Which of Chris Chibnall’s Doctor Who episodes ranks as his best so far? And do any of them indicate just what tone or direction he’ll take the show in?

 

2. ’42’ (2007)

Season arc plot threads come in to play once again in Chibnall’s debut Who script, which flips between breathless action on a crashing spaceship to political espionage drama back in the home of Martha’s mum, Francine Jones.

But despite its relevance to Season 3’s Saxon story, ’42’ is really about telling a claustrophobic, epic adventure in (almost) real time – a feat it achieves quite easily, thanks to some great plotting and the fast, frenzied direction from Graeme Harper.

Its a success largely thanks to how much story and action is squeezed in. Chibnall’s tale continually ups the ante, with a wonderfully imitable enemy stalking the corridors of the S.S. Pentallian, Martha’s escape pod predicament (again, another very real, relatable character moment amongst the sci-fi madness), and the Doctor’s terrifying possession by the sentient sun all keeping the characters breathless and on the edge.

 

1.’Dinosaurs on a Spaceship’ (2012)

Fun! The only word that really springs to mind when muttering the title of this 2012 adventure out loud. And make no mistake, ‘Dinosaurs on a Spaceship’ is very fun!

It’s Doctor Who with its imagination turned up to eleven, throwing a giant spaceship with a beach as an engine, multiple prehistoric creatures, giant bickering robots, an Egyptian Queen and a villainous space pirate into the mix. It takes a writer of Chibnall’s skill to make all that mesh together and work.

And yet, despite all the whimsical elements here, the episode isn’t afraid to take a dark turn. The Doctor coldly dispatching the evil Solomon is surprisingly grim.

But if there’s a single moment here that beautifully sums up the brilliance and wonder of Doctor Who, then it is certainly the silent shot of Brian Williams sitting outside the TARDIS, gazing down on the Earth, coffee and sandwich in hand. It’s quintessentially British, quintessentially Chibnall, and quintessentially Doctor Who!

The Doctor is in safe hands. Roll on 2018!

 

What’s your favourite Chibnall episode so far? Let us know below…