Doctor Who: EVERY Steven Moffat Episode Ranked Worst To Best

6. The Impossible Astronaut/Day Of The Moon

Doctor Who The Impossible Astronaut
BBC Studios

This is how to open a new series!

It's hard to think of a better way to keep people engaged for the next 13 weeks than killing off the main character in episode one. The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon does exactly this, and has you instantly gripped.

The Silence are some of the scariest creatures in Doctor Who and the concept of them disappearing from your memory when you look away is an incredibly chilling idea. Moffat was never going to top the Weeping Angels, but he didn't half come close here.

This is also the best story for Eleven, River, and the Ponds, with the gang getting some of their most entertaining banter and bickering ("I'm being extremely clever up here and there's no-one to stand around looking impressed! What's the point in having you all?"), and for the first time, a real sense that they're a proper team, rather than on-and-off TARDIS buddies.

Sprinkle in the moon landing, a puzzling Pond-pregnancy, and some gorgeous location work in Utah, and The Impossible Astronaut/Day Of The Moon is a big summer popcorn movie that has everything you want in a series opener.

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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.