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The Best Episodes of Doctor Who

Every episode of Doctor Who ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Doctor Who!

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The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 16 - Genesis of the Daleks (6)
    9.7/10(1157 votes)

    #1 - Genesis of the Daleks (6)

    S12:E16

    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.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  2. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 5 - The Ark in Space (1)
    9.1/10(1050 votes)

    #2 - The Ark in Space (1)

    S12:E5

    The Doctor's attempt to give Harry a trip in the TARDIS sees the two of them and Sarah Jane arriving onboard a space station in the far future, with some rather deadly security mechanisms.

    Director:Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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  3. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 11 - Genesis of the Daleks (1)
    9.1/10(1338 votes)

    #3 - Genesis of the Daleks (1)

    S12:E11

    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?

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  4. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 12 - Genesis of the Daleks (2)
    9.1/10(1061 votes)

    #4 - Genesis of the Daleks (2)

    S12:E12

    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.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  5. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 14 - Genesis of the Daleks (4)
    9.1/10(1027 votes)

    #5 - Genesis of the Daleks (4)

    S12:E14

    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.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  6. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 15 - Genesis of the Daleks (5)
    9.1/10(1044 votes)

    #6 - Genesis of the Daleks (5)

    S12:E15

    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.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Terry Nation

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Doctor Who

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  7. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 44 - The War Games (10)
    9.0/10(800 votes)

    #7 - The War Games (10)

    S6:E44

    The TARDIS is drawn to the planet of the Time Lords where both the Doctor and the War Lord are placed on trial.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 13 - Genesis of the Daleks (3)
    8.9/10(1029 votes)

    #8 - Genesis of the Daleks (3)

    S12:E13

    The Doctor and Harry head to the Kaled city to alert the authorities to Davros' plans while Sarah Jane and Sevrin are forced to work on the completion of the Thals' rocket.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  9. Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 1 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (1)
    8.8/10(998 votes)

    #9 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (1)

    S5:E1

    The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria arrive on Telos, where an archaeological group are exploring the Tomb of the Cybermen. But are the Cybermen as dormant as they believe?

    Director:Morris Barry
    Writers:Gerry Davis, Kit Pedler

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  10. Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 17 - The Enemy of the World (1)
    8.8/10(675 votes)

    #10 - The Enemy of the World (1)

    S5:E17

    After the Doctor is attacked by a group of mysterious gunmen, he discovers he is the physical double of the famous scientist Salamander.

    Director:Barry Letts
    Writer:David Whitaker

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  11. Doctor Who Season 13 Episode 9 - Pyramids of Mars (1)
    8.8/10(1051 votes)

    #11 - Pyramids of Mars (1)

    S13:E9

    The Doctor and Sarah are drawn off course and, instead of UNIT HQ, they arrive on the same site in 1911.

    Director:Paddy Russell
    Writers:Robert Holmes, Lewis Greifer

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  12. Doctor Who Season 25 Episode 1 - Remembrance of the Daleks (1)
    8.8/10(867 votes)

    #12 - Remembrance of the Daleks (1)

    S25:E1

    London, 1963. Returning to the scenes of his first televised adventure, the Doctor and new companion Ace play a tricky game of bluff and deceit involving two rival Dalek factions, local soldiers, and the awesomely powerful Gallifreyan artefact, the Hand of Omega...

    Director:Andrew Morgan
    Writer:Ben Aaronovitch

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  13. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 6 - The Ark in Space (2)
    8.7/10(915 votes)

    #13 - The Ark in Space (2)

    S12:E6

    The Doctor and Harry revive the Ark's medtech, Vira, to help Sarah Jane. But when station commander Noah is revived, he becomes suspicious of the newcomers.

    Director:Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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  14. Doctor Who Season 12 Episode 8 - The Ark in Space (4)
    8.7/10(904 votes)

    #14 - The Ark in Space (4)

    S12:E8

    The Doctor tries to protect the humans still in cryogenic suspension from the Wirrn, who are determined to use Earth as their new breeding ground.

    Director:Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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  15. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 20 - The Caves of Androzani (4)
    8.7/10(810 votes)

    #15 - The Caves of Androzani (4)

    S21:E20

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

    Director:Graeme Harper
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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  16. Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 3 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (3)
    8.6/10(845 votes)

    #16 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (3)

    S5:E3

    The Cybermen have been revived and plan to convert the archeologists into their own kind, prompting Hopper to attempt a rescue.

    Director:Morris Barry
    Writers:Gerry Davis, Kit Pedler

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  17. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 11 - The Invasion (1)
    8.6/10(626 votes)

    #17 - The Invasion (1)

    S6:E11

    The Doctor and the newly formed UNIT must stop a Cybermen Invasion and a Sinister Industrialist in league with them

    Director:Douglas Camfield
    Writer:Derrick Sherwin

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  18. Doctor Who Season 14 Episode 12 - The Deadly Assassin (4)
    8.6/10(714 votes)

    #18 - The Deadly Assassin (4)

    S14:E12

    The Doctor has won his fight in the Matrix and revealed the assassin. But the Master is not defeated and sets a plan in motion that could destroy the Time Lords.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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  19. Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 43 - The Evil of the Daleks (7)
    8.5/10(495 votes)

    #19 - The Evil of the Daleks (7)

    S4:E43

    The Daleks are poised to spread the Dalek Factor throughout the history of Earth and begin by implanting the Doctor.

    Director:Derek Martinus
    Writer:David Whitaker

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  20. Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 4 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (4)
    8.5/10(844 votes)

    #20 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (4)

    S5:E4

    Klieg attempts to do a deal with the Cybercontroller while the Doctor tries to find a way to refreeze the Cybermen permanently.

    Director:Morris Barry
    Writers:Gerry Davis, Kit Pedler

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  21. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 35 - The War Games (1)
    8.5/10(750 votes)

    #21 - The War Games (1)

    S6:E35

    The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe realise they have arrived in the trenches of the First World War, where the sinister General Smythe accuses them of espionage.

    Director:David Maloney
    Writers:Malcolm Hulke, Terrance Dicks

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  22. Doctor Who Season 13 Episode 11 - Pyramids of Mars (3)
    8.5/10(881 votes)

    #22 - Pyramids of Mars (3)

    S13:E11

    The Doctor and Sarah try to destroy Sutekh's rocket but the Osiran's mental powers prove too great for them.

    Director:Paddy Russell
    Writers:Robert Holmes, Lewis Greifer

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  23. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 5 - City of Death (1)
    8.5/10(959 votes)

    #23 - City of Death (1)

    S17:E5

    Paris, 1979. The Doctor and Romana are here on holiday, but something is disturbing the flow of time. Could the time travel experiments of Count Scarlioni be to blame?

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writers:Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

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  24. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 18 - The Caves of Androzani (2)
    8.5/10(711 votes)

    #24 - The Caves of Androzani (2)

    S21:E18

    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?

    Director:Graeme Harper
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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  25. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 19 - The Caves of Androzani (3)
    8.5/10(726 votes)

    #25 - The Caves of Androzani (3)

    S21:E19

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

    Director:Graeme Harper
    Writer:Robert Holmes

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Best Episodes Summary

"Genesis of the Daleks (6)" is the best rated episode of "Doctor Who". It scored 9.7/10 based on 1157 votes. Directed by David Maloney and written by Terry Nation, it aired on 4/12/1975. This episode scored 0.6 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Ark in Space (1)".