Doctor Who Series 14/Season 1 Episode Rankings

 Ranking Series 14/Season 1 episodes with the 60th Anniversary specials.

12. Space Babies: 5/10 - Space babies was a very poor opener to the series. For an episode that was meant to hook in new viewers for the series - and especially as it is the biggest attempt to do so since 2005 - it was lacking a lot in plot. I also found the constant reinforcing of the phrase "space babies" by the Doctor annoying.

11. Empire of Death: 5/10 - this episode was frustrating for different reasons. I thought as soon as they killed off the entire supporting cast that RTD was going to result to a uno reverse card again. The stakes were so high it became so low. I felt that putting a lead on Sutekh, a that previously referred to the Doctor as a grovelling insect was insulting to the villain. I am not bothered with Ruby's mum being ordinary, but lots of things don't add up for that to be the case. Why is there snow? Why could the ambulance from Boom find her? Why couldn't we see her face in the time window. Why didn't Sutekh just know? A frustrating conclusion.

10. The Church on Ruby Road: 6/10 - This was nowhere near as solid as other episodes that have introduced a new Doctor or companion. Ruby's reactions is what was most disappointing to me. She seemed way too confident too quickly and seemed really unbothered by the capture of her foster sister. The goblins were an interesting choice, but that is fine for an episode that focuses on introductions. Those introductions however, were poorly handled.

9. Rogue: 6/10 - I thought the villains were an interesting concept, but I felt the romance of the episode was the issue. The Doctor has in the past fallen in love quickly, that is not my issue. My issue is that the Doctor left Ruby alone with these monsters whilst he was busy flirting. Then, when Ruby is about to die, the Doctor and Rogue kiss. I know it made sense for the plot, but Ruby wasn't bothered at all. 

8. Star Beast: 7/10 - David Tennant and Catherine Tate came back together, for a really fun episode. The Meep was great, and the performances superb. However, I do hate to say it - I do think it was the weakest episode to feature this duo. I found the Doctor to be too unbothered by Donna and her memory throughout, he even looked at Sylvia as if she was wrong to be bothered. The whole "letting it go" thing was also a cop out. I don't mind the answer being that the metacrises simply halved when Rose was born, but them just letting it go- very lacklustre. 

7. The Devil's Chord: 7/10 - Mysterio was a fun villain and the story was an interesting idea, that was executed well mostly. There were a few cringe moments, such as the music battle and the resolution again was weak. I enjoyed the twist at the end though.

6. Boom: 8/10 - The stakes seemed much higher in this one and some classicly good Moffat dialogue and a very good plot idea. I did not like the ending however, and I did not appreciate the Doctor's attack on faith.

5. The Giggle: 8/10 - This one is a hard one because I love the first two thirds. I think that the stuff in the Toymaker's shop is really creepy and well done. I enjoy the Toymaker and the Doctor's confrontation and I love the "spice up your life" routine. Like for many however, it is the split regeneration that I do not like. It undermines the concept of regeneration and undermines Ncuti Gatwa because David Tennant is off somewhere all the time. We have since also found out that the therapy didn't do the Doctor much good - he is still bothered about stuff come series 14/season 1. I don't mind the fact the Toymaker was defeated by a game of catch - the Toymaker is a being where something that simple could defeat him because he is made up of these rules.

4. The Legend of Ruby Sunday: 9/10 - I loved this episode when it first came out. Fantastic cliffhanger. It has somewhat been ruined by its second half. I feel the two threads of Ruby's mother and Susan Twist are not clearly linked enough and feel slightly disjointed in hindsight. However the mystery and the build up was great. It is shame the second half let it down.

3. 73 Yards: 9/10: Really liked this one. Good mix of political story and horror with a really creepy and interesting idea. I do not mind the fact we do not really know who the woman is, sometimes a mystery is good, and this is one of those cases. The two halves could have been better as two fleshed out stories, but that is a nit pick.

2. Dot and Bubble: 9/10: I really would not have expected this episode to score so highly but I really enjoyed it. Good idea, and Cindy was brilliantly portrayed. The murder of Ricky September was fantastically done and the Doctor's reaction to racism and the music that accompanied it gave me chills. A very good episode.

1. Wild Blue Yonder: 9/10: This episode was so weird - yet creepy and fantastic. What an idea that really allowed David Tennant and Catherine Tate to remind us of how brilliant their acting is. And just to top it all off, Wilfred Mott. Brilliant.