10 Most Overrated Doctor Who Episodes

Double-checks riot gear.

Listen seems to generate a level of hype we don’t quite understand, with more than a handful of fans deeming it the pinnacle of Series 8 – a baffling statement regarding a series that contains Mummy on the Orient Express, Flatline, and Dark Water/Death In Heaven.

Listen is very unnerving and atmospheric, and whatever was hiding under that blanket can go straight to hell – but the episode loses steam in a major way once we get to Orson Pink. His appearance at all is paradoxical, given Danny’s little incident with a passing car later in the series. But beyond that, he’s just a bit of a charisma vaccum, and this is coming from someone who actually finds Danny Pink to be a compelling and likeable character.

We understand this story is about the Doctor’s need to know all the answers and his refusal to admit his fears might be unjustified, but the resolution doesn’t land. If the entire future segment was removed and we had an episode with the same sentiment, but entirely set in the creepy orphanage with Danny as a child, Listen would've been a much stronger story. The monster of the week is still paranoia, but it would allow us to spend more time on the creepiest part of the episode while developing Danny in a far more meaningful way, rather than using the bargain bin version of him.

Elsewhere, we get what Moff was doing with the Clara and Danny date subplot, but two smart people would not talk or act like that. It's cringey – as intended, no doubt – but painfully contrived.