Doctor Who: Series 8 Ranked From Worst To Best

4. Dark Water

"You know the key strategic weakness of the human race? The dead outnumber the living." - Missy

After weeks of speculation and Missy's unexplained appearances, the Series 8 finale finally began in Dark Water and it was an episode which promised to confirm Missy's anticipated identity once and for all. And that it did, Whovians. That it did. While her reveal was arguably the most memorable moment of the episode, it was one of many highlights in a story which managed to keep fans guessing right up until the very end. The proceedings began with a heartbreaking opening titles sequence in which Clara's life was changed forever and the first half of the episode was Jenna Coleman's real chance to shine. The volcano scene at the start of the story will no doubt be remembered as one of the defining moments of the Twelfth Doctor and Clara's era as the impossible girl was pushed to her limits and the consequences of grief were explored in the way that only Doctor Who could explore them. It was a bold and intriguing insight into one of the many dark themes Doctor Who has tackled this year and this trend continued as we were reunited with Danny Pink in the mysterious world of the Nethersphere and the bone-rattling and disturbing truth behind the afterlife was revealed. The action showed no signs of slowing down as the episode rocketed towards its climactic cliffhanger and, while the episode ultimately felt like a prelude to the following week's grand finale, it didn't take anything away from the fact that, in true Doctor Who fashion, there were plenty of shocks and surprises to take in along the way. The development of the various concurrent plot threads maintained a steady pace throughout the story and fans were also treated to various Classic Series references - such as the Cybermen at St Paul's Cathedral, à la The Invasion (1968) - which hepled the episode to affirm its own position within the Doctor Who mythology. And then, of course, there was Missy, whose enigmatic cameos throughout the previous episodes had been one of the most talked about aspects of the new series. After a string of red herrings, her identity was finally revealed to the Doctor in one of the show's biggest bombshells to date. Of course you can't please everyone and, while some loved it and others loathed it, either way everyone would be back to tune in for Death in Heaven to watch all the ensuing drama unfold. With Cybermen poised to attack, Clara trapped and Danny about to delete his own cherished memories, there was plenty riding on the Series 8 finale and, as the end credits of Dark Water rolled, fans were faced with an excruciating wait to discover the ultimate fate of our beloved heroes. It was going to be a long week.