Doctor Who: EVERY Steven Moffat Episode Ranked Worst To Best

22. The Girl In The Fireplace

Doctor Who The Girl In The Fireplace
BBC

Many might object to this mid-table placement of The Girl in the Fireplace but while there are definitely some standout moments, the episode does have its flaws.

The clockwork droids are fabulous Doctor Who monsters with their creepy masked faces and bladed hands, and the episode looks and feels the part across the board, with some lush costumes and gorgeous sets – top marks for production design.

But the central romance doesn't quite work for me. While it makes sense for Reinette to have developed feelings for the Doctor throughout her life, for the Doctor himself, it has only been a matter of hours and so the level of emotional connection by the episode's end seems a little unusual.

To some this is the perfect Doctor Who story, but to me it doesn't quite click. Seán Ferrick loves it though. Hopefully he doesn't see this placement.

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Ellie has been part of the WhatCulture team since 2021 where she began as a freelance presenter for the WhoCulture channel. As a diehard Whovian with a BA (hons) degree in Drama and Acting, this role was the perfect opportunity for her to combine her screen presence training with her extensive Doctor Who knowledge. From there, she branched out to various other WhatCulture channels, including TrekCulture, and became a full time Content Producer/Video Presenter in 2023. Ellie is now a regular fixture on both WhoCulture and TrekCulture and has become a well respected public figure within both fandoms, building up a substantial following across her social media platforms and being given the opportunity to represent the channels and the wider communities at several industry events. Her favourite Doctor Who character is River Song and her favourite Star Trek character is Captain Janeway - which tells you everything you need to know about how she approaches her role within a generally male dominated field.