The BEST episodes of Doctor Who season 23

Every episode of Doctor Who season 23, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Doctor Who season 23!

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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The Trial of a Time Lord (13)
star
7.66
174 votes

#1 - The Trial of a Time Lord (13)

Season 23 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/29/1986

With the Doctor now reluctantly admitting to genocide, things look bad. But the Doctor's nemesis, the Master, intervenes, and the real truth behind the trial comes to light - and with it, the shocking secret of the Valeyard's true identity...

Directors: Chris Clough
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The Trial of a Time Lord- The Ultimate Foe (2)
star
7.24
205 votes

#2 - The Trial of a Time Lord- The Ultimate Foe (2)

Season 23 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/6/1986

The final part of this epic adventure. The Doctor and the Valeyard have entered the world of the Matrix. Can the Doctor defeat the evil incarnation of himself?

Directors: Chris Clough
The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (4)
star
6.96
143 votes

#3 - The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (4)

Season 23 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/25/1986

As the Possidor Ambassador visits, Sil is appalled to realise Crozier has selected Peri to be the Kiv's new host body - a move Yrcanos takes exception to with devastating results.

Directors: Ron Jones
The Trial of a Time Lord- The Terror of the Vervoids (4)
star
6.92
175 votes

#4 - The Trial of a Time Lord- The Terror of the Vervoids (4)

Season 23 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/22/1986

With factions vying for control of the ship, the Vervoids are found to be responsible for the many disappearances. Only the Doctor sees the fundamental but missed point as to why they can't be reasoned with or why they can't be allowed to arrive on Earth.

Directors: Chris Clough
The Trial of a Time Lord- Terror of the Vervoids (2)
star
6.89
174 votes

#5 - The Trial of a Time Lord- Terror of the Vervoids (2)

Season 23 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/8/1986

As the Hyperion III continues its journey, more mysterious deaths occur.

Directors: Chris Clough
The Trial of a Time Lord- The Terror of the Vervoids (3)
star
6.79
144 votes

#6 - The Trial of a Time Lord- The Terror of the Vervoids (3)

Season 23 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/15/1986

A course change that takes the Hyperion III closer to a black hole could prove unwise when there are so many aboard ship with hidden agendas. Disappearances continue, a murderer remains at large, and one person finally crumbles under the strain of harbouring a guilty secret.

Directors: Chris Clough
The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (3)
star
6.78
143 votes

#7 - The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (3)

Season 23 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/18/1986

While the Doctor helps Dr. Crozier transfer Lord Kiv's brain into a new host skull, Peri accompanies King Yrcanos as he searches for the Alpha Resistance fighters whom he feels, most certainly, will follow him into glorious battle against the Mentors and the Doctor.

Directors: Ron Jones
The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (1)
star
6.78
189 votes

#8 - The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (1)

Season 23 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/6/1986

The Doctor is taken "out of time" by the Time Lords and made to face an inquiry into his meddling in the affairs of others, overseen by the Inquisitor. The prosecutor, the Valeyard, soon has the proceedings upgraded to a trial for the Doctor's life. Evidence takes the form of recordings of the Doctor's recent adventures, beginning with his visit to the mysterious world of Ravalox and an encounter with Andromedan space pirates...

Directors: Nicholas Mallett
The Trial of a Time Lord (9)
star
6.73
204 votes

#9 - The Trial of a Time Lord (9)

Season 23 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/1/1986

With the prosecution case concluded, the Doctor begins his defence, an adventure from his own future. Aboard the starliner Hyperion 3 in the year 2986, trouble is brewing. A murderer is aboard - and something very nasty's stirring in the hydroponics bay...

Directors: Chris Clough
The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (2)
star
6.71
185 votes

#10 - The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (2)

Season 23 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/13/1986

The Doctor has an appointment with the Immortal, while Peri finds herself caught up with Glitz and the Tribe of the Free. Meanwhile, Merdeen begins to question all he believes.

Directors: Nicholas Mallett
The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (1)
star
6.67
172 votes

#11 - The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (1)

Season 23 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/4/1986

The Doctor's trial continues. The Valeyard's next piece of evidence for the prosecution concerns the Doctor's recent trip to Thoros Beta. Though originally investigating arms dealing, the Doctor and Peri become embroiled in their old enemy Sil's alarming neurological experiments...

Directors: Ron Jones
The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (2)
star
6.67
174 votes

#12 - The Trial of a Time Lord - Mindwarp (2)

Season 23 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/11/1986

The scientist Crozier keeps making empty promises and Yrcanos and Peri are seemingly betrayed by the addled Doctor who is sure the Matrix is being manipulated...

Directors: Ron Jones
The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (4)
star
6.51
182 votes

#13 - The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (4)

Season 23 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/27/1986

All those on Ravolox are in exponentially greater peril than anyone can comprehend. If anything in the entire universe is to survive, it may come down to the Doctor arguing against machine logic over the value of life.

Directors: Nicholas Mallett
The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (3)
star
6.35
184 votes

#14 - The Trial of a Time Lord - The Mysterious Planet (3)

Season 23 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/20/1986

The Doctor escapes to rejoin Peri on the surface but shortly becomes the prisoner of a surface-dwelling tribe called The Free. Ravalox isn't Ravalox after all, but before the Doctor can learn much more an irresistible agent from UK Habitat comes to fetch him back.

Directors: Nicholas Mallett