Top 10 Best Doctor Who Revival Episodes

As David Tennant’s first year as The Doctor ended, we were treated to this exciting two-parter. The Doctor and Rose discover the truth behind the Torchwood Institute and get caught up in an all-out war between two fan-favorite enemy factions: the Cybermen and the Daleks. While incredibly action-packed, the Series 2 finale also has heart-wrenching moments for fans, as Rose and The Doctor are forced apart in the aftermath of the final battle. Rose had been the common link even from Christopher Eccleston’s time in the TARDIS, and her chemistry with Ten was definitely something more. What did The Doctor want to say to Rose before he vanished? We sadly may never know.

Following the successful tenures of past Doctors is never an easy feat, especially when they’re as beloved as Matt Smith. But Peter Capaldi put all fears to rest in his excellent first episode as the 12th Doctor. After another chaotic regeneration, The Doctor teams up with companion Clara, and the Paternoster Gang, to solve a mystery involving robots and a Dinosaur in Victorian London. Besides a thrilling performance from Capaldi, “Deep Breath” is a notably darker premiere than those before it. It set the tone for stories to follow and it was a bold and smart way to keep the series fresh and moving forward. Bow ties might – sadly – be out, but The Doctor is still in.

Speaking of Matt Smith, fans were not ready to say goodbye to him or his signature bowtie. And we all know The Doctor rarely regenerates without a bang. In this Christmas Special, we get to see the Doctor’s life-long defense of the planet Trenzalore, AKA the planet where he is supposed to eventually be buried. Fans of Eleven got glimpses of things that had been introduced when Smith first filled the Doctor’s shoes, including the cracks in the wall and fish fingers with custard. But no one was ready for a cameo from his first companion, Amy Pond, who was there to give the raggedy man who crashed into her life a proper send-off. Speaking both as the Doctor and as himself, Smith delivered each line in a heart-breaking manner.

Sometimes it’s not the Doctor we have to say goodbye to. In this episode, the Doctor, Amy, and Rory travel to New York for a confrontation with everyone’s favorite – or least favorite – stone terrors: the Weeping Angels. Things get incredibly intense, and we’re left on the edge of our seats the whole time, while being given tiny glimpses into the future by a detective novel. The real clincher? We – and the Doctor – have to say farewell to the beloved Amy and Rory, who are eventually overtaken by the Angels and separated from The Doctor forever. Seeing this couple go after all their adventures is hard no matter how many times you watch it, but it’s well done nonetheless.

In this Series Three adventure, the Doctor and Martha find themselves pursued by aliens who are after the Doctor’s life force. To hide from them, The Doctor changes into a human, locking his essence away and giving it to Martha for protection. Here, we get to see a Doctor we haven’t quite seen before, content as a teacher, loving the lack of adventure, and falling in love. It’s David Tennant at his finest, especially when he must choose to either retain his human identity as John Smith, or return to being the Doctor in order to save the world. It’s brilliant “Doctor Who” storytelling, reminding us of the characters at the heart of the series.

When the Daleks take the Earth to prepare a doomsday machine, it’s gonna take more than just the Doctor to save the day. The Series Four finale sees the Time Lord cross paths with both “Doctor Who” spinoff series, “Torchwood” and “The Sarah Jane Adventures,” in an Avengers-style team-up. Old favorites return in a way never before possible. We even had a classic “Doctor Who” villain return to the mythos, the Dalek creator, Davros. For all the fun and adventure, the finale is still a heartbreaking defeat for the Doctor, who ends up parting with Rose – again – and erasing the Donna Noble’s memories to save her life. When Donna’s grandfather Wilfred cries, it gets us every time.

It was the story that spawned so many memes. “Are you my Mummy?” became an overnight sensation following this two-parter in which the Doctor and Rose are stalked by a gas mask-wearing child and a legion of similarly clad patients. Besides offering a healthy dose of scary and exciting scenes reminiscent of classic “Who,” we’re also introduced to Captain Jack Harkness, everyone’s favorite 51st century conman and dude/chick magnet. The icing on this delicious treat is the happy reaction of the Ninth Doctor when he saves the child and cures the illness, delivering one of his most memorable and cheer-worthy lines. Everybody lives indeed.

Only “Doctor Who” could come up with a story where Vincent van Gogh puts a monster in one of his paintings and thus attracts a time traveler. The Doctor and Amy travel back to meet the famous artist and get to the bottom of this mystery. Though the monster in question, the Krafayis, is an inventive creature, the real draw of this episode is van Gogh himself, played by Tony Curran. The episode’s finale is deservedly notable, as the Doctor and Amy take Vincent to the future to show him the enduring power of his works. It may not spare his inevitable fate, but it’s a moment where all the right emotions are felt at the right time. We dare you not to cry.

In this movie-level event for the 50th Anniversary Special, Whovians are given the ultimate love letter, looking boldly to the future and fondly at the past at the same time. Not only do we get Matt Smith and David Tennant side by side as the Eleventh and Tenth Doctors, but we also get legendary actor John Hurt, as the “War Doctor.” There’s also Daleks, Zygons, the Time War, Bad Wolf Rose, EYEBROWS, and Easter Eggs galore. And come on, THAT cameo at the end. Who saw that coming? How the heck are they going to top this at Year 100? Who knows, who “nose.”

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
- “The Girl in the Fireplace”
- “Dalek”
- “The Pandorica Opens”/ “The Big Bang”

Monsters of the Week have always been “Doctor Who”’s bread and butter. In this masterpiece from Series Three, we get a new breed of evil for the history books with the Weeping Angels. Never before have stone statues left such a terrifying impact on the imagination. What’s also special is the fact that, while important to the story, the Doctor is hardly featured. Most of the action is left to Sally Sparrow, played by Carey Mulligan, who must decipher the mystery of the Angels and rescue the Doctor, who’s stuck in the past with Martha. This kind of “wibbly wobbly” sci-fi horror is what “Doctor Who” does best. Try not to blink while watching…you never know if the Angels are close.

Do you agree with our list? What “Doctor Who” adventure has been your favorite since its triumphant return? For more out of this world Top 10s published daily, be sure to set your TARDIS on a course for WatchMojo.com. And be sure to shout “GERONIMO” when you do.