Apollo's Rebellion

To add to the celebrations of the Fiftieth Anniversary year, I have decided to post my favourite stories from Doctor Who since its revival in 2005. Every Saturday I will post a list of my favourite stories from each series leading up to the week before the Fiftieth Anniversary. Feel free to also share your thoughts in the comments below.

5. The Crimson Horror by Mark Gatiss
This episode played out like an old detective story where the pieces were being put together in front of our eyes. The return of the Paternoster Gang was a wonderful relief and the mystery of "The Crimson Horror" was something that definitely kept me on my toes. I loved that the story followed Vastra, Jenny and Strax more, allowing us to see it more from their perspective.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The Doctor's Yorkshire accent and, real life mother and daughter duo, Rachel Stirling and Diana Rigg as Ada and Mrs Gillyflower respectively.

4. A Town Called Mercy by Toby Whithouse
I'm not much of a fan of the old west, but I really did enjoy this episode. It really showed just how damaged the Doctor is and just how much he needs a companion. It reflected just how volatile the Doctor can become
and that he really does have a darker side to him. The episode also proved that sometimes the real monsters aren't the science experiments, but rather the scientists themselves.
Highlight(s) of the episode: Amy stopping the Doctor from allowing Kahler Jax to die.

3. The Angels Take Manhattan by Steven Moffat
New York City, the Weeping Angels and a heartbreaking end. The angels are back and this time they're sending people to the 1940's. Of course, being a Moffat episode, everything is a bit wibbly wobbly. River Song makes a return for what seems like the penultimate time and this time she's known as Melody Malone of the Angel Detective Agency. Then there's that soul wrenching rooftop scene with Amy and Rory. Then just when you think it's all over and that the Pond family are actually going to have a happy ending, your heart gets ripped out again. But it was a good ending and Mr and Mrs Pond finally got what they wanted: a normal life.
Highlight(s) of the episode: Amy and Rory getting a happily ever after, although not the one some wanted, but they did get to live to an old age and Rory did get his wish of growing old with Amy. I also loved the concept of incorporating a novel written by one of the characters into the story as a sort of means to send a message. Also, Amy's afterword to the Doctor.

2. Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS by Stephen Thompson
I've always wanted an episode where we got to see more of the TARDIS. I absolutely loved getting to see the infamous swimming pool, the Doctor's
library and what exactly keeps the TARDIS flying. The fact that the TARDIS is so big that it can hide bad things that even the Doctor doesn't know about sent shivers down my spine. I enjoyed the story line of the Van Baalen brothers and that even after time reset itself the events still left echoes of it within everyone.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The chance to see more of the TARDIS, my favourite place being the study/library for obvious reasons.

1. The Name of the Doctor by Steven Moffat
I'm pretty sure you know why this episode has made it to the top of my list. It was the episode that this entire series has led up to. Finally, secrets are revealed and the nature of what Trenzalore is was discovered. The story was pretty good and the overall concept was also intriguing. Having both the Great Intelligence and Clara play an important part in the story was wonderful as those two have quite literally been the red herrings throughout the entire second part. And, as I've said before, the fact that the actions of Clara make her special shows that travelling with the Doctor has changed her.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The TARDIS being so distraught that she makes herself the monument to the Doctor and the return (and sad departure) of River Song.

Episodes of note: The Power of Three and Asylum of the Daleks
The Power of Three gets a special mention for it being from the perspective of Amy and Rory and how their lives are changing and for the introduction of Kate Stewart who is the daughter of the much loved Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The only reason that it didn't make my countdown was because the story line was a bit weak and the resolution wasn't much of a resolution.
Asylum of the Daleks would have made it onto my countdown, but after watching it I felt like there was something missing. The introduction to Oswin Oswald and the return of the Daleks was enough to let it get a special mention, but the episode left me with more questions than answers.

To add to the celebrations of the Fiftieth Anniversary year, I have decided to post my favourite stories from Doctor Who since its revival in 2005. Every Saturday I will post a list of my favourite stories from each series leading up to the week before the Fiftieth Anniversary. Feel free to also share your thoughts in the comments below.

5. New Earth by Russell T. Davies
A newly regenerated Doctor, New New York and the return of an old enemy this episode had everything you needed for a series opener. This episode marked the first time the Doctor and Rose stepped on a different planet together and how fitting was it that it was New Earth? This was reeling with good humour, cat people and the Doctor's compassion that we know and love.
Highlight(s) of the episode: Lady Cassandra possessing the bodies of both Rose and the Doctor and the Doctor swooping in last minute to save all those innoocent people.

4. School Reunion by Toby Whithouse
I think you can all guess why this has made my list. This episode had the return of two of Classic Who's most famous companions, Sarah-Jane Smith
and K-9. It also featured bat people and the contemporary setting of a London school which I bet went down well with most of Doctor Who's fanbase. The overall storyline was basic good guy beats bad guy, but the way in which it was written and executed was fantastic.
Hightlight(s) of the episode: The first time the Doctor sees Sarah-Jane again and he walks around the school with a big smile on his face and the first time Sarah-Jane sees the TARDIS and realises that the Doctor is there.

3. The Girl in the Fireplace by Steven Moffat
This episode ranks high up in my countdown for one reason only and that's concept. The entire premise of this episode was something that the new series has never shown before. The basic concept is that the Doctor, Mickey and Rose find themselves on an alien spaceship that has so called time windows into 18th century France. The question is, what does a spaceship need from 18th century France? That answer is only revealed right at the end with a little dramatic irony seeing as the audience knows, yet the Doctor doesn't. Only reason it didn't rank any higher in my opinion was the storyline of Madame de Pompadour. I found that the episode maybe made her too special like when she was able to see the Doctor's thoughts. I thought maybe it was because she was somehow connected to the Doctor or that it would play a bigger part in the episode, but it was just that she was Madame de Pompadour and she could control clockwork people and do things that others can't because she fancied the Doctor. Another thing that peeved me was when she was telling Rose that one accepts a world of demons for the sake on angel. Rose clearly already knows this seeing as she decided to stay with the Doctor after all those terrible things that happened to her and I honestly think Moffat added that in there to be poetic.
Highlights(s) of the episode: The Doctor inventing the banana daiquiri a few years too soon and the Doctor riding in through the mirror on a horse.

2. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday by Russell T. Davies
I think everyone can agree that this was one of the saddest storylines that Doctor Who has ever aired. I was on the verge of tears at ten o' clock at night. This episode was not only the return of the Daleks, but also the return of the Cyberman from Pete's parallel world. The showdown between the Daleks and Cybermen was also definitely one for the history books. Of course, this episode also brought about the inevitable end to Rose Tyler's own storyline and, although Rose may not be my favourite companion, a heartbreaking end for the Doctor. It's hard to see a companion leave, but it's even harder knowing that they may not return to the show in the future.
Highlight(s) of the episodes: Rose still getting a happy ending, although not the one she wanted. She still gets to see her mum and dad together and she gets to live a happy, stable life in Pete's world.

1. Tooth and Claw by Russell T. Davies
Werewolves, Queen Victoria and David using his native Scottish accent, this episode was definitely my favourite episode of series 2. This episode was the classic Doctor Who formula where the Doctor ends up taking his companion to the wrong time only to get caught up in the events around them. The episode provided Rose with a chance to show that she can get things done without the Doctor, choosing to take the lead when they're faced with the werewolf. The reason I like this episode so much is not so much the story line as the acting and character interactions that happen within it. This was a time when the Doctor and Rose were genuinely happy together and it showed on multiple occasions. This episode was fast-paced and thrilling while also retaining its humour.
Highlight(s) of the episode: Rose trying to get Queen Victoria to say "We are not amused" and the origins of Torchwood.