10 Greatest Modern Doctor Who Episodes

8. World Enough And Time/The Doctor Falls

Doctor Who World Enough And Time Master Missy
BBC Studios

Peter Capaldi's final series finale hits all the marks that make a perfect Doctor Who story, beginning with a dramatic cold open (no pun intended!), before jumping to a much lighter, comedic scene between Missy, Nardole, and Bill, and then unfolding into a tense, high stakes dilemma full of mystery, surprises, and sacrifice.

Plus, a healthy dash of Moffat wibbly-wobbliness.

Michelle Gomez and John Simm brought such wit and villainous charm to their respective Masters, and so bringing both incarnations together onscreen results in some of the most entertaining and enjoyable chaos the show has ever seen. While the secret of John Simm's return had been a poorly-kept one, it was still absolutely thrilling to once again hear that evil laugh and watch him wheel the Doctor around – just as he did in Last of the Time Lords!

The Doctor Falls also provides one of the Doctor's greatest speeches as he tries to appeal to both Missy and the Master. His revelation that his attempts to save lives is simply an act of kindness, an attempt to make even the slightest difference regardless of winners or losers, is such a powerful scene, and highlights Peter Capaldi's unparalleled acting abilities as the Doctor.

Add in a powerful fall for Doctor number twelve and a gripping cliffhanger that leads directly into his swansong, and World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls is captivating from the very first frame to the very last. It's easily Capaldi's best finale, and quite possibly Moffat's best too!

 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Ellie has been part of the WhatCulture team since 2021 where she began as a freelance presenter for the WhoCulture channel. As a diehard Whovian with a BA (hons) degree in Drama and Acting, this role was the perfect opportunity for her to combine her screen presence training with her extensive Doctor Who knowledge. From there, she branched out to various other WhatCulture channels, including TrekCulture, and became a full time Content Producer/Video Presenter in 2023. Ellie is now a regular fixture on both WhoCulture and TrekCulture and has become a well respected public figure within both fandoms, building up a substantial following across her social media platforms and being given the opportunity to represent the channels and the wider communities at several industry events. Her favourite Doctor Who character is River Song and her favourite Star Trek character is Captain Janeway - which tells you everything you need to know about how she approaches her role within a generally male dominated field.