Every Modern Doctor Who Season Ranked From Best To Worst

In 1989, the BBC made the tough but considered decision to place Doctor Who on an extended hiatus. Despite a lame attempt in 1996 to reboot the series via a movie length episode, the show remained off our screens for a 16 year stint that felt like an eternity.

But thanks to the efforts of chief writer Russell T Davies and producer Julie Gardner, the BBC gave the iconic show a new breath of life. Not only has Modern Doctor Who managed to match the quality and interest of the classic series, its increased budget and ability to build more relatable companions managed to surpass it. Not only did NuWho improve in quality, is was also far more accessible for the casual viewer.

This is not to say that NuWho hasn't had its fair share of downs, in particular in recent years. Just like the classic series, the ability to keep the show fresh, exciting and engaging for traditional Whovians and casual viewers alike is a difficult one to navigate.

The increased ability for 'angry fans' to mobilise their dislike on various forums, and inherent 'pro-Doctor' biases within the professional critics also makes it harder to distinguish just where the quality levels are truly at.

So whether you're a loyal 'Chibnallist' or a 'Daviest' who feels the show has lost its way, let's reflect back on the best, and worst, that Modern Doctor Who has delivered us so far.

While there were some initial detractors and genuine concern about the casting of the first woman Doctor Who, there was also genuine excitement about Jodie Whittaker entering the TARDIS. The hype was only accentuated by an excellent first episode of the new era, The Woman Who Fell to Earth. The plot was a good one, but more importantly Whittaker just felt like The Doctor.

Unfortunately things started to go off the rails after this, with the lack of a story arc and poorly written individual episodes quickly draining all momentum from the series. While some episodes suffered from overt political messaging, others suffered from weak villains, convoluted plotting and character development that felt tacked on.

The series still had some decent moments, with Demons of the Punjab and The Witchunters coming closest to matching the quality of the series premiere. These however were the rarity, with episodes like Arachnids in the UK and The Tsuranga Conundrum having the unfortunate characteristic of rushed endings that made The Doctor look morally inept.

The decision to have three companions was poor, with only Bradley Walsh's Graham given a decent character arc. Tosin Cole's Ryan got a lot of screen time but his limited acting skills and poorly written scripts hurt, while Mandip Gil was plain old wasted as Yaz. The worst mistake by Chibnall though was the decision to not have a decent finale, with a concluding episode so underwhelming that many didn't even realise it was the end of the series.