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Rank every Doctor's opening episode you've seen on DW
Okay, least fave to best
Deep Breath (Capaldi) is the weakest to me from memory. I recall it just felt a bit...messy and weird? Wasn't really into the amount of comments Clara made about 12's age
Rose (Eccleston) comes up second last. I recall the episode being structurally fine and a decent enough way to reintroduce the series, but a bit lacklustre on the whole. The effects have aged...poorly.
An Unearthly Child (Hartnell) has a strong hook and establishes a lot of intrigue around 1, Susan and the TARDIS. Not the most substantial and leads into a pretty sluggish arc with the cavemen but a good opener!
The Christmas Invasion (Tennant) is pure mid-2000's BBC cheese and I love it. It's such a silly, fun way to introduce 10. The swordfight in a dressing gown and Harriet Jones' betrayal at the end are particular highlights
The Woman Who Fell to Earth (Whittaker) - Love the way this episode puts emphasis on the local community surrounding the new companions pitching in together to stop the alien threat. A really strong tone-setter that instantly sets 13's era apart from what came before. A darker, cinematic more grounded feel was exactly the change of tact the series needed (whether the rest followed through or not)
The Eleventh Hour (Smith) - There's a case to be made that this should be number 1. A really well-structured relaunch that delves into how an unfocused, reacclimating Doctor can effect his relationship with a companion through time travel. 11 is easily at his most likeable in season 5 and this ep does a great job getting you on board with him
The Power of the Daleks (Troughton) - it perhaps has an advantage being the only entry here with the benefit of a full serial's run...but damn this one is good. The first time the Daleks are really explored as a unique threat. The slow build-up of their machinations work in tandem with everyone's lack of trust in a new Doctor who's yet to prove himself. It's a perfect opening trial for 2's deceptively unnassuming schemer.
Looking forward to updating these when I've seen more Doctors!
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