Doctor Who: Every 9th Doctor Episode Ranked Worst To Best

3. Father's Day

Doctor Who The Parting of the Ways Billie Piper Bad Wolf
BBC

This episode may be the most emotional episode of Doctor Who ever as Rose goes back in time to save her father from his inevitable death. Tackling a smaller scale story and a more personal drama was a bold move for the new series, but it's risks like this that make it a remarkable show.

Examining the repercussions of changing the past in the form of the terrifying Reapers is in equal parts horrifying and fascinating. But despite the impressive monsters, this episode's defining moment is when Pete Tyler sacrifices himself to save the lives of everyone else. The heartfelt speech beforehand where he realises he has not been the father he should have been but vows to make it up to Rose is the very definition of a tear-jerker moment.

For not being afraid to delve into darker and more complex territory, and putting the monsters second, this episode deserves its spot in the top three.

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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).