The BEST episodes of Doctor Who

Every episode of Doctor Who ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Doctor Who!

The Doctor, a mysterious traveller in space and time, travels in his ship, the TARDIS. The TARDIS can take him and his companions anywhere in time and space. Inevitably he finds evil at work wherever he goes...

Last Updated: 10/31/2024Network: BBC OneStatus: Ended
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City of Death (4)
star
8.63
152 votes

#1 - City of Death (4)

Season 17 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/20/1979

Scaroth is determined to go back 400 million years in time to prevent a mistake. But the Doctor must stop him – because the consequences would be disastrous.

Directors: Michael Hayes
Watch Now:Amazon
Genesis of the Daleks (6)
star
8.52
313 votes

#2 - Genesis of the Daleks (6)

Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/12/1975

Gharman tries to convince the Kaleds to vote against the Dalek project but Davros has a trick up his sleeve, while the Doctor works to destroy the tape recording of Dalek victory and the Thals plan an intervention of their own.

Directors: David Maloney
Writer: Terry Nation
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Robots of Death (3)
star
8.47
179 votes

#3 - The Robots of Death (3)

Season 14 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/12/1977

Under the direction of a madman, the robots continue their rampage as the Doctor finds an unexpected ally.

Watch Now:Amazon
City of Death (2)
star
8.41
162 votes

#4 - City of Death (2)

Season 17 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/6/1979

Captured by the Count, the Doctor and Romana uncover an elaborate plan to steal the Mona Lisa. But there is more to Scarlioni's plans than a simple theft.

Directors: Michael Hayes
Watch Now:Amazon
The Caves of Androzani (3)
star
8.40
139 votes

#5 - The Caves of Androzani (3)

Season 21 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/15/1984

The situation on Androzani Minor is building toward a violent confrontation. And the Doctor and Peri are slowly succumbing to spectrox toxemia.

Directors: Graeme Harper
Watch Now:Amazon
The Robots of Death (2)
star
8.40
181 votes

#6 - The Robots of Death (2)

Season 14 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/5/1977

The Doctor and Leela are suspected of murder. But the real foe is using robots to cut down the crew – and even sabotage the sand miner itself!

Watch Now:Amazon
Earthshock (4)
star
8.35
176 votes

#7 - Earthshock (4)

Season 19 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/16/1982

The Doctor realises the freighter is now a huge bomb and sends it back through time where it can explode millions of years ago... but Adric is still aboard...

Directors: Peter Grimwade
Writer: Eric Saward
Watch Now:Amazon
The Robots of Death (4)
star
8.34
175 votes

#8 - The Robots of Death (4)

Season 14 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/19/1977

The Doctor and the surviving humans fight for their lives againt Teran Capel and his growing army of deadly robots.

Watch Now:Amazon
Genesis of the Daleks (2)
star
8.30
293 votes

#9 - Genesis of the Daleks (2)

Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/15/1975

The Doctor and Harry are taken to the Kaled bunker where Davros is preparing to demonstrate the Daleks, while Sarah Jane is captured by the Thals and taken to their city as a slave worker.

Directors: David Maloney
Writer: Terry Nation
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Genesis of the Daleks (1)
star
8.27
330 votes

#10 - Genesis of the Daleks (1)

Season 12 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/8/1975

The planet Skaro, the distant past. The Time Lords divert the Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry to this war-torn world, and give the Doctor a mission: the evil of the Daleks is about to be born here, and the Doctor is to try to ensure they evolve into less lethally aggressive beings - or, failing that, to avert their creation altogether. But has even the Doctor the right to commit genocide?

Directors: David Maloney
Writer: Terry Nation
Watch Now:Amazon
The Caves of Androzani (4)
star
8.25
191 votes

#11 - The Caves of Androzani (4)

Season 21 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/16/1984

Events on Androzani reach a bloody climax. Will the Doctor and Peri survive the carnage? And at what cost?

Directors: Graeme Harper
Watch Now:Amazon
Genesis of the Daleks (4)
star
8.24
254 votes

#12 - Genesis of the Daleks (4)

Season 12 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/29/1975

The Doctor fails to prevent the Thals from destroying the Kaled city but they don't have long to enjoy their victory before the Daleks attack.

Directors: David Maloney
Writer: Terry Nation
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Genesis of the Daleks (5)
star
8.23
217 votes

#13 - Genesis of the Daleks (5)

Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/5/1975

The Doctor is forced to give Davros full details of future Dalek victories but opposition to Davros' plans is growing among the Kaleds and soon there is open rebellion.

Directors: David Maloney
Writer: Terry Nation
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Caves of Androzani (2)
star
8.23
120 votes

#14 - The Caves of Androzani (2)

Season 21 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/9/1984

The Doctor and Peri have been rescued from the firing squad by the mysterious Sharaz Jek. But he has his own plans for them. And why are they suddenly feeling ill?

Directors: Graeme Harper
Watch Now:Amazon
The Caves of Androzani (1)
star
8.21
121 votes

#15 - The Caves of Androzani (1)

Season 21 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/8/1984

The planet Androzani Minor, the distant future. In the planets' caves war rages between government troops and the android warriors of the mysterious Sharaz Jek. But what makes spectrox, the substance they battle to control, so valuable? And how far will the Doctor go to protect his companion?

Directors: Graeme Harper
Watch Now:Amazon
The Deadly Assassin (1)
star
8.20
206 votes

#16 - The Deadly Assassin (1)

Season 14 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/30/1976

Gallifrey, planet of the Time Lords. Summoned home by a premonition of murder, the Doctor discovers a dark conspiracy at the highest levels of Time Lord society... and his oldest enemy, who poses a threat to the existence of Gallifrey itself...

Directors: David Maloney
Watch Now:Amazon
City of Death (3)
star
8.18
151 votes

#17 - City of Death (3)

Season 17 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/13/1979

The Doctor and Romana unwrap an intricate plot involving aliens, time travel and the Mona Lisa. How is Count Scarlioni living in two times at once? And what does he want?

Directors: Michael Hayes
Watch Now:Amazon
The Deadly Assassin (2)
star
8.17
205 votes

#18 - The Deadly Assassin (2)

Season 14 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/6/1976

The President of the High Council has been killed and the Doctor is the prime suspect. The Time Lords are eager to dispense quick justice and the Doctor must race agains the clock to discover the truth... and an old enemy.

Directors: David Maloney
Watch Now:Amazon
The War Games (10)
star
8.15
216 votes

#19 - The War Games (10)

Season 6 - Episode 44 - Aired 6/21/1969

The war games are over and after a sad farewell to Jamie and Zoe, the Doctor is put on trial by the Time Lords for breaking their ancient laws.

Directors: David Maloney
Watch Now:Amazon
Pyramids of Mars (4)
star
8.12
198 votes

#20 - Pyramids of Mars (4)

Season 13 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/15/1975

Sutekh forces the Doctor to transport Scarman and a mummy to Mars, where the Doctor and Sarah try to stop them destroying the Eye of Horus.

Directors: Paddy Russell
Watch Now:Amazon
Earthshock (1)
star
8.11
195 votes

#21 - Earthshock (1)

Season 19 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/8/1982

The TARDIS crew arrives on Earth in the 26th Century in a cave system where a military force is investigating the disappearance of a palaentological expedition.

Directors: Peter Grimwade
Writer: Eric Saward
Watch Now:Amazon
The War Games (9)
star
8.07
142 votes

#22 - The War Games (9)

Season 6 - Episode 43 - Aired 6/14/1969

The rebels seize control of the aliens' HQ but the Doctor is forced to send a call for help to his own people, the Time Lords.

Directors: David Maloney
Watch Now:Amazon
The Brain of Morbius (3)
star
8.01
179 votes

#23 - The Brain of Morbius (3)

Season 13 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/17/1976

While the Doctor goes to confront the Sisterhood to seek a cure for Sarah Jane's blindness, Solon realizes that he must transfer Morbius' brain into a new body before it is too late.

Watch Now:Amazon
Pyramids of Mars (2)
star
8.00
198 votes

#24 - Pyramids of Mars (2)

Season 13 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/1/1975

The Doctor, Sarah and Laurence try to find a way to sever Sutekh's link to the mummies while poacher Ernie Clements finds the priory surrounded by a forcefield.

Directors: Paddy Russell
Watch Now:Amazon
Horror of Fang Rock (3)
star
8.00
207 votes

#25 - Horror of Fang Rock (3)

Season 15 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/17/1977

The Doctor barricades everyone in the lighthouse to protect them from the mysterious deadly creature in the fog. But it may already be inside, biding its time…

Directors: Paddy Russell
Watch Now:Amazon