Skip to Doctor One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight. Check 'Reading the Guide' first!
Every season of Classic Doctor Who contains a number of “serials” which are made up of multiple episodes. Below is every Doctor Who serial I have seen, categorized and ranked. I got my list of episodes from the fantastic Wikipedia entry, “List of Doctor Who serials.” I also consulted Nerdist’s “Doctor Who for Newbies” series ( First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh ), Geeks of Doom’s “10 Classic ‘Doctor Who’ Adventures Worth Checking Out” article, and Doctor Who Magazine's “Big 200” Reader Poll to make sure I didn’t under represent any episodes. Leave any suggestions for changes in the comments below. If you want to start on a later episode, Ritch and Space has a video that covers good starting points and watching habits. Note: I am on season 26 and still watching.
Reading the Guide
Episodes are color coordinated:
- Episode ### - Recommended serial (#)
- Episode ### - Good serial
- Episode ### - Normal Serial
- Episode ### - Boring or Bad Serial
- Episode ### - Serial with Missing Parts ( audio, with still images )
- Episode ### - Not Yet Seen
- Episode ### - Also Recommended By Nerdist Also Recommended by Nerdist
- Episode ### - Also Recommended By Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom
- Episode ### - Rank on Doctor Who Magazine's “Big 200” Reader Poll #000
Recommended episode ranked: The (#) on recommended serials is their rank among the other recommended episodes from that Doctor. If you only have time for two serials-per-doctor, then just watch the (1) and (2) recommended serials for each Doctor, and so on.
Spoilers hidden in grey boxes: Possible spoilers, such as the monster for that serial, are hidden in grey-on-grey text like this: Spoilers! so that they can be highlighted and read, or even searched, only if you want to see them.
First Doctor, William Hartnell
- Episode 001 - An Unearthly Child (1) Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #061
- Episode 002 - The Daleks (2) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #037
- Episode 003 - The Edge of Destruction Also Recommended by Nerdist. #158
- Episode 004 - Marco Polo #065
- Episode 005 - The Keys of Marinus #160
- Episode 006 - The Aztecs Only 4 episodes. #057
- Episode 007 - The Sensorites #183
- Episode 008 - The Reign of Terror #144
- Episode 009 - Planet of Giants #163
- Episode 010 - The Dalek Invasion of Earth (3) Skipping this episode? then skip to last 10 minutes to see off Susan. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #044
- Episode 011 - The Rescue Only 2 episodes long. #127
- Episode 012 - The Romans #097
- Episode 013 - The Web Planet #178
- Episode 014 - The Crusade Animated release rumored in the next few years. #100
- Episode 015 - The Space Museum #190
- Episode 016 - The Chase Monster: Daleks. #157
- Episode 017 - The Time Meddler (6) First non-doctor Time Lord. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #075
- Episode 018 - Galaxy 4 #172
- Episode 019 - Mission to the Unknown #133
- Episode 020 - The Myth Makers #126
- Episode 021 - The Daleks' Master Plan (6)#042
- Episode 022 - The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve New companion: Dodo Chaplet. #086
- Episode 023 - The Ark #154
- Episode 024 - The Celestial Toymaker #151
- Episode 025 - The Gunfighters #175
- Episode 026 - The Savages Companion leaves: Stephen. #162
- Episode 027 - The War Machines (5) #108
- Episode 028 - The Smugglers #159
- Episode 029 - The Tenth Planet (4) Monster: First Cybermen. 4th episode reconstructed. Will be animated in 2013! #055
Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton
- Episode 030 - The Power of the Daleks (6) First Troughton! #021
- Episode 031 - The Highlanders New companion: Jamie!. #145
- Episode 032 - The Underwater Menace #194
- Episode 033 - The Moonbase (7) Monster: Cybermen. #112
- Episode 034 - The Macra Terror #137
- Episode 035 - The Faceless Ones Companions leave: Ben and Polly #122
- Episode 036 - The Evil of the Daleks (8) New companion: Victoria. #018
- Episode 037 - The Tomb of the Cybermen (2) Only complete S05 episode. Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #025
- Episode 038 - The Abominable Snowmen Prequel to 041. Monster: The Great Intelligence, featured in modern episodes. #059
- Episode 039 - The Ice Warriors (4) Animated in August 2013! #078
- Episode 040 - The Enemy of the World #139
- Episode 041 - The Web of Fear (5) Sequel to 038. First Brigadier. #023
- Episode 042 - Fury from the Deep #041
- Episode 043 - The Wheel in Space Monster: Cybermen. #156
- Episode 044 - The Dominators #191
- Episode 045 - The Mind Robber Also Recommended by Nerdist. #060
- Episode 046 - The Invasion (3) Two great animated episodes. First UNIT. Monster: Cybermen Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #031
- Episode 047 - The Krotons #166
- Episode 048 - The Seeds of Death Monster: Ice Warriors Also Recommended by Nerdist. #111
- Episode 049 - The Space Pirates #195
- Episode 050 - The War Games (1) First “Time Lord” and view of Gallifrey. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #029
Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee
- Episode 051 - Spearhead from Space (1) Monster: First Nestene ( Plastic ). Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #036
- Episode 052 - Doctor Who and the Silurians Featured in modern episodes: The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #045
- Episode 053 - The Ambassadors of Death Parts in B/W. #090
- Episode 054 - Inferno (4) First alternate universe. Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #032
- Episode 055 - Terror of the Autons (3) Monster: First Master! Also, Nestene. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #051
- Episode 056 - The Mind of Evil B/W Only. Monster: Master. #092
- Episode 057 - The Claws of Axos Monster: Master, Axons. #129
- Episode 058 - Colony in Space Monster: Master, Miners. #171
- Episode 059 - The Dæmons Monster: Master, Dæmons. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #034
- Episode 060 - Day of the Daleks Monster: Time Traveling Daleks. #071
- Episode 061 - The Curse of Peladon Monster: Ice Warriors. #082
- Episode 062 - The Sea Devils (6) Monster: Silurians. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #050
- Episode 063 - The Mutants Monster: Solonians, Humans. #182
- Episode 064 - The Time Monster Monster: The Master, Kronos. #187
- Episode 065 - The Three Doctors (2) Monster: First Omega! Also Recommended by Nerdist. #058
- Episode 066 - Carnival of Monsters #062
- Episode 067 - Frontier in Space Monster: The Master, Humans. #113
- Episode 068 - Planet of the Daleks Monster: Daleks. Continues from previous serial. #118
- Episode 069 - The Green Death (7) Spoiler: Last Jo episode. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #039
- Episode 070 - The Time Warrior (4) New companion: Sarah Jane Smith!! Monster: First Sontarans! Also Recommended by Nerdist. #047
- Episode 071 - Invasion of the Dinosaurs #131
- Episode 072 - Death to the Daleks Monster: Daleks. #128
- Episode 073 - The Monster of Peladon Back on Peladon from Episode 061! #179
- Episode 074 - Planet of the Spiders (5) Metebelis Crystal from Episode 069 #089
Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker
- Episode 075 - Robot (6) First Baker!
#106 - Episode 076 - The Ark in Space (11) New head writers, Hinchcliffe and Holmes, for next 3 seasons. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #028
- Episode 077 - The Sontaran Experiment Only 2 episodes! Continues from last serial. Monster: Sontarans #103
- Episode 078 - Genesis of the Daleks (1) Continues from last serial. Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #003
- Episode 079 - Revenge of the Cybermen Continues from last serial. #130
- Episode 080 - Terror of the Zygons Monster: Zygons & Loch Ness Monster. #017
- Episode 081 - Planet of Evil #084
- Episode 082 - Pyramids of Mars Monster: Sutekh. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #007
- Episode 083 - The Android Invasion Monster: The Kraal. #123
- Episode 084 - The Brain of Morbius (7) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #040
- Episode 085 - The Seeds of Doom #016
- Episode 086 - The Masque of Mandragora #085
- Episode 087 - The Hand of Fear Companion leaves: Sarah Jane Smith. #096
- Episode 088 - The Deadly Assassin (3) Galliphrey! Monster: The Master.. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #020
- Episode 089 - The Face of Evil (5) Does not reference an older episode. New companion: Leela!. #116
- Episode 090 - The Robots of Death #009
- Episode 091 - The Talons of Weng-Chiang (8) Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #004
- Episode 092 - Horror of Fang Rock (9) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #026
- Episode 093 - The Invisible Enemy First K-9! #164
- Episode 094 - Image of the Fendahl #073
- Episode 095 - The Sun Makers #147
- Episode 096 - Underworld #197
- Episode 097 - The Invasion of Time (2) "Believe me, Lord Borusa, I've never been more serious in any of my lives." Also Recommended by Nerdist. #155
- The Key to Time Season of unrelated stories with an overarching plot. Monster: The Black Guardian. Also Recommended by Nerdist.
- Episode 098 - The Ribos Operation #105
- Episode 099 - The Pirate Planet #109
- Episode 100 - The Stones of Blood #067
- Episode 101 - The Androids of Tara #095
- Episode 102 - The Power of Kroll #174
- Episode 103 - The Armageddon Factor #168
- Episode 104 - Destiny of the Daleks #121
- Episode 105 - City of Death (4) 4th episode is the most watched episode of Doctor Who ever, reaching 16.1 million people. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #008
- Episode 106 - The Creature from the Pit #184
- Episode 107 - Nightmare of Eden #167
- Episode 108 - The Horns of Nimon #189
- Episode 000 - Shada Never completed due to BBC strike. Released later using linking narration by Tom Baker.
- Episode 109 - The Leisure Hive #149
- Episode 110 - Meglos #188
- Episode 111 - Full Circle #101
- Episode 112 - State of Decay #087
- Episode 113 - Warriors' Gate #081
- Episode 114 - The Keeper of Traken Monster: The Master! #070
- Episode 115 - Logopolis (10) Monster: The Master. New companion: Tegan! Also Recommended by Nerdist. #053
Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison
- Episode 116 - Castrovalva (6) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #088
- Episode 117 - Four to Doomsday #173
- Episode 118 - Kinda Monster: Mara. Trippy episode, but not in a good way. Referenced in 124. #069
- Episode 119 - The Visitation The Highwayman character makes this whole episode not bad. #077
- Episode 120 - Black Orchid (4) #117
- Episode 121 - Earthshock (5) Monster: Cybermen Also Recommended by Nerdist. #019
- Episode 122 - Time-Flight Monster: The Master #196
- Episode 123 - Arc of Infinity Monster: Omega. Tegan returns! #177
- Episode 124 - Snakedance Monster: Mara. References 118. #000#120
- Episode 125 - Mawdryn Undead (3) THE BRIGADIER!. Monster: The Black Guardian Also Recommended by Nerdist. #102
- Episode 126 - Terminus Monster: The Black Guardian. Continues from previous. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #168
- Episode 127 - Enlightenment Monster: The Black Guardian. Continues from previous. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #072
- Episode 128 - The King's Demons Monster: The Master #181
- Episode 129 - The Five Doctors (1) "A man is the sum of his memories you know, a Time Lord even more so." Also Recommended by Nerdist. #038
- Episode 130 - Warriors of the Deep #185
- Episode 131 - The Awakening #110
- Episode 132 - Frontios #104
- Episode 133 - Resurrection of the Daleks (7) Companion leaves: Tegan. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #093
- Episode 134 - Planet of Fire New companion: Peri. #134
- Episode 135 - The Caves of Androzani (2) Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #001
Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker
- Episode 136 - The Twin Dilemma (4) Worst serial ever? Also Recommended by Nerdist. #200
- Episode 137 - Attack of the Cybermen #161
- Episode 138 - Vengeance on Varos (3) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #124
- Episode 139 - The Mark of the Rani Monster: Rani & The Master. #148
- Episode 140 - The Two Doctors Not a great story, but last multi-doctor serial. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #125
- Episode 141 - Timelash References unseen 3rd Doctor adventure. Loch Ness Monster & H. G. Wells. #199
- Episode 142 - Revelation of the Daleks (2) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #046
- The Trial of a Time-Lord (1) Season is one large story. Monster: The Valeyard Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #142
- Episode 143 - The Mysterious Planet
- Episode 143 - Mindwarp
- Episode 143 - Terror of the Vervoids
- Episode 143 - The Ultimate Foe
- Episode 144 - Time and the Rani Also Recommended by Nerdist. #198
- Episode 145 - Paradise Towers (5) Just plain delightful. A personal favorite. #193
- Episode 146 - Delta and the Bannermen Also Recommended by Nerdist. #180
- Episode 147 - Dragonfire (3) References 143. Companion leaves: Mel. New companion: Ace Also Recommended by Nerdist. #186
Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy
- Episode 148 - Remembrance of the Daleks (1) Also Recommended by Nerdist. #014
- Episode 149 - The Happiness Patrol #170
- Episode 150 - Silver Nemesis Monster: Cybermen. “Professor? Doctor? Who are you?” #176
- Episode 151 - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy #119
- Episode 152 - Battlefield (2) Brigadier! Delightful story. Also Recommended by Nerdist. #146
- Episode 153 - Ghost Light Nonsensical and confusing, but Ace is great as always. #076
- Episode 154 - The Curse of Fenric (4) Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #030
- Episode 155 - Survival Also Recommended by Nerdist. #080
Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann
- Episode 156 - Doctor Who (1) Also Recommended by Geeks of Doom Also Recommended by Nerdist. #135