11 Best Doctor Who Stories of All Time

It’s no surprise Doctor Who has remained a cornerstone of science fiction for over 60 years. What began as a children’s show designed to educate British students about science and history has consistently delivered some of the most compelling science fiction on television, despite its seemingly straightforward concept.

Just like the Doctor regenerates, the show Doctor Who has gone through many changes over the years. When it came back in 2005, it moved away from long, connected storylines and embraced more special effects, but it kept the core of what made the show special: a lonely Doctor traveling through space and time to fix problems, help people, and fight for what’s right. Because of this, both the older and newer episodes have many excellent stories, making it hard to pick the very best ones.

11) The Dalek Invasion of Earth

Many people new to the classic Doctor Who series find the very first episodes, featuring William Hartnell, to be a bit slow-paced. The show was still figuring itself out back then, and a lot of the established rules and history hadn’t been created yet, which meant some stories weren’t as exciting or took a long time to develop. Despite this, the episode “The Dalek Invasion of Earth” from the second season is widely considered to be one of the best adventures featuring the First Doctor.

This story takes place on Earth after devastating storms and a plague have drastically reduced the human population, and the Daleks have seized control. It’s a remarkably prescient warning about the consequences of environmental damage. Importantly, this adventure marks a turning point: Susan falls in love with a human, but the Doctor won’t allow her to travel with him, famously promising to come back for her someday. It also features the Daleks at their most frightening, establishing a high bar for their appearances in future stories.

10) “Dalek”

It’s become a running joke that the Daleks, despite being supposedly destroyed in the Time War, always manage to return and cause trouble. But when the Ninth Doctor and Rose encountered the very last Dalek, before this became a pattern, it led to one of the most emotionally powerful stories in the show’s revival.

The episode focused less on the Daleks themselves and more on the Doctor’s burden as the last of the Time Lords, haunted by his actions in the Time War that destroyed both his people and their enemies. The single Dalek’s failure to change and embrace a peaceful existence serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of being stuck in the past. Importantly, this episode also strengthens the bond between the Doctor and Rose, as she questions his initial impulse to destroy the last Dalek and encourages him to consider giving it a chance at redemption.

9) “Kinda”

Peter Davison’s time as the Doctor is often overlooked, but his three seasons include some of the best Doctor Who stories ever made. Unfortunately, less-loved companions like Tegan and Adric sometimes distract people from how good these episodes are. It’s interesting that Kinda actually features both of them, and uses them really well, creating a story that’s both funny and touching, with a meaningful message.

The story “Kinda” uses symbolic representation to strongly criticize how colonists mistreat Indigenous people. The central conflict revolves around ‘The Mara,’ a force that takes control of a tribal member by exploiting his rage over the colonists’ actions. Two members of the Kinda tribe have been abducted, and because they don’t speak the colonists’ language, they are wrongly considered unsophisticated and subjected to involuntary scientific experimentation.

This story includes some of the most frightening moments in classic Doctor Who, particularly the dreamlike scenes where Tegan falls under the Mara’s control. Even though the special effects—showing the Mara destroyed by its own reflection—look dated, the story’s conclusion is still very effective.

8) “Vincent and the Doctor”

“Vincent and the Doctor” is a particularly moving episode of Doctor Who. When the Doctor notices an alien in a painting by Vincent Van Gogh, he and Amy travel back in time to 1890 France to investigate and meet the famous artist.

This episode blends classic science fiction elements with the true story of Vincent van Gogh. The Doctor and Amy team up with Van Gogh to fight an alien creature only he can perceive. However, even showing him his future fame doesn’t fully lift his spirits. The episode’s poignant conclusion powerfully illustrates the challenges of battling depression and highlights that even the Doctor can’t fix everything, leaving audiences both thoughtful and saddened.

7) “Dot and Bubble”

“Dot and Bubble,” like several episodes with Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, appears lighthearted at first, but tackles a deeper issue. The episode features the Doctor and Ruby visiting a planet inhabited by privileged young people who rely heavily on social media for happiness. But their world is threatened when a creature begins to hunt them down.

The Doctor, as always, tries to help those he encounters, even when they’re difficult people. But this episode takes a heartbreaking turn: the people he’s trying to save are so prejudiced that they refuse his assistance simply because of his race. They’d rather face certain death than accept help from someone they consider inferior. This powerful moment is one of the most impactful statements about prejudice and privilege ever made on Doctor Who.

6) “Remembrance of the Daleks”

The period when Sylvester McCoy played the Doctor was inconsistent in quality and is often mistakenly seen as the end of the show’s classic run, even being unfairly blamed for its cancellation. Despite this, “Remembrance of the Daleks,” originally intended for the 25th anniversary, is a standout Dalek story and a strong introduction to the new companion, Ace.

The Doctor travels back to London in 1963 to prevent the Daleks from attacking Susan’s old school. Although the story doesn’t address the issue of the Doctor meeting his past self, it introduces updated, more frightening Daleks – now capable of climbing stairs – and features a side plot where Ace develops a crush on a man who turns out to be a Dalek collaborator.

I was totally hooked by this episode, especially that incredible cliffhanger at the end of the first part! Seeing Ace cornered by Daleks with just a baseball bat was so tense. And the Doctor’s sarcastic comments when he finally came to her rescue at the start of the next episode? Brilliant! It was a really strong moment.

5) “The War Games”

As a huge Doctor Who fan, I always say “The War Games” is a total game-changer! It’s so important because it was the first time we ever learned about the Time Lords – and that the Doctor was one of them! Before this, Patrick Troughton’s last episode, we knew absolutely nothing about where the Doctor came from. It’s easy to take that knowledge for granted now, but back in 1969, it was a massive, mind-blowing reveal!

Despite being a 10-part story, this saga maintains a brisk pace and avoids unnecessary scenes – a remarkable achievement. The core idea – rogue Time Lords forcing soldiers from different time periods to battle for their amusement – is fresh and engaging. The concluding scene, where the Doctor reluctantly seeks assistance from the Time Lords to resolve the crisis and subsequently undergoes a forced regeneration, is considered a highlight of the entire Doctor Who series.

4) “Mind of Evil”

Jon Pertwee’s time as the Doctor was unique in the show’s classic run. Unlike previous Doctors, he was largely based on Earth, collaborating with the military organization UNIT to defeat a series of villains, including the very first incarnation of the Doctor’s nemesis, the Master. “Mind of Evil” was a standout story, featuring a device intended to remove evil from people’s minds. However, the machine malfunctions and begins to kill by forcing people to experience their deepest fears.

This episode explores how fear can hold people back, or even ruin their lives, through a compelling storyline. Jo Grant really shines, confidently taking the lead with both strength and compassion. While the special effects aren’t always convincing, the episode successfully mixes scary moments with lighter scenes, culminating in a deeply sad farewell to a character.

It’s brilliantly clever to show the Master’s biggest fear is the Doctor laughing at him. This perfectly explains why he’s always causing trouble, both in the original and newer series of Doctor Who.

3) “Blink”

The “Blink” episode of Doctor Who is unusual because the Doctor isn’t heavily involved in the story. Instead, the episode centers on Sally Sparrow, who finds herself facing the terrifying Weeping Angels and must rely on a video message from the Doctor for help.

The episode “Blink” is a standout of the modern Doctor Who series, effectively using both visual effects and clever writing to deliver a genuinely scary story. It’s particularly remembered for the Doctor’s playfully confusing explanation of time – calling it “timey-wimey wibbly-wobbly… stuff” – and the chilling warning about the Weeping Angels: don’t blink, or they’ll get you. That warning is truly terrifying and could easily fit into a great horror film.

2) “73 Yards”

The short film “73 Yards” was made when Ncuti Gatwa wasn’t filming, and it explores a strange idea: the main character is haunted by a shadowy figure who eventually reveals himself to be a future version of the protagonist, in a way that feels similar to The Twilight Zone.

The scary part of “73 Yards” isn’t just Ruby being alone and haunted. Anyone who meets the ghostly creature also abandons her, leaving her completely isolated and with no one to turn to.

Even the usually fearless Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is frightened by this creature, and Ruby experiences years of complete isolation – something she dreads most. Despite the Doctor only appearing at the beginning and end, the episode is still captivating, genuinely scary, and deeply moving.

1) “Genesis of the Daleks”

“Genesis of the Daleks” is a story that clearly parallels Nazi Germany and feels particularly important today. The Time Lords task the Doctor with preventing the creation of the Daleks to save the universe from their future destruction. The planet Skaro, before the Daleks existed, is a devastated world after a long nuclear war. Those physically harmed by the radiation are ostracized and considered inferior, while the unaffected hide away, and the situation continues to deteriorate.

The Doctor quickly encounters Davros, a scientist who is physically disfigured and uses a wheelchair. Davros aims to build the Daleks, believing they will help his people, the Kaleds, win the war and prove their dominance.

The episode’s strength lies in its central dilemma: the Doctor faces a choice – destroy the Dalek lab, but at the cost of killing the early Daleks and the Kaleds who created them, even knowing what the Daleks will become. The story concludes with a shocking and impactful twist: the Daleks, deeming Davros unworthy due to his disability, kill their own creator, ignoring his desperate pleas for compassion.

What’s your pick for the greatest Doctor Who story ever told? Share your thoughts and discuss it with other fans at the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-29 01:12