Mischief Corner

Hello, Stonehenge! Who takes the Pandorica takes the Universe! But, bad news everyone, 'cause guess who! Ha! Except, you lot, you're all whizzing about, it's really very distracting. Could you all just stay still a minute because I AM TALKING! The Pandorica Opens

I Don't Know How to Code :D

But I really like Doctor Who

My favourite series of Doctor Who is The Eleventh Doctor Era, played by Matt Smith. Although I had been a casual viewer since the revival of the show in 2005, 2010's The Eleventh Hour turned me into a lifelong Whovian (although, you could argue that I'd been a Doctor Who fan for several years already by that point, as I was already a lover of the spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures. Sarah Jane Smith > Tenth Doctor. Fight me.)

My Favourite Eleventh Doctor Episodes in Series Order

Series 5 is as close to perfection Doctor Who can get. The whimsical fairytale style was a big draw to me. Rather than having a more reality based setting there's space whales, brightly coloured Daleks (don't come for me. There's a special place in my heart for the Eternal (sunshine) yellow one. I love her), and the newly redecorated TARDIS. The show starts off with the best opening episode ever - The Eleventh Hour - with all you need to know as a first time viewer. Plus, the introduction of a young child as a companion, fish fingers and custard, and the new Doctor's theme "Madman in a box." (incidentally, the best Doctor's theme ever created, and will be forever more).

The theme of the series, and into the next, is all about childhood fears (that crack in your bedroom wall, monsters hiding in plain sight) and wonders (imaginary friends, floating in space, and seeing the stars). But it's not as light-hearted as it first seems. The dread of growing up, of choosing which life to live, of choosing who you want to be. Amy's Choice narrows in on those choices all children feel as they grow up - and adults continue to fear. Vicent and the Doctor is so beautiful and full of joy, you can feel the love and care that Richard Curtis put into the episode. And yet, as shown by the monster that no one else can see but Vincent, depression and suicide is very much at the forefront of the episode.

For me, the reason why Series 5 is so magical is that it remembers that it's a show primarily for children and their families. It's an escapist fantasy that cleverly disguises the fact that it's deeply rooted in the real challenges and struggles of life and growing up. If only we all had an imaginary friend that came back…

My Favourite Episodes from Series 5 of Doctor Who

My Favourite Episodes from Series 6 of Doctor Who

My Favourite Episodes from Series 7 of Doctor Who

Bonus Round: The Specials

My Doctor

Everyone has their own Doctor. For some, it's the first Doctor they ever saw, others, the one they grew up with, or the Doctor who defined the legacy of Doctor Who - think Tom Baker's fourth Doctor with his scarf and grin, or David Tennant's Tenth Doctor, who was a regular feature on so many school playgrounds in the early 2000's.

My Doctor is Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor. She's the one I dream about crashing into my life and offering me all of Time and Space in a little blue box that's bigger on the inside. From 2018 to 2022, she was there for me through one of the best years of my life and the darkest days that followed. During the early days of the 2020 COVID pandemic - the very same day thousands found themselves forced home from work and schools - she offered hope, a reminder to look after each other, and the reassurance that even though things were uncertain, you will get through it as darkness never prevails. That short transmission from the Doctor "self-isolating" A.K.A hiding from Sontarans (or Jodie hiding her wardrobe at home, wearing her full costume and filming on her own phone) gave me and so many others the strength to continue. I still go back to that video when I'm feeling anxious.

Whilst I love the storytelling and themes of the Eleventh Doctor's era, with the Thirteenth Doctor I could finally see myself in the Doctor. The Eleventh and Thirteenth Doctors had such similar personalities: anxious, alien, and angry - all things I felt myself as a child, and continued into adulthood. But as a child I never saw myself as similar to the Doctor, only ever the companion. Maybe it's because I grew up and understood myself better, maybe I was better able to critique media rather than just watch it, or maybe it really was because she was a woman, the first to play the Doctor, but I saw myself in her. I still do. And one day, I hope to grow up to be just like her: The Doctor.

My Favourite Thirteenth Doctor Episodes in Series Order

My Favourite Episodes from Series 11 of Doctor Who

My Favourite Episodes from Series 12 of Doctor Who

My Favourite Episodes from Series 13 of Doctor Who