Many of the most beloved episodes of the recent Doctor Who have been large-scale stories that required two parts to tell effectively. When Russell T. Davies brought Doctor Who back in 2005 after a 16-year break, he gave the show a new energy and updated it for a modern audience. While older Doctor Who stories were often spread across multiple episodes, the revived series initially focused on self-contained adventures. However, some stories are still too big for a single episode, and two-part episodes have become a popular and important part of the show.
Episodes like “Bad Wolf”/“The Parting of the Ways,” “The Impossible Planet”/“The Satan Pit,” “The Pandorica Opens”/“The Big Bang,” “Dark Water”/“Death in Heaven,” and “The End of Time—Parts One and Two” are all excellent. However, a few two-part Doctor Who stories truly stand out. Since the show returned in 2005 with seven different lead actors playing the Doctor, these seven stories represent some of the very best adventures the series has offered.
7) “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances” (Season 1)
Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper were brilliant choices to relaunch Doctor Who in 2005, and the first season of the revived series featured some of the show’s most creative and compelling stories. A standout was the two-part episode “The Empty Child” / “The Doctor Dances,” which pitted the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler against people infected by nanobots that turned them into zombie-like figures wearing gas masks. Even two decades later, the phrase “Are you my mummy?” remains iconic, and this story also introduced John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness while exploring the complexities of the Doctor’s character.
6) “Human Nature” and “The Family of Blood” (Season 3)
Season 3 of Doctor Who featured some truly memorable adventures for David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor and Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones. While the Dalek two-parter and the season finale were both excellent and significantly altered the show’s direction, the episodes “Human Nature” and “The Family of Blood” were particularly moving. This story, where the Doctor hid from dangerous enemies by living as a human named John Smith, was full of emotional depth and heartbreaking moments. The romance that developed between ‘John Smith’ and Joan Redfern, played by Jessica Hynes, was especially beautiful, making the Doctor’s eventual return to his true self all the more tragic.
5) “The Time of Angels” and “Flesh and Stone” (Season 5)
Taking on the role of the Eleventh Doctor was a big challenge for Matt Smith, following David Tennant, but he quickly proved he was a great fit. Episodes like “The Time of Angels” and “Flesh and Stone” really showcase his strengths. Like many of Tennant’s stories, this two-part adventure allowed Smith to portray both the playful and serious sides of his Doctor, with strong character moments, suspense, and truly frightening villains – the Weeping Angels. The episodes also expanded the intriguing story of River Song (Alex Kingston) and cleverly put the new companion, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), in danger. Overall, it was a well-crafted story from showrunner Steven Moffat.
4) “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday” (Season 2)
The relationship between The Doctor and Rose Tyler ended sadly in the Doctor Who episodes “Army of Ghosts” and “Doomsday.” They initially fought the Cybermen, then found themselves caught in a war between the Cybermen and the Daleks. To save Earth, The Doctor had to send both enemy forces to a dimension called the Void, but this also put Rose in danger. Luckily, a version of her father from another universe rescued her, but she became stranded in the parallel world seen in “Rise of the Cybermen” and “The Age of Steel,” meaning she could no longer travel with The Doctor. This goodbye was incredibly moving and remains one of the most memorable and impactful stories in Doctor Who history.
3) “World Enough and Time” and “The Doctor Falls” (Season 10)
Season 10 of Doctor Who delivered a particularly emotional story arc with “World Enough and Time” and “The Doctor Falls,” sadly marking the end of Bill Potts’ (Pearl Mackie) time as a companion. In a shocking turn of events, Bill was converted into a Cyberman during the early days of the Cybermen on their ship, originating from the destroyed planet Mondas. This two-part episode was memorable for its complex timeline, the return of both John Simm’s Master and Michelle Gomez’s Master, and the heartbreaking fate of Bill, who had quickly become a beloved character. While Bill was ultimately rescued in Peter Capaldi’s final Christmas special as the Doctor, these episodes were still deeply upsetting for fans. (And the pairing of episodes was a particularly painful ‘double bill’!)
2) “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End” (Season 4)
It seems Doctor Who often says goodbye to its most beloved companions in epic, two-part episodes. Season 4’s “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End” brought together the Doctor and many fan favorites – like Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) – in a battle against Davros (Julian Bleach) and the Daleks, who threatened to destroy everything. This story transformed Donna into DoctorDonna, a human with the mind of a Time Lord, but the power proved too much for her. To protect her, the Doctor had to erase her memories of their adventures, leading to a heartbreaking farewell with her grandfather (the late Bernard Cribbins), a moment that remains one of the show’s most poignant.
David Tennant’s return as the Doctor for the show’s 60th anniversary in 2023 finally gave Donna Noble a satisfying conclusion to her story. She regained all her memories of traveling with the Doctor and used residual Time Lord energy to erase any potential threats to herself. Now safe, she’s likely continuing her work with UNIT. Meanwhile, the Doctor split into a new form – Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor – allowing him to remain on Earth with his friend Donna, creating a wonderful ending for both actors.
1) “Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead” (Season 4)
As a critic, I can confidently say that the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble’s adventure in “Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead” is a high point in Doctor Who history. This two-part story really stuck with me – the introduction of River Song (with a clever timey-wimey twist!), the genuinely frightening Vashta Nerada, and the mystery surrounding the seemingly empty library all combined to create something special. Steven Moffat’s writing was at its peak here, beautifully showcasing the connection between the Doctor and Donna, planting seeds for future storylines, and delivering a complex, captivating narrative that plays with time and space. It’s a truly exceptional story and easily ranks among the very best Doctor Who has to offer.
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2025-11-14 23:13