Doctor Who: EVERY Series Opener Ranked Worst To Best

Flux has the distinction of being NuWho’s only serialised series so far, and so its opening instalment had the difficult job of introducing the characters and plot strands for an entire series.

For some, the result was too sprawling and disjointed. And when you’re taking in locations as varied as 19th century Liverpool to the Arctic Circle to a remote space outpost, that’s somewhat understandable.

But Doctor Who, by its nature, is told across a broad canvas, and The Halloween Apocalypse manages its various spinning plates with flair.

There’s a sense of momentum and impending doom from the very first scene, which only builds as the episode progresses. There are tons of thrilling moments, from the introductions of Swarm and Azure, to the reintroductions of the Sontarans and Weeping Angels – and the Flux relentlessly chasing down the TARDIS at the episode's end was a surprisingly affecting moment, as we see a rare example of the Doctor accepting defeat.

As the lovable Dan Lewis, John Bishop provides a perfect point of identification for anyone watching the show for the first time. And as you’d expect from the title there’s a spooky air to the whole thing, which is perfect for Halloween night!

Above all, it feels really modern and dynamic – and much more like the first episodes of other contemporary dramas than anything before or since.