Doctor Who: 10 Best Multi-Part Stories In Nu Who
Some stories need extra time - here are modern Doctor Who's ten best multi-part stories.
From the mammoth serials of Classic Who to the bombastic two (or even three-parters) in the modern series; multi-part story-telling is as much a part of Doctor Who as the time travel, aliens and the big blue box itself.
Stretching out narratives over multiple parts can be a double-edged sword; it can afford the writer more wool with which to spin their yarn, build suspense or develop characters. However, it can also result in stories that are unnecessarily stretched out and can wind up feeling boring, bogged down or even just a bit thin.
The truth is Doctor Who has had many of both during its more than fifty year run and NuWho is no exception. That being said, when it gets it right, it really gets it right. Whether it’s providing a mid-season bump in the action or a climatic season-closing battle against the Doctor’s deadliest foes; many of these multi-part stories are regarded as some of the best stories in the shows run.
Today we take a look at the ten best multi-part stories in modern Doctor Who. Oh, and spoiler warning. Obviously.
10. Utopia/The Sound Of Drums/Last Of The Timelords
Season 3 of Nu Who closes out with this epic trilogy written by showrunner Russell T Davies and provides us with several noteworthy moments; the return of Captain Jack Harkness, the resolution to the Mr. Saxon story arc and, perhaps most importantly, the new series debut of The Master, played briefly by Derek Jacobi before regenerating in to Life on Mars and Mad Dogs alum John Simm.
Utopia is a wonderful dystopian tale representing humanities final struggles to survive the end of the universe itself. The Sound of Drums is an exciting romp as The Doctor, Martha and Captain Jack race to stop The Master, now elected Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Unfortunately this trilogy is dragged down by its disappointing final act Last of the Time Lords. The epic cliff-hanger built at the end of the second part doesn’t really pay off and the third instalment makes the mistake of withholding The Doctor from us for too much of its run time.