TheDoctor Whofranchise is one that has run for a very long time, and only some seasons have really reached the level of greatness that the show is so well-known for. This wealth of content has been great for long-time fans, but it also makes it difficult for new fans to find the right place to jump in and start watching. This is only made more difficult becauseDoctor Whohas so many spin-off series, with some of these series being better than others.
A variety of different factors go into making a season better than the rest, including the characters included and the season and the stories told as the show goes on. TheambitiousDoctor Whocompanionsmake a big impact as well, with their personalities playing off of The Doctor in each episode. While no season is safe from bad episodes, some have many more good episodes than bad ones.
Doctor Who - Season 9
Series 9 is not the first to feature Peter Capaldi as The Doctor, but it is one that sees him really coming into his own in the role.Not only that, but it also details the final stories of beloved companion Clara Oswald, showing where and why she and The Doctor finally depart after several seasons together.Their relationship as Doctor and Companion reaches its natural emotional conclusion, with episodes such as “The Woman Who Lived” and “Heaven Sent” being particularly appealing to viewers.
Series 9 won several awards, including a BAFTA for the special effects on the episode “The Magician’s Apprentice” and a Saturn Award for “The Husbands of River Song.”
Though the presence of The Master is really missing from this season of the show, there are still plenty of compelling villains to be found with each episode. The continuation of the River Song plotline established in previous seasons is satisfying, tying together years ofDoctor Whotelevision. Though it is sad to see Clara go, the ending of Series 9 opened up the franchise to new characters after years with her as The Doctor’s companion.
Doctor Who - Season 8
The Third Doctor was one of the most beloved during the classic era of the show, portrayed to perfection by Jon Pertwee. This is not his first appearance as The Doctor, but it is the first appearance of companion Jo Grant, a character known for her affiliation with the UNIT organization. Many of the episodes are fun, following with the campy nature of The Doctor during this time.
This season starts off with a bang with “Terror of the Autons,” beginning the series with an episode focusing on The Master.This is especially notable, asit is the first appearance of The Masterin the entire franchise.This season began a decades-long character study of him as a villain, showing how he has grown and changed alongside The Doctor over the years.
Doctor Who - Season 1
It is impossible to talk about the best seasons ofDoctor Whowithout including the season that started it all. The very first season of the show premiered all the way back in 1963, featuring a much older version of The Doctor than many fans are used to. This season follows The Doctor and his granddaughter Susan Foreman as the two of them travel through space and time.
The Doctor’s First Lines In 1963 & 2005 Perfectly Show Much Doctor Who Has Changed
Doctor Who has changed drastically in the more than 60 years its been going, with some of these changes outlined in the dialogue of different Doctors.
The series has certainly aged and changed over time, but it still holds the magic that makes the series so special. It brings viewers to fascinating times, reimagined in unique ways, and introduces the terrifying Daleks. It is a tragedy that,while many of the episodes of this season have been recovered, the fourth and fifth episodes still remain missing, making it impossible to finish the first season ofDoctor Whotoday.
Doctor Who - Season 6
The sixth series of modernDoctor Whois very much a transitional period in the show’s history, following up on old plot lines, including characters such as River Song and The Silence. It follows Matt Smith’s version of The Doctor as he takes newlyweds Amy Pond and Rory Williams on admittedly dangerous adventures through the universe.The stakes are especially high in these episodes, with tension so palpable that it could be cut with a knife.
Series 6 of Steven Moffat’sDoctor Whohas a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Episodes such as “The Doctor’s Wife” are especially well-regarded by fans, even winning awards for its writing and presentation. Matt Smith’s acting here is especially good, capturing something alien about the doctor where many actors choose to focus on what is human. The emotions run high in these episodes, leaving viewers to wonder if Amy and Rory will make it out alive.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on July 28, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
The newest season ofDoctor Whohas been controversial for a variety of reasons, one of which being the unsatisfactory conclusion of the storyline with Ruby’s mother. However, the season is full of incredible episodes, with some of them being the bestDoctor Whohas seen in a long time. The writing in episodes like “Boom,” which has the doctor rooted to the spot balancing over an explosive mine for the majority of the episode, is simply incredible.
More than anything,the newest season of the show feels more like a reimagining of the series.Now that Disney is holding the reins, more changes could be coming in the future, some for the better and some possibly for the worst. Regardless, Season 14, also known as the first season of this new era, is still a solid example of the whimsical science fiction storytelling set on reflecting the world around viewers thatDoctor Whois so well-known for.
Doctor Who - Season 3
The third season of modernDoctor Whowas always going to face challenges, as it was the first season in the modern era without the companion Rose Tyler. Rose had become so beloved in the seasons that came before, making the role a difficult one to fill for any companion who came next. Luckily, that companion was Martha Jones, who made a lasting impact despite this being her only season.
This season was the one that introduced The Master into modernDoctor Who,bringing to life one of the series' most iconic villains.
Aside from having an incredible new companion, this season of the show is noted for having some of the best single episodes of all time.Though some episodes are forgettable, these instances are surrounded by episodes like the iconic “Blink,” which introduced the Weeping Angels into the show.This single episode makes this season so memorable, written in a way that makes time travel seem mystical all over again.
Doctor Who - Season 10
This emotional season is the last for Peter Capaldi’s version of The Doctor, featuring him alongside a new companion named Bill Potts. This season is one with incredible writing, showing Peter Capaldi in excellent form with some of the best acting that has been on the show to date.Season 10 also features a series of incredibly written episodes, with what is perhaps the most chilling depiction of the Cybermen ever seen in the show.
Not only this, but the relationship between The Doctor and The Master, now known as Missy, is expanded upon even further. The fondness built between them is organic and palpable, only making the ending for Missy even more painful. This season is a sad one, but the emotional impact it leaves behind is resonant.
Doctor Who - Season 5
Beginning in 1967, the fifth season of the classic series ofDoctor Whofollows the Second Doctor in his adventures. There are several incredible episodes throughout the season, with it featuring its own excellent Cybermen story in “Tomb of the Cybermen.” Other great episodes include “Ice Warriors,” “Yeti,” and “Enemy of the World,” each with incredible early depictions of classic villains.
One Of The Biggest, Most Popular Doctor Who Fan Theories Has Basically Just Been Confirmed
A subtle Doctor Who detail has just confirmed one of the oldest, most popular fan theories in the show’s history - rewriting the Master’s origin!
Following a trend with earlyDoctor Who,the fifth season also has episodes that are missing.Out of the 40 episodes that were released, 18 of them are currently missing and supposedly impossible to recover.It is possible that there are even more incredible episodes of this season, but because of this, until they are recovered, fans will be unable to watch them.
Doctor Who - Season 2
Being the first season of David Tennant’s legendary run as The Doctor, the second series of the modern version of the show is a solid one overall. While the writing seems to be getting back on its feet after the departure of Christopher Eccleston from his role in the previous season,most of the episodes have solid backing that do a lot to show the closeness between The Doctor and Rose Tyler.This all culminates in the final episode, “Doomsday,” which sees The Doctor and Rose separated forever.
10 A-List Actors Who Appeared In Doctor Who
Doctor Who is the longest-running sci-fi show on TV, which has led to some top stars appearing on the show before and after their biggest success'.
This impactful ending goes a long way for the season as a whole. However, this comes with episodes like “The Impossible Planet,” which is an eerie example of how unsettlingDoctor Whocan be. The different facets of the science fiction genre are portrayed in just one season, showing the range of the show as a whole.
Series 5 is best known as the season that introduced Matt Smith to the role of The Doctor, featuring him alongside his new companion Amy Pond, played by actress Karen Gillan. This season saw a shift in presentation from the seasons that came before, taking on a method of storytelling that is more complicated than what came before, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. This is in part because of the direction of Steven Moffat, who took over at the beginning of this season.
The introductory episode to this season is one of the best initial episodes in series history, showing The Doctor meeting Amy, only to end up seeing them again years later. It is expertly put together, and wholesome as well.More than anything, this season does a great job of establishing how Matt Smith’s version of The Doctor is different from those that came before.
