Silence in the library

With respect, most people completely missed the point of the Rings of Akhaten. And this video shows why. The doctor’s heart and soul wasn’t beat out by “a magic leaf”. The entire episode is about how items of personal value are used as currency in Akhaten, rather than items of inherent value (like gold or silver). The meaning we place in objects gives them value, and history beyond their inherent qualities.

The Doctor, while willing to give stories of his past, is just giving that—the past. Nothing more. Clara’s leaf is just a leaf, nothing more to it, except to HER its meaning is exceptionally special. It’s the leaf that represents all the potential futures her mother could have had. It’s not that this leaf is “more important” than the doctor or anything like that; it’s that the unlived infinite futures are more powerful than a finite one. It’s a story about the grief over loss, not just losing the person, but all the potential days they never got to live. That infinity is more powerful than the Doctor’s finite history. It’s not about Clara or the leaf itself, it’s about the meaning of lost futures with the ones we lose too early.

This list hurts my soul.  Both Listen and Girl in the Fireplace are among the very best of episodes in my book.  Actually, I really liked most of these.   Well, taste is subjective and all.  Time for a cup of tea and a rewatch of Army of Ghosts.

I think the weirdest thing about Listen is that Danny Pink grows up and begins a romantic relationship with a woman who broke into his bedroom when he was 10

The Girl In The Fireplace is one of the finest examples of storytelling I have seen on any TV show. It was intriguing, educational, creepy, funny, bombastic and at the end unbelievably tragic. How anyone can sit with a dry eye through the scene where the Doctor discovers that Mme de Pompadour has died is beyond me. I put the episode up there with Dalek, Turn Left, Blink and Heaven Sent.

My only disagreement on the list is the Zygon Invasion/Inversion two parter. There's lots more memorable moments like "Doctor Disco", Petronella and "Basil", the Union Jack parachute as camouflage, "London! What a dump!", the Doctor calling the two little girls "very blobby", poncing about in a big plane, the body horror of Bonnie forcing that one Zygon to change. Sure, most of the episodes' hype comes from the war speech, but the rest of the episodes have good moments too!

I shall not take any Girl in the Fireplace slander , that is a definitive doctor who episode. If someone who hasn’t seen this show wants to understand what’s it’s about and it’s tone/vibe. I’ll always a recommend that episode. It has everything you want and expect from Doctor who.

The Girl in the Fireplace?!  Really?  Complaining that the Doctor forgets all about Rose for Reinette seems silly when Rose is wandering around with her boyfriend who she has ignored for two seasons because of the Doctor.

I can't believe that any of Jodie's episodes is on this list.  I absolutely adore her and you can think I'm wrong but there is no real pocket of the fandom that claims that the Woman Who Fell to Earth is among the best Doctor Who stories.

"Doomsday" wasn't the weakest RTD finale. The plot at least made sense.

As for "Last of the Time Lords"... people chanting at the sky to make Space Jesus, anyone?

I feel the girl in the fireplace was only put in to get comments through controversy. This episode was great in the fact that anyone can jump in and enjoy this episode without being an established fan. It still excited those of us who have watched every Dr. Who ever made. And it came at a point when some of us were just bored with the sexual tension between the doctor and rose. Girl in the fireplace will always be a go to episode for me when I just need to be happy and sad and excited.

I loved the Girl in the Fireplace. I really felt Ten's and  Madame de Pompadour's chemistry and connection. It hurt knowing she died waiting for him and he lost yet another person he cared for. If only he'd gone with her when she went to pack. 😭

funny enough, most criticism i've seen for the girl in the fireplace has been the lack of focus on the B plot. The creepy androids on a ship made of flesh might have been a better idea on its own without the time windows at all.

Listen isn't overrated, it's underrated. There was always a large group of people who didn't like it because they didn't get it.

I personally think Micky gets too bad of a rap. He had the best character arch in the entire show. He started out a happy guy who had an alien offering the entirety of time and space to his girl come and whisk her away in his spaceship. While going through untold horrors no one prepared him for, he came out the other side not only a freedom fighter against some of the most dangerous soldiers in the multiple universes and married arguably the most independent and underrated companion of the entire show, Martha. Truly, a lot of companions may have changed a little, but Micky had the most growth. And probably the highest respect earned from the Doctor.

Personally I don't believe in the overrated episodes thing. Niggling. Underrated is often more interesting.

To quote 9 taking about humans “you’re stupid” if we didn’t see the bin burp “mikey” could of just put vasciline on his head 😂

i think people need to understand that something being over or underrated doesnt inherently mean its good or bad, just that it gets way more or way little attention/appreciation than someone feels it deserves. at the end of the day it completely comes down to personal preferences

Fires of Pompeii, Army of Ghosts/Doomsday, The Girl in the Fireplace are some of my favourite episodes... 🥲

Considering 12 is my favourite Doctor, and I think he’s the most consistently under appreciated incarnation, I can’t agree with any of his eps being overrated. He deserves all the flowers. Both him and Coleman - one of the very best TARDIS teams.