Nearly every Doctor Who fan out there has a different opinion about when the show was at its best. This is often based on the combination of their favorite showrunner, Doctor, and companion, with so many permutations it's hard to keep track. Because of that, it's hard to say exactly what makes for a "good" or "bad" episode.
However, there are a few consistencies. By and large, everybody loves the Series 3 episode "Blink" and hates the Series 2 episode "Love & Monsters." It's a bit harder to track when it comes to more recent seasons, as fans tend to judge new characters harshly, only re-evaluating once they've had enough time to view it with less bias. But in many cases, IMDb's rating system helps show which episodes fans felt most strongly about, with the beloved "Blink" earning the series's highest rating of 9.8 and "Love & Monsters" earning a 6.1.
To get a better understanding of why some of the episodes are so widely hated, we're going back to the beginning, watching the worst-rated story for each season. For Series 1, that means the two-parter "Aliens of London" and "World War 3," which earned a 6.9 and 7.0 respectively in a season that had an average rating of 7.92.
Plot summary
After a few episodes of travels and adventures, the Doctor attempts to bring Rose home after 12 hours, only to discover that she has been missing for 12 months. Jackie and Mickey's lives were completely unended, and Rose can't even begin to explain what happened... until a spaceship crashes through Big Ben and reveals aliens to the world.
Something about it doesn't feel right, so the Doctor and Rose investigate, discovering that the crash was orchestrated by aliens (the Slitheen) who have infiltrated the British government to get access to the nuclear codes. They (and new ally Harriet Jones) try to defeat the aliens before they can destroy the world. Meanwhile, Jackie and Mickey are also being attacked by the alien family to keep their secret.
After a lot of fighting between Rose's family and the Doctor, he guides Mickey on how to break into military resources and fire a missile at them. This defeats the Slitheen, but is also proof that the Doctor will put Rose's life in danger. Jackie attempts to find common ground with the Doctor, but he refuses to take the time, demanding that Rose come with him or be left behind.
What worked?
James Aggas: There's a lot that I genuinely love about "Aliens of London", at least. It's not my favorite story, but I still enjoy a huge amount about New Who's first two-parter.
One thing that really leaps out is how bold the episode is. The spaceship crashing into Big Ben before landing in the River Thames is a perfect example. It's a huge moment that not only kicks off the story in the right direction, but was perfect to include in the trailers for the brand new revival and really grab the audience's attention.
The fact that it happened right after Rose said she was the only person on planet Earth that knew that aliens existed made it even better. It was a massive subversion of the usual trope of a main character living an extraordinary life and trying to keep it secret, such as in Buffy or Smallville. In one instant, the whole world suddenly knows about aliens and Rose is no longer special. At least, not in that sense.
That's not to say that there's no drama at all. Another aspect I loved about "Aliens of London" was the Doctor arriving a year late. It's a simple idea that instantly explores what happens when a companion decides to travel with the Doctor, and the questions raised when they're gone.
There's also how openly political the story is, especially with its monsters. In his first big two-parter for Doctor Who, Russell T Davies's monsters the Slitheen represent the worst of capitalism, willing to reduce a planet to nuclear waste to make a profit. They'd almost be worthy of villains in a Malcolm Hulke story if it weren't for a major detail, which I'll explain shortly.
Lastly, this story also introduces Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North. It's strange to think Penelope Wilton had a total of just four episodes in the role, including these two. Jones was a character that left a huge impact on Davies's first era as showrunner, and she's given a great introduction with these two episodes, aided by Wilton's endearing performance.
Meagan Bojarski: I have a lot that I want to highlight as successful from these episodes. I love that Rose was gone for a year, and I love that it was taken seriously. Jackie was trying to get Mickey arrested as a murderer, and that adds so many layers. There are greater stakes when it comes to Rose staying with the Doctor, and it complicates both Jackie and Mickey's dynamics with the Doctor.
Although the 'main plot' of the episode is focused on the Slitheen, Rose's home life is really the heart of this episode. The scene of Mickey and Jackie on the speaker phone with the Doctor and Rose is probably the best part of the whole thing! Rose trusts the Doctor, even when he says his next move could get her killed. Jackie is desperate to protect her daughter. Mickey has to choose the world over Rose. And the Doctor is kind of the villain through all of it, especially when he later coerces Rose into rejecting her mom with the threat of leaving without her.
Other highlights include some great comedic lines, the agreement Mickey and the Doctor come to at the end, and future Prime Minister Harriet Jones. She bounced off of Rose and the Doctor well, as a force to be reckoned with despite having no idea what was going on. Half of her on-screen appearances are in this story, and yet fans remember and love her. So many good things to talk about!
What didn't?
James Aggas: Perhaps my least favorite aspect of the story is the Slitheen themselves. While the political aspect of them works, the constant farting jokes were a weak aspect. Not only was the humor juvenile, but it also helped to undermine how threatening they were. Honestly, while their introduction story is overall a solid one, I think they were handled better in "Boom Town", as well as some episodes of the spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Meagan Bojarski: This is a brilliant episode that ends up being destroyed by crude humor. The actual Slitheen plot line is somewhat forgettable, but that could be excused by the stellar subplots. But why did we need to have so much farting? It just feels like an adolescent boy's humor level, which is jarring in comparison to many of the deeper plotlines.
Fat joke here, fart joke there. The Slitheen are memorable villains, but maybe not for good reasons. There were also two separate lines about how excited the characters were to "be naked," which felt deeply uncomfortable. This was a well-structured story with great character arcs, but I couldn't properly enjoy it because the aliens were presented in such an off-putting way.
Do you agree that this is a bad Doctor Who story?
James Aggas: I think it says a lot about how strong Series 1 is as a whole that this is considered to be one of the weaker stories. As juvenile as the humor was at times, there's still a lot to enjoy about this two-parter. The exploration of a companion's home life; the big, bold moments of the story; and the introduction of a key character that everyone would know very well. It all helps to create a solid story that helps to add even more depth to Rose, her relationship with the Doctor, and her home life.
Meagan Bojarski: This may actually be one of my favorite Doctor Who stories right now. Granted, there are plenty of stories that just aren't at top of mind right now, but I've actually watched several other episodes lately from different seasons that don't measure up to this. The bad parts detract from my enjoyment, but this episode does a brilliant job illustrating the danger Rose is in, just being with the Doctor, and the conflict that necessarily causes with Mickey and Jackie.
What have we learned?
James Aggas: Revisiting this story has been a great reminder of how strong Russell T Davies can be as a writer. While the story does highlight some of his flaws - particularly in terms of his "humor" - "Aliens of London"/"World War Three" still feels like a crucial story in exploring the relationship between the Doctor and his new companion. While he's written some great stories in recent years - "Wild Blue Yonder", "73 Yards" and "Dot and Bubble" stand out - last year's significantly shorter season cut out on some valuable time between the Doctor and Ruby. As a result, her relationship with the Doctor didn't feel as important as it should've done.
Revisiting stories like "Aliens of London" is a great reminder of how valuable stories like this are, especially when a new companion has been introduced. "Aliens of London" might not be perfect, but it took a big step by exploring the new companion's home life, notably when they've already started travelling with the Doctor. In some ways, it's still the standard by which later stories are measured against. Not in terms of its plot, but in terms of exploring a new companion and their relationship with the Doctor. In that sense, "Aliens of London"/"World War Three" might not be Series 1's best story, but it is still a significant one, at least.
Meagan Bojarski: Watching these episodes made me think a lot about "The Eleventh Hour," from the incorrect measurements of time to the conflicts between the Doctor and his companion's boyfriend. But while I think that "Aliens of London" did a better job on the human plot line, the overall episode was greatly weakened by its most uncomfortable moments.
That being said, the Slitheen are some of the most memorable modern-day Doctor Who villains for me (besides major additions like the Weeping Angels and the Silence). I might not have remembered every detail, but they stood out. Obviously, Harriet Jones did too. I think this was a definite case of the parts being better than the whole, and that lack of cohesiveness is what made it Series 1's worst-rated episode.