Published Aug 23, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
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Christopher Eccleston's time as the Doctor may have been brief, but over the course of 13 episodes and 10 distinct stories, his legacy left a lasting impression. In 2005, when Doctor Who was revived under the careful leadership of Russell T Davies, despite only appearing in one season, Eccleston still managed to exceed Paul McGann's tenure as the Doctor, since McGann only appeared in one film in 1996.
In that one season, Eccleston spent time with Rose Tyler as his primary companion, in addition to traveling with Captain Jack Harkness, Mickey Smith, and briefly with a boy named Adam Mitchell. He also led three double episodes, which is why in 13 episodes he covered exactly 10 stories. He faced off against classic villains like the Daleks and the Nestene Consciousness, in addition to introducing the world to the Slitheen.
All things considered, Eccleston and RTD managed to pack a great deal into this brief stint, and while some stories outshine others, this early period of Modern Who stands out as incredibly exciting, innovative, and thoroughly fun throughout.
"The Unquiet Dead" Season 1, Episode 3
That being said, something has to fall into last place, and "The Unquiet Dead" earns that unfortunate position here. This episode was a wonderful example of how historical figures can be woven into the narrative of Doctor Who, as Charles Dickens lands a prominent position in the episode.
However, this episode leaned heavily into a supernatural sci-fi storyline with gaseous aliens called the Gelth haunting Victorian London and taking control of corpses, while a psychic girl manages to create a connection to these aliens. It's not a bad episode, but it didn't rise to the same heights as others on this list.
"The Long Game" Season 1, Episode 7
After picking up Adam in the previous episode, the Doctor, Rose, and Adam travel to the future where they discover the world is in bad shape, and everyone on Earth is at risk of being beamed onto the terrifying Satellite 5, where they are forced to compete in a variety of deadly games that typically result in numerous deaths.
This episode is a great example of the Doctor's bravery and sharp detective skills as he unravels a mystery that has evaded all humankind for generations. It also features Simon Pegg in a cameo role, and reveals exactly what happens when a companion acts out of greed and a desire to abuse the chance to travel through time and space.
"The End of the World" Season 1, Episode 2
This is a fascinating episode, and as the second entry in the modern era, it was extremely exciting to move from a contemporary alien invasion story to one that takes place at the end of the Earth's timeline. The Doctor takes Rose to an end-of-the-world party, hosted by the last human alive, though Cassandra does not resemble any human that you could imagine, considering the fact that she has become a skin graft with a brain in a jar.
A wide array of aliens appears in this episode, and it's thrilling to see how the series tackles the challenge of creating different species. On top of that, the Doctor flirting with a tree and his wonderful speech when confronting and outsmarting the antagonist of the episode make this an incredibly memorable episode in the series.
"Aliens of London"/"World War Three" Season 1, Episodes 4 + 5
Early in the season, one of the most menacing and creative new villains to join Doctor Who's long list of rivals appears in the form of the Slitheen. These monstrous green creatures invade Earth thanks to their extraordinary technology that allows them to shrink from their full size and slip into the skin suits of humans they have eliminated.
This is the very first double episode adventure of the modern era, and one that leaves a lasting impression, not least of all because of the enemies, but also the mention of UNIT, the reveal that the Doctor is held in such high regard by major world leaders, and the incredibly high stakes as Earth's future hangs in the balance.
"Boom Town" Season 1, Episode 11
Near the end of the season, the Slitheen return as the Doctor and a handful of his new allies, including Jack Harkness, discover the last Slitheen in Cardiff. With the larger cast of characters engaging with one another, and the familiar villain making a return, this episode feels like one of the most fleshed out and meaningful of this season.
It also builds on the previous story, revealing that the last Slitheen is now alone, and while she makes nefarious plans to blow up the planet to return home, the Doctor finds a way to sympathize and connect with his enemy. There's charm, heart, humor, and plenty of fun and action as this episode lays the groundwork for Eccleston's final outing.
"Dalek" Season 1, Episode 6
This episode introduced one of the Doctor's most powerful and threatening rivals from the show's entire history: Daleks. Fair enough, this episode only features a single Dalek, and they are in a weakened condition, but when Rose touches this death machine, they absorb the time travel energy and their systems fire up.
One of the best details of this episode is the fact that the Daleks get a much-needed upgrade as it's revealed they can now fly, but beyond that, the episode features a cast of annoying and exaggerated characters that prevent it from climbing higher on the rankings.
"Father's Day" Season 1, Episode 8
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Without a doubt, this is one of the most emotional and intense episodes of this first season of Doctor Who. Rose Tyler has been traveling through time with the Doctor for a while now, but with access to time travel, her mind has been constantly coming back to one thing that she has always wanted to experience: seeing her late father one last time.
Having heard endless wonderful stories about her dad from her mother, Jackie, Rose wants to meet him and be present for his final moments, when he would otherwise die alone. However, Rose struggles to stand by and watch her father die, which leads to her saving her father and creating a paradox.
This episode establishes some important rules around time travel, even if the show hasn't brought the Reapers back in subsequent adventures. And it delivers some of the best emotion from Rose's time on the TARDIS.
"Rose" Season 1, Episode 1
As much as "Father's Day" is a strong Rose Tyler story, the episode that brought the show back, "Rose," is without doubt one of the best of the entire series. This episode revived the series, and it captivated a new generation of viewers alongside the fans who were waiting to return as soon as there was a good enough story.
The Doctor is investigating a series of strange events, and meets a young woman with incredible instincts named Rose Tyler. Over the course of the episode, the Doctor grows close to Rose, and together they save the world from the threat of the Nestene Consciousness. It's everything that Doctor Who should be, and it deserves to be in the top three of this listing.
"Bad Wolf"/"The Parting of the Ways" Season 1, Episodes 12 + 13
From meeting Rose Tyler to saying his final goodbye, Christopher Eccleston's final episodes stand out as some of his very best. Discovering that he did not rid the universe of his greatest rivals, the Dalek Empire stands tall and threatens to destroy everything and everyone that the Doctor cares about.
In fact, they do accomplish this, repurposing Satellite 5 from "The Long Game," killing Captain Jack, and being on the verge of total annihilation. However, Rose Tyler manages to save the day by consuming the Time Vortex and becoming the Bad Wolf, before the Doctor takes the unstable power from her and sacrifices himself.
We get to experience regeneration firsthand, witness a painful goodbye, and unravel the mystery that was being set up the entire season with the Bad Wolf. This adventure is a strong contender for the best of this season, but it narrowly misses out to the undeniable best adventure of the season.
"The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" Season 1, Episodes 9 + 10
In many ways, "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" captures everything that this series is about. The Doctor and Rose travel back to World War II, where the Doctor helps people in need, and they pick up another stray in the form of Captain Jack. There is emotion, adventure, mystery, and a healthy dose of horror with a child with a gas mask for a face stalking the Doctor and his friends.
This episode sees the Doctor win, and win big, as he saves the lives of everyone affected by this mystery disease, unravels a mystery, and converts a sly ex-time agent into a new and dear friend. It's so effective in telling the story contained inside it, and it ultimately stands out not only as one of the best Doctor Who episodes of the season, but of the entire show's run.
Release Date 2005 - 2022-00-00
Directors Graeme Harper, Euros Lyn, Douglas Mackinnon, Jamie Magnus Stone, Charles Palmer, Rachel Talalay, Joe Ahearne, James Strong, Jamie Childs, Saul Metzstein, Toby Haynes, Wayne Che Yip, Nick Hurran, Richard Clark, James Hawes, Daniel Nettheim, Colin Teague, Keith Boak, Azhur Saleem, Adam Smith, Andrew Gunn, Nida Manzoor, Lawrence Gough, Paul Murphy
Writers Steven Moffat, Russell T. Davies
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Jodie Whittaker
The Doctor
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English (US) ·