Simple as the title suggests really. For me there are two obvious answers. The first time I watched Battlefield I tho it was pants but other the years it's become my go to campy who episode to watch whenever I'm a bit down. A similar thing happened with a Christmas carol on first viewing I tho it was a bit meh but upon rewatch it's become my favourite Christmas special. Deffo the best of the episodes inspired by works of literature at least in my opinion.
Episodes/stories that have become favourites on rewatchs
A great many Moffat episodes, to be honest. Confused and/or bored by them first time, but loved them on rewatch. A couple of examples are The Snowmen and The Time of the Doctor.
A Christmas Carol - I liked it a lot the first time, but upon rewatching I absolutely love it. Christmas-themed or not, it just really works. It's the Christmas episode of Doctor Who for me, and easily in my top five ever. It's huge fun, sentimental without being overly schamltzy, Moffat gets to use timey-wimey to tell an actual plot rather than a cop-out resolution, it has bittersweet undertones, brilliant acting all-round though special mentio to Michael Gambon, makes use of both time and space elements of the show, is one of the strongest Matt Smith era scripts and performances, looks the part in terms of CG and set design (like something from a Pratchett novel!) and is a loose adaptation of my favourite book. 
The Beast Below - the episode this thread was made for. Never has my opinion of an episode changed so much, and I'm not even quite sure why. Maybe because as a viewer I was still finding my feet in the Moffat-era, and I had newfound respect for it upon reflection - hindsight is a wonderful thing, after all! When I first saw this I disliked it very, very much. But rewatching it now and it's one of my absolute favourites! Great fun, memorable setting and characters, and a lot of nice touches along the way. The plot was interesting enough and apart from the odd bit of awkward dialogue ("Did he do the thing?") I found it really, really enjoyable. I still don't know how my opinion of an episode can change so much!
Last Christmas - it doesn't impress me like A Christmas Carol does, but this is a character piece through and through, and I've come to really value those as a commodity since Series 5. I owe a lot of this ones strength to Jenna Coleman who has somehow worked her way up my list of favourite companions and sits firmly in second... she's making Catherine Tate unexpectedly uncomfortable from her top pirch position! I enjoyed the episode as it was, and aside from the Troughton son who got neglected everyone had a distinctive character and voice here. Even Danny Pink didn't annoy me, and that's an achievement! Even Nick Frost didn't ruin Christmas, and given that Hot Fuzz is usually on telly at that time of year... we're bordering on miracle territory here. I lamented and almost stropped when the episode fooled me into thinking Clara was leaving, and then the following scene turned everything around again! It made me realise how much Moffat had made me care for both Doctor and companion again - something I haven't felt since Series 4. I'm heading into Series 9 more enthusiastic than ever!
Doomsday - I always enjoyed Doomsday, but for many years I compared it to The Parting of the Ways - in my opinion a superior finale episode not just because it features my favourite Doctor and favourite Big Bad, but because I feel it ventured into more interesting territory. At the time, whilst enjoying Doomsday it felt like exactly the same as the previous finale but without the future setting. It was like The Parting of the Ways...with budget cuts. They couldn't afford the expensive space station sets that year, so we'll just CG some Daleks over some London stock footage, despite the fact we've just done two poorly received and consecutive standalone stories also set in contemporary London. In the years since I think I've grown up a bit (in my defence, I was very early teens when Series 1/2 were new) and I think I 'get' Doomsday a bit more. I care about The Doctor/Rose more than I did back then, and am more invested in the characters. I also now find the Cyber-conversion a more scary and horrifying prospect than back then too. I finally 'get' the fuss over that beach scene and empathise more than I did back then when I was still a bit confused as to why Eccleston bowed out in less than two minutes whilst Rose got nearly a full-blown ten. I still prefer The Parting of the Ways, but I prefer it over every finale since as well. Doomsday is just another of my favourites.
The Beast Below - the episode this thread was made for. Never has my opinion of an episode changed so much, and I'm not even quite sure why. Maybe because as a viewer I was still finding my feet in the Moffat-era, and I had newfound respect for it upon reflection - hindsight is a wonderful thing, after all! When I first saw this I disliked it very, very much. But rewatching it now and it's one of my absolute favourites! Great fun, memorable setting and characters, and a lot of nice touches along the way. The plot was interesting enough and apart from the odd bit of awkward dialogue ("Did he do the thing?") I found it really, really enjoyable. I still don't know how my opinion of an episode can change so much!
Last Christmas - it doesn't impress me like A Christmas Carol does, but this is a character piece through and through, and I've come to really value those as a commodity since Series 5. I owe a lot of this ones strength to Jenna Coleman who has somehow worked her way up my list of favourite companions and sits firmly in second... she's making Catherine Tate unexpectedly uncomfortable from her top pirch position! I enjoyed the episode as it was, and aside from the Troughton son who got neglected everyone had a distinctive character and voice here. Even Danny Pink didn't annoy me, and that's an achievement! Even Nick Frost didn't ruin Christmas, and given that Hot Fuzz is usually on telly at that time of year... we're bordering on miracle territory here. I lamented and almost stropped when the episode fooled me into thinking Clara was leaving, and then the following scene turned everything around again! It made me realise how much Moffat had made me care for both Doctor and companion again - something I haven't felt since Series 4. I'm heading into Series 9 more enthusiastic than ever!
Doomsday - I always enjoyed Doomsday, but for many years I compared it to The Parting of the Ways - in my opinion a superior finale episode not just because it features my favourite Doctor and favourite Big Bad, but because I feel it ventured into more interesting territory. At the time, whilst enjoying Doomsday it felt like exactly the same as the previous finale but without the future setting. It was like The Parting of the Ways...with budget cuts. They couldn't afford the expensive space station sets that year, so we'll just CG some Daleks over some London stock footage, despite the fact we've just done two poorly received and consecutive standalone stories also set in contemporary London. In the years since I think I've grown up a bit (in my defence, I was very early teens when Series 1/2 were new) and I think I 'get' Doomsday a bit more. I care about The Doctor/Rose more than I did back then, and am more invested in the characters. I also now find the Cyber-conversion a more scary and horrifying prospect than back then too. I finally 'get' the fuss over that beach scene and empathise more than I did back then when I was still a bit confused as to why Eccleston bowed out in less than two minutes whilst Rose got nearly a full-blown ten. I still prefer The Parting of the Ways, but I prefer it over every finale since as well. Doomsday is just another of my favourites.
Planet of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, Timelash, Survival, Black Orchid, The Mutants and the Mind of Evil
The Snowmen.
First time I watched it, I taught it was very good, but after I re-watched it, it became one of my favourite episodes.
First time I watched it, I taught it was very good, but after I re-watched it, it became one of my favourite episodes.
I think from New Who, The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang are the most improved episodes for me. I think on first viewing I was so busy lamenting the departure from the action packed finales of the RTD Era that I didn't really acknowledge how good these episodes were at the time. (Though I still do prefer the RTD Finales, Series 3 aside)
Though I still dislike a huge proportion of Series 5 still, these two episodes are really enjoyable for me now. I love all the time hopping and Matt Smith puts in a superb performance.
Classic Who, I would probably say The Time Monster. Wasn't overly keen on it initially because of all the Atlantis stuff and that part of the story I'm still not so keen on. However, the earlier episodes, again with all the Timey Wimey stuff is good and the Doctor/Master battle in Part 4 is superb.
Though I still dislike a huge proportion of Series 5 still, these two episodes are really enjoyable for me now. I love all the time hopping and Matt Smith puts in a superb performance.
Classic Who, I would probably say The Time Monster. Wasn't overly keen on it initially because of all the Atlantis stuff and that part of the story I'm still not so keen on. However, the earlier episodes, again with all the Timey Wimey stuff is good and the Doctor/Master battle in Part 4 is superb.
Midnight. The first time I really didn't like it. Just thought it was nonsense.
The second time I thought it was amazing.
The second time I thought it was amazing.
Last Christmas. Watching it live with family about I thought it was embarrassingly poor. Bought the dvd, sat down and watched it on my own in my own time and really enjoyed it.
I just mentioned one in another thread: The Time Warrior. I won't repeat what I wrote about it here.
I wouldn't quite call it a favourite but another is 'Horror of Fang Rock'. I used to find it extremely overrated and flawed, and I still do somewhat but on the other hand I can't help but like it. It's become one that when I think about it I'm inspired to rewatch it. I can't say exactly why: Tom Baker is in a bad mood, the Rutan is utterly ridiculous, some of the guest actors are terrible, it has a blatant padding subplot, and yet it has such an atmosphere, and I think that's what makes it. I'd guess a fairly rare example in classic Doctor Who of the production topping the script. Also, Tom Baker's weird mood ends up supplying some of his most memorable scenes, such as "we're all going to die".
It just works, despite some dodgy ingredients. Plus, I have a fetish for lighthouses.
This is a surprising one perhaps: The Girl in the Fireplace. I never regarded this as one of Moffat's best episodes. But the more I've watched it, the more I've realized how flawless the script is. It runs like absolute clockwork (villain mirroring metaphor intended). It's still not one of my personal Moffat favourites but damn it's good technically. I actually applaud the final shot of the reveal of the spaceship name. The perfect full-stop to the story. I get excited by good writing, not just by drama (possibly more than by drama).
I wouldn't quite call it a favourite but another is 'Horror of Fang Rock'. I used to find it extremely overrated and flawed, and I still do somewhat but on the other hand I can't help but like it. It's become one that when I think about it I'm inspired to rewatch it. I can't say exactly why: Tom Baker is in a bad mood, the Rutan is utterly ridiculous, some of the guest actors are terrible, it has a blatant padding subplot, and yet it has such an atmosphere, and I think that's what makes it. I'd guess a fairly rare example in classic Doctor Who of the production topping the script. Also, Tom Baker's weird mood ends up supplying some of his most memorable scenes, such as "we're all going to die".
It just works, despite some dodgy ingredients. Plus, I have a fetish for lighthouses.
This is a surprising one perhaps: The Girl in the Fireplace. I never regarded this as one of Moffat's best episodes. But the more I've watched it, the more I've realized how flawless the script is. It runs like absolute clockwork (villain mirroring metaphor intended). It's still not one of my personal Moffat favourites but damn it's good technically. I actually applaud the final shot of the reveal of the spaceship name. The perfect full-stop to the story. I get excited by good writing, not just by drama (possibly more than by drama).
The Five Doctors (just recently re-watched) ok not the greatest story but still amazing for me that you had all these Doctors(one substitute) over the history of the show all together in an episode plus a shed load of companions as well.Just brilliant.
It does make me think how the Beeb/Moff.whoever really missed a trick though considering for the 50th you had McGann Ecclestone Tennant and Smith all physically looking great,it was such a shame they all couldn't have appeared.Given the nature of the show there might never be another opportunity to have 4 living Doctors together on screen.
It does make me think how the Beeb/Moff.whoever really missed a trick though considering for the 50th you had McGann Ecclestone Tennant and Smith all physically looking great,it was such a shame they all couldn't have appeared.Given the nature of the show there might never be another opportunity to have 4 living Doctors together on screen.
Originally Posted by Doctorwhonerd:
“Simple as the title suggests really. For me there are two obvious answers. The first time I watched Battlefield I tho it was pants but other the years it's become my go to campy who episode to watch whenever I'm a bit down. A similar thing happened with a Christmas carol on first viewing I tho it was a bit meh but upon rewatch it's become my favourite Christmas special. Deffo the best of the episodes inspired by works of literature at least in my opinion.”
“Simple as the title suggests really. For me there are two obvious answers. The first time I watched Battlefield I tho it was pants but other the years it's become my go to campy who episode to watch whenever I'm a bit down. A similar thing happened with a Christmas carol on first viewing I tho it was a bit meh but upon rewatch it's become my favourite Christmas special. Deffo the best of the episodes inspired by works of literature at least in my opinion.”
My favourite Christmas special is The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe, followed by The Christmas Invasion. Last Christmas is my least favourite, followed by a Christmas Carol.
Classic stories that I didn't like on first viewing, but do now after re-watching them, are:
The Edge of Destruction
The Aztecs
The Space Museum
The Chase
The Web Planet (probably my most favourite First Doctor one)
The Mind Robber (My favourite Second Doctor story. Love the bit when Zoe is told not to look at the snake head woman. Also the mix-up over Jamie's face was funny. The Unicorn bit I liked too!)
The Invasion
Spearhead From Space
The Daemons
Death To The Daleks
The Brain of Morbius (now my most favourite Fourth Doctor story!)
The Horns of Nimon
Meglos
Earthshock
Planet of Fire
Mark of the Rani
Delta and the Bannermen
Survival
The New Who stories I like a lot now, but didn't on first watch, are:
Boom Town
New Earth
Tooth and Claw
Smith and Jones
Gridlock
Utopia
Voyage of the Damned
The Waters of Mars
Victory of the Daleks
Vincent and the Doctor
Closing Time
Let's Kill Hitler
Cold War
Journey to the Centre of the Tardis
