Doctor Who is one of those properties that seems incapable of failing. After all, whether it was running on television or not, there has been new content released constantly since 1963, through books, audio dramas, comics, and more. Even so, the last few years made it seem like even this sci-fi goliath might be about to fall.
There’s a long history of conflict in the fandom over the validity of new lead actors, companions, and writers, but the general response to Chris Chibnall’s era as showrunner was contentious, to say the least. Like so many other major franchises, it faced hatred for having a female lead and major characters of color. However, many long-time fans also felt the writing was missing something fundamental.
All this led the BBC to bring back Russell T. Davies, the man considered responsible for resurrecting the series in 2005. He was the one who brought the show back after the end of the Classic Era and the disappointing response to the TV movie, and he was considered the best person to bring it back from its ratings depression.
For the 60th anniversary specials, Davies returned to writing, with fan favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate on-screen. That was bound to pull long-time fans in, but the first real season with new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa and companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) was what would determine if Davies could still bring Doctor Who back from the jaws of defeat.
This new era had the odd distinction of being the first ‘season’ since the show originally ended in 1989. Officially speaking, there is now Classic Who (1963-1989), New Who (2005-2022), and the base show of the new Whoniverse (2023-?). This new period is characterized by a return to episodes falling in “seasons,” rather than “series,” a partnership with Disney for budget and distribution, and a focus on gathering new fans, rather than relying on those who have been around for decades.
Season one had a lot to prove. Could the show still attract as much passion and enjoyment as it once had? Could Ncuti Gatwa compare to Tom Baker and David Tennant? And did Russell T. Davies still have what it took to bring Doctor Who back from the brink? Davies was the sole writer for seven out of the nine episodes included in the new season, which put the weight of its success nearly entirely on his shoulders.
Here, we explore all eight episodes from season one (and the Christmas special), examining how well they capture the feeling of Doctor Who, how much they linger in the mind after watching, and how well the actors and writers were able to flesh out the new characters. From pacing to storytelling, concept to performance, here is our ranking of every episode from the latest season of Doctor Who.