Introduction
Once again there’s no time like the present as we dive into yet another Doctor Who ranking list. And this time we’re looking back on David Tennant’s last full series as the 10th Incarnation of the titular Doctor. Whilst this series isn’t quite as revered as Series 3 or his collection of special episodes, Series 4 still has some very good episodes with monsters that definitely deserved another look at should Russell T Davies need inspiration. Check out our other Doctor Who rankings and many more lists here. Now with all of that being said, let’s get into some history about Doctor Who series 4 before we get into our favourite Doctor Who Series 4 episodes!
History
Doctor Who Series 4 debuted unofficially on Christmas Day 2007 with the Christmas Special, Voyage of the Damned, and officially in April 2008 with Partners in Crime. It ran until July 2008 with the two part finale The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End. The series received praise, obviously for David Tennant’s performance as well as his chemistry with Catherine Tate, but did fall slightly short of some of the ridiculously high standards that Russell T Davies set for himself and the show. Series 4 also saw the continuation of one of Russell T Davies’s trademarks: seeding in specific words which paid off in the finale. Basically very minimalist long term serialisation. Now with all of the history out of the way, let’s get into our picks for the best Doctor Who Series 4 episodes.
10. Partners in Crime (S4, E1)
What do Doctor Who and South Park have in common? Well, they’ve both done episodes about the weight loss industry and how toxic it could be. So when the Doctor finds out about a new weight loss pill that is sweeping the world, he goes undercover at the mysterious Adipose Industries to find out more. And in a coincidence so is his old friend Donna Noble. What follows is a virtual buddy cop style episode with David Tennant and Catherine Tate running around at a 100 miles per hour and never really slowing down. Also, this episode features a funny gag where The Doctor puts two sonic devices together. Safe to say, the results (like a death metal concert) are absolutely deafening.
9. The Unicorn and the Wasp (S4, E7)
What’s better than an Agatha Christie mystery? An Agatha Christie mystery with The Doctor and Donna in it. And on the eve of her mysterious disappearance as well…. So when The Doctor and Donna end up in 1926 at Agatha Christie’s party Donna naturally wants to stop her disappearance and save her. But unfortunately for the dynamic duo there’s a massive alien wasp killing people thus making art mirroring life. And naturally the Doctor isn’t salty about this at all…. Overall, a very fun episode which has two great narrative threads: the murderous alien wasp and the worry that Donna might try and interfere with the flow of time by trying to stop Christie’s eventual disappearance.
8. Fires of Pompeii (S4, E2)
Ashes to Ashes or something like that…. And also the fact that the Fires of Pompeii technically marked the Doctor Who debut of Peter Capaldi, some nine years before his first episode as Doctor Who, so that’s even better. When Donna just wants a fun little trip back in time, the Doctor springs for Pompeii, on the eve of a certain volcanic eruption which bodes well, and all seems to be good until the TARDIS disappears. And then there’s the problem of the Pyronites, aka massive fire and rock aliens who are causing the volcanic eruption. Overall, a good under appreciated episode with a hugely emotional ending which gets us every single time.
7. Planet of the Ood (S4, E3)
Has there been a more under appreciated and under explored alien than the Ood? And all the evidence needed for that is seen in this episode. When the Doctor and Donna end up in the 42nd Century on the Ood-Sphere planet, they stumble upon the Ood being incredibly willing to serve humanity. Naturally this piques the Doctor’s interest as he wonders why such an intelligent race seem so eager to serve at humanity’s behest. Overall, a great episode which also works as a critique of how humanity can see their own people and abuse goodwill. Also, this episode features some of that sweet, sweet RTD long term serialisation.
6. Turn Left (S4, E11)
For a show about time travel, Doctor Who sure hasn’t overused the whole rewriting time so that someone never met the Doctor device. Which is probably a good thing because Turn Left is a pretty damn good episode. When Donna ends up in an alternate timeline where she never met the Doctor (basically invalidating The Runaway Bride), she has to figure out a way to get back to the correct timeline. And isn’t it helpful for Donna that Rose Tyler is around to help her out with that? Also, as much as we love Turn Left it does have one of the stupidest moments in Doctor Who where Wilfred is choking from poison gas in his car and there’s no way to get him out. Except for just breaking the window and getting him out of the car…. What a turn out of left field.
5. Midnight (S4, E10)
Weirdly, Midnight shares a thematic idea with another episode on this list: The Unicorn and the Wasp. And that thematic idea is how quickly people can turn on each other should enough external pressure and factors be applied. When the Doctor decides to take a little time off on a tour of a planet called Midnight, he soon ends up in a nightmare as something is in the walls. Except, there’s not supposed to be any life on Midnight…. Things get even worse when one of the passengers gets possessed and the Doctor has to figure out who it is and quickly. Overall, another very solid episode which holds a mirror up to its audience and asks how it would handle the situation.
4. Silence in the Library (S4, E8)
Man, Doctor Who Series 4 has some great life advice doesn’t it? Unfortunately, there’s a much worse punishment awaiting the Doctor and Donna than a stern telling off from a middle aged woman. In their case, it’s the Vashta Nerada: a race of flesh eating aliens who can re-animate the corpses of their victims. And if that’s not enough to tempt you to watch this episode, Silence in the Library also features the debut of River Song along with a team of time travelling archeologists who have been sent to investigate the silence in the library. Now the Doctor not only has to solve the mystery of the Vashta Nerada but also try to control the reckless and mysterious Doctor River Song. Unfortunately, that’s as much as we can say because spoilers……
3. The Stolen Earth (S4, E12)
Whilst the Daleks often got a harsh rap in Nu Who, they are at their absolute most powerful in the two part Series 4 finale. And that’s helped by the return of one of Classic Who’s most iconic villains: Davros. When The Doctor and a whole bunch of his companions, including Sarah Jane, Captain Jack, Donna and Martha see the Earth and 26 other planets get stolen out of time and space they’re thrown right into the midst of Davros and the Daleks’s master plan. Think of this episode as The Doctor responding to Davros’s move by assembling his team only for a truly diabolical threat. A great episode which sets up a brilliant finale.
2. Forest of the Dead (S4, E9)
Speaking of great Doctor Who Series 4 two part episodes, Forest of the Dead is the follow up to Silence in the Library. Here, The Vashta Nerada are in full force as they terrorise The Doctor, Donna and River in the library. And the attacks are only getting worse as the library begins falling into darkness. This is compounded by the fact The Doctor is trying to figure out who River Song is and how she connects to him and his future. Oh, and for all our Donna fans she’s busy finding out and solving the mystery of Doctor Moon and the Girl. A fantastic episode which has an emotional ending that sets up River’s eventual arc under Steven Moffat.
1. Journey’s End (S4, E13)
And the best episode of Doctor Who Series 4 is….. Journey’s End. In the aftermath of Davros and the Dalek’s intergalactic heist, The Doctor finally confronts his age-old nemesis about his evil intentions. These intentions are to detonate a massive bomb after aligning all the stolen planets to destroy the universe. And if that’s not enough Davros also makes some very ominous prophecies about the Doctor and his companions with the promise that they will come true by episode’s end. Also, this episode gets very mental by the end with a certain companion from Chiswick going super Saiyan on the Dalek fleet in an homage to Rose destroying the Daleks at the end of Series One. Overall, a phenomenal episode which sends off Daivd Tennant’s last full series in the absolute best way.
