Doctor Who: Every Doctor's First Episode Ranked Worst To Best
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- Опубликовано: 27 май 2024
- It's not easy being the new kid on the block. But which Doctor did it best?
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when Matt Smith said "I'm the Doctor. Basically....run." that was it. That was the Doctor right there. He quickly not only proved the show could survive the Tennant era, he became my favorite Doctor (until Capaldi, who was born to play the role)
I never warmed to Capaldi. Annoying guitar, bad sense of humour of humour. Give me Matt Smith any time.
Spot. On. A friend of mine never warmed to the show but he told me that line ALMOST had him.
Smith>>>capaldi
It was smiths second episode that made him one of my favourites with the line “nobody talk to me, nobody HUMAN HAS ANYTHING TO SAY TO ME TODAY!”, for me that summed up the Doctor
@@greigbutler4498 Yeahhhh pissing The Doctor off? "Not a great plan." -- Tony Stark
I think Patrick Troughton (2nd Doctor), Peter Davison (5th Doctor) and Christopher Eccleston (9th Doctor) had it the hardest. Troughton had to pull off the "Time Lords can regenerate when close to death" idea, to replace Hartnell. Peter D had to take over from Tom Baker, the longest-running actor to play the Doctor for 7 years. As Tom has pointed out, many British children knew no other Doctor but him. And Eccleston, of course, had to launch the new series in 2005 and became many Whovians' first Doctor, including mine.
(Interesting fact about how cool Tom Baker is: He refused to smoke in public when he was playing the Doctor, because he didn't want children to think smoking's cool 'cause the Doctor does it.)
I mean, I think Paul McGann had it pretty hard too. Doctor Who hadn't been on air for 7 years and many fans never thought it would come back. So there was heaps of pressure on Paul McGann as if the movie was successful, it would have led into a full series. Whilst contextually it's very similar to Christopher Eccleston, the Movie wasn't successful like the 2005 relaunch and therefore failed to revive the series. I don't know about you but if I was Paul McGann I would feel like I let down an entire fandom. That may not be true and McGann has done incredible things for the series since but yeah.
Definitely agree with your points, just wanted to add one more :)
Sylvester McCoy was the longest running doctor, he was the doctor for 9 years 3 series and the 1996 movie
"Hello, I'm The Doctor. Basically, run."
For me, The Eleventh Hour will always be the best first Doctor episode and best series opener.
And ine of the best pieces of TV ever. A perfect mix of fairy tale, comedy, sci-fi, and horror, performed by a brilliant cast, with a topping of wonderfully written dialogues and scenes. Matt Smith was exceptional in this, as well as Karen and Arthur of course.
No it wasn't.
@@ysthafellgynghori8423 Are you claiming to be an absolute authority on the value of Doctor Who episodes? Let people have their opinions.
I 100% agree. It’s become a comfort episode for me.
The Eleventh Hour was the first episode of Doctor Who I ever watched. It serves not only as an excellent regeneration story, but it's also really subtly good as a starting point for the show and tells you everything you need to know to jump on board. It's also incredible in hindsight just how well it establishes the character of 11 from the get go. Silly action hero with dark undertones, all right in his very first appearance.
The eleventh hour was my first episode I watched and it became an obsession ever since
haha same
Me too! It’s still probably my favorite episode of all time
I was born in 1977 but the 11th hour is such an amazing introduction episode to a new doctor.
Me three
whenever i have to introduce someone new to Doctor Who, the Eleventh Hour is my go to suggestion.
Delighted to see “The Eleventh Hour” in first place. I love the meta here-every fan’s dream, right, to be introduced to the Doctor as a kid and be completely enchanted by him, tell everyone you know, talk about him incessantly, only to be disbelieved, and then, as adult, to learn… HE’S REAL. And to fly off with him! Add the daft redesign of the Tardis interior, Smith’s brilliant “I’m the Doctor. Basically, run” moment, Murray Gold’s equally brilliant “I’m the Doctor” theme building us up to it! Sheer joy!
Eleventh Hour is an outstanding first story.
Wasted opportunity at 9:47 to call Eccleston FANTASTIC
Not really
I thought the behind 11 phoning Clara was to remind her that despite everything, 12 was scared and will need her help to get used to this regeneration, so please, don’t leave yet?
I Quite agree with your number 1 debut as I thought of The 11th Hour right away! It was by far the best new Doctor Who Intro ever! Matt Smith was my favourite Doctor & it was very sad to see him go!
#11 (Matt Smith) has to be my favorite introduction. I mean, fish fingers and custard? Really? Only an alien would find that yummy. Plus he's also the one who said - in gleeful delight - "Dinosaurs! On a space ship!" It was perfect for an old dude who still found child-like joy in the Universe around him.
i will stand y the fact that the woman who fell to earth is a solid intro and Jodie is a really good doctor, just unfortunate that the writing let her down
As someone *who* is in the very middle of the 13th's run, I couldn't agree more. Jodie Whittaker is a great actor for the role of the doctor, but many of the episodes have felt rather boring, anticlimactic, or uneventful. Luckily, Jodie and the rest make it just that much better.
Yes I don't understand the Whitaker hate she was good it was the stories that let her down
Couldn't agree more. She was fantastic as the Dr, but the writing often let her down. There were some crackers - the Punjab one makes me cry a lot! But there were some stinkers too. Having said that, actors can only say the lines they're given and act in the scenery built for them. And work for the current show runner... Imagine her stories if RTD or _maybe_ Moffat were in charge. I think they'd have tried harder to make her very much her own invention.
series 11 had a really good first episode! its just the rest of the episodes that bring it down lol
She should of watched doctor who when she got the part
My Personal Ranking:
15). The Twin Dilemma
14). Time and the Rani
13). Castrovalva
12). Deep Breath
11). The Church on Ruby Road
10). The Woman Who Fell to Earth
9). The Star Beast
8). The Enemy Within (The TV Movie)
7). The Christmas Invasion
6). Rose
5). Robot
4). An Unearthly Child
3). Power of the Daleks
2). Spearhead from Space
1). The Eleventh Hour
The phone call from 11 was the best part of that episode for me. It was the first regeneration I had experienced watching the show and it meant so much to hear both doctors saying "Don't worry, it's still me, I'm still the doctor.". Without that phone call I would've had a much harder time accepting 12 as the new doctor (and a bloody good one too).
Thank *you* for pointing out that Christopher Eccleston was excellent in introducing the Doctor to a new audience (and new century.) Granted, we don’t see his regeneration and all that entails, but that makes it easier to meet him. He’s already settled into the new body and temperament; no freaking out necessary.
I guess you could say he was… fantastic
Sean what you said about An Unearthly Child being taught in schools it was taught in my Media Studies Class in High School which actually ended up being on my GCSEs and since it was Doctor Who I passed with flying colours
"Why are you watching Doctor Who, shouldn't you be doing homework?"
"This is my homework."
@@WhoCulture exactly I loved that class
As a huge fan of Pertwee's Doctor, I was very pleased to see his debut story ranked 2nd.
"You may be a doctor, but I am THE Doctor... the definite article, you might say"... -Tom Baker, post-regeneration, "Robot"
I don’t quite get the love for Tom Baker’s Doctor, I’ve watched a lot of his stories, I just can’t get into them, some are ok but it’s quite a boring era
@@greigbutler4498 "Your first Doctor is your favorite", is my rule of thumb...
@@igorschmidlapp6987 my first doctor would have been the end of Tom baker, I still remember Peter Davison pivcking his clothes from a stand, but from classic sylvester McCoy is my favourite and William Hartnell is my 2nd from new who Matt smith, Christopher Eccleston and John hurt
In the late 80s, my PBS station put together a plan to show "regeneration episodes", which to all of us (including those at the station) meant the *last* episode of each Doctor, which in the classic series were usually epic and favourites. Unfortunately, to Lionheart, it meant the *first* episode, which as noted were not always the greatest for lots of reasons. This was only realised once they'd shipped all the tapes; shipping was far more expensive than buying the rights to show the episodes, so there was no question of fixing the issue.
Eleventh Hour is insane. Imagine any other show riding off its most successful and popular run of episodes ever and deciding to replace the entire cast, most of the production team, new titles, new branding, new vision. And still pulling it off.
I'd have Castrovalva higher and the top two swapping places (Spearhead From Space is one of my top 3 Who stories ever), but I think this pretty much nails it
Spearhead from Space is still in my top three Doctor Who stories. Shoes…
I love the links between Spearhead From Space and The Eleventh Hour, from jumping right into saving the earth down to both Doctors getting their outfits from the physician's changing room.
NOTHING CAN STOP ME, NOTHING
I have a theory, What is the retired 14th David Tennant Doctor will become the curator. I mean the curator has to come along some how.
Well, it's either that or he becomes the Valeyard once he runs out of regenerations, and I think him becoming the Curator would be way better.
Christmas Invasion needed to be higher but this is a pretty solid ranking
great list. I would've personally put The Star Beast and Deep Breath much higher (heck, I'd put Deep Breath at number 1) but that's just me. Capaldi is my favourite Doctor after all
Also, crazy how the TV movie got eighth place on this list, given it's McGaan's debut
Putting Star Beast below Time and the Rani is certainly one of the takes of all time.
I really like Deep Breath. It's probably in my top three new Doctor first episodes. That moment when the villain falls to his death, Capaldi looks into the camera, and you're not sure if the villain fell or if the Doctor pushed him. You're thinking, "Of course the Doctor didn't push him. It's the Doctor." But there's this second voice that says with uncertainty, "Right...?"
I just love it.
Deep Breath is just a very chaotic episode. I watched it like 4 or 5 times and everytime I scratch my head... they wanted to cram in way too much stuff - dinosaurs, robots, The Gang, the call... It's a good episode, but it could do without, let's say, a random T-Rex.
Kinda feel like Deep Breath should be higher, but I do understand the criticisms to be fair 🙂
100%! Tho i really liked the no nonsense version of capaldis doctor.
@thestormageddn Me too 😊
The only real problem with Deep Breath is the unnecessary phone call from 11 at the end, though I do get why they felt the need to include it, and it does seem like something 11 would do tbf
I dunno, I kind of liked when Capaldi's Doctor was more abrasive. It felt a refreshing take that got even my Doctor Who-disliking friend interested in the show. It was almost disappointing when he softened so much.
Deep breath is #1 for me. Peter came and stole the show ❤
Personal ranking
15. The Twin Dilemma
14. Castrovalva
13. Time and the Rani
12. The Starbeast
11. The Church on Ruby Road
10. The Women who fell to earth
9. Eleventh hour
8. Deep breath
7. Rose
6. Tv movie
5. Xmas invasion
4. An unearthly child
3. Robot
2. The Power of the Daleks
1. Spearhead from Space
The Eleventh Hours is just so good, what a way to introduce The Doctor
'The Eleventh Hour' is indeed the best post-regeneration episode of the show's history. But ranking 'The Star Beast' below 'Time and the Rani'? That's just not cricket.
6:42 I ordered the TV movie and it's gonna arrive on Friday, which means, I got essentially three DW episodes to watch! 😁
Did you get the version released in 2010 with two discs in it? It's the one I have.
@@ElizabethMidfordHatesCops i think so, two discs were mentioned in the product description.
the fact that woman who fell to earth is ranked above deep breath and xmas invasion and church on ruby road is fraankly insane
I think it should've switched places with the TV Movie. But I'm one of like five people completely obsessed with that movie.
Xmas Invasion was a poor first Doctor episode, but I agree Church on Ruby Road was better.
But I like a Doctor who hits the ground running.
Not really I think the woman who fell to earth is a lot better then those stories
Church on ruby road is a good episode but doesn’t feel like the doctors first episode
True
yeah WWFTE is an atrocious episode
My first introduction to doctor who was Rose back in 2005 and it remains such an iconic episode for me! Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper's performances were incredible and it had a really great story which left me wanting the week to go quicker so I could watch the next episode! The ninth doctor was fantastic in this episode and his speech about the turn of the earth is still so iconic! 😊😊
Agreed on all counts!
Any ranking should be based on three factors: how well does it introduce the new Doctor, to what extent and how well does it introduce the general audience to premise of the show and its universe as a whole, and, simply, how good is the story on its own as isolated work.
I like Ecclestons Doctor, especially after you see Hurts War Doctor. He's just come off of being the War Doctor, so all his anger and rage towards the Daleks is very understandable, still under the surface of his new face.
In defense of Matt's cameo in DB, 12 was not too far removed from the brash, darkness of 6, so I can understand Moffat wanting to reassure viewers given how badly 6's era went in the 80s
I was in my prime adolescence when I saw the eleventh doctor's seasons and the Elevent Hour and I istantly fell in love with him and his seasons are my favourites, I still get emotional every time Smith's Doctor is on screen, he'll always be my favorite even if I prefer other doctor's runs overall, like Capaldi's doctor, which is the pefect modern incarnation of Doctor Who in my opinion
Castrovalva could rank a little higher. I love the device of him spending much of the episode unraveling the giant scarf from the previous seven seasons, getting to the end, and asking 'who am I "?
Deep Breath continues to be criminally underrated
Don’t entirely agree on the list but if you have eleventh hour as number one, then you’re all good
Something that I thought was interesting (and I don't know if it was done again) is that The Eleventh Hour was actually the fourth episode filmed for Series 5. The Angel 2 Parter was the first (and honestly I think you can kind of tell that the performances are still slightly fresh in that story) and I think it really helped with the chemistry going into Eleventh Hour.
For me, The Eleventh Hour and the Angels two-parter were 11's best stories. When you add in Vincent and the Doctor, I'd say Matt Smith's first series was his best.
Tbf series 5 was also moffats best series as showrunner
When I first saw Castrovalva it made an enormous impression on me. I thought the sets and the conundrum at the heart of the episode were so fresh and different from the last Tom Baker season. I was glad to have a new Doctor as being a fan since 1963 I thought Tom was brilliant but I itched to see what a different actor would do with the role. Peter Davison was perfect, as light as air, when Tom had been as rich as a fruit cake. It is in my opinion the most inspired choice of actor and for all John Nathan Turner's daft choices, this was the best choice he made. I saw it snowed in, January 1982 - the cold, gleaming snow outside enhanced the experience as well.
10:25 - I know the irony behind the name. But a shout-out to them being on planet Vulcan would have been nice.
"Time on the RONNIE"? HELP
Putting The Star Beast below Deep Breath is criminal lol - I think it sets the tone of the 14th doctors short span on the show quite well, whereas seeing Deep Breath at its premiere was some of the most disappointing viewing I've ever had from the show
I really saw the eleventh hour coming Matt smith had the best opening of any doctor ever
The Christmas Invasion was the first episode I ever watched, but The Eleventh Hour is hands down my favorite!
Deep breathe is a good episode.
He thinks clara is handles and that's hilarious.
The phone call at the end of the epaidoe was brilliant.
I'd probably put it around 8
I think Castrovalva needs more love. It's a really good story
Castravalva and Twin Dilemma are some of my favorite stories. They are so crazy. I love them.
I love Sean as a presenter, but I am oddly too invested in Star Trek to watch TrekCulture regularly. Weird, I know. So whenever he is on WhoCulture I cheer.
The slander on deep breaths placing on this list is ridiculous.
Can we all just be honest the problem with the Star Beast is that it’s a terrible write off to the meta crisis.
Jodie was so great the writing really let her down
My fav episode is eleventh hour! I’ve seen it the most!! Along with the 40th Ann episodes!
Disagree with the rankings somewhat (would rank Deep Breath & Christmas Invasion higher than the 13th) but rly appreciate the time taken for the run-up this week. Suddenly feeling the need for a few rewatches… but no time!
“The Woman Who Fell to Earth establishes a more grounded and realistic setting”
Then ditches it pretty quickly
i have one season left to watch of doctor who, i'm finally gonna see the third doctor become the 4th.
Good list, but it's shocking that Castrovalva is so low down.
Spoilers: Claudia Winkelman is Ruby's mother
I also like the first episode of the war doctor, but in audio book
Seriously, the Church on Ruby Road was rated was too high on this list.
Now the question is, who is the Ronnie?
Great video
went done hill after tom b,till syvester,and the reboot
I am pleased 11th hour is number one. Matt Smith is my favourite doctor from both new who and classic who. I think Smith had an advantage in that the 11th hour was not the first episode he filmed - so he had had the chance to really get into the character before filming his post regeneration episode.
Just went from a sean ferrick video on trek culture to sean ferrick on who culture
The man is EVERYWHERE
I would put The Woman Who Fell to Earth lower. I can agree that Jodie was good in this episode but the story was weak and bland, new companions werent interesting. Easily The Christmas Invasion would be higher for me and even Deep Breath. I also adore The Star Beast but I havent seen all the classics so not sure where I would place that.
Deep Breath is much better than all of these
Colin wins... His first episode is Caves of Androzani.
It’s a satsuma actually
Doctor Who died for me after Peter Capaldi.
The Church On Ruby Road isn't Ncuti Gatwa's first episode. He first appears in The Giggle.
my Raggedy Man❤
Where is the day of the doctor? Why is the war doctor excluded?
Ranking Deep Breath and Christmas Invasion so low whilst also not ranking The Woman Who Fell To Earth as the weakest NuWho debut feels way off😂
the Eleventh hour is one of the reasons 11 is my Favorite Dr. (That and i find him funny whilst enjoying the episodes).
Love watching this channel’s videos!
Tom Baker was my first Dr. and I found that 5,6 and 7 were somewhat of a letdown. Eccleston was the perfect actor to play the Dr. for the reintroduction to the show. It took a,bit to adjust to Matt after the excellent portrayl by David, but I'd have to say that Matt is the best Doctor. Jodi could have been great but the writing let everyone down. This started in the 2nd half of Capaldi's run. From what I've seen of this last offering I'm afraid that its lost the greatness that it once held and has just become a woke preachy waste of time.
IMHO, Whittaker's Doctor deserves higher rank than 7th.
In the span of mere minutes of dropping through the ceiling she rattled her way through half a dozen faithful homages to no fewer than four previous doctors. Jodie channeled effective mannerisms and micro-expressions from Capaldi, Smith, Tennant, and Eccleston with seemingly effortless skill and flawless energy.
That was, by far, the smoothest transition from one Doctor to the next that I've ever witnessed in the show. I was able to accept her immediately... which was a stark contrast to both Capaldi (who won my over the following episode) and Smith (who took the better part of a season to finally grow on me.)
My favorite part of "The Eleventh Hour" is the doctor asking the aliens what they think of his ties.
That was fun thanks agreed 11th hr . you have a lovely voice .
I think each first episode of each Doctor is special in it's own way. As tome has gone by and I've seen more of Hartnell and Troughton I've come to love their doctors more and more. Ironically its not necessarily the first episode that can really hook me. I'm also one of those people who keep an open mind and am willing to give each new iteration of the Doctor a chance.
😊
I love who culture
Me too
@@joelbnorth you have a good opinion
Me three
@@Worldoffanboy0278 cool
The only youtube page i trust. (other than BBC's Doctor Who)
This is a really good ranking though I do think The Star Beast is a LOT better than Time and the Rani. Here's my ranking:
The Eleventh Hour
The Power of the Daleks
Spearhead from Space
Rose
The Woman Who Fell to Earth
The Christmas Invasion
Robot
The Church on Ruby Road
The Star Beast
The Movie
Deep Breath
An Unearthly Child (if it was JUST the perfect first episode it would be near the top but alas...)
Castrovalva
Time and the Rani
The Twin Dilemma
And *ABOVE* your (excellent) #1 pick: *_The Day of the Doctor._*
For me it’s the “hello I’m the doctor… basically… run” is what secures that Matt will be an amazing one and the show will survive without tennant (11 is also my favourite)
I destroyed a Dalek. As a sixties kid at an expo in London, I saw big red button. I pressed it and everything stopped moving.
Title should've been " best performance on a first episode.
I consider the very first "Doctor Who" story to be a single episode, "An Unearthly Child"; the second story is a three-parter about cavemen and fire. But that's just my own head canon. But I do watch that single episode every November 23!
David Tennant first episode shouldn’t be on this list (I don’t know if it is, only halfway through) he was asleep for most of it, so he really didn’t hit the ground running
But it was still his first episode.
@@BlakeGamer-qy6ve I meant should be near last place on the list as he didn’t hit the ground running
I think rated as episodes I'd have the list a little different, but in terms of reviewing them as first episode and kicking off the Doctor's run, I pretty much entirely agree. Major nod to Robert Holmes outstanding script for Spearhead from Space, that was the episode that pretty much cemented himself as one of the show's top writers (THE top writer of classic Who, in my opinion) who would go on to write some of Classic Who's finest stories.
Every Doctor’s first story,..rather than first episode then…