Doctor Who: Ranking New Who Finales From Worst To Best

When Doctor Who returned to ours screens in 2005, there were a lot of changes to the formula, and structure. One of the major ones being each series having an established arc that filtered throughout the individual episodes, building up to a grander storyline. This usually resulted in clear hints, and teases, towards the larger narrative, keeping audiences intrigued along the way.

By the end of each series, there would be a huge revelation (a bombshell if you will) that changed the ballgame entirely. This would then lead directly into the finale, and shape things up for an explosive, or thought provoking experience, that held plenty of moments of suspense and drama. Similar with the series openers, the finales of the revived era of Doctor Who are a clear representation of its respective season.

So, naturally, the story arc had to build up to something worthwhile, and ultimately conclude with something that feels impressive, and satisfying, especially since the show's audience has been strung along for up to thirteen weeks with unanswered questions, and intrigue. If these crucial elements aren't met, then it can dampen not only the experience of the finale, but also the entire series, given how everything prior feels either redundant, or even pointless. This is the basic indicator between a exceptional finale, and a disastrous finale.

Chris Chibnall has added a lot of fundamental changes to Doctor Who in recent years. However, nobody could've predicated how much he would alter the very foundation of the series come Series 12. It had already been alluded to in Spyfall, Part 2 that The Master had destroyed Gallifrey, but we were left in the dark as to why. The only real fact we had to go off was it had something to do with the Time Lord's deceit, and withdrawal of information regarding the Timeless Child.

Things escalated further when Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor was introduced in Fugitive of the Judoon, which left everyone (including the Thirteenth Doctor) utterly confused. Who was she? And how did she fit into continuity. The Timeless Children went about to explain the mysteries behind The Master's destructive, genocidal behaviour, as well as enlightening everyone (including the Thirteenth Doctor) on the dark secrets laying deep within the Matrix.

Everything about the Timeless Child was fine, up until it was revealed that The Doctor was in fact originally this important element. Naturally, this irritated fans across the board because of how much this altered Doctor Who, and its titular character. Even looking past this massive retroactive element by Chris Chibnall, the overall narrative is dull in its execution. Even the Cybermen's assaults felt unbearable to watch, with the long winded information dump by The Master making this finale feel more like a school lecture, rather than an enjoyable piece of television.