The Single Biggest Mistake Every Doctor Who Series Has Made

No series of Doctor Who is perfect. Here are the biggest mistakes committed by every single one!
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[@WhoCulture]

Let us know what your picks would be for each series!

[@jessetorres8738]

With the exception of Paul McGann not getting at least 1 Season as The Doctor, the biggest "what if" missed opportunity Doctor Who will ever have was Capaldi not getting a 4th season as The Doctor with Missy as his companion (alongside Bill & Nardole). I feel that would have been the ultimate TARDIS team as you would have the tragic hero (Capaldi knowing it's his final season), the romantic foil (Missy trying to be The Doctor's friend again), the exposition & audience POV character (Bill), & the likable comic relief (Nardole).

[@jessetorres8738]

While I don't hate the idea of The Doctor having lives before Hartnell, I don't like the way the Timeless Child twist was handled. Given how the twist was treated as a game changer for The Doctor but then ignored in Whitaker's final story, it created more story plot holes about The Doctor then it resolved. It also negated the significance of Whittaker being the 1st female Doctor since Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor came before Whittaker. If anything The Timeless Child would have been a more interesting twist with The Master instead of with The Doctor.

[@ospero7681]

I can't say I have one for every series, but I have a *massive* one for Series 13 - villains that I didn't want to watch. There is a difference between a villain you love to hate (like most incarnations of the Master) and a villain you just want to *go the f--- away already!!* . All three main villains from Flux were the latter category, certainly not helped by them being just ... villains for villainy's sake. We have no idea what motivates these characters (the little shreds of insight we do get are completely incoherent), and two of them are completely superfluous. Why does Azure even exist? What's the point of her? And the Great Serpent should have ended up on the cutting room floor the instant they knew they would only get six episodes. Sorry for the rant, but I hated Swarm from the first minute he was on screen, and the series having to drag this completely asinine villain along for its entire length made me twitch. When Time vaporizes the pair at the end of "The Vanquishers", I didn't even feel relief. I was sitting there and saying "yep, that should have happened about four episodes ago". Not a good sign for someone as patient as me, who doesn't even really mind the Timeless Child bullsh*t. "The Timeless Children" confused me. All the villain scenes in Series 13 made me yell "get off the screen!" at them. The latter is worse, I feel.

[@dw7704]

@@jessetorres8738 while I would have loved to see a 4th series with Capaldi, or even anther special or two, if it would have meant doing that under Chibnall, we’re probably better off

[@mortal6134]

You guys should do a sequel to this and make a video titled "The Single Greatest Thing Every Doctor Who Series Has Made"

[@jesseszymcik3026]

Capaldi’s grumpy first season as the Doctor was spot on for most of classic Who. I absolutely loved the way Clara wouldn’t let him be the man he isn’t. Nobody bossed The Doctor around better than Clara.

[@Tharus12]

Loved Capaldi for that reason, yet his best episodes were when he was away from Clara and the focus was back on him, like in the Orient Express in space one.

[@Archtechnician]

I found the personality adjustment from matt vs peters run a great way to distinguish the character change. Something that wasnt pointed out was this regen was a surprise for the doctor, he had reached the end of his lives, had nothing left to fight with. The dalek force was on him killing everyone, clara was going to die because she had held on so his attept to save her had failed. The man was at his lowest point at the end of the road of cause the regenaration was going to be into a more grumpy.

[@Kissfan96dr]

what I love about "grumpy Doctor" is his slow but steady metamorphosis into kind doctor/widower by season 10. He grows as a person.

[@Whisper_292]

I never felt like he was oblivious to Martha's feelings. He was just ignoring them. Even worse, really. He should have just acknowledged them and let her down easy.

[@choco.__.cat8088]

that really made me dislike 10 as a character. the way he ignores her feelings and treats her awfully just makes him an asshole. idk why rtd decided to make the main character of his show so unlikable

[@Jumpyman_thegamerYT]

I always find it interesting that male characters are considered to be 'oblivious' if they don't respond to flirting. Like, is the idea of a guy being allowed to not be interested in someone such an alien concept?

[@Whisper_292]

@Jumpyman_thegamerYT So many people think--unjustly--that guys only want one thing, and it's impossible for them to just be friends with a woman. That always irked me. I have plenty of male friends, and they're just not that shallow.

[@happystrykr]

8:28 “Every companion that straddles two doctors.” Who wrote THAT line? 😂😂😂

[@micklynchcomposer]

steven moffat, most likely

[@Theaissu]

I like how it seems to be universally agreed that Donna and Doctor have the best dynamic. Donna has always been my favourite companion.

[@amyflowers2435]

You are 100% correct about Series 4. Donna is my favorite character, and it made the lack of ONLY Doctor Donna episodes in the series rather frustrating. Thankfully it was amended with the 60th anniversary specials that focused pretty much solely on them.

[@rickystarduster]

the interesting things about the aniversary specials is that there are now two doctors and this did not say that both could not regenerate so maybe that is how the doctor propagates from what ever race he really is as he may not actually be time lord. the only interesting part of this that would make it cool is if the doctor became his own race and not a singular being or due to time travel the end of the flux series time is actually the doctor from one form or another. due to the propagating and the tadis duplicating who knows how many doctors are really in the whoniverse.

[@Futures_End]

@@rickystarduster No they didn't explicitly say they just completely heavily implied it in the dialogue. 15 is fine, and healed, because 14 did the healing. This only works if 14 is only followed by 15, not another, completely different and random 15. 14 will eventually become 15, that's how it'll always be.

[@scarameowSucksAtGaming]

The skittle daleks being compered to teletubies is a positive, i mean have you seen the teletubies there fucking terrifying

[@ClockMaster-mq2hm]

OK, that IS a different way to view it! 😉

[@scarameowSucksAtGaming]

@@ClockMaster-mq2hm i know i still have nightmare about Teletubies

[@chicha400]

Not to mention the fact that the master found them intriguing- it’s most definitely a compliment

[@scarameowSucksAtGaming]

@@chicha400 you know im for once not being Sarcastic i really do find Teletubies terrifying. But when does the master find interest in Teletubies

[@chicha400]

@@scarameowSucksAtGaming in the penultimate episode of series 3 (I believe) he comments on teletubbies after observing them from his private office

[@kenthomas505]

I might say Series 7's main problem was that it felt two completely sepreate series crammed together. I think 7B should have been drawn out to a full series to at least give 11 and Clara more of a chance to establish some chemistry together, or have Victorian Clara been the Companion instead until the end of the series and then transition to Modern Clara for Series 8 aftet Victorian Clara's death in the finale. As for Series 9, I find it interesting that you suggested that Missy should have been in the finale. I kind of agree with that. Since she was the one who purposefully brought the Doctor and Clara together, I think it would have been fitting that she was there in the end to see the demise of their friendship. She fit the story better than ME did certainly.

[@RevoIverOceIot]

We had 2.5 series to organically develop the Ponds, River, and haphazardly deal with the Church of Silence. Clara and her arc were kind of ham-fisted in such a Moffat way that she was oversold as a companion (in my opinion) and her story arc was not compelling and kind of deteriorated her character for me. Danny Pink was an atrocious plot device and I could have done without Clara getting her own tardis! It was so bad I took a break from DW from the end of Clara up until David Tennant's reprisal as 14. Loved it so much I backtracked to 12's final series with Bill and holy hell what a refreshing season. Bill was a nice companion to have after Clara and I'm glad Moffat was able to clean up a bit

[@jacobmatthews7524]

series 7B should have absolutely been a full series to get more time with Clara and 11 before the big finale. Still, it kind of was, because at least we got 10 episodes, which is as long as or longer than a full series in the Chibnall era.

[@synaesmedia]

Yeah. That would have been so much better (Victorian Clara with Smith for a whole season followed by killing her to bring in modern Clara )

[@jessetorres8738]

While I don't hate the idea of The Doctor having lives before Hartnell, I don't like the way the Timeless Child twist was handled. Given how the twist was treated as a game changer for The Doctor but then ignored in Whitaker's final story, it created more story plot holes about The Doctor then it resolved. It also negated the significance of Whittaker being the 1st female Doctor since Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor came before Whittaker. If anything The Timeless Child would have been a more interesting twist with The Master instead of with The Doctor.

[@elizawulf8180]

My thoughts for how it could have been done better: -Replace 2-3 of the Dalek Christmas Episodes with episodes oriented around the Fugitive Doctor and the Division (building the latter up as Gallifrey's Torchwood) -Timeless Child overhauled: Doctor called to Gallifrey council, Cybermasters created from Time Lord Crypts & Prisons, and the Master uses them to invade (not destroy) Gallifrey, and opening a gate...to Omega -The Flux deals with Omega (an Antimatter Time Lord) commanding the Master and Cybermasters to invade/annihilate the Universe (you can still have Doggos, Sontarans, and Angels...but the main enemy is Omega) -The Division sacrifices itself to end the antimatter invasion, leaving a devastated, trapping Omega in the material universe - I.E. doomed to eventually run out of decaying bodies to jump between (was using Cybermasters) -Thus leading to Power of the Doctor, where Omega tries to take the Doctor's body, revealing the Timeless Child thing in the process, and the Master betrays Omega - standing with the Doctor - before being left to die

[@dragonautes321]

​@@elizawulf8180These are actually nice ideas

[@andrelandry548]

She was the first on screen female dr

[@cryptkeeperthe9634]

​@elizawulf8180 Should've made you showrunner instead of Chibs, this is actually some good stuff without making the Master The Timeless Child and a great use of Omega.

[@cryptkeeperthe9634]

The Master being the Timeless Child would have explained so much about his many unusual returns and feats staving off death.

[@BobPsomiadis]

It wasnt no 12 fault that these young female teenagers turn off dr who because they saw him old .A lot of them later regretted this because Peter was the doctor .

[@synaesmedia]

Best doctor imho

[@barker-chanvlogs4582]

Wasnt that after seeing how 13s episodes were compared to 12s episodes

[@aknavvy3188]

i stopped watching before clara when i was about 9 10, and when jodie’s premiere came out i didnt even know capaldi was a doctor, so during my 2019/2020 rewatch, when i saw him, i freaked out that i missed a doctor then fell in love with the good plots and bill, especially compared to the beast below

[@BobPsomiadis]

No 9 was fantastic. I give him full credit for starring and saving the new doctor who. No 12 has a story arc .Starting as a grumpy insensitive doctor with humans to a hugging be kind doctor .

[@NightmareproductionsOFFICIAL]

It’s not just females young males did as well. But yeh he was amazing looking back

[@robsquared2]

Every companion that has straddled 2 doctors...Phrasing...

[@danthemeegs8751]

WHEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[@damianjblack]

That would be Rose and River.😂😂

[@pwpresents5660]

The biggest misstep about the Flux arc, in my opinion, was making the Flux itself man made. I was hyped when it was introduced in the Premiere as this huge force of nature, a cosmic natural disaster akin to a space hurricane, sweeping across the galaxy laying waste to everything in its pace. Suddenly we had a concept where you don’t fight the Flux, you simply survive it. Having it as the catalyst/backdrop of the series while the main story was going forward was cool. Making it a McMuffin for the big bad curtailed its impact. (Of course, the rest of this series as a whole just fell apart too, so i guess we’re were all destined to be disappointed.)

[@alexfletcher5192]

This is way more savage about Series 2 than even I would go. Also, it's easy to forget that the bronze Daleks are technically a redesign too. So it seems funny to me that they're considered the only standard.

[@jacobmatthews7524]

a lot of what RTD established early on became standard: bronze Daleks, sleeker Cybermen, psychic paper, an emotional Doctor, the Doctor falling in love with companions, the Doctor and the Master having a tragic frenemy relationship, the Time War, even the series-long arcs... none of that existed in the classic series, maybe a few of them once or twice (trial of a time lord, key to time). shame he came back to ruin it lol

[@sidicle6537]

@@jacobmatthews7524 what did he ruin by coming back?

[@micron000]

As much as the paradigm Daleks were a miss, I'd hardly say they're the "biggest mistake" of series 5. I personally think making Amy try to kiss the Doctor (and the entire "Amy's Choice" dynamic to follow) was a much more glaring mistake - It was just so weird, and not only because she's known him since she was 7 years old. I feel like it's super clear that they work so much better as friends, and Amy also had Rory to consider... And of course, given how their plot advances with River, where they end up becoming the Doctor's parents-in-law, it's just seriously disturbing to consider Amy ever having romantic feelings for him at all lol. I also agree with you about the S06 finale, I personally loved it - though to be fair, I don't know what I would say is a mistake that S06 did have... Maybe that's just cause it's one of my personal favs overall. I think it was a great series which is sadly very much underrated among the fandom imo.

[@alphabet2238]

For me series 6 (part 2) was where Moffat's writing started to become less coherent, there were less grounded stories and more stories which can be only described as weird. Although series 7 was where things started getting really bad.

[@UkeGirl757]

Series 7( tho one of my favourites, 7b tho, I hate 7a, sorry not sorry), should’ve just been Clara and 11. There was nothing left for Amy and Rory, and Even Matt has spoken about regrets of not having more time with Jenna. 7a is just dull, and I was sick of the ponds by then, and I just wish that 11 and Clara had more time together, they’re such an underrated duo, also I loved the hints that there was some love between them, but they just didn’t get enough time for anything to develop, I just feel like the whole of series 8 is just the doctor being upset he regenerated, and Clara getting all mopy that he did, but at least the last few episodes of series 8 showed some good moments of them together. Also, Steven Moffat should’ve written more of series 7, and I completely agree that there should’ve been two parters as well, either way, I still absolutely love series 7b, and no one will ever change my mind

[@jessetorres8738]

With the exception of Paul McGann not getting at least 1 Season as The Doctor, the biggest "what if" missed opportunity Doctor Who will ever have was Capaldi not getting a 4th season as The Doctor with Missy as his companion (alongside Bill & Nardole). I feel that would have been the ultimate TARDIS team as you would have the tragic hero (Capaldi knowing it's his final season), the romantic foil (Missy trying to be The Doctor's friend again), the exposition & audience POV character (Bill), & the likable comic relief (Nardole).

[@jacobmatthews7524]

the thematic core of the masters' narrative that episode was that he would literally rather die than ever be the Doctor's friend again. It would ruin the point of that part of the episode to have Missy survive it and become a regular companion.

[@jacobmatthews7524]

@@user-dp7tc2yb7j the master should have stayed dead after series 10. It was the ultimate ending of the doctor-master story.

[@cryptkeeperthe9634]

​@@jacobmatthews7524Well in this hypothetical scenario, seeing as how they included Bill, that 2 parter would be pushed to the next series with a different final story in mind.

[@synaesmedia]

Would always love to see more Capaldi and Missy. But TBH I think Moffat actually managed to speed-run everything that needed saying about that tragic relationship and story in World Enough and Time / The Doctor Falls pretty well. Yes, it could have been longer. But that 2-part finale was so epically brilliant it did everything that was needed. One of Chibnal's many crimes was to ignore the whole Doctor / Missy dynamic and just reset the Master back to being a 2 dimensional pantomime villain. After the emotional intensity of TDF that was another disappointment.

[@damianjblack]

@@synaesmedia maybe Chibnuts was onto something there though, every regeneration is different. Look at the Tenth Doctor. Simultaneously so human, emotional, passionate... and he could turn on a dime to being the most terrifying thing you've ever seen. ("He never raised his voice... the fury of the Time Lord.") Skip forward a few centuries and you have the Twelfth, who's grumpy, anti-social, and makes bad puns about his lack of giving a crap about anybody's feelings ("She's my carer. She cares so I don't have to."). Yes, he mellows out a bit after a while but he's still probably the least 'friendly' of the modern Doctors. Regeneration is a lottery. And perhaps due to being betrayed by her previous incarnation, Missy regenerated into a Master who 'reset' a little bit to not trusting anybody, least of all the Doctor, and set out to deliberately be as bad as he could be.

[@jamesbevan9939]

Can you do another one of these for the classic series?

[@WhoCulture]

It’s been discussed! If it seems there’s a lot of interest, then absolutely.

[@juliorimes844]

​@@WhoCultureplease, do it! It will be adorable

[@jacobmatthews7524]

@@WhoCulture its a good idea.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

I'd definitely be more into that.

[@whovian_holmes]

I love martha, i wish she'd have been put in at a different time however because they was really given the short end of the stick

[@bawintermage8351]

Yes, Martha was the best companion! Freema is both beautiful and capable in every situation.

[@dw7704]

Initially she wasn’t her own character, she was “Not-Rose” But they started to get her right in Human Nature. When she showed up in series 4, she was Martha. Not my favourite companion, but still good, and most episodes are better on viewing again.

[@steve-0493]

Totally GAGA for Freema/Martha!! She makes the Homer Simpson in me just 🤤🤤🤤 🤣🤦‍♂️😁✌️🥃🤘 ​@@bawintermage8351

[@katrose5179]

I find this so odd. I’m not negating your opinion, I just personally have always hated Martha. You can’t emotionally blackmail someone, which is how I view her, for not being in love with you.

[@steve-0493]

@@bawintermage8351 I love Martha/Freema regardless!!!hot damn,she's 🔥

[@professorderp4445]

Choosing the paradigm Daleks over Amy SAing the Doctor is crazy

[@deadman746]

I liked "New Earth." Having been romantically involved with a nurse and a woman who said she was 2/3 cat, I can attest that you cannot trust either one.

[@elizawulf8180]

I see you've been up on ol' Rocky Top (see: "Rocky Top", a country song)

[@deadman746]

@@elizawulf8180 I remember. Astonishingly, it has more than three chords.

[@dwilborn1257]

Having Missy instead of 'Me' in "Hell Bent" would have paid off so much better.

[@Ambyli]

I LOVE capaldi, he has some of the best episodes and imo hes the best actor lol

[@alecstronach]

I'm not hearing it. Series 8 had a rocky start because we were in the perspective of Clara. We didn't know this new Doctor, he was new and he was strange, but he was still The Doctor. I feel the writing of this series was intended to put this distance between us and The Doctor the same way there was a distance between The Doctor and Clara. I wasn't fully on board with Capaldi until Clara accepted him, and from then I loved him. I think that's an absolutely brilliant example of good Watsonian story telling - we're supposed to follow the story in universe, not the Doylist perspective of seeing it as bad writing while disregarding the in-universe perspective as to why The Doctor seemed so foreign to us and hating it because we're "supposed" to know the doctor already - we don't! This is a new Doctor, we need to learn him. This was a unique and frankly amazing way of introducing us to such a drastically different version of The Doctor. We're meant to view him as a new person the same way Clara did, and that is what I feel people miss from the genius of that season. If you really don't like it, you're really missing out. It was a great way of introducing Capaldi and anyone who disagrees is missing the point.

[@josephpatti2835]

Wedding of River Song is Great

[@batmangames15]

Agreed, I just recently decided to watch the old favourites of 11’s doctor, and the wedding of river song was a great finale, not perfect, but great nonetheless.

[@Futures_End]

I disagree completely

[@batmangames15]

@@Futures_End well ok, that’s ur opinion

[@jrobertlysaght]

One of the worst moments of (not sure which series) was when a new master showed up, imitating Simm's Master, and throwing out any of the progress Missy had gone through, without even a mention. Even just a 'all that goodness... ugh, glad that's over with" would have been something. It was just gone, and unacknowledged.

[@rbobinsky]

"Skaro Skittles"...???? Oh my God, I honestly laughed out loud at that one! Nice one, Ellie!!!!!!!!!!

[@alecstronach]

Season 4 was the biggest let down ever imo. 10 and Donna were the best duo hands down, no questions there. The fact that they only got 1 season together and that season was full of episodes where they were split up is heart breaking. I absolutely love the fact that they were brought back for a couple episodes recently, I feel we were owed that. I can honestly say when I saw the trailer for Tennent and Tate having a reunion I actually jumped out of my seat and ran around a bit I was so goddamn excited xD. I just wish they'd done 1 more series or they'd do a little spinoff with 4 or 5 episodes of the new Tennent and Donna having a last few adventures. They're the best combo the show has ever produced, I really don't think it's asking too much for a little more.

[@JoeThornhill]

3:44 You haven't met *me* and I've never been blinded by a heartbreak or mourned a loved one, (I know Rose didn't die but for all he knew, he would never ever see her again. Same diff, really). Further more, we still don't know really anything about Gallifreyan (or even just Timelord) culture and relationships. Arranged marriages? Test-tube babies? Maybe Rose was his first love? That'll bind someone even more, right?

[@williamfullam3412]

I'd not fully realized how much the basic structure of the show had been tinkered with since '05. That said, I'm glad there aren't as many episodes ending on a cliffhanger shot of Tom Baker's nostrils (love ya Tom!). Script: The Doctor is zapped and falls unconscious to the ground. Close-up of nostrils. Closing credits.

[@prva9347]

No particular view on Ellie's criticism of the 10th Doctor, but I'd simply give a reminder that the show's built-in paradox is that the Doctor is not a human but tv audiences usually expect him to act like one. That's why the companions tend to be human - certainly in Classic Who the companion represented or spoke for us, allowing the Doctor to explain. In New Who I liked that Donna advised him not to travel alone (as he needed somone to stop him).

[@Tharus12]

Yes, the companion is there for exposition or we'd not know what the Doctor was doing or thinking like Holmes and Watson. Yet we have Romana, Nyssa and Adric. Then characters from the past or future of humanity. I heard someone say, I think it was Davies or Moffat that the companion in new Who was from modern day earth to me them more relatable. I'd like to see Jaime and Zoe dynamic in the TARDIS again. A 50ish WW1 Vet in the home guard with a Silurian or a human from the future.

[@ZephaniahNoah]

Mistakes: 00:37 01. Misjudged Comedy 01:48 02. Fudging The Opener 02:55 03. The 'Rebound' Doctor 03:53 04. Underdeveloping The Doctor and Donna 05:04 05. The New Paradigm Daleks 06:10 06. Weak Finale 07:19 07. Ditching Two-Parters 08:25 08. Misjudging Capaldi's Introduction 09:31 09. No Missy in the Finale 10:31 10. Spoiling John Simm's Return 11:34 11. Being too Standalone 12:38 12. Too Much Filler 13:45 13. Too Many Story Threads

[@paulwalker3758]

Tooth and Claw would have been better. It shows the difference between DT and CE and sets up the Torchwood arc.

[@theimmortalzombie1150]

I love the paradigm daleks, they're my childhood favourites

[@kevin10001]

I like them also and I like that they weren’t colored for no reason the colors actually stood for what there purpose was supposed to be

[@ftumschk]

* NEW paradigm Daleks. "Paradigm" is a noun, not an adjective, meaning a pattern, model or design. That's why the "new" adjective is necessary, to distinguish them from the OLD paradigm/model of the Daleks. Whatever, I liked them too.

[@ashbridgeindustries380]

Gotta be honest, I am not a Wedding of River Song fan. I can forgive most of it, but the scene on top of the pyramid was perhaps the only time that I actively disliked River Song. She was willing to let the *entire universe* disintegrate rather than give up the Doctor. That's not love, that's selfishness.

[@fortunatefantasy]

I constantly recall that OG Dr Who was meant to be a children friendly, science based fantasy show. Nu Who is aimed towards their now older original audience while still keeping the child friendly science element... This has to create a disconnect, a cognitive imbalance, in the writing, for no more reason that adults seek 'deeper' nuance. I think your critiques here are, to some degree, valid. But, as the OG watchers reach retirement age, there is a need to recognise the younger viewership. IMO: It should always be the "Child friendly, science fantasy'; this is what I loved about it OG; its what people should love going forwards, this is the eternal wanderer dynamic. Often the biggest issue is trying to insert elements of maturity and thus, darkness, where it doesn't need to be.

[@justynmatlock8873]

Everyone knows the Spacesuit-with-the-skull-inside-the-helmet was a straight up lift from Scooby-Doo, 'Spooky Space Kook', right ?

[@cryptkeeperthe9634]

The mistake every series after 5 made was constant serialized arcs. We don't need a gimmick or over arcing plot every season, especially when pumping them out constantly, which only leads to decreases in their quality and shock value. It should be like a treat partaken in once in a while and made good with love and care... Not hot garbage we stuff our ears and eyes with. That's like the one good thing Chibs does in his run, his first series with the exception of the first and last episodes, was episodic. It was a breath of fresh air. We need more series like that. Sure RTD has got things somewhat undercontrol now, but lets see how long that lasts until he burns out again. Last time he left before quality significantly dipped, he left on a high note unlike Moffat and especially Chibs, hopefully he will again and that he won't let his own curse of serialization every season get to him too. Hopefully he can cool it for a series or 2 if he needs to just so the quality of writing doesnt suffer.

[@debkunkel5840]

Yes! I was just getting used to Capaldi's version of the Doctor at the end of his first episode, and then bringing Matt Smith back at the end for the phone call with Clara just took me out of it. Just made me realize how much I was going to miss his Doctor.

[@katytener1982]

Ok. So, lately..everytime there is something negative in the video subtitle there is a pic of Matt Smith. It is getting old.

[@ryysight6803]

Perhaps a controversial opinion but I absolutely loved Flux, the format of season 13 was amazing, having a Doctor Who series run along one storyline like most shows was such a breath of fresh air, I loved how the stakes were higher than ever, the CGI for the overwhelming majority of the season were outstanding and seeing Yaz really grow as a companion was amazing, the Ravagers were amazing villains and most importantly the fallout from this season was monumental, the way that the Flux was referenced multiple times in the 60th specials highlighted the fact that it was a super important season for the show

[@Dreamerlilly]

The thing about Capaldi’s introduction that bothered me was Clara’s response to him. She seemed so confused…, yet she was in his time stream and saw all the doctors… so that I really had a problem with.

[@stevecardiff444]

Clara was fragmented - they were different Clara's. Hopefully there is one left over.

[@GrievousApproved]

You: mentions the empty child once. Me: HUURGHH

[@davidaward82]

i always thought the backlash against the colourful Daleks was somewhat disproportionate. I remember red, white and black ones from old-who... the orange, yellow and blue, not so much, but if they were intending to use the colours to denote different roles, it could have worked.

[@frederickcubbins]

The new dalek paradigm could have worked with a better introduction, stick to the white supreme, blue strategist and a few red drones and then in later episodes introduce the orange scientist and yellow eternal. The big problem in the original reveal was that it did seem like all the different colours would appear equally when reality the lions share would've been the red with blue commanders and a white supreme leading from the HQ

[@tinospam11]

I don't quite understand good and bad episodes usually, I just enjoy watching Doctor Who, it's always been apart of my childhood, and watching it especially Doctors 9 through 11 always make me nostalgic

[@mickylove76]

My daughter started paying attention to Dr Who when she was 3 years old. Her favourite was Eccleston by far, and she always said it was because he was silly.

[@patrickhannon4217]

8:44 I fiercely disagree, we're all different and each to their own, I also can't argue with ratings, but I really liked the 12th Doctor from the very first scene in Time of the Doctor, calling him the second most hated seems a bit harsh, is all I'm saying

[@dw7704]

Twelve is easily my favourite After his first series he was my second favourite, after Nine, with potential to get better. After his second he was tied with Nine. After his third series he was way out in front as my favourite, and he still is.

[@BreandanAnraoi]

Each to their own, and you can assume most people watching this like him, but that doesn't change the massive ratings drop.

[@dw7704]

@@BreandanAnraoi part of the ratings story is that there are many options how to watch How do you include that data? A lot of people, myself included watch when it’s convenient for me, and for others I watch with We don’t have to organize our activities for when a show is on anymore, so we don’t

[@BreandanAnraoi]

@@dw7704 okay but like that's hardly going to account for a drop of a million viewers from one series to the next

[@dw7704]

@@BreandanAnraoi well my main point was in my question

[@AzguardMike]

biggest mistakes missed Bill Potts Jodie Whitiker Bringing back Tennant to make him a parody of himself (and making him gay when RTD himself said a hetero should never play a gay character)

[@Diogo85]

How was Bill Potts a mistake, how is the 14th Doctor a parody, and how is the Doctor being gay bad?

[@thomasmoeller3446]

The Capaldi Dr was not the problem. The problem was Clara. All the way.

[@emh30_10]

Oh yiss.

[@paulmaddison2001]

Ryan’s dyspraxia just never being mentioned after the woman who fell to earth was another bad mistake for series 11 imo

[@SmartAlec86]

The issue I have with the hate towards the New Paradigm Daleks is that this isn't the first time Daleks have had different colors before. Granted, in the past, the Daleks were less color coded and more just colorful. If I were a Doctor Who Showrunner, I would make different colored Daleks, but I might keep the bronze color and only change the color of the balls. That way, the color coding is using a secondary color rather than a primary color. Or better yet, just have different colors for the eye-stalks.

[@BeyondBaito]

Timeless Child being the Master wouldve worked far more. The second time you ever see him be's a skeleton wearing a blsck cloak and burnt flesh. He's taking over bodies and making deals with the TL to stay alive. Him being the timeless child, tortured and forced to regenerate, only to have it taken away IS PERFECT for The Master. It doesnt change anything with Doctor Who either, it works.

[@alecstronach]

Ima come out and say it, the new paradigm daleks weren't awful. I liked the concept, the daleks evolved into a more organised and more deadly group. The designs weren't perfect but they also weren't terrible... I think if they'd kept the same form factor but changed the colour they'd have been a great evolution of the dalek threat.

[@jaimebabb9968]

My picks (for those that I actually have opinions on): Series 1 - Too schmaltzy. I know that RTD is rebooting it based on his work in soap operas, but he really needs to ease off on some of the emotional beats. Series 4 - "The Daleks did it" is an underwhelming explanation of the whole "missing planets" thread. Series 6 - I didn't like how Madame Kovarian dropped off of the map after "A Good Man Goes To War" (I know she shows up in the finale, but it's from an aborted timeline and therefore doesn't count). Actually, the entire back-half of the story arc is decidedly rougher than the first half. Series 7 - Honestly, they shouldn't have bothered with the Ponds at all. They should have just gotten to live out the rest of their lives peaceably after "The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe". This would have given more of a chance to develop Clara as a character, rather than just a mystery box. Series 8 - Definitely agree that they make Twelve too ornery in his initial appearances. Also, a lot of his jokes about Clara's appearance just come across as mean. Series 10 and 11 - Too many characters, meaning that you can't get a feel for any of them, or for the new doctor. Too many poorly handled "message" episodes. Too little connection to the lore. Series 12 - The Doctor is supposed to be some kind of god-like genius, so by all means, let's see her be brilliant (This also goes for series 10 and 11)

[@SammEater]

I think the worst part of the Moffat era was him getting lost in trying to one up himself at each season, everything got too big for its own good, it's like the power creep problem with Dragon Ball. Every new enemy has to fire bigger and bigger attacks that destroy planets, then systems, then galaxies and then time and reality itself.

[@michaelrushton3953]

I didn't know anything about John Sim's return in series 10, I was so surprised I spilt my beer !

[@natty4bumpo]

The Ghost Monument was when The Timeless Child was first mentioned.

[@mrwho995]

I will defend Flux to the death. It's the most I've enjoyed Doctor Who in a long time.

[@thenealdog5343]

ngl i've always liked New Earth, forms an unofficial trilogy with End of the World & Gridlock with ties to how humanity copes with the earths destruction/new beginnings on a foreign planet/self-demise with the drug like patches used in Gridlock, very sci-fi. Not only that but knowing what we know with the Face of Boe plot-twist in series 3, he calls The Doctor to his side thinking the end is near, however Boe then spots Rose and knows he can't reveal his secret until Martha is by The Doctor's side as a witness, as revealed in Utopia

[@OscarOSullivan]

I loved the River Song arc

[@veggiet2009]

I have something to say to Elli, I'm a big River fanboy, she's probably my favorite character of all time, put her in more stories please, but, but it doesn't make "The Wedding of River Song" that good, I think that River deserved better for her wedding, I think the general concept was great, but it needed something, I think it could have been the length, it needed a feature length timeframe to do everything, and i think River should have gotten a bigger romantic wedding at some point, like instead of the end showing up to her parents, maybe the universe bubble bursts and we do a callback to the end of series 5 and jump to the "real" universe with the Doctor and River dancing at their own wedding.

[@robertholt3996]

Hey now, someone once propositioned me to have sex at a party (after everyone had gone to bed) by asking me “do you want to go down to the bed?” (we had literally been cuddling each other in a large recliner for hours). I thought she meant “do you want to take the bed while I stay in the recliner?” Yes, I 1000% believe that the Doctor could’ve been oblivious to Martha’s advances LOL

[@qou2600]

Weird, I thought I knew what they all were going to be going into it but I guess it would have made for a really boring list if they were all just "They failed to bring Kamelion back on as a companion."

[@seraphinberktold7087]

The whole Jodie Whittaker era seems like a massive failure. At a Doctor Who fan convention over here in Kassel, Germany, not a single fan wanted a life-size cardboard pop-up of Jodie Whittaker's Doctor. All the other Doctors sell just fine to the hard-core fans but Jodie Whittaker's Doctor is avoided like the plague. Even as a free give-away it was scorned. And that is saying something about the stories she had to be in. The Flux season is a huge mess which I once summarised to a group of fellow Whovians as "Random stuff happens!". No one argued against that. I'm careful about what is to come now as Russel T. Davies seems to be determined to turn preachy as well. E.g. Davros on two feet because he felt it was wrong to have a villain in a wheelchair? Oh come on, you must be kidding! Maybe it is time to move on and leave Doctor Who behind just like I had to do with Star Wars, ah, I mean Disney Wars after Episode VI. Time will tell and it will do so soon.

[@JAWProductionsFA]

I think the only ones here I can fully agree with is Series 3 and Series 4's. Maybe Series 10 and 11, but at least I can understand the logic. Saying Series 12 has too much filler before immediately admitting 70% of it *isn't* filler is such a contradictory statement though.

[@Luke_P]

I can't believe that the single biggest mistake in series 9 was related to the *finale* (arguably the best finale of doctor who) and not the episode Sleep No More!

[@Kissfan96dr]

I like Sleep No More

[@angelag669]

I LOVED Doctor Who but I was already on the way out with Doctor #13. I am now completely out and won't watch any of the new episodes. I barely made it through the 1st of the 3 Christmas episodes but that was it for me. If I want to enjoy the Doctor, I will watch the old episodes again.

[@supremeoverlorde2109]

Series 4 is stellar, and I'm not sure I agree with this video's assessment that the weakest link was a lack of development for the Doctor and Donna's relationship. Despite their relatively short time together, I think their bond was developed extremely well, and there was some amazing character work between them built on the back of the foundation set by The Runaway Bride. If anything, I think you could argue the worst thing about series 4 was that it got a bit too ambitious at the end. I actually love series' 4's finale two-parter, but I'm not above acknowledging that it's way too bloated. Like, to the point where the Doctor himself actually doesn't have much of anything to do. He just sits back and reacts to everyone else's actions because there are too many moving parts, and the ending feels quite rushed. Rose's return is built up the whole season and then she isn't given anything to do either, lol. She shows up, has no impact on anything other than giving us an emotional reunion, and then leaves again.

[@c0nvict_pleb174]

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” …Average Doctor who argument ignited 😂

[@andylornastuff]

"You know the bit where Lister jump starts the second big bang with jump leads from Starbug?" RIMMER: (Incredulous) "Jump starts the second big bang?!" Yeah... It was a very funny concept for a joke on Red Dwarf, but it felt like a real stretch for Who. Even more so than the TARDIS towing an entire planet. Ah well, still love the show. Agree rhat some endings are a bit messy or anticlimactic though.

[@the0wolf15]

Season 5 is better than season 7? Are you out of your fucking mind? 11 and Clara are golden

[@LordStormelion]

The 12th doctor will always be my favourite because of how much you see him change from series 8 to 10

[@27newyorker]

Series 9 biggest mistake was the entire episode of Sleep No More. That episode is so out of place. Side note for Series 12: Nikola Tesla episode was very very good, not only my favorite of Series 12, but one of the best of Whitaker’s entire run

[@blahanger4304]

We didn't have bbc where I lived and the show didn;t air till the early 80's when I was 11ish, but I was and still am hooked.

[@GroundhogJay]

The only thing worse than The Power of Three would be if it was a two-parter. I would have struggled to keep myself awake for that mediocre installment(s).

[@natty4bumpo]

Series 13's main problem was its short length. All that should've been more spread out. And while you may have hated The Timeless Child, RTD has blessed and said it's canon. Of course, that part of Series 13 should've also been spread out.

[@Tharus12]

Having romantic connotations between companion and the Doctor is fine, but it has been used too much considering the classic had the Doctor portrayed as not having any romantic inclinations to the companion and Davidson's TARDIS was crowded to "avoid anything happening." Since it's return, the downfall of the new series is the amount of present day earth stories, making the companions the same in origin origin to extent and extended family appearances. To the point it was coined the Clara show. When Oswin the Victorian Governess was actually the character who should have been in the TARDIS. I actually felt that the strength of Jodie's first series was the lack of series wide plot point as by the time Matt Smith was in his second series it became the focus and overt. They did do it in the classic here and there, the key being infrequent and most stories were contained although at the beginning you were shown going from One to the next. The new series needs to get away from present day earth and companions, single episode stories. Keep the character development yet have characters like Zoe, Jaime, Leela, Nyssa, Adric and Ace. They need to keep the timelords around, go from one adventure to the next without having it connected to a series wide plot point all the time. Also the Christmas specials having to shoehorn Christmas in in some form ruined Matts last story.. I think Russel coming back has injected more energy into the series but he needs to be more adventurous and inject some of the classic into the new series and look to Big Finish for direction as they have some brilliant writers and great content.

[@livinghomunculus657]

Series 5 is better than series 7 but series 7 is very underrated. I wouldn't hold it against someone who prefers it. Series 6 is unacceptable though but for some reason you like that one ellie.

[@KinzokuDrummer]

Interesting you say series 7 is underrated, while I did like 7a and some eps from 7b, I would say series 6 is still far better

[@veggiet2009]

I'm so different on many of these, the dark tone and relationship tension of series 8 is one of the reasons I liked it. While the individual episodes of series 11 was bad, I think there were worse aspects, like the under use of companions

[@therakshasan8547]

When the BBC removed Dr.Who from the USA platforms to UK viewers only [or over priced online platforms] I felt disappointed . Then I see clips and various views about the seasons I was blocked from viewing. Now I am grateful for not having access to the tripe .

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Very well argued and articulated.

[@stratuvarious8547]

Ellie, the Wedding of River Song isn't terrible, but it's still the third weakest series finale, only Hell Bent and the Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos managed to be worse.

[@damienhine1861]

How is it that we have not seen Matt Smith since that phone call in Deep Breath? He should have come back in the 60th.

[@user-rv7nz4jv5m]

New Earth is great I'm so confused

[@markadconrad4624]

turning David Tennant inot an house elf bothered me immensely

[@R.senals_Arsenal]

Some Corrections: Problem with Series 2 was The Blob monster toward the end. Not gonna try to spell its species. Problem with 4 was TARDIS as Earthly Tow truck Real problem with 11 was companion characterization was absolutely missing Series 12 would be a shorter list to find anything right with it. Additional problem w/13: Unanswered Questions! Like how much of our own Solar System is even left?!?

[@TheMaskedDonut]

I do not disagree with any of this... Great list! Anything I would add would be minor (The Xmas special crippled Tennant, Flux could have worked if it had 2 more episodes...) I think the only one I would add is this: Series 10 - The Monks trilogy should have been the finale. Perhaps my hottest take is that I don't like "World Enough in Time" and "The Doctor Falls". And it's not because they revealed John Simm too early, but it's that they wasted him. All of his actions that drive the plot forward are basically off-screen, and when he does show up, he's almost immediately made as vulnerable as everyone else. The only memorable thing he does is kill himself by shooting Missy. And while I liked the idea of "The Doctor" potentially meeting his end in a comparatively low-stake scenario (his speech is excellent), I was already tired of the writers teasing out his death when we know that's just not ever happening. While it's ballsy that they had Bill taken out in the first few minutes, I feel like it's way too cruel, and it doesn't make me feel like it was a natural endpoint for her story. When all of the other companions left the show it felt like the natural conclusion to their story. But Bill? I feel like her story was cut off abruptly. They try to play into the Doctor feeling guilt over letting his concerns for rehabilitating Missy overpower his duty to protect Bill, but her getting shot wasn't anyone's fault really. And having her age decades in the basement due to time dilation and ultimately turned into a cyberman was also noone's fault. In their timeline, they went down almost immediately. And while the premise of escaping a time dilating ship was interesting, they don't do too much with it in the final episode. It's ultimately just running around an open field shooting cybermen for the millionth time. But the Monks trilogy? Each episode was different and fed into each other. They were unique designs/enemies and the stakes really heightened by the final episode. And if you wanted to have Bill exit the show, you could have done it quite easily by having her sacrifice herself to "kill the link" as they said. It would have been way more gut-wrenching and memorable because it was her actions that led humanity into this mess, and it'll be her actions that fix it.

[@sticky_icky]

honestly the season 4 finale was a bit of a mess, was expecting some critiques of it!

[@arch1017]

Yeah, it's not good, is it. Starts with a quick cop out from the previous cliff-hanger, then suffers from the standard RTD naff ending when he's escalated the stakes so high that he can't write his way out. Well, not without a deus ex machina (literally, in the case of S1, 3 and 4).

[@JohnFromAccounting]

@@arch1017 Davros was totally out of character as well. Why does he want to destroy reality? It's complete nonsense.

[@killianobrien2007]

I didnt realise christmas invasion was season 1, i just assumed it was the season 2 opener

[@julienschmitt4647]

Interesting view on every series, and if most of them seems valid, your points on series 4 and series 12 feels far fetched at best. It is half admitted for series 4 so I'll not elaborate more, but complaining series 12 has too many fillers when demonstrating it has only 3 filler episode doesn't make sense. And although orphan "BENNY!!!" 55 will be hated until the end of time and for very good reasons, I thought Praxeus was appreciated (not laudaded, but not hated either), so I was a bit surprised to hear it trashed like that. Especially when the most divisive trait of the series is clearly the lackluster revelation of the timeless child (not the revelation per say, but the way it was revealed, without respecting the "show don't tell" rule of cinema/tv) that damages what was outside of that a solid finale so far. As for series 11 and 13, although I fully agree with your main criticism which is fully valid, I still believe you are generally too harsh on those series. I liked the idea of seeing new ennemies and environments in series 11 (after >10 years of new who, it's important to bring something new than daleks, cybermen and master), and I genuinely don't get the hate for the ghost monument and the tsuranga conundrum. And I'm still amazed Flux could actually exist with all the difficulties the production faced (like episodes numbers reduced from 8 to 6) that I forgive the too rushed finale (which is still much better than the name of the doctor or even the wedding of river song)

[@torinju]

You know, sometimes I think I am the only one that actually likes Doctor Who. I pretty much disagree with everything in this video. Well, until the Chibnell era, anyhow. I really don't think Doctor Who made many mistakes until the Chibnell era. I like the goofy humor, I like all the companions, I liked all the Daleks, I pretty much liked it all. Which is why I kept watching it. Its not even a fanboy thing (although I wouldn't be ashamed if it was), I have no problem dumping a show once it goes off the rails, but Doctor Who kept me really really entertained throughout its run. While I did kind of stop watching during Chibnell, even that had some good bits to it (which made it frustrating to watch, you could see flashes of what could be, but then it wouldn't go there)

[@_andrewvia]

I'm sorry - this is just too fast for me, but it's my fault, since I am new here. When Ellie zoomed across the screen and then hit that operatic high note, I realized that I had no idea what she had been saying the last five minutes, and I had just been enjoying her accent. It's me who needs to catch up.

[@TheConman761]

I don’t agree that the doctor and rose pairing is unbearable, that’s your opinion that isn’t shared by everyone.

[@SleepyHarryZzz]

Ellie what _would_ be your pick for series 6?

[@micron000]

I'm actually very curious about this as well. Cause I agree with her asying the finale wasn't that bad, but I don't know what I would pick for S6 instead lol

[@megalegion9644]

I actually like Jodie's doctor and Chibnall's era including the timeless child but I will say the ghost monument was very forget able.

[@StarElysia]

Oh god with it leaning into supernatural elements are the daleks even going to come back this season

[@user-vm6eo2wv2i]

my main issue with series 5 was the amy and doctor sort of romance thing, it just really put me off amy as a character which sucked cause she had some really good stories

[@MrJ.Smith1234]

My problem with series 2 is that it's overarching plot is almost used exactly the same as series 1 with the words Torchwood being everywhere exactly like Bad Wolf. I'm glad they did something different for series 3.

[@riddersjc]

VOTE SAXON

[@jacobmatthews7524]

@@riddersjc exactly lol and then season 4 was "doctordonna" AND it brought back "bad wolf"

[@timidwolf]

I'd argue that your season 2 problem is actually a season 1 problem. If Christopher Eccleston hadn't been compelled to leave the series that early due to backstage politics they would have had that issue. I personally wasn't a fan of his portrayal of the Doctor, but may have warmed to him with more seasons, I blame RTD of robbing me of that opportunity and effectively wasting a regeneration (and not for the first time).

[@alecstronach]

I'm with you, season 6 finale was a banger wtf are ur writers on?!?! xD Sure it had its moments where it seemed a little obvious how you'd get around shit that happened but I loved it. Still one of my favourite seasons (after 4)