The Doctor-lite episode, 73 Yards, has been voted the best episode of Doctor Who Series 14 by readers of the Radio Times.
It beat competition from the likes of Boom and Rogue to be voted #1 in Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Fifteenth Doctor. 73 Yards was written by Russell T Davies, and directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, who is helmed the spin-off show, The War Between the Land and the Sea. Millie Gibson took centre stage for this one, as Ruby Sunday.
More than 4,000 votes were cast in the survey, and 73 Yards and Boom were the clear favourites. The tales bookending the season — Space Babies and Empire of Death, also both written by Davies –came in the last two places. Here’s how the votes were meted out:
- 73 Yards – 1,290 votes
- Boom – 1,040 votes
- Rogue – 595 votes
- Dot and Bubble – 487 votes
- The Legend of Ruby Sunday – 374 votes
- The Devil’s Chord – 217 votes
- Empire of Death – 127 votes
- Space Babies – 37 votes
There’s a big step between places #2 and #3, as well as #7 and #8.
It’s interesting to note that the only two episodes not written by the current showrunner came so far up in the rankings.
Personally, I’m surprised to see The Devil’s Chord come sixth — I thought it was one of the worst episodes of Doctor Who I’d ever seen. I really liked how unusual Dot and Bubble was though, so while I would’ve put it ahead of Rogue, it’s still nice to see it not in the lower half of the series.
For me, the best episode was Boom, written by Steven Moffat, a perennial favourite of mine, with Dot and Bubble then 73 Yards. Overall, I thought the season was decent, at least better than the previous three series, so I’m happy enough with Doctor Who as it is, even if it’s not particularly exceptional.
But what do you think, dear DWC readers? Let us know in the comments section below!
