Hmmm, great topic. OK, let’s get started. I might have to do this in segments, so let’s start with segment 1 - First and Second Doctors.
SEASON ONE
Marco Polo: Sumptuous, beautifully written and featuring the first true DW villain in Tegana. Yes, I know that Kal is a villain too, but he’s nothing compared to the richly scheming and deeply manipulative Tegana. I love this story so much. Even the recon is compulsive viewing. How I mourn the loss of the full episodes! (Honourable mentions to The Daleks and The Aztecs - both for very different reasons).
SEASON TWO
The Dalek Invasion of Earth: *The Daleks changed the face of DW forever and assured its popularity, but the first return of our deadly pepperpots takes that promise so much further. It’s a superior story to the first outing of Skaro’s finest and delivers a stunning portrayal (on a shoestring budget) of a devastated and occupied London. Genuinely an epic in the modern series sense of the word. Deservedly an all-time great for me. (Honourable mention: The Time Meddler)
SEASON THREE
The Daleks’ Master Plan: I’m happy to concede that this is an uneven story but, when it’s good it is nigh on untouchable. The tension in the scenes on Kemble (both at the beginning of the story and during the devastating climax) is palpable, Mavic Chen is a memorable and dastardly villain, Katarina and Sara Kingdom - both shocking moments. (Honourable mention: The Massacre, The War Machines)
SEASON FOUR
The Power of the Daleks: A tough call because I love both this AND Evil but Power might just be one of the finest stories in DWs storied history, let alone one of the finest Dalek stories. (Honourable mentions: The Macra Terror, The Faceless Ones, The Evil of the Daleks)
SEASON FIVE
Fury from the Deep: Yes, I adore The Enemy of the World but I enjoy Fury just that little bit more. For me, it’s the most interesting of the ‘monster’ stories from the so-called ‘monster season’. Love the setting, the threat and the atmosphere. (Honourable mentions: The Enemy of the World, The Web of Fear)
SEASON SIX
It’s a tie! The Invasion / The War Games How do I tease these two apart? Invasion is a slice of creepy cyber action where the cybermen are all the more menacing for being kept in the background. If The War Machines set the template for earthbound UNIT stories, The Invasion perfected that template in readiness for the Pertwee years. And as for The War Games? 10 episodes, each with a new twist or plot development. The story never gets tired for me. I think it is exceptional. (Honourable mention: The Mind Robber)
Pertwee years to follow…
)