Doctor Who: Every Russell T Davies Episode Ranked From Worst To Best

RTD’s fourth season opener definitely has some silly elements. The monsters are sentient lumps of fat, and the Doctor and Donna spend the first half of the story constantly missing each other. But it strikes the right balance.

You get the comedy of the Doctor and Donna miming at each other through a room… and the genuine danger they find themselves in when they get caught. Elsewhere, Stacy being turned into Adipose is properly freaky. And there’s a real sense of peril when Donna’s hanging from that window cleaner’s cradle.

Speaking of which, Donna is a much more nuanced character than she was previously. Just look at the scene where Sylvia’s going on at her in the kitchen, or her quiet moment with Wilf (beautifully paid off at the end when he spots the TARDIS through his telescope).

It’s hands-down one of RTD’s best openers. But not quite the best…