10. Human Nature/The Family Of Blood
Im sure that more than a few fans would have expected me to place Blink as the defining tale of the David Tennant era of the show, but Ive plucked with a story that to me works even better for emotional exposition and pure drama. Having never read Paul Cornells New Adventures novel, I cant say whether this Season Three two-parter about the Doctor turning human is a faithful adaptation of the source material, but I can at least say that it remains one of the defining moments both in the history of the show since its 2005 return and indeed as a half-century spanning whole. The Human Nature two-parter featured perhaps the perfect quintessential cast for Who, including Jessica Hynes, Harry Lloyd and Thomas Sangster, all stars whove gone on to do great things yet give perhaps their best performances here. The Great War setting makes for a welcome departure from the sci-fi dramas constant jumps to WW2, allowing for a different outlook on war that connects even more aptly to the Remembrance Day denouement. Its the Doctors actions towards the Family once his soul is redeemed, though, that truly stick in the memory: anyone questioning the Time Lords actions in the current season would be well-advised to watch this story again, because leaving Solomon to the fury of the missiles and threatening to shoot Kahler-Jex feel like kind acts on his part compared to the fates worse than death he hands the Family. If in the various re-runs you may commission yourself to do in the next few months of Who youre looking for a story that showcases the raw acting power of David Tennant and his companion-at-the-time Freema Agyeman (Martha), then you need look no further than this staggering two-parter which again highlights Who at its absolute best.