Doctor Who is a show that has been around for nearly 60 years, and with it comes a multitude of episodes that range in quality. Some are groundbreaking works of science fiction while others are unfortunate dumpster fires that are brimming with cheap sets, stilted dialogue, and shoddy CGI. This gap in quality is especially evident when it comes to season premieres which have the unenviable task of hooking viewers so they'll return for the rest of the season.
The difficult thing about television premieres is that they have to introduce audiences to the main characters, themes, and threats that will be featured throughout the season, in addition to serving as an entertaining piece of television. It's a difficult feat to accomplish, yet the following episodes show that it can be done. These are the 10 best season premieres of Doctor Who's revived series, according to IMDb.
New Earth - 7.4
The Tenth Doctor's first proper outing with Rose Tyler, "New Earth" sees the cheeky TARDIS duo travel to the titular planet for a fun vacation. Once there, the Face of Boe summons the Doctor to a ward at the hospital, and confronts Cassandra as she attempts to take control of Rose's body.
Though a decidedly messy script that leans toward comedy despite the shocking B-plot involving medical malpractice and ethical dilemmas, "New Earth" still works as an entertaining piece of television. The jokes land, David Tennant and Billie Piper play off each other exceptionally well, and the emotional beat at the very end is surprisingly potent.
Rose - 7.5
The revived series' debut episode, "Rose" is centered on the title character as her world is turned upside down by a mysterious stranger who blows up her place of employment. As she investigates the man who saved her life, Rose finds that death seems to follow the stranger wherever he goes, yet continues to seek him out.
An exceptional introduction to Doctor Who, "Rose" works to pull viewers in with its mystery of the Doctor's identity and by telling it through the eyes of an ordinary person. By having Rose act as the audience surrogate, the episode is able to ground the sci-fi spectacle and heady concepts that Doctor Who regularly revels in and establish a dramatic tone that would define the show for its first four seasons.
Partners in Crime - 7.7
The episode which marked the return of Doctor Who's greatest companion, "Partners in Crime" finds the Doctor and Donna Noble independently investigating a new weight-loss pill from Adipose industries. Eventually, the two lone agents bump into each other and team up to stop Adipose from harming any people with their alien related drug.
While fans were initially skeptical of Catherine Tate's return to Doctor Who prior to this episode, she proved herself as a capable actor who could tackle the more dramatic elements of Donna Noble's character, while still maintaining the comedic spark that made her a great foil for David Tennant. This is evident despite the two only being on screen together for about 15 minutes, yet that time is enough to sell the viewer on this TARDIS team going forward.
The Pilot - 7.8
Something of a soft-reboot for Doctor Who, "The Pilot" reintroduces audiences to the Twelfth Doctor as he takes on a new companion, Bill. When Bill's friend, Heather, disappears, the Doctor investigates and discovers that a fluid based alien has taken over.
Taking time to introduce the character of Bill to audiences, "The Pilot" is a slow burn compared to some Doctor Who season premieres, yet its focus on character is a welcome change of pace in the Moffat era. It ensures that audiences have a connection to the show going forward, and it allows Series 10 to be one of Doctor Who's more accessible entry points.
Deep Breath - 7.8
Peter Capaldi's first episode as the Twelfth Doctor, "Deep Breath" finds the recently regenerated Time Lord stuck in Victorian England, grappling with his new personality. Amidst all this, clockwork men have infiltrated the city and are responsible for several freak occurrences that threaten to eliminate the populace.
While not as sharp or exciting as some of Doctor Who's other season premieres, "Deep Breath" is an effective introduction to the 12th Doctor. It establishes him as a more callous individual than his predecessors, and by having the Doctor question whether he's a good man, it successfully sows the seeds for the conflict that runs throughout Series 8.
Smith and Jones - 8.0
The debut to Series 3, "Smith and Jones" introduces audiences to one of Doctor Who's most overlooked companions - Martha Jones - as the hospital she works at is transported to the moon. In an effort to save her patients, she teams up with the Doctor to find the alien criminal who the Judoon are hunting.
Thanks to the audience's familiarity with the Tenth Doctor, "Smith and Jones" is able to breeze through it's high stakes plot while also establishing Martha as a character who audiences can root for. She's given more room to breathe in this episode than Rose got in her debut episode, and this fact allows Martha to distinguish herself almost instantly from her predecessor thanks to her proactive nature and competency.
The Magician's Apprentice - 8.4
The opening chapter to Doctor Who Series 9 finds the Twelfth Doctor hiding from Davros as the skies freeze over Earth, forcing Clara to team up with Missy in order to find him. Eventually, they're all taken to Davros, who forces the Doctor to reflect on their relationship.
While "The Magician's Apprentice" is 90% set-up for the next episode in Series 9, and has been cited in several unpopular opinions about the Twelfth Doctor, it still features some iconic moments that refuse to be forgotten. The reveal that Missy and Clara are on Skaro instead of a space station in particular stands as one of the most shocking revelations in Doctor Who's history.
Asylum of the Daleks - 8.5
Perhaps the most polarizing episode on this list, "Asylum of the Daleks" alters the status quo by having Amy and Rory break up offscreen, only to be sucked into an adventure with the Doctor during their divorce proceedings. From there, the disjointed trio are tasked with destroying the asylum that contains the most dangerous and unstable Daleks before they can escape.
While the episode is visually stunning and features some truly gripping action sequences and stakes, "Asylum of the Daleks" is arguably bogged down by Steven Moffat's needless attempts to incorporate domestic elements into the script. Instead of focusing on the danger of the setting, the episode spends a large chunk of its runtime explaining why Amy and Rory broke up offscreen, only to bring them back together at the end of episode. It's a dreadfully misguided arc, but the rest of the story almost makes up for it.
The Eleventh Hour - 8.7
Introducing audiences to the Eleventh Doctor, "The Eleventh Hour" boldly has the reincarnated Time Lord go up against an alien that has been lurking on Earth for 20 years without the aid of his TARDIS or Sonic Screwdriver. His only allies in this debut adventure are Amy, Rory, and the his own wits.
Featuring an exhilarating pace that rarely lets up, "The Eleventh Hour" not only hooks viewers with its premise and tone, but also sells them on the Eleventh Doctor's capabilities by having him save the Earth on his first adventure.
The Impossible Astronaut - 8.8
Opening Series 6 in grand cinematic fashion, "The Impossible Astronaut" boldly kills off the Doctor in the first five minutes of the episode before they meet up with a younger version of the character. From there, they travel to 1969 to unravel the mystery of the Doctor's death and come face to face with the Silence.
Featuring several jaw dropping moments throughout, "The Impossible Astronaut" does what few series premieres attempt by raising the stakes. It allows the Doctor and his companions to face off against a foe who will challenge them, and the episode's confidence and stunning visuals are what make it the best Doctor Who season premiere.