Doctor Who: EVERY Fifteenth Doctor Episode Ranked Worst To Best
Though his time may have been brief, Ncuti Gatwa made his mark on Doctor Who history.
Though Ncuti Gatwa's era may have been brief (seriously, it was BRIEF), audiences were still given some classic episodes to analyse, dissect, and discuss. Our own rankings have fluctuated as the series have aired, with highs, lows, and Space Babies.
Barring any future returns to the role, we now have the 15th Doctor's entire run. Though it has felt like mere minutes since he flashed out in a dazzling array of light, opinions have cooled a little. Every regeneration since William Hartnell had a lie-down in The Tenth Planet has been met with controversy. It's safe to say that Gatwa's largely unexpected, set-leaks aside, exit caused a sudden uproar in the fandom.
With a sense of calm returning, we have decided to tackle the sad task of ranking all of the 15th Doctor's appearances to date. Though his era may have been a joy, would that description suit each and every entry?
19. The Reality War
The Reality War scores low on this list, not because it's a terrible episode, but because it's two episodes crammed into one, poorly. Rarely, while watching an episode of Doctor Who, have we felt a shift in the structure that so clearly highlighted the beginnings of reshoots.
As the series finale, The Reality War had the usual task of wrapping up the overall arc, or at least teasing us with a continuation. Following on from the rather sudden reveal at the end of Wish World, the episode was bogged down with resolving the Rani, Omega, Conrad, Belinda, and then a regeneration - all in a slightly longer-than-usual runtime.
Where the episode succeeds (in particular, check out that scene with the Doctor, Belinda, and Ruby in the TARDIS) is in its character moments. Though Belinda's arc is resolved in a supremely dissatisfying way, nothing truly feels natural. Poppy may be saved, but at what cost? The regeneration serves to distract from all else, as does the uncalled-for connection to Joy To The World (the star, as opposed to the always-welcome Anita), but the sudden appearance of Billie Piper does little to help this outing feel like a satisfying close to Ncuti Gatwa's tenure.
Though his era as the Doctor may have ended on a whimper, the rest of his time was a lot more enjoyable.