8 Hated TV Episodes That Deserve Redemption

The second series of Doctor Who’s revival is a mixed bag. It delivers all-time classics like The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit, while also lumbering fans with misfires like The Idiot’s Lantern and Fear Her.

And while the two latter episodes do deserve much of the scorn they receive, episode ten of Series 2 is much better than fans give it credit for.

It’s clear that showrunner Russell T Davies was trying to do something different here and he mostly succeeds. The episode follows Elton Pope and the Doctor-hunting group LINDA as they are slowly tricked and eaten by the evil Abzorbaloff. The Doctor and Rose barely appear at all, establishing a tradition of ‘Doctor-lite’ and ‘companion-lite’ episodes within the show.

It’s a story that examines what the Doctor and his companions’ escapades look like to normal people on Earth, and every member of LINDA has compelling and sympathetic reasons for why they’re so interested in the mysterious Time Lord.

The only thing that really lets the episode down is the reveal of the Abzorbaloff which, to be fair, was designed by a nine-year-old child as part of a Blue Peter competition.

And let’s be honest. There’s been far sillier monsters on this show than Peter Kay in a rubber suit.