4. Are You My Mummy? - The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances
Moffat's first attempt at Doctor Who proved to be the highlight of the return of the show in 2005 and delivered the first genuine chills of the year. Children have always been used effectively in horror movies to bring out the chills. From Damien in The Omen to the twin girls in The Shining, creepy kids have proved to be as disturbing as any monster or serial killer. Which is why Moffat taps into this idea brilliantly with a little lost boy knocking on your door at night and asking the simple question...
Are you my mummy?
Such an innocent sounding phrase is turned into a portent of doom; one encounter with the mysterious little boy and your dead. The gas mask he wears on his face is just as frightening; it makes him feel alien and yet conjures up the image of victims being gassed to death all at the same time. Given the World War II setting and he becomes a nightmare that haunts the people of London even as they endure the horrors of war night after night. Of course it turns out okay in the end - everybody lives! - but it proved that Moffat could deliver drama and chills in equal measure and made him a firm favourite with newly-emerging Whovians everywhere!