Doctor Who: Demons of the Punjab
by Vinay Patel; dir. Jamie Childs (BBC, 2018)
A beautifully filmed historical episode (technically pseudo-historical but the titular demons are something of a MacGuffin). The bigger context of the partition of British India allows for an impactful small-scale story where the TARDIS crew contribute little but empathy, which is enough.
Doctor Who: The Woman Who Fell To Earth
by Chris Chibnall; dir. Jamie Childs (BBC, 2018)
The best debut story since Rose. Jodie Whittaker hits the ground running, and Chibnall strikes a nice balance between SF threat, comfort humour and character introduction. All the soon-to-be regulars show promise (while Sharon D. Clarke is immediately much missed as Grace).
Doctor Who: The Great Beyond
by James Kettle (Big Finish, 2024)
A six-parter structured around a proper SF idea. While the plot follows recognisable patterns and the support characters play to standard, unnuanced types, Kettle lands a poignant denouement that allows the Doctor to live and grow from the consequences of his actions.
Doctor Who: The Power of Three
by Chris Chibnall; dir. Douglas Mackinnon (BBC, 2012)
An important episode in Amy and Rory’s storyline. Gentle humour, endearing character moments, but the ‘stuff of nightmares’ Shakri are brushed aside with laughable ease. Chibnall might have done better to spend less time on Rory’s dad and more on the resolution.
Doctor Who: The Unquiet Dead
by Mark Gatiss; dir. Euros Lyn (BBC, 2005)
A pronounced example, early in the format, of everything happening too fast. While Dickens and Gwyneth are good value, and there’s depths to plumb in Eccleston’s Doctor’s fair-weather avuncularity (a domineering temper simmering behind the goofy grin), it all just rattles by.
TV Comic Annual 1968
(TV Publications, 1967)
An abysmally written Adam Adamant short story, plus 90 pages of lame comics. Two simplistic, murkily illustrated four-page Doctor Who strips feature an overly tall Second Doctor defeating (with mammoths) Trods and (with rocks) Daleks, having first pre-invented the Goodies’ flying trandem!
Doctor Who: Mind of the Hodiac
by Russell T Davies & Scott Handcock (Big Finish, 2022)
This two-parter is rather too long for what it offers, though the female-centric plot is welcome and Colin Baker is once again a delight. Davies and Handcock capture the Sixth Doctor’s personality, yet (as usual) have him largely superfluous to the resolution.
Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe
by Steven Moffat; dir. Farren Blackburn (BBC, 2011)
“This hammock has developed a fault.” With his childlike enthusiasms and underlying vulnerability, the Eleventh Doctor is tailor-made for holiday specials. This one is a near-perfect concoction of whimsy, adventure and rousing Christmas miracle. Holly Earl and Matt Smith are both brilliant.
Doctor Who: Out of Time
by Matt Fitton; dir. Nicholas Briggs (Big Finish, 2020)
David Tennant and Tom Baker make for an arresting duo and are given time to interact, the story’s emotional depth further complemented by Kathryn Drysdale’s performance as Jora. A shame, then, that the threat had to come from blustering, blogging, self-opinionated Daleks.
Doctor Who: The Five Companions
by Eddie Robson (Big Finish, 2011)
Nostalgia is well and truly satisfied with five former companions yanked back into the fray. Evergreen acting chops notwithstanding, the opportunity for poignant character moments is largely frittered away in a pointless Death Zone slugfest involving Sontarans, dinosaurs and, inevitably, screeching Daleks.