Doctor Who: The Honorable Mentions

For my 51 birthday, I posted a video of me listing my 51 favorite episodes of Doctor Who.

(Daily Doctor Who #197)

In coming up with this list I also had a bunch that I considered, but ultimately rejected. These are some of the runner-ups–not necessarily the next ten, but episodes I couldn’t include, but I didn’t want to give the impression that I don’t like them.

I thought I’d post that list (because it really concerns me that you might think I didn’t include Hell Bent on a list of favorite episodes of Doctor Who because I didn’t like it, because the truth is that I did).

So, in no particular order:

Kill the Moon

Season Eight

Yeah, it’s ridiculous, but it’s well done, and I like the interaction between the Doctor and Clara at the end.

Father’s Day

Season One

The modern series’ first timey-wimey effort. I like the emotional story but the plot isn’t as good as it should be.

Hell Bent

Season Eight

This unusual episode narrowly missed making it on my list. It wasn’t at all what any of us were expecting, but I still found it interesting character stuff.

Gridlock

Season Three

A ludicrous idea but highly imaginative.

The Waters of Mars

Autumn 2009

I don’t think the whole “Time Lord Victorious” thing at the end makes much sense—why would Adelaide Brooke just killing herself in her house after being mysteriously transported there have the same impact as if she had died mysteriously in a mission on Mars? But aside from that it’s a gripping little horror thriller.

Fugitive of the Judoon

Season Twelve

Even though I think the idea of another previously undisclosed incarnation of the Doctor to be cheap and derivative, it was the only one of the season’s attempt at “big twists” which was actually presented well.

The Night of the Doctor

50th Anniversary mini-prequel

I didn’t count mini-episodes for my main list but if I had, this short Eighth Doctor outing would have made it on there. For me, it was one of the best surprises of the whole 50^th anniversary celebration period.