Doctor Who: The Best Episodes From Each Modern Series

Right, let's start off with the all round excellence.

Ascension of the Cybermen follows on from the equally excellent The Haunting of Villa Diodati. The ominous pre-title message from Ashad (the Lone Cyberman sounds better and more suitably badass), followed by the title sequence elegantly via a Cyberman's eye socket serves notice of this episode's breathlessly action-packed intentions.

There's a dash of the Christopher Nolan's here: criss-crossing time from early 20th century rural Ireland to the far-flung future of the Cyber-Wars' aftermath, all incorporated by the dramatic beats throughout. There's a hint of the TIE fighter sound with the Cyberdrones, which seemingly do more considerable damage than any main Cybermen guard would. The relentless Lone Cyberman was clearly a Terminator and Nemesis fan during his fully human days, and along with his Cyber-Army, makes them the most threatening generation of Cybermen in the NuWho era.

"I think you’re going to need a very strong drink.”

Indeed we did, Chibbers. In fact, us Whovians hit the Maldovarium and Zaggit Zagoo bar hard in despair or delight, or a conflation of both. Either way, the bombshell Timeless Child revelation felt more like the belabouring Master hosting the Doctor's episode of This Is Your Life. Plus it was pretty obvious who the cantankerous cloths from The Ghost Monument were alluding to.

Here's hoping Chris Chibnall has taken a leaf out of the Russo brothers' book by writing himself into a corner in order to deliver a stupendous payoff. Still, we'll always have the mind-blowing Matrix scene replete with Morbius Doctors.

The visual effects from DNEG are the winners here. The imposing Cybership, the breathtaking Boundary gateway, and satisfying time-lapse of Gallifrey's Citadel construction look impressively cinematic.