The Cutprice Guignol

If I am anything, I am a deranged Doctor Who fan. And, with the new series and new Doctor on the immediate horizon, I am getting antsy waiting for my fix – so I’ve been going back over the previous seasons of New Who for my dose, and I would like to share some of my (positive, for a change) findings about the show with you, my fine and fresh blog readers dearest, in the countdown to the beginning of this new era.

I’ve covered the best and worst of standalone episodes before, but I’d like to take a look at the top three episodes of each New Who Doctor’s run, starting with Jodie Whittaker. I know her era is somewhat controversial amongst the fandom in terms of quality, but I have a huge soft spot for it – I think there’s a lot more genuinely brilliant stuff in this era than a lot of people give it credit for, not least Jodie Whittaker herself (and Sacha Dhawan. And Bradley Walsh. And Mandip Gill. And – look, I’ll stop myself now before I get distracted). Let’s get to it!

1. Fugitive of the Judoon

I want you to imagine me leaning in very, very close to your face, and looking at you very intently when I say this, in a way that makes a shiver run down your spine as my eyes flash with a mad sincerity you know will take me over the edge for good: I love Jo Martin’s Doctor so much. Her first appearance in this episode is such a joy and a huge highlight of this era for me, a proof of concept of the sheer range that a female Doctor could have for anyone who still had their doubts, and an enormously fun and cheeky episode of inter-Doctor interaction that I never get tired of. But really, it’s about Jo Martin for me – I was instantly obsessed and still am, the performance commanding and confident without losing that sly sense of fun that should underpin the character at all times. To come in for a single episode and make an impression as big as this is something seriously special, and Fugitive will always have a place in my heart for that reason alone.

2. It Takes You Away

I’m always amazed to see that this episode isn’t considered the stone-cold modern Who classic that it so obviously is. A profoundly eerie opening gives way to this incredibly nuanced and interesting exploration of grief within this universe, and Bradley Walsh puts in one of the best performances of his whole run on the show (which is really saying something) as the emotional heart of this story. The oddly stylised visuals – that weird little frog, for goodness sake – really work for me, creating this unique dreamlike feel that suits the tone and feel of this story perfectly. It stands out stylistically and thematically in this era as something mature, complex, and challenging, a bold decision for the show in the first season of a new era that I appreciate a whole lot.

3. The Haunting of Villa Diodati

I am a huge and repentant slut for anything horror-adjacent, and Haunting might be my favourite example of a pure horror story in this era. Mixing up the gothic setting of Villa Diodati with the invasion of a new, formidable Cyberman was such an inspired blend, and sprinkle in the Frankenstein imagery with Mary Shelley as one of the main supporting characters? Oh, it’s just a sumptuous pile of literary history, shot through with a big, scary, steel fascist to top it all off, an almost show-offy historical horror that mixes the show’s lore with the real world in a way I can just never get enough of. Plus, Mandip Gill in that candle lighting? Swoon.

(I also spent way too long dithering over whether to include Rosa and Village of the Angels in this list, for what it’s worth)

I would love to hear about your favourite episodes of this era (and, yes, you can complain about the worst ones too, if you’re so inclined). Tune in soon-ish for a look at the best of Peter Capaldi’s era, and more unsolicited Who-pinions!

If you’d like to read my other Doctor Who articles, you can check them out here (and take a look at my books if you’re feeling curious!).

(header image via TVMaze)