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The Best Episodes of Doctor Who Season 17

Every episode of Doctor Who Season 17 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Doctor Who Season 17!

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....
Genres:DramaAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy

Season 17 Ratings Summary

"Destiny of the Daleks (1)" is the best rated episode of "Doctor Who" season 17. It scored 7.3/10 based on 617 votes. Directed by Ken Grieve and written by Terry Nation, it aired on 9/1/1979. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Destiny of the Daleks (2)".

  • Destiny of the Daleks (1)
    7.3/10617 votes

    #1 - Destiny of the Daleks (1)

    Season 17 Episode 1 - Aired 9/1/1979

    Skaro, the Dalek homeworld, some time in the future. The TARDIS lands in the irradiated ruins of the old Kaled city and something is moving underneath the wasted surface of the planet…

    Director: Ken Grieve

    Writer: Terry Nation

  • Destiny of the Daleks (2)
    7.3/10546 votes

    #2 - Destiny of the Daleks (2)

    Season 17 Episode 2 - Aired 9/8/1979

    Romana has been captured by the Daleks, the Doctor is the guest of the Movellans. The Daleks are drilling deep into Skaro for something and the Doctor has an awful suspicion about their objective…

    Director: Ken Grieve

    Writer: Terry Nation

  • Destiny of the Daleks (3)
    7.2/10530 votes

    #3 - Destiny of the Daleks (3)

    Season 17 Episode 3 - Aired 9/15/1979

    The Daleks have awoken Davros in the heart of Skaro. Only the Doctor and the Movellans stand between them and their objective. But are the Movellans really on the Doctor's side?

    Director: Ken Grieve

    Writer: Terry Nation

  • Destiny of the Daleks (4)
    7.2/10535 votes

    #4 - Destiny of the Daleks (4)

    Season 17 Episode 4 - Aired 9/22/1979

    Trapped between the Movellans and the Daleks, the Doctor must find a way to defeat both. Meanwhile, vast space fleets await new orders.

    Director: Ken Grieve

    Writer: Terry Nation

  • City of Death (1)
    8.7/10878 votes

    #5 - City of Death (1)

    Season 17 Episode 5 - Aired 9/29/1979

    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

    Writer: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

  • City of Death (2)
    8.8/10758 votes

    #6 - 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.

    Director: Michael Hayes

    Writer: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

  • City of Death (3)
    8.7/10736 votes

    #7 - 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?

    Director: Michael Hayes

    Writer: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

  • City of Death (4)
    8.9/10773 votes

    #8 - 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.

    Director: Michael Hayes

    Writer: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

  • The Creature from the Pit (1)
    6.9/10500 votes

    #9 - The Creature from the Pit (1)

    Season 17 Episode 9 - Aired 10/27/1979

    The planet Chloris. Drawn here by a mysterious distress signal, the Doctor becomes the prisoner of the ruthless Adrasta. A strange and deadly pit awaits those who displease her.

    Director: Christopher Barry

    Writer: David Fisher

  • The Creature from the Pit (2)
    6.7/10443 votes

    #10 - The Creature from the Pit (2)

    Season 17 Episode 10 - Aired 11/3/1979

    The Doctor is in a pit with a deadly creature. And Adrasta has plans for Romana and K-9.

    Director: Christopher Barry

    Writer: David Fisher

  • The Creature from the Pit (3)
    6.7/10443 votes

    #11 - The Creature from the Pit (3)

    Season 17 Episode 11 - Aired 11/10/1979

    The Doctor has come face to face with a massive green creature. Adrasta goes into the mines to kill the monster. But everything is not as it appears…

    Director: Christopher Barry

    Writer: David Fisher

  • The Creature from the Pit (4)
    6.8/10443 votes

    #12 - The Creature from the Pit (4)

    Season 17 Episode 12 - Aired 11/17/1979

    The truth about the creature is revealed. But its imprisonment may have already set in motion a terrible revenge.

    Director: Christopher Barry

    Writer: David Fisher

  • Nightmare of Eden (1)
    6.9/10469 votes

    #13 - Nightmare of Eden (1)

    Season 17 Episode 13 - Aired 11/24/1979

    The orbit of the holiday planet, Azure, the year 2116. The starships Empress and Hecate are fused together after an accident in hyperspace. Naturally the Doctor thinks he can find a solution, but has the accident unleashed a far more deadly menace?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Bob Baker

  • Nightmare of Eden (2)
    6.8/10428 votes

    #14 - Nightmare of Eden (2)

    Season 17 Episode 14 - Aired 12/1/1979

    Two ships have collided above Azure but that may be the least of the Doctor's problems. Monsters and drug smugglers are loose on the ship. And it all seems to tie in with Tryst's electronic zoo…

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Bob Baker

  • Nightmare of Eden (3)
    6.9/10425 votes

    #15 - Nightmare of Eden (3)

    Season 17 Episode 15 - Aired 12/8/1979

    The Doctor and Romana begin to uncover the truth about the strange events aboard the luxury liner Empress. They first have to separate the two ships from each other, but they've got Mandrells, drug smugglers and police chasing after them.

    Director: Graham Williams

    Writer: Bob Baker

  • Nightmare of Eden (4)
    6.8/10432 votes

    #16 - Nightmare of Eden (4)

    Season 17 Episode 16 - Aired 12/15/1979

    The Doctor finally discovers the truth about the drug smuggling ring. But the villains are still one step ahead.

    Director: Graham Williams

    Writer: Bob Baker

  • The Horns of Nimon (1)
    6.3/10491 votes

    #17 - The Horns of Nimon (1)

    Season 17 Episode 17 - Aired 12/22/1979

    Deep space, an unknown time. The TARDIS encounters a disabled Skonnon battlecruiser transporting Anethan 'tribute'. The co-pilot is determined to reach Skonnos at any cost.

    Director: Kenny McBain

    Writer: Anthony Read

  • The Horns of Nimon (2)
    6.1/10444 votes

    #18 - The Horns of Nimon (2)

    Season 17 Episode 18 - Aired 12/29/1979

    Having reached Skonnos, Romana is sent with the Anethians to face the deadly Nimon.

    Director: Kenny McBain

    Writer: Anthony Read

  • The Horns of Nimon (3)
    6.1/10437 votes

    #19 - The Horns of Nimon (3)

    Season 17 Episode 19 - Aired 1/5/1980

    The Doctor and Romana are trapped in the Nimon's lair. Is he really the last of his race? What are his real intentions toward Skonnos?

    Director: Kenny McBain

    Writer: Anthony Read

  • The Horns of Nimon (4)
    6.2/10444 votes

    #20 - The Horns of Nimon (4)

    Season 17 Episode 20 - Aired 1/12/1980

    Romana is trapped on a ruined planet. The Nimons are launching their invasion of Skonnos. Can the Doctor stop the 'Great Journey of Life' ?

    Director: Kenny McBain

    Writer: Anthony Read