Doctor Who has been back on our screens for over fifteen years. During that time we have had 12 seasons, five Doctors, dozens of companions, and a whole host of adventures that continue the classic British science-fiction show.
Sadly, the last couple of seasons haven’t been welcomed favorably by most fans. Uninspired storytelling and meddling with the beloved lore have been turning viewers off in droves. Although some seasons might be rated a lot lower than others, it's still great to have the show on the air, and fans can visit the world of the Doctor and the TARDIS anytime.
Updated on April 9th, 2021 by Kristen Palamara: Doctor Who continues to be one of the most influential and long-running series on television beginning with Classic Who in 1963 and returning with New Who in 2005. New Who has been on for 12 seasons with no end in sight, even though the last few seasons have significantly lower ratings than the first 10. The show still has a loyal fan base despite the low ratings, and most of the seasons have high IMDb ratings, proving that overall, New Who is an enjoyable series for both fans and critics alike.
Season 12 (2020) 5.9
Season 12 doesn't have a high rating on IMDb, even though there are some episodes that were pretty well-received, like "Fugitive of the Judoon" where the Judoon aliens return and "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" about the inspiration of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but overall this is the lowest season of New Who so far.
This is the second season for Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor and Chris Chibnall as the show-runner along with Yaz, Ryan, and Graham returning this season as the Doctor's companions.
Season 11 (2018) 6.6
Chris Chibnall took over as showrunner and introduced the 13th Doctor in this season of New Who. Most of the episodes in this season weren't well-received and are rated between 5-6 on IMDb. The highest-rated episode of the season is Peter Capaldi's last episode as the 12th Doctor, the Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time," as the premiere of this season.
Graham O'Brien, Ryan Sinclair, and Yasmin Khan are introduced as the Doctor's companions as Jodie Whittaker begins her first season portraying the Doctor.
Season 1 (2005) 8.0
This was an introduction to the first new Doctor in nine years. The new run of Who started with a bang, introducing Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion Rose Tyler, plus a whole host of annoying side characters that might attribute to its lower ranking within the New Who seasons.
Season 1 boasts a couple of great episodes including "Dalek" and "The Empty Child." This season would also have the phrase BAD WOLF littered throughout the universe, leading to an unforgettable and shocking finale.
Season 5 (2010) 8.1
This season was the debut of The 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, and of Amy and Rory. Season 5 was also the first season of new showrunner and lifelong fan Steven Moffat. Furthermore, fans got a new TARDIS for the first time in the show's reboot, both inside and out, what with the previous design blowing up in The Doctor's epic regeneration at the end of the last season.
Highlights include "The Time Of The Angels", "Amy’s Choice" and the epic finale two-part episode "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang." From this point on, the show felt less grounded in reality, giving a science-fantasy feel rather than science-fiction.
Season 7 (2011) 8.32
This season was split into two parts, so even though it started at the end of 2011 (if the Christmas special is counted as the season premiere, as IMDb does), it didn’t finish until 2013. An epic season, thanks to the brilliant teaser poster campaign for each story.
This helped each adventure feel more like an event rather than just another chapter. Fans said goodbye to the Ponds, Amy and Rory, as played by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, and hello to Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman as there was a lot of transition of characters and stories throughout this season.
Season 10 (2016) 8.34
Easily one of the best seasons, Peter Capaldi’s final turn as the 12th Doctor took things back to basics, with Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts joining him by his side. Other guest stars included a returning Michelle Gomez as Missy and a returning Matt Lucas as Nardole.
A love letter to long-time Who fans, featuring the original Cybermen, and perhaps more excitingly, The Master and his iconic beard. The first episode is even called "The Pilot," a little nod to signal that most of the loose ends from previous seasons had been tied up, making this a great jumping-off point for any new Who fans who want to work their way backward.
Season 8 (2014) 8.4
From the 12th Doctor's last series to his very first, season 8 was also the first full season for Clara, and saw the debut of Missy, formally known as The Master, the first time in the show's history a time lord was portrayed by a someone of different gender, with Michelle Gomez doing a fabulous job as the evil rival Time Lord/Lady.
This planted the seed for The Doctor's next incarnation. This season also introduced Danny Pink, as played by Samuel Anderson. Season 8 gave the Doctor more of a darker side and Clara had to figure out if he was still the hero in the story.
Season 2 (2006) 8.5
Season 2 introduced the 10th Doctor, David Tennant, in his first season. Rose Tyler would bow out this year in an emotional finale, but soon after that, fans would be introduced to, at least momentarily, future companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate.
This series was also instrumental in the foundation of Torchwood, an institution designed in the late 1800s to protect Britain from extraterrestrial threat, which would be debuting its own spin-off series later that year. Doctor Who had found its confidence again after a successful first season, allowing the writers more freedom to play with ideas.
Season 3 (2007) 8.6
Season 3 featured 10th Doctor David Tennant and introduced a new companion, Martha Jones. Unlike Rose, Martha didn't come with the baggage of unnecessary side characters like Rose's mum Jackie and her boyfriend Mickey, allowing more screentime for adventure and the fantastical.
It also brought back The Doctor’s arch-nemesis The Master, as played by Derek Jacobi, at least for a moment, before he regenerated into John Simm. Another highlight of the season is the Doctor-lite episode "Blink", which centered on the Weeping Angels and remains the highest-rated episode of Doctor Who of all time.
Season 6 (2011) 8.72
The first season since the show’s comeback to not introduce any new characters, fans instead get the continuing adventures of the 11th Doctor, Amy, Rory, and River Song. This is also the season the show delves into the mysteries of Professor Song that has many surprising and satisfying reveals.
With no new characters to introduce, it allowed fans to study and become more acquainted with who the characters were, allowing more of an emotional connection that the viewer had not really experienced before.
Season 9 (2015) 8.75
This was the 12th Doctor’s second season, and the third and final one for Clara Oswald, making her the longest-running companion since the show's comeback in 2005. It's a very emotional season, and one standout episode is "Heaven Sent," a one-man story where The Doctor is trapped in a mysterious castle, being stalked by a terrifying figure who seemingly wants to get him to confess past sins.
Showrunner Steven Moffat also seemed to be more restrained in this season, focusing on individual stories rather than a big epic season-long arc. As fun as big twists and reveals can be with the longer tales, the change helped casual viewers feel less alienated and confused.
Season 4 (2008) 9.0
This was the last full season for David Tennant and showrunner Russell T Davis, who would return next year for four specials before leaving the series. This truly felt like the end of an era, and the dawn of another, showing newer fans that Doctor Who is a show with infinite possibilities and the ability, much like The Doctor, to reinvent and regenerate.
Another big occurrence for this season was the return of Davros, the creator of the Daleks. It’s as if the show finally came of age in season 4, as it embraced its legacy with callbacks to classic stories. With so much going on, one can see why it is so beloved by fans both new and old.