Agreed...though Asylum of the Daleks was pretty good, and Dalek did a grand job at reintroducing them, The Parting of the Ways for me put them to their most effective use. It was a very clear strategy that they had, and one that almost worked. Even defeating them had massive consequences for both The Doctor and Captain Jack.

I always enjoy it when Doctor Who applies its sci-fi themes to religion or faith a little bit - it just makes for interesting viewing (and I say that as an atheist). It's why I enjoyed the god-complex slant of the Emperor so much, and why I enjoy most of Toby Whithouse' stories too as he uses the faith element quite a bit.

The cannon fodder was also quite likeable. And the finale didn't hold back from murdering every single one of them - genuine consequences, with The Doctor and Rose being the only ones to escape from Sattelite Five immediately, Jack left stranded to his own devices, everyone else aboard the sattelite slaughtered and the planet left burning! It was good, powerful stuff.

Aside from the odd cheesy line ("I think you need a Doctor"...we'll pretend that never happened) there was so much to love here. The story arc wrapped up convincingly too... a rarity

Enjoyed it greatly at the time of Who's triumphant return, but watching it in retrospect, although I sort of felt it at the time too even whist being swept up in the drama, thought it was a bit of a shame that Eccleston seemed a bit sidelined in the second part of his swansong...and we all knew it was his last outing. (that was a bit of a shame too. I know RTD would've loved it if the regeneration was a surprise....still, such is the price of fame/success.)

Doctor builds gizmo, Doctor doesn't use gizmo. Although his anguish at that point is if anything even more striking after the events of Day of the Doctor. And of course there's the terrific regeneration scene....

Don't throw rocks at me, CD93. Still like the story.

This is personally my only issue with it now...I still feel the events of the latter story cheapened the emotional investment of Series 1 of both myself as a viewer, and of Eccleston's contribution as an actor.

All of the RTD finales were amazing, but the stolen earth/journeys end wins every time for me. Not only was it the glorious culmination of everything RTD had achieved with the show up to that point, but was also a brilliant story in it's own right - big and epic, yet at the same time personal and emotional, risk and danger was felt, and the story was entertaining and easy to follow whilst still being intelligent.

As for the Moffat Finale's, there hasn't been one that has been the complete package for me. If I had to choose a favourite, it would be the pandorica opens/the big bang because that was a good story, but just ruined at the end by not having an explanation for the exploding TARDIS in the episodes.




Here we go again, every time someone Like Tom baker is voted top in a poll it's because he's a great doctor etc, but anytime Tennant comes out on top a certain section of fans insist it can't possibly be correct and must just be girls who fancy him block voting for the sake of it.

Why can't some people accept that Tennant is now the favourite doctor for a lot of people (in equally the same way as Tom Baker is for a lot of other people) rather than making excuses as to his popularity. I'm a straight male and as such certainly don't fancy Tennant, and have seen at least one or two episodes of doctors 1-7 ( and more of Tom Baker), and obviously all of new who, so I have experienced all the doctors in either a little or a lot, yet Tennant is my favourite due to his acting ability in the role, as I'm sure is the case for many others.


Imagine if every time a classic doctor got voted top, everyone turned around and said 'nah, that's not accurate, it's just old nostalgic men block voting for the past', People who have a classic doctor as their favourite (whether old or young) would be annoyed that a result they were happy for was being diminished by people who didn't like it, yet that is exactly how it feels when people try to diminish any poll where Tennant comes top by claiming only lusting girls would vote for him.

If you didn't vote for Series 4, you're a pervert.

The Name of the Doctor for me. Classic Doctors, the Great Intelligence (very under-appreciated villain in my view), Strax, and THAT ending. Plus, it really contributed to the mythology of the show in a way that most episodes don't.

That's a few people, including me, that you've just insulted. Reported for abuse.











Nah.

I loved all the RTD finales even if the resolutions weren't always that good. But for me series 4 tops them all. It's not perfect but it's always a thrill to watch. I would much rather this had been Tennant's swansong than The End of Time.

Death in Heaven is the poorest IMO. It was a big let down after the fantastic Dark Water.

That just proves how accurate the poll is. RTD is three times better than Moffat.

So so far, the RTD finales have garnered nearly 72% of the entire vote, compared to just over 28% for Moffat's finales. That being said, it's nearly two finales managing that on its own! Those two have both secured more votes than all of the Moffat-era finales combined!

Someone said that the RTD finales almost managed three quarters of the Radio Times vote. Well right now, this is the exact same result....'almost three quarters'.

I'm a little surprised the Series 8 finale hasn't gotten more attention. I myself loved Dark Water, and pretty much hated Death in Heaven so it was never going to get my vote but there usually seems to be a fair bit of praise for it.

And Mickey's interjection... "it's like Stephen Hawking meets the speaking clock

No one seems particularly keen on The Wedding of River Song.

Because they're voting for the best, not the worst.

It says a lot about that Series 6 story arc in general and how it was all hype, but no pay off. That finale really was the definition of 'fizzled out'.

4 then 1 then 2. Series 3 finale was ruined with the little alien doctor and then the flying bit.

The wedding of river song. Is that the one when they all found out who river is ?

It was very good but very little action to be honest and maybe people are a bit annoyed that they get the baby back and the baby is gone again or am I mixing episodes.

The wedding of river song was just a convoluted mess. Typical moffat. Started a good story in the impossible astronaut but didn't have a clue how to finish it.

Interesting differences in the two polls (so far!)

Digital Spy
1 - Series 4: The Stolen Earth / Journey's End 31.17%
2 - Series 1: Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways 25.97%
3 - Series 5: The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang 15.58%
4 - Series 7: The Name of the Doctor 12.99%
Joint 5 - Series 2: Army of Ghosts / Doomsday 5.19%
Joint 5 - Series 3: The Sound of Drums / Last of the Time Lords 5.19%
7 - Series 8: Dark Water / Death in Heaven 3.90%
8 - Series 6: The Wedding of River Song 0%

Radio Times Online
1 - Series 4: The Stolen Earth / Journey's End 33.3%
2 - Series 2: Army of Ghosts / Doomsday 15.04%
3 - Series 1: Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways 15%
4 - Series 5: The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang 11.13%
5 - Series 3: The Sound of Drums / Last of the Time Lords 10.33%
6 - Series 7: The Name of the Doctor 7.23%
7 - Series 8: Dark Water / Death in Heaven 4.64%
8 - Series 6: The Wedding of River Song 3.33%

I guess the main similarities are that The Stolen Earth/Journey's End is the most popular – by a long shot – in both polls. The Wedding of River Song is the least popular in both too.

Usually you find the latest ones are rated higher than the old ones. Yet in this the original new series are all quite highly rated.

Season 4 gets a right old drumming on here sometimes, and yet its the most popular on both polls by quite a margin.

It's a big shame so much is missing from season 4. Might be better thought of.

I would include specials in the whole thing and I would place Name of, Day of and Time of the Doctor as a combined season finale.

This list isn't my preferences its what I think should have been on the list:

1 Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways
2 Army of Ghosts / Doomsday
3 Sound of the Drums/Last of the Time Lords
4 Stolen Earth/Journeys end
* End of Time parts 1 & 2 (that year was like a mini series of specials with these episodes as their finale)
5 Pandorica Opens/Big Bang
6 Wedding of River Song
7 Name, Night, Day, Time of the Doctor (the specials here are very much a part of the whole with Name of the Doctor)(I'm willing to bet if people use my list here there might choosing this option as their favorite!)
8 Dark Water/Death in Heaven

The next list is in order of my favourites:

7 Name, Night, Day, Time of the Doctor
4 Stolen Earth/Journeys end
8 Dark Water/Death in Heaven
3 Sound of the Drums/Last of the Time Lords
* End of Time parts 1 & 2
1 Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways
6 Wedding of River Song
5 Pandorica Opens/Big Bang
2 Army of Ghosts / Doomsday

If Journey's End had come even close to the high quality of The Stolen Earth I would struggle to argue that Series 1 remains my favourite finale. Unfortunately it didn't, and aside from a handful of scenes (Donna's demise, the cheesy Tardis-gang montage to some extent, Davros coming a few more screws loose, the revelation of "The Doctor's soul") the whole episode disappointed - not to say it was bad by any means, but it wasn't as good as it could have been. Series 4 had been on a winning streak for me but fell at the last hurdle.

I always wonder whether the Specials finales also warrant mention in these things (The End of Time, Day/Time of the Doctor) but none of them are anywhere near the best for me so it matters little...I quite enjoyed The Time of the Doctor though....far more so than Name or Day.

My Order

1. Stolen Earth/Journeys End
2. Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways
3. Pandorica Opens/Big Bang
4. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday
5. Sound of Drums/Last of the Timelords
6. Dark Water/Death in Heaven
7. The Name of the Doctor
8. Wedding of River Song

I'd take the RT poll seriously if it only allowed more than one vote. As a result, the poll was skewed from the outset. Maturer people tend not to multi-vote, it's a more of an internet characteristic connected to teenagers both male and female. At a time when hormones are racing and their admiration is akin to some popstar pin-up, they'll do almost anything to have their idol be No.1 in the charts or poll. Nostalgia has nothing to do with it, fairness does.