Doctor Who: Every Doctor's First Episode Ranked Worst To Best
1. Spearhead From Space
We wouldn't be here today without Spearhead From Space. Doctor Who was facing cancellation at the end of the 1960s, inspiring a radical, budget-saving rethink. And then, a technicians strike meant that Jon Pertwee's debut story also had to be radically rethought in terms of production.
As a result, we get the most gloriously cinematic bit of Doctor Who until The Eleventh Hour (which is heavily inspired by this). Like Matt Smith's debut, Spearhead From Space is all about an alien who falls from the sky and is then immediately thrown into saving the Earth.
The Third Doctor is also immediately charming, introducing himself to Liz with his endearing eyebrow acrobatics, and generally running rings around the Brigadier. It must've been a major culture shock to viewers at the time to have the Doctor exiled to Earth and given a car instead of a TARDIS!
However, Jon Pertwee's performance as the Doctor is so great that it reassures viewers that this is still the same show. So successful was Pertwee as the Doctor that it led to a brand-new golden age for Doctor Who, the influence of which can still be felt today.