There have been a lot of Doctor Who stories and as such some get a lot of love, and many get overlooked and deserve more appreciation. When I first started this blog, one of the first articles I wrote was on my Top 10 Underrated Stories. Since then, my opinion has changed on certain stories, and I thought it was a topic worth revisiting. Given the further development and restructure of my blog, I also thought it was a topic I could handle better now. I’ve tried to stick firmly to stories with a middling or bad reputation which I think deserve better or simply those that aren’t talked about and done my best to shine a light on eras that are less well regarded. Without further delay, let’s get started!!!
10.) The Eaters of Light (2017) written by Rona Munro
Rona Munro is so far the only classic writer to cross over and write for the modern series, but her classic story with Survival is generally far more appreciated. I would agree that Survival is the better story, but I still think that the Eaters of Light deserves far more appreciation and has a lot of merit; in fact I would credit it as being one of the best stories of Series 10 but it tends to get overlooked due to the finale which follows it. Some of Doctor Who’s best stories take things from real history and mysteries which are unknown to us and provide a science fiction explanation, which is done in a very satisfying way in this story through the lost Ninth Legion. The main problem with the Eaters of Light is the weak villain, as the monster of the story does not make much of an impact, which unfortunately it gets judged by. What I love about the Eaters of Light is the way it humanises historical characters. It’s very easy just to look at historical events through the timeline of a textbook, but the Eaters of Light gets you to emotionally connect to the people. Turning the Roman soldiers and the Picts who have had everything stripped from them into lost young people in a historical environment trying to find their place was a move of genius. It becomes a powerful coming-of-age story about a naïve, scared, and confused group of youngsters learning about accountability and responsibility and has good values at its centre. You also have a very solid script and Capaldi’s Doctor works excellently as an elder father figure.
9.) Paradise Towers (1987) written by Stephen Wyatt
Paradise Towers was hated for years due to its silliness and pantomime tone, as was a lot of Season 24. Since the season came out on Blu-ray it has had a bit of a re-evaluation and Paradise Towers in particular has begun to be viewed a lot more favourably, which I’m glad of. I think what the original critics missed about the story is that as silly as it is, there is a great darkness running through it which creates both the comedy and the drama. There is no mistake about it that Paradise Towers is a comedy with a very entertainingly dotty and absurd style. The Red Kangs, the Blue Kangs, the Caretakers, and the Rezzies all have a vibrancy and memorable feel to their characters where they stand out with very heightened performances. I think the scary old ladies are the highlight of the story and Elisabeth Bruce and Brenda Spriggs pitch their performances very well with a kindly exterior but a gross and unsettling side under the surface you are keenly aware of, as they are very scary. Richard Briers is also great as the Chief Caretaker and the nature of his perverse carelessness fits the character perfectly. Best of all, I think this is where the McCoy era with the Seventh Doctor found its style. You have a very humorous story, but with a powerful undercurrent of evil and a disturbing vibe under the surface that works. I also like the themes of the Doctor trying to unite these separate factions of conflict and there are ideas that resonate on community spirit and working together.
8.) Planet of Fire (1984) written by Peter Grimwade
Peter Grimwade’s scripts for Doctor Who were a rather mixed bag on the whole but I think he really succeeded with his last story, Planet of Fire. Yet the story is not one that is very highly regarded and I’m not sure why. Planet of Fire feels like it’s taking the poorly used aspects of the era and finding a good use for them in a way that soundly recontextualises things and sets up the finale of the Fifth Doctor very well. First of all, I think a key strong point is the planet of Sarn. The filming on Lanzarote looks excellent and gives the planet a proper sense of scale but a constant sense of danger at the same time. I like the Master’s motivations of playing with tissue compression technology and trying to restore himself with the Numismation gas, and he has a dominance and presence that Anthony Ainley rarely has with a more restrained performance. I think the utilisation of Turlough is the highlight, who had been a pretty poor character up until this point. For one thing, he works well on his own with Peter Davison, and exploring his backstory reveals interesting aspects of his character with a well realised arc. You have that mixed with a lot of focus on Peri’s introduction, who works well with Davison’s Doctor and is very likeable, with a crushing but fitting goodbye for Kamelion. There is a tragedy of loss to the story that gives it an understated emotion that I like.
7.) The End of the World (2005) written by Russell T Davies
Series 1 is such a strong series that there are some stories that have become overlooked over the years because of the other standout episodes amongst it, and I think the End of the World is one of those. There is something incredibly brave about the approach that the story takes that is highly admirable. It is an introduction to the absurdity of Doctor Who. The creativity and bonkers nature of it is distilled in the creatures and variety of species on Platform One that feels like a good statement of intent. There are interesting themes engrained on reflecting on the earth’s legacy and the survival of the planet. This is used for well-thought-out comedy but the use of pop songs like Toxic work for how they are reframed as earth classics. Cassandra as a villain is great and a very memorable antagonist, for how they act as a warning on the horrors of the endpoint of wealth and plastic surgery, the racism of how they view the advancement of the human race and the selfish capitalism of their scheme. The best part of the story, though, is in what it provides for Rose, in the incredibly real and believable culture shock she experiences and how painful and traumatic it is to see her planet die. I love the way this ties into the arc of the Ninth Doctor and his PTSD and experience. The themes are well intertwined and the moment where the Doctor comes clean to Rose about the fate of his planet is very meaningful and emotional, and the story feels like a well-judged one to tell.
6.) It Takes You Away (2018) written by Ed Hime
It Takes You Away is one of the highlights of Jodie Whittaker’s era and just a brilliant story that finds the right blend of complete absurdity and emotion to hit in all the right ways. You have a very familiar kind of story which is set up with an abandoned location in the woods with a monster, but I like how this ends up being a misdirect as there is no monster. This could have been annoying, only it’s used to create further intrigue and mystery and something much more interesting is unveiled as a result with good sentimental storytelling at the heart of things. You have an unravelling plot with It Takes You Away where you don’t know how the story is going to unfold, and the progression of that is very rewarding. I love the idea and backstory of the Solitract as this sentient and conscious universe that wants to be friends with us. There is an affectionate and emotional sense of pity to the concept with it taking forms of those we won’t reject to draw us in where you feel a lot of sympathy and understanding for the Solitract. I also love how the story handles grief. Hannah and Eric feel like a twisted perversion of what grief can do and act as an effective warning for Ryan and Graham on being drawn apart by grief which thematically and emotionally really works. The performance and conflict from Bradley Walsh is excellent and you have just the right combination of bonkers concepts and ideas with an emotional and relatable message on the impact grief can have, and the importance of moving forward with our lives.
5.) The Ice Warriors (1967) written by Brian Hayles
The Ice Warriors is a story I’m sure used to be more highly regarded as did the Ice Warriors themselves as villains, but for some reason these days it’s thought of as a boring story which I have to disagree with. It may be six parts long, but there is a tension, suspense and drama to it that keeps the story going. One very good thing about the Ice Warriors is the broader world and society that is built up. The idea of a second Ice Age is a very interesting concept to play with and using Ionisation as a way to tackle it feels rooted enough in scientific ideas to feel believable and tangible; you have a fleshed out enough version of a future to create very driven stakes for the story. Beyond that, I think the Ice Warriors are just a perfect fit for a villain that just blend into the setting and helps the story to feel memorable. They have the ruthlessness and heartlessness of a dangerous warrior to be feared and yet at the same time, the story and the performances play into the reptilian nature of them rather well. Their sinister voices and the way they move their bodies, mouths and heads feels incredibly true to a reptile form of life and makes them perfectly unusual, distinctive and a memorable threat. I also think the story has a great cast and set of characters as I love the conflict between Clent and Penley. The progression of Clent's character is effective in conveying the themes of his computer dependency and lack of trust in people, as he gradually learns to appreciate human skills and judgment, and the importance of taking risks.
4.) The Hand of Fear (1976) written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin
The Hand of Fear doesn't stand out amongst Season 14 as it’s amongst such classics, but on its own it has a lot of merit. The Hand of Fear is a really worthy possession story as Eldrad takes hold of Sarah Jane’s mind. It’s scary and terrifying seeing her soul, her rights over her body and her freedom being seized and controlled by another being. Elisabeth Sladen inhabits the evil intent and very sinister qualities in her performance, voice, mannerisms and body language in a way that is deeply convincing. I love the setting of the story of a nuclear power station. With the explosive power and potential, it sets up appropriately dangerous stakes that feels grave and devastating throughout. I think Eldrad, as a threat and form of life, is very interesting and I like how you learn more about her throughout the events of the story. Eldrad, being a silicon-based lifeform capable of regeneration through absorbing nuclear power, makes them a powerful and dramatically overwhelming menace and is a fascinating creation. Judith Paris as Eldrad is great, the prosthetics are very well done, and the performance is brilliantly sympathetic. She is power hungry, but you feel for her loss of status, and she is given a good level of humanity. The last episode feels unfortunately a lot weaker compared to the previous episodes, which is probably what holds it back. The departure of Sarah Jane ends the story well with a very human and relatable goodbye.
3.) Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974) written by Malcolm Hulke
Invasion of the Dinosaurs has often been looked upon badly, but I think it is too harshly judged based on the Dinosaur effects, which to be fair are horrendously bad even by the standards of the time. Although it has begun to be looked at more favourably, it still deserves more attention. The key to the story is that it’s not about the Dinosaurs, they exist to entice the young audience and to create a sense of adventure and excitement, but the actual depth of the themes and storytelling comes through other factors of the story. Seeing every stage of the Doctor trying to uncover the central mystery being thwarted adds a compelling conspiracy element. The story deals well with the corrupt nature of authority figures with an agenda and ulterior motives, which feels very truthful. You have a great set of villains with General Finch, Professor Whitaker, Charles Grover, and even Captain Yates. You sympathise with and understand their motivations, but they have a twisted view of things and lack of a sense of reality which makes them worthy villains. Seeing Yates as a traitor strongly opens up possibilities and creates an unpredictable plot, breaking the UNIT family apart. Making the Doctor isolated and cut off from his resources and allies also creates vulnerable stakes. The story effectively puts a spotlight on the greed of humanity, which has caused pollution and has something valuable to say on the subject with a very profound point to make.
2.) Colony in Space (1971) written by Malcolm Hulke
This story is often dismissed for being over long and I couldn’t disagree more, in fact I think it’s a masterful story in terms of themes, storyline and all the elements it has to juggle as it all feels so cleverly interwoven into a central plot. I always love the idea of the Doctor being a secret agent working for the Time Lords and it feels like a very clever way of having him go on outer space adventures whilst still being exiled on earth. The central conflict between IMC and the colonists works very well with a struggling group of people that you feel a lot of sympathy towards and root for. The confrontation on the rights of living and survival is incredibly well played out and mirrors well the conflict and situation of the American West. I like how the story tricks you into expecting a monster story and the reveal that the real monster is humanity, and that corporate wealth is the real enemy creates a very relatable threat and is a clever twist on things. There is a worthy message about corporate, imperialist, and capitalist interests being valued above the rights of ordinary people that rings true. I enjoy the role of the Master as the Adjudicator a lot and the function of the primitive race that has devolved on the planet. The shades of morality and corrupt interests helps flesh out the world and brings together the themes and storytelling in a sincere and meaningful way. There is a great conflict between the Doctor and the Master and is a key moment for their development and relationship as characters that I love.
1.) Last Christmas (2014) written by Steven Moffat
Last Christmas is an effective book-ender for Series 8 and in my opinion, by far the best Christmas special. It feels like a perfect summation of the idea of Christmas and what makes it so meaningful to people and manages to merge Christmas and Doctor Who together brilliantly. I love the timey wimey structure of Steven Moffat’s scripts and this story is so smartly written and interwoven in a very rewarding way, and is probably one of Steven Moffat’s most clever stories. I really like the casting and inclusion of Nick Frost as Santa, the characterisation as a kind of cynical bloke feels strongly original, and his conflict and tension with the Doctor is well handled. You have an interesting and rewarding merge of ideas and stories sprinkled in as the story manages to home in on the best elements of Doctor Who in its suspense with the base under siege formula. The jarring nature of it works incredibly well for the ideas which are tackled within the main storyline. The idea of the Dream Crabs is interesting and scary and plays with the idea of dreams within dreams in an intelligent way which is true to a dream, and I love the surprises that are unveiled along the way. Beyond that, there is a good emotional story for Clara dealing with her grief of the death of Danny Pink, and her guilt for how she treated him. You have a solid emotional message about the meaning of Christmas merged with an interesting scary story which deserves more attention.
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