Doctor Who: Every 11th Doctor Episode Ranked Worse To Best

36. The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood

Doctor Who Matt Smith
BBC Studios

On the theme of disappointing two-parters which centre on the fascinating job of mining, here is another. Season five was rather sparse at reintroducing monsters from Classic Doctor Who and after this episode it’s no surprise they have not made a habit out of it since.

What is most interesting about the Silurians is that they have a genuine claim to the Earth, as they were here first, and thus a justifiable motivation for wanting to inherit it. However, instead of an intense battle or intelligent dialogue between two species fighting for a planet we are treated to endless negotiations. It feels like Chris Chibnall took some lessons from the Star Wars prequels with the countless treaties which manage to drain any drama out of the story.

Having said this, the design of the Silurians are incredible so it is possible to understand why they brought back Madam Vastra frequently after this.

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An avid cinephile, love Trainspotting (the film, not the hobby), like watching bad films ironically (The Room, Cats) and hate my over-reliance on brackets (they’re handy for a quick aside though).