always feel to me like a separate thing from Series 4.
The Smith specials somehow feel much more connected to Series 7 in my mind, due to the important role Clara plays through all of them.
The Smith specials somehow feel much more connected to Series 7 in my mind, due to the important role Clara plays through all of them.
I’m going to go against the grain here and say series 6. I appreciate that narratively it’s all over the place, but I still think that the second half if probably the most enjoyable run of episodes any series has had, ruined only by Night Terrors. Given the first half of the series has The Doctor’s Wife and A Good Man Goes to War, plus the astronaut two parter, and I think it edges it for me. It does help that Smith’s my favourite modern Doctor and I love Amy and Rory.
As for the rest, in order…
Series 4- Although it can’t be overemphasised how a big part of this is down to Donna.
Series 3- If only for the run of Human Nature/Family of Blood/Blink/Utopia…shame the finale ruins things somewhat. Martha is the weakest companion for me, but this is offset somewhat by Tennant coming into his own in the role, toning down the stupid gurning and giggling schoolboy Shtick from series 2.
Series 7A- Apart from being essentially pointless given the Pond’s had already been given a serviceable sendoff, I just love these episodes, the interplay between the characters. The western’s the only misstep.
Series 1- Eccleston owns the role, and kudos for this being the series that proved the show could come back.
Series 5- Kinda surprised myself with how low I’ve rated this. I think part of the problem seems to be that the production staff aren’t quite sure what they’re doing, so there’s a nervousness about it despite some wonderful episodes. Season 6 might be all over the place, but it’s made with such confidence and relish, and downright bonkersness that I can’t help but love it.
The Specials- Just eminently pointless.
Series 7B- hard to believe it came on the heels of 7A really. Some really poor episodes here, and sadly it all feels a little tired. The Impossible Girl is an interesting concept, but poor Jenna doesn’t seem to know how to play Clara from week to week and the writers don’t seem to have a clue either. Redeemed only by Gatiss’ two brilliant episodes…and the Name of the Doctor obviously!
Series 2- If there was a point where I ever considered giving up this was it. The Tennant/Piper double act was annoying as hell, and Tennant is at his worst in terms of his manic gurning, and he just feels too immature in the role. I can see what RTD was trying to do with the whole “We’ll be together forever” nonsense, but much as with Martha (you think she’s bland and drippy but she’ll save the day in the end!) he overdid it to the point where I ceased caring.
As for the rest, in order…
Series 4- Although it can’t be overemphasised how a big part of this is down to Donna.
Series 3- If only for the run of Human Nature/Family of Blood/Blink/Utopia…shame the finale ruins things somewhat. Martha is the weakest companion for me, but this is offset somewhat by Tennant coming into his own in the role, toning down the stupid gurning and giggling schoolboy Shtick from series 2.
Series 7A- Apart from being essentially pointless given the Pond’s had already been given a serviceable sendoff, I just love these episodes, the interplay between the characters. The western’s the only misstep.
Series 1- Eccleston owns the role, and kudos for this being the series that proved the show could come back.
Series 5- Kinda surprised myself with how low I’ve rated this. I think part of the problem seems to be that the production staff aren’t quite sure what they’re doing, so there’s a nervousness about it despite some wonderful episodes. Season 6 might be all over the place, but it’s made with such confidence and relish, and downright bonkersness that I can’t help but love it.
The Specials- Just eminently pointless.
Series 7B- hard to believe it came on the heels of 7A really. Some really poor episodes here, and sadly it all feels a little tired. The Impossible Girl is an interesting concept, but poor Jenna doesn’t seem to know how to play Clara from week to week and the writers don’t seem to have a clue either. Redeemed only by Gatiss’ two brilliant episodes…and the Name of the Doctor obviously!
Series 2- If there was a point where I ever considered giving up this was it. The Tennant/Piper double act was annoying as hell, and Tennant is at his worst in terms of his manic gurning, and he just feels too immature in the role. I can see what RTD was trying to do with the whole “We’ll be together forever” nonsense, but much as with Martha (you think she’s bland and drippy but she’ll save the day in the end!) he overdid it to the point where I ceased caring.
Season 4 entirely for Tate and Tennant. They created a fantastic dynamic together. Season one, Eccleston is simply a better Doctor than Tennant much of the time. I really don't care for the manic hamster that he and even Smith could get into. Also, I have to give credit to Billie Piper for making Rose a very memorable character. Not very likable for me, but she was memorable and at her best with Eccleston. She and Tennant together were just too manic. Martha, Freema was short changed by the not-Rose thing. It's a shame as she could have worked as well as Tate's Donna as an off set to Tennant's gyrations.
For Smith's years, it's a shame they didn't have him and Arthur Darvil as travelers and not have Amy. No fault to Gillan, rather her character hasn't nearly the level of interesting development that Rory got. Also, I find Arthur a better actor than Karen. Jenna Coleman is fine, I wish she would bring more of the spark she played her first two outings with. So, 4 and 1 are the stand out seasons for me, the others are all really good, just having various strengths and weaknesses.
For Smith's years, it's a shame they didn't have him and Arthur Darvil as travelers and not have Amy. No fault to Gillan, rather her character hasn't nearly the level of interesting development that Rory got. Also, I find Arthur a better actor than Karen. Jenna Coleman is fine, I wish she would bring more of the spark she played her first two outings with. So, 4 and 1 are the stand out seasons for me, the others are all really good, just having various strengths and weaknesses.
