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

Series 3’s eleventh episode purported to be standalone, but was secretly setting up the finale.

And while it only really works in the context of that finale, it’s nevertheless a thrilling slice of Doctor Who.

The plot about human refugees seeking a new home is, in itself, hugely evocative.

But of course, the relief of their rocket finally taking off is immediately countered by the Master’s shocking return.

Bringing the Doctor’s best enemy back as an older man only to regenerate him into a younger body was a stroke of genius.

And it was all set up so brilliantly, with the fob watch and the Face of Boe’s warning, that even an uninitiated viewer can appreciate what’s going on.

The only tragedy of it all is that Derek Jacobi only got to actually play the Master for about two minutes. But boy are those two minutes good.