Saturday 30 November 2013

Top Ten List: Doctor Who


Well, for the final day of Doctor Who month or as you call it...November, I'm going to tell you all my favorite Doctor Who episodes of the revived series. After revising the series in preparation for the anniversary, I listed each episode I liked of each season I saw. And just to keep things fair, I will try to use only the smallest amount of Dalek episodes, as each one is just amazing (well most of them are) and just like the Simpsons Halloween specials, I won't include the Christmas episodes as each are such wonderful additions to the Whoniverse.

10. The Snowmen.
While they are not Scary, the Great Intelligence is. Featuring a guest star of Sir Ian Mckellen and Richard E Grant, we are finally introduced to Clara and what a great character. Grouped with a brooding Doctor, great Villain and hilarious supporting cast, it is the perfect Christmas treat and such a wasted opportunity. In my opinion I think it would have been much better to feature this version of Clara. The Victorian age clashing with space and technology and aliens, how great would that have been. Well no point on dwelling, the episode was good with humor, heart and emotion all around. 


9. Rose.
The series is back, and it's better than ever. That's what this episode did for Doctor Who after many years of hiatus. Showing off not only the improvements in technology and special effects, but the stories were bigger and better than ever. In the first few minutes we are introduced to the new world and to Rose Tyler. With a very good monster(s) and a good intro for Chris, we set off on adventure that only watching the show will tell us.


8. The Unicorn and the Wasp. This episode is often dubbed as weird, but to me it really is a gem. Set in the 1920's, the Doctor takes Donna back in time and as with most of our history trips, we meet our historical celebrity, Agatha Christie. This also coincides with a murder mystery similar to one of Christie's novels. But of course it has its humor come from it being performed like a game of Cluedo.
I love the comedy and the interactions, especially Donna constantly "inspiring" her to write some of her most famous novels (eg. Miss Marple).

7. Human Nature/Family of Blood.
What if the Doctor was human? Well this episode answers in the nicest way possible. I compare this the Superman Story, "For the man who has everything". Why, because both are very similar. The Doctor must hide from a family of scavengers who are out to kill him and drain his regeneration energy. To hide he takes human form and remembers nothing about his travels except in his dreams. As a teacher he falls in love with the school Matron and the feeling is mutual. A young boy, played by Thomas Sangster, finds the vessel keeping his time lord conscience locked away. The revelation why the Doctor hid always sends shivers down my spine and it really is heartbreaking to see the Doctor finally get what he wants if only so briefly, before being taken away.

6. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday
Why do many consider this show a drama watch this episode to find out. The Doctor and Rose arrive back to see the whole world overrun by ghosts. The Doctor investigates and what we get is a battle of the masses between two of the greatest enemies of the Doctor of all time and the saddest ending until the End of Time. The drama comes from the tough decisions the leads must make to survive and from the ending scene between the Doctor and Rose. I dare you not to cry after seeing the whole two series of the two together. The Easter eggs of the season come full circle and the battle of the ages takes place.

5. Blink. 
Have you ever been truly terrified by a TV episode so much that you can't sleep at night. No...then you haven't seen this Steven Moffat classic. Sally Sparrow finds an old house with a secret message hidden behind the wallpaper. Written by the Doctor, she must find out the meaning of what these angels are and who this Doctor is. The Horror in my opinion comes in the third act when the Doctor gives some potentially life saving advice and we see how fast these angels are when you blink. A real scary episode with likable leads and a scary villain. These guys are said to be scarier than the Daleks, imagine that! 

4. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances.
When you really think about it, Moffat can create some of the scariest moments in Doctor Who. Landing in London after chasing a rogue alien object, the The Doctor meets a young woman named Nancy, and Rose meets a Handsome time Agent Named Captain Jack Harkness. Set during the Blitz of London, Nancy is pursued by a Mysterious Boy with a gas mask for a face who can transform whomever he touches into just like him, like a virus. Filled with some great story, entertaining characters and a very scary monster of a child. But a true master can make us feel sorry for the villain. In the scene where the heroes discover the child's room, it is a little heartbreaking to see the child in such a state. And of course, just this once, EVERYBODY LIVES!

3. Stolen Earth/Journeys end.
Everyone is back. Rose, Mickey, Jackey, Jack, Sarah, Martha and Wilfred. All teamed up to combat a new threat that has taken the Planet out of orbit and placed it in another part of space. As the Dalek fleet arrive, an old enemy lies in the darkest section of the armada. The Doctor must reclaim the earth and Donna must confront her destiny to save the Universe from destruction. Finally bringing back the companions for one episode, it is an explosive time. My favourite scenes are the message for earth, the outer space facebook, the lives claimed by the doctor and the reclamation of earth. Oh there are so much great moments, you will just have to watch find out. But of course, Donna's scene always makes me sad, just the knowledge that she did all these great things and not even she gets to know about it, it really breaks the heart. But there are some real light hearted moments. 

2. The End of Time
Twice, this show made me cry twice for people that don't exist and that is the beauty of it. The Doctor is called to Earth to find the Master who has been revived. As his mysterious death prophesy nears, the Doctor will do everything in his power to stop the return of the Darkness and the rule of the Master. What really makes this such a treat is that they make the Doctor the straight up hero and his final scenes, visiting his former companions before he regenerates even made critics cry. I don't what to talk in too much detail. Please watch the entire run of David, then maybe you will get why we love this show.

1. Dalek.
Well of course. The Doctor and Rose react to a distress call by a mysterious source and wind up in the last place they want to be, AMERICA! Here they meet Billionaire Henry Van Statten, collector of Alien artifacts and Adam Mitchell, his English science Geek. I don't think I give away anything saying a Dalek is here. The Doctor is furious that it survived and tries to kill it. The Dalek escapes and goes on a rampage all over the underground base. Not only is it the best episode ever, it features some of the best character contrasts ever. The new Doctor and the new Dalek. Here we actually see the deep seeded hatred of the Doctor for the Daleks. The emotion between Rose and the Dalek is actually quite touching and the action scenes are well shot. this was actually the first episode I ever saw and I felt like the children raised on the original series. I was fascinated and terrified by the Daleks on first viewing. And they Have stayed with me ever since. My only problem, like most critics, was the title, there really should have been a mystery as to what this was. It should have been called "Survivor" (As in survivor of the war). But that aside, it really was a scary episode, taking place underground gave a real feel of claustrophobia. With nothing able to stop it the heroes must run for their lives and find a new way to kill a constantly learning killing Machine. Like I said I love the feeling of being scared, but to feel pity for the enemy cannot be over looked as you really feel sorry for the Dalek being tortured and chained up. It is for these reasons that I really love this episode and it is my number one pick.


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