Chris Chibnall has taken on Doctor Who showrunner duties for the foreseeable future. This longtime writer for the series, as well as a writer for Torchwood, is well known on British TV. His crime series Broadchurch remains one of the most lauded shows in recent memory. But for Doctor Who fans, his legacy is a bit more complicated.
His run on Doctor Who has remained divided, to say the least. He has given fans a lot of amazing moments and additions to the world, but his overall catalog of written stories has left a lot to be desired. Looking over the full career of this Doctor Who scribe, here are Chibnall’s ten best episodes.
Dinosaurs On A Spaceship (Series 7, Episode 2)
Starting off the list is an episode that, in all honesty, is fairly disliked by a majority of the fans. While we enjoy the out-there premise and the inclusion of Brian Willians as Rory’s dad, many fans can’t get behind some of the characterization choices for the Eleventh Doctor.
To give credit where it’s due, the effects here remain outstanding. The dinosaurs still hold up today, especially the practical puppet Triceratops. David Mitchell and Robert Webb do great voicework as twin security robots for David Bradley’s nasty villain. It’s a fun romp with The Doctor and friends, but once again overdoes it with the number of supporting characters.
The Power Of Three (Series 7, Episode 4)
The Power of Three began as a really compelling mystery. What would happen if a billion small cubes appeared around the world overnight with no explanation? It’s a fun mystery that is ultimately failed by a haphazard ending.
However, the character work by Chibnall is really fantastic. The struggle that Amy and Rory are having with their conflicting real lives and their lives with The Doctor is really coming to a head, and The Doctor is struggling with it as well. All of those moments make the episode worth the eye-roll worthy ending.
The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood (Series 5, Episode 8)
The Silurians had yet to appear in the rebooted series before this arc, but their evolution was really well done. Some fans lamented the more human-like makeup design of the creatures, but it served the very human story that Chibnall had crafted below the surface.
The story doesn’t rewrite what Doctor Who can do, nor does it offer much of a gamechanger in terms of storytelling. But not every episode of the series needs to do that. Both episodes bring a moral quandry to the table in a fun and exciting story. That’s about all we can ask of a solid episode of Doctor Who.
The Woman Who Fell To Earth (Series 11, Episode 1)
This was Chibnall’s first episode as showrunner, and you could certainly feel it. Not since The Eleventh Hour had there been such a shift in the format and aesthetic of the show, with the opening credits regulated to be at the end, utilizing a brand new composer, and a brand new voice in terms of writing.
It might have felt somewhat jarring for some longtime fans, but for others who have really seen the show change over the years, it was no problem at all. It perfectly introduced this new doctor, but its real strengths lied with its introductions of companions. It kickstarted a brand new era of Doctor Who in an exciting way.
Rosa (Series 11, Episode 3)
This era of Doctor Who has really found its stride in many of its historical episodes. Exploring moments of innovation and injustice, these historical episodes have far more to say than many before them. Rosa is a perfect example of this.
The episode tackles racism and the history behind the American Civil Rights Movement head-on, but in a way that is accessible for younger viewers. While the main conflict and villain feel a bit out of place, the impact of the finale can’t be ignored. It remains one of the most powerful moments in recent memory.
The Ghost Monument (Series 11, Episode 2)
The Doctor and the TARDIS are inseparable. So a story all about their reunion is a perfect set-up. The Ghost Monument is a solid sci-fi story, with a ticking clock right in the middle. The effects and camera work were stellar, but it is in the final moments where the story taps into that Doctor Who magic.
Chibnall waits until the very end to give fans their first look at the new TARDIS interior, and what a worthy wait it was. Everything from the dialogue, the score, and the lighting make this whole reveal one of the best. You feel the long journey to get home up to the very end.
Ascension Of Cybermen (Series 12, Episode 9)
While we have yet to see the final half of this story, Chibnall has done an excellent staging for what is sure to be an amazing finale. First and foremost, the Lone Cyberman has become a really compelling villain, and certainly the best Cyber villain of the new series.
The inclusion of the story of Brendan is also compelling, with a lot of mysterious threads that need to be explained. Through in the reveal of Gallifrey and The Master at the end, and you have a whopper of a part one. Hopefully, the finale can fulfill the promise of this episode.
Spyfall (Series 12, Episodes 1 & 2)
This two-part opener ended its first half with the return of The Master himself and ending its finale with the second destruction of Gallifrey. Around all this was a compelling spy story with artificial intelligence right at the center.
While there were a lot of convoluted moving parts, the overall scope of the story has to be appreciated. Chibnall really took the critiques from his previous season and brought his A-Game to this and other stories of series twelve.
Resolution (Series 11, Special Episode)
For many years, The Daleks had been considered anything but scary. Their shrill voices and their dorky look was nothing more than a cozy bit of nostalgia for the series. Their return in Resolution is a whole different take though, with a lone Dalek being pushed to its limits.
The body horror elements were exceptional in this episode. So much of it hearkened back to classic sci-fi horror films of the 70s and 80s, much to older fans’ delight. While we still missed some of the festivities we’re used to at Christmas, a great Dalek story was a suitable substitute.
Fugitive Of The Judoon (Series 12, Episode 5)
Not since the 50th Anniversary had fans been as excited for the series as they were with Fugitive of the Juddoon. The idea to bring back lesser-used villains like the Juddoon was a great idea in the first place, but it are the big surprises that make this episode Chibnall’s best yet.
Not a single person expected the return of the beloved Captain Jack Harkness, but you won’t hear anyone complain about it either. With Chibnall’s experience writing for him, it was if Jack never left. But, it is the addition of Jo Martin as The Doctor that really makes this episode so great. An incredible surprise no one expected, Martin slipped into the role seamlessly.
