The Best Episodes Written By Dennis Spooner

Every TV Episode Written by Dennis Spooner Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 2 Episode 39 - Checkmate
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #1 - Checkmate

    S2:E39

    The Doctor finally discovers what the Monk is up to and must move fast to prevent his opponent from altering the course of history.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. undefined Season 3 Episode 21 - Destruction of Time
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #2 - Destruction of Time

    S3:E21

    With the Daleks poised to invade the solar system, the Doctor decides his only option is to activate the Time Destructor prematurely, threatening the entire planet.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. undefined Season 2 Episode 15 - Inferno
    7.2/10(6 votes)

    #3 - Inferno

    S2:E15

    Inspired by the Doctor, Nero sets Rome ablaze. Ian must fight his way out of the arena and rescue Barbara. The Doctor and Vicki hurry to flee the city and escape to the TARDIS.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. undefined Season 2 Episode 36 - The Watcher
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #4 - The Watcher

    S2:E36

    The Doctor, Vicki, and Steven Taylor, go to 1066 England, but something doesn't seem right including modern inventions like a Gramaphone and electricity. Could there be another Time Lord?

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. undefined Season 2 Episode 38 - A Battle of Wits
    7.0/10(5 votes)

    #5 - A Battle of Wits

    S2:E38

    The Doctor manages to escape from his cell and get the upper hand on the Monk but his plans are derailed when Sven and Ulf arrive at the monastery.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. undefined Season 2 Episode 14 - Conspiracy
    7.0/10(6 votes)

    #6 - Conspiracy

    S2:E14

    Poppaea plans to poison Barbara who has become the object of Nero's affections. The Doctor is to be thrown to the lions and Ian and Delos are set against each other in the arena.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  7. undefined Season 6 Episode 11 - Look- (stop me if you've heard this one) But There Were These Two Fellers...
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Look- (stop me if you've heard this one) But There Were These Two Fellers...

    S6:E11

    The directors of the Capital Land and Development Company are being murdered and the only clues Steed and Tara have are a massive footprint and a red nose.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. undefined Season 1 Episode 6 - Target!
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Target!

    S1:E6

    In an attempt to break Steed's perfect shooting-range record, Purdey tackles the range with all her grace and skill. However, it's not enough as she misses one tiny percentage and gets hit with a mark. But other agents begin to die who have performed similarly, and Steed and Gambit start putting the clues together and find that they must work fast to save their friend and colleague before she succumbs to a nasty poison.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. undefined Season 1 Episode 9 - Faces
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - Faces

    S1:E9

    A bizarre series of deaths of high-ups in the government becomes the business of Steed and his colleagues when a personal friend of his becomes one of the deceased. However, due to suspicion from the delicate nature of the case...apparently people are being duplicated by an unscrupulous firm...Steed, Purdey, and Gambit all go off on their own and make individual progress into the case. However, it seems that the situation is too far-reaching and confusing for each alone. They must work together and figure out quickly, who's who and what's what, before they themselves become the next targets.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. undefined Season 1 Episode 10 - Gnaws
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Gnaws

    S1:E10

    2 scientists are developing a new growth drug which could end world famine. Unfortunately some of the drug has been flushed down the sink resulting in something nasty in the sewers.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. undefined Season 2 Episode 3 - Medium Rare
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Medium Rare

    S2:E3

    Mason is the paymaster to a group of informants, but all is not what it seems: the informants are a single man. When Mason suspects this, he is murdered by Wallace, who has been lining his own pockets. Steed begins to investigate, and Wallace decides that the only option left is to frame Steed and kill him.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. undefined Season 2 Episode 11 - Forward Base
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Forward Base

    S2:E11

    April 1969: Typhoon Agatha rages causing a new piece of coastline suddenly to appear in Toronto. It's up to the New Avengers to uncover the truth behind it all.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. undefined Season 2 Episode 13 - Emily
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Emily

    S2:E13

    The trio are on the trail of a mysterious agent ""The Fox."" Although he escapes, he leaves a palm print on the roof of a car owned by the aged Miss Daly and the Avengers must preserve the print to make a positive ID on their target.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. undefined Season 3 Episode 20 - The Abandoned Planet
    6.8/10(4 votes)

    #14 - The Abandoned Planet

    S3:E20

    The Doctor, Steven and Sara reach Kembel where they find the Daleks have betrayed their allies and imprisoned them.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. undefined Season 1 Episode 38 - Guests of Madame Guillotine
    6.6/10(5 votes)

    #15 - Guests of Madame Guillotine

    S1:E38

    Susan, Ian and Barbara are sentenced to be guillotined but an encounter with a dying English prisoner may offer Ian a chance of survival.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. undefined Season 1 Episode 42 - Prisoners of Conciergerie
    6.6/10(5 votes)

    #16 - Prisoners of Conciergerie

    S1:E42

    Ian finally delivers his message to James Stirling but in order to secure Susan's release he and Barbara are forced into a dangerous spying mission.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. undefined Season 2 Episode 37 - The Meddling Monk
    6.6/10(8 votes)

    #17 - The Meddling Monk

    S2:E37

    The Doctor is being held prisoner by the Monk and Steven and Vicki's search for him brings them to the Saxon village.But a greater danger threatens when a Viking raiding party arrives.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. undefined Season 1 Episode 37 - A Land of Fear
    6.5/10(6 votes)

    #18 - A Land of Fear

    S1:E37

    The TARDIS lands during the French Revolution, where Ian, Barbara, and Susan become caught up in the politics of the day. When they are arrested and set to be executed, the Doctor must take on the disguise of a public official to try and save their lives.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. undefined Season 3 Episode 15 - Coronas of the Sun
    6.5/10(4 votes)

    #19 - Coronas of the Sun

    S3:E15

    The Doctor, Steven and Sara escape Mira in a Dalek pursuit ship but when they find the ship is returning to Kembel, they are forced to come up with a new plan to avoid the Daleks.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. undefined Season 3 Episode 17 - Volcano
    6.5/10(4 votes)

    #20 - Volcano

    S3:E17

    The Daleks realise the Doctor has given them a fake Taranium Core while, on the planet Tigus, the Doctor encounters the Meddling Monk.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. undefined Season 1 Episode 6 - Girl on the Trapeze
    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #21 - Girl on the Trapeze

    S1:E6

    Keel, reviving a young woman who has jumped into the Thames, is led to the Radeck State Circus, where the trapeze girl is guarded, her face covered by bandages because of an accident. The 'trapeze girl'proves to be the daughter of a defecting scientist, who will be used to force her father to return home. When Keel discovers this, he and Carol are captured by Zibbo the Clown, who will shoot Carol if the police investigation is not called off.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. undefined Season 1 Episode 39 - A Change of Identity
    6.4/10(5 votes)

    #22 - A Change of Identity

    S1:E39

    Susan and Barbara are rescued by Jules and Jean, two members of the escape chain, while the Doctor gains access to the prison by posing as a revolution official.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. undefined Season 1 Episode 40 - The Tyrant of France
    6.4/10(5 votes)

    #23 - The Tyrant of France

    S1:E40

    The Doctor is forced into a meeting with Robespierre while Barbara's attempts to find a physician for Susan result in them being betrayed.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. undefined Season 1 Episode 41 - A Bargain of Necessity
    6.4/10(5 votes)

    #24 - A Bargain of Necessity

    S1:E41

    Ian finds himself held prisoner by the treacherous Leon while the Doctor attempts to engineer Susan and Barbara's escape.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. undefined Season 3 Episode 18 - Golden Death
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    #25 - Golden Death

    S3:E18

    The Doctor, Steven and Sara travel to Ancient Egypt, pursued by both the Daleks and the Meddling Monk.

    Director:N/A

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Dennis Spooner Ratings Summary

"Checkmate" is the best rated episode written by Dennis Spooner. It scored 7.6/10 based on 5 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 7/24/1965 and is rated 0.1 points higher than their second-best episode, "Destruction of Time".