The Best And Worst Episode Of EVERY Doctor Who Series

Worst: Planet of the Ood

Series 4 doesn’t have a bad episode, and so putting Planet of the Ood here feels a little unfair. Despite its strengths, this is the one that gets my vote, purely for the fact that it’s the least interesting episode of the run. It’s a story about modern slavery and corporate greed, and whilst it touches on these themes well, it also does so in a very paint-by-numbers way. The villains of this piece are a bit cartoony, and the back half devolves into a bit of a runaround (in which neither the Doctor or Donna really do much to save the day). 

Dishonourable Mention: Partners in Crime

Best: Turn Left

This is the best script RTD has ever written. It’s so dark, and dripping with emotional gut punches from start to finish. Seeing firsthand how quickly Earth devolves into a dystopia without the Doctor’s presence is more terrifying than any monster could ever be, and the story enters some really mature territory. There are too many highlights to list here, but I’ll settle for saying that Catherine Tate and Bernard Cribbins are just phenomenal. I wish this was the version of RTD who came back to the show.

Honourable Mention: Midnight