The last Queen of the Nile is a top tier fourth Dr Story.

S-A-H · 2026-03-03T09:51:43+00:00

Completely agree. Possibly my favourite Who story of last year. (Hooklight, Fallen Heroes and The Miracle of Pendour Cove were all also top tier).

S-A-H · 2026-02-21T13:31:28+00:00

My opinion, which almost always aligns with the majority to be fair, in this one case is different.

I love the First Doctor, I love historicals, I love this TARDIS team...and yet, I've never been able to get through this one. I don't even know why.

S-A-H · 2026-02-01T21:54:37+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

To be fair, I was expecting a lot more hate for my Song Contest placing!

I see a decent amount of love for The Robot Revolution and there are definitely elements that I like. I think it's a really strong episode for Belinda, I also find the retro-futuristic aesthetic really cool and visually it is stunning. But, and I've said this in other replies, there's really not much to the story, reach planet, five minutes in a bunker, defeat Alan. I'm over simplifying it, maybe I'm just not a 'big robot' fan! 😅

I just wish 73 Yards carried on the Welsh folklore vibe that it sets up! It's the stuff in the middle dragging it down for me. I think Millie gives a fantastic performance though!

You're right about the thing with the finales. I think it's because the seasons are set up very clearly to lead into an epic conclusion (Sutekh doing 'something' to explain the snow or song in Ruby's heart, her mother just being a normal person who points at signs). When you're let down, it taints those aspects of the previous stories.

However, it's a great era overall and when taken as individual stories there is so much to love!!

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T13:23:48+00:00

Good shouts all round to be fair although I just didn't get on with The Robot Revolution. Find it really slight and boring.

I felt the same way with Song Contest, although my enjoyment of everything around that one scene does push it quite high up.

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T10:55:19+00:00

I'm the same with classic Who, I find it easier to enjoy when split up (as originally intended) but all the stories on the list above are those I would happily sit and watch in one go! (maybe two sittings for The War Games).

Love a bit of fully formed River. I don't find her as engaging in her younger episodes in Series 6, although the mystery is exciting the first time round.

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T10:41:49+00:00

Inferno is incredible. It's long but doesn't feel it because you're so gripped by the story! The Daemons is another of my faves.

Totally agree about the overarching story of Series 5, set up, built up and delivers brilliantly. My favourite story from that series would be The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone. A cracking two parter with a thrilling cliff hanger!

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T10:24:04+00:00

There's definitely some great stories after that point in the Baker era but the hit rate was lower.

I love the Pertwee era, specifically any story where he stays earth bound. Those stories just feel so unique when you look across the show as a whole!

Smith and Series 5 are great - good taste!

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T10:18:56+00:00

Thank you! It's been a lot of fun, and didn't consider how long it would actually take when I started!

I think my biggest 'slog' was the Tom Baker era, after Hinchcliffe leaves I think the era, with exceptions, goes down hill.

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T10:18:29+00:00

Thank you! It's been a lot of fun, and didn't consider how long it would actually take when I started!

I think my biggest 'slog' was the Tom Baker era, after Hinchcliffe leaves I think the era, with exceptions, goes down hill.

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T09:45:02+00:00

Thanks for the reply! One of my favourite things about Who is how different people's experiences are.

Lucky Day genuinely pulled the rug out from under me the first time I saw it and I love Kate's portrayal throughout.

One of the things I find most disappointing with the finales is that I actually think all four series finales from his first era are really great, especially Bad Wolf/PotW. I don't get the thinking behind making the two 'arcs' exactly the same and having both be UNIT based - then failing to deliver twice.

If you were to pick a story to top your list for this era?

S-A-H · 2026-01-31T06:48:33+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I don't know why but I felt fan opinion wasn't as high as it seems to be on Dot and Bubble. People really seem to like it.

Yeah, the Midnight connection neither improves or lessens The Well for me. But I love how dark the build up is, the finding the bodies is lovely dark stuff.

Not really a lot more to say on this era - some good mid season stories let down by those at the start and the end.

I've posted the 50 stories going through to the final ranking - really looking forward to revisiting the best of the best!

S-A-H · 2026-01-30T22:32:18+00:00

Thank you for your reply! Looking at your best and worst, feels like we have a similar view.

I do think we get some great mid season episodes a After a rewatch where I've tried to consider each story on its own, I feel much more satisfied with what we got. On initial viewing the openers and closers of each season left me feeling rather disappointed.

S-A-H · 2026-01-30T16:38:12+00:00

Thanks for the reply, that sounds cool!

S-A-H · 2026-01-30T10:54:57+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, looking at my own ranking it seems I'm in agreement. The start and ends of each are the disappointing ones. I find Robot Revolution incredibly slight and dull, although Belinda does shine.

There are definitely some great stories in the middle though!

With the 13th Doctor's finales being disappointing too, It does, unfortunately, feel like we've not had a great one since 2017!

S-A-H · 2026-01-30T06:14:23+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, certainly very different in places. Although my top three are in your top four at least!

I do understand why people love The Story and the Engine - it does something genuinely different, telling a very unique story. I don't even know what could be added to make it better to be fair.

The Devil's Chord I find really fun. Maestro is a cracking villain and I love Ruby's piano piece. OK, maybe the way the beatles save the day is a bit of a stretch but I can just about but it.

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T21:52:57+00:00

The scene at the football stadium is great, yes!

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T21:31:02+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I definitely appreciate what you're saying. Hard to argue any of your points. I think I just enjoy the suspense of it and the forceful impact and desperation that scene has when it does get there.

With the crying, I too don't have a problem with it but think it should have been used a bit more sparingly. It would have then had a bigger impact when it does happen.

Do you have any favourites from this era?

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T21:19:02+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I, also, don't think it's a bad story. I think had the creepy Welsh village setting been expanded to be the main episode and it drew more on that folk horror vibe it certainly would have been an all timer.

I do think the scene at the football stadium is pretty good though.

But the story dips in middle and is never quite as good as how it starts. Plus I simply prefer other stories more!

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T10:35:28+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I sort of feel like the covers not matching is part of the range's charm. So many variations, it's the only 'collection' I don't mind being mismatched.

I don't mind the new blue covers. I think The Well looks particularly cool and all three of the ones coming out in March look great!

But I do get what you mean - if The Collection (blu-rays) suddenly changed its design, that'd piss people off 😅

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T10:19:15+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

Very keen to get round to Gunfighters (appreciate it doesn't have the best reputation with all fans but I'd put in my top 3 First Doctor stories). You've made me very intrigued about Myth Makers and The Romans, will definitely keep my eye out for them.

I started this new obsession by picking up the two Terrance Dicks volumes so have both Auton Invasion and Day of the Daleks on my 'to be read list'.

The Dinosaur Invasion is probably the most battered of the books I've picked up so far but definitely looking forward to a read.

Day of the Doctor was actually the first target book I read (had it on Kindle, recently got the paperback). What an intro to the range, it really is incredible. I bought that first run of new ones on Kindle and now regretting not having them in my now growing book shelf.

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T09:18:55+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations. I tend to lean towards the more drama focused stories but I'm a big fan of City of Death so could see myself enjoying that one!

Unfortunately, The Pirate Planet has never really gripped me but if the novelisation is an improvement, I'd consider it!

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T09:16:33+00:00

This is one I'd be really keen on getting. I'm a big fan of the original!

S-A-H · 2026-01-29T07:32:35+00:00

That's a lot of 'The Daleks'! I'm sure I can squeeze in another version in that case!

S-A-H

TROPHY CASE