So glad you have Demons of The Punjab so high because as a student of Indian History with a focus on the last days of The Raj, I found this episode to be a brilliant depiction of the personal trauma of India’s partition. A wonderfully poignant episode that elevates the Chibnall era.
I am just frustrated with the presence of the Aliens in this episode. I know it ended up being a red herring and the were just there to observe the history but I've always felt the episode would have been better without this distraction.
You are not alone with liking Robot of Sherwood. I adore it. Plus, its one of those episodes that actually could've worked with literally ANY doctor. Be it Nine, Ten, Eleven, Thirteen, Fourteen, and no doubt FIFTEEN, even though we've not seen much of him yet.
@@jamlife919 I can see Nine taking it even further than Twelve does, continually telling Robin he doesn't exist, isn't real and being a real grump about it.
I was getting so heated up inside and getting ready to leave a passionate comment when I was at number 2 in the list and still hadn't seen Human Nature/Family of Blood, thank God I was then saved by seeing it at number 1. Easily my favourite look back / retrospective analysis of a time period Doctor Who has ever done. I love the choice the story makes to be set before WW1 instead of during it. Exploring what it was like during this peacetime in Britain, how even though nobody was dying at the time, there was this growing sentiment among the government, the general public and especially men that a "just war" was exactly what everyone needed to prove themselves and achieve glory for the country. An idea not only common in Britain but all across Europe at the time, making the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 and it being one of the most bloody and ruthless wars in history, while also being one of the most fundamentally pointless in both the reasons for it's outbreak and it's conclusion. The fact that boys as young as 14 would volunteer on mass to be part of the British army just to be slaughtered in their thousands within a single day on the bloodiest days of the absolute hell that was Trench Warfare on the Western Front. The entire male population of small British villages like the one in the episode would be absolutely eradicated in the space of a few years, leaving countless grieving mothers, daughters, sisters and wives, just like Nurse Redfern which makes her distaste for the military since she already lost her husband in a war already, make it all the more poignant since she was just one of countless many that would experience that same tragic loss in the years to come.
The thing about The Aztecs that I found cool was Barbara believing she could lead the people away from human sacrifice, only to have to face that some stuff can't just be changed by one person.
I remember watching "Fear Her" in 2006 and feeling like 2012 was the far flung future. Now it's fully a historical (not that this episode would ever be part of a Top 10) We old.
Unicorn and the Wasp should be in the list - i know its silly, but Donna is on comedy fire in it. And i know you hate it but Villa Diodati is pretty enjoyable in terms of atmosphere and the characters, its only the ending that ruins it.
“The Unicorn and the Wasp” is fun… until you remember it was written by a transphobe sod (as was “The Shakespeare Code” also by Gareth Roberts). As for “The Haunting of Villa Diodati” (the one time Vera can’t pin the hard-to-pronounce name on Chibnall), she’s said that it falls into the aggrandising of both historical figures AND writers at the expense of the “little people” who die in that story, which detracts heavily from her ability to enjoy and appreciate it.
@@borjankosarac3645 I know it's not for everyone but this is why I try to separare the art from the artist as much as possible. As long as their 'message' isn't featured in that art of course, which in this case it isn't. There's no way to completely separate them but it does allow me to enjoy those episodes as Doctor Who episodes (or director episodes) without thinking of them as Gareth Roberts episodes. Your points on Villa Diodati kind of ring a bell, so maybe I'm thinking of another story.
@@Elwaves2925 I think she liked it at the time of broadcast while still taking some issue with certain aspects (namely the "great man" aggrandising aspects), but she seems to have soured on it more recently
@@christianwise637 Thanks, I might go back and watch their first review again, then follow it with the re-review as I didn't bother with the re-reviews for Chibnall's era.
Robot of Sherwood is a fun episode, for sure. Fires of Pompeii is one of my personal faves. It's astonishing that Edison even cares about his employees than a certain current CEO who ppl compare to Edison.
I think Jodie's era had the best set of historical stories, what was great is that it returned Doctor Who back to it's original remit of educating as well as entertaining! I loved that My Top 10 modern historicals would be: 1. Vincent and the Doctor 2. The Haunting of Villa Diodati 3. Rosa 4. Demons of the Punjab 5. The Fires of Pompeii 6. The Girl in the Fireplace 7. Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror 8. Thin Ice 9. Robot of Sherwood 10. The Witchfinders (really underrated)
As someone who likes the historicals more than the sci-fi / other planets stories, maybe that's why I really liked Jodie's era more that some others seem to.
Nice to meet a fellow Robot of Sherwood enjouyer. As somebody who suffers from depression I think Vincent and the Doctor portrays it perfectly and I think can guess 3 episodes which are going to be your worst historical episodes; The Eaters of light - The hunting of Haunting of Villa Diodati and The idiot lantern. Great video
Going by the placement of your 4th Doctor scarf, I think your number 4 pick (The Doctor Dances) is your last minute placement add - it is folded differently in this segment when compared to the other segments, including the 1st and 2nd spot segments. However, you either dubbed in or re-record your line about the Robot of Sherwood being number 11 when you talk about number 9, the Telsa episode. I have to rewatch that part to see the placement of the scarf. EDit: I just watch the Tesla part and it is intact redoubled with the scarf matching the other segments. This confirms that your number 4 was the one you had forgotten.
I actually really liked all of 13’s historicals - Rosa, Demons of Punjab, the Witchfinder, Haunting of Villa Diodati and War of the Sontarans, as well as Nicola Tesla’s Night of Terror. are also cracking episodes. In fact, that’s a fairly comprehensive list of my favourite 13 Doctor stories.
I first learned about the Partition of India from Demons of the Punjab ... and I was 46 when it aired, so I;m glad that it made it into the top half of your list. It filled a shameful gap in my historical knowledge.
These are my top 10! Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror would be my number 11. 1. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances 2. Vincent and the Doctor 3. Father's Day 4. The Girl in the Fireplace 5. Human Nature/The Family of Blood 6. Village of the Angels 7. Thin Ice 8. Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks 9. Cold War 10. Rosa
Not only do I agree with your number one pick, but the way they cap off that story with the glimpse into present day and how emotional it is... It hits me EVERY time because I think it's a very honest reflection of just what a human tragedy the whole thing was, through the eyes of a character we've gotten to know over the story... Also, I have a lot of love for Robot Of Sherwood, as a fun, low-stakes adventure, and always have - and that was BEFORE I moved to Nottingham myself 😂
Also, thank you for not counting any episodes that are technically historical now, but set in the future on air date, such as Dalek - though I wouldn't have expected to see Fear Her in here regardless...
I adore Hide. The performances of the two ghost hunters (their names escape me) are really good and the spooky house setting is solid. I can't fault you for putting Human Nature at the top. Not only is it a great story with great performances from all involved, but it managed to juggle all that and also put just enough focus on the WW1 aspect.
@@Elwaves2925 That's them. Thanks! :) They were great, but not just them. I think this is probably one of the better episodes for Clara and 11's dynamic. So all 4 main characters here are great.
I'm basing my top-ten list partially on how I rate the episode overall but with added weight on how the historical aspects impact the story: 1. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances 2. The Fires of Pompeii 3. Vincent and the Doctor 4. The Girl in the Fireplace 5. Human Nature/Family of Blood 6. Thin Ice 7. Tooth & Claw 8. The Unquiet Dead 9. The Shakespeare Code 10. The Haunting of Villa Diodati Honorable mention to Fathers Day, Rosa and Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror My favourite historical from the classic era by far is The Time Warrior
I'm not fond of that last one, these are some of my favourites too. Classic era one of my all time favourites is Pyramids of Mars, bur yes time warrior is high up there, if you want to be a sobbing mess listen to The Massacre, its one of the missing stories, but the audio exists
@@julieeverett7442 I adore Pyramids of Mars but I tend to think of it as a pseudo-historical story rather than a full historical. It's set in the past but the time period is inconsequential to the story it's telling. It could have been set almost any time. In contrast, the medieval period is intrinsic to the story in The Time Warrior
Can't believe you almost forgot The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances. It's a great list. Historicals and Daleks were definitely the Chibnall's era's strong suits. Glad to see they're rising in everyone's appreciation 😊
My favourites would be Hide, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, Human Nature/Family of Blood, Demons of the Punjab, Cold War, Vincent and the Doctor, Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror, Village of the Angels, The Unquiet Dead, Crimson Horror, The Snowman, Rosa, The Girl in the Fireplace, Thin Ice.
Its worth noting that the classic series bigging up the "great men of history" happens significantly less than the modern series. You would think it would be the opposite but the writers from that eras were less interested in aggrandising as you would say. One thing I didn't appreciate about The Gunfighters (because I didn't like it) when I first saw it, is that it's thumbing its nose at that over mythologised event.
Great list, and a wonderful appreciation of these stories. I agree that Hide is underrated - I recently rewatched season 7 for the first time since it aired, and was pleasantly surprised by how much better Hide was than I remembered it.
Same here. I think because it really commits to the bit of the Poirot-esque mystery, complete with flashbacks, and it's a great supporting cast, the whole poisoning scene. Agatha, not unlike Bill, questions the Doctor, how he can enjoy himself when there is so much death. Plus, y'know, it's a Donna episode.
Surprised there was no The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon on this this list! Also think I would have included The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Village of the Angels but that's just me.
My top 10 in no particular order: Human Nature/Family of Blood The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances Vincent and the Doctor Remembrance of the Daleks (yes its a Dalek story but the historical setting is quite significant) Curse of Fenric Horror of Fang Rock Fires of Pompeii Demons of the Punjab Thin Ice The talons of Weng Chiang (Great story but the yellowface has aged poorly)
I don't have time to watch this as it comes out sadly, but I'll quickly say that if you haven't seen the Massacre yet (as much as you can 'see' missing episodes), please do. It's so good! I really need to rewatch the modern historicals, but I remember finding the two historical Flux episodes to be the enjoyable parts of that series.
I have two things to say, so I'll separate them as if they were two different comments, (I just wanted to say that just so it doesn't look too jarring). I understand that the world of TH-cam collaborations has changed drastically over the years (definitely for the better), and people tend to choose to collaborate with friends they really know and click with over just people who do similar things BUT I would love to see you and Bernadette Banner tackle this together, with possibly all modern era Doctor Who historical episodes/ historical appearances. She outed herself as a Doctor Who fan with a fantastic Missy cosplay, and I think both your intelligence and knowledge in your respective areas would create something well worth watching! I fully agree with your list and your reasoning! So much so that when you got to number one I honestly thought "what could possibly beat out the last 3!" And then wasn't a bit surprised at what it was! I don't think I would add or change anything, except I do agree that I would put Robot of Sherwood higher, if it weren't for the blatant inaccuracies 😂 I've watched you for years, and I have to say, I always find myself agreeing with you, but I think this might be one of my favourite videos you've put out to date! And I am pleased that Demons of the Punjab made it, as that's one of the few Chibnall era episodes I enjoyed enough to want to watch again.
Empty Child/Doctor Dances was my intro to Doctor Who. Whew, high bar. Still, became a massive fan, going way back & forth in the saga. Love most all of it. Still, this one is a masterpiece. Sucked me right in. Thin Ice balanced fun history with utmost tragedy. Watched several times, but dang the tough bits are rly tough. Punjab easily the best of the Chibnall era for me. So well done. So very sad. Ready to rewatch Vincent for the umpteenth time. Watched what I think was your og review (wait up, must be the overdue review) several times, so dang inciteful, it meant a whole lot to me. Ty Vera for that one, always. Surprised it’s not yr #1 ep, but I get it. Have to rewatch yr top pick.. Love Paul Cornell, and/but wow I found that a tough watch. History student here, find my dips into WWI both fascinating & overwhelmingly excruciating… Thank goodness for Sherwood! Fave Doctor & hilarious romp compared to all the historical tragedy in the “best” eps. Looking forward to the worsts! Betcha I have some faves among them 😅
My top historicals: 10 - fires of Pompeii 9 - hide 8 - thin ice 7 - curse of the black spot 6 - unicorn and the wasp 5 - empty child/ doctor dances 4 - Rosa 3 - Vincent and the doctor 2 - impossible astronauts/ day of the moon 1 - Girl in the fire place GOD TIER - Let’s kill Hitler
Thinking about it now I would probably put hide above curse of the black spot. Oh completely forgot about family of blood two parter as well, I would remove fires of pompeii and put that above empty child and doctor dances
My guess for the one you forgot, is the Girl in the Fireplace due to you stating its the Moffat episode you forget about lol I wasn't sure at first what could possibly top the Vincent Van Gough episode, but you're right, the first time I watched the Family of Blood episodes they hit home their time period perfectly
some of my favorites too, however i would include the unicorn and the wasp, and leave out Teslas night of terror, Rosa wasnt too bad either. If you would like a list of classic era historicals to watch Reign of terror (french revolution) 1st the Romans The Aztecs gunslinger the crusade time warrior 3rd pryamids of mars 4th Talons of Wen Chiang time flight 5th Black orchid the visitaion curse of fenric 7th tribe of gum 1st almost all of these are pure historicals, no monsters to spoil them modern era are semi historicals as they have a scifi element
I share your deep love for "Thin Ice." When that episode first aired, I distinctly remember the huge smile it put on my face and a sense of pure fun that I hadn't felt from Doctor Who in such a long time. And I appreciated how it didn't hand-wave racism against the companion ala "The Shakespeare Code." Of course, the anti-woke crowd will rag on it, but let them bitch all they want. That episode is a wonderful, joyous, all-time classic, 10 out of fucking 10.
@@CouncilofGeeks I caught as well on my own. The way the scraf is folded on the right side of your chest is so obvious. If you mess around with your scrap with each segment, no one can tell. LOL
Considering the callous way Martha's awful treatment is handled, I really can't enjoy the Number one choice. It really feels like the show is Punishing Martha and at 2 Parts, the episode makes that treatment drag a lot. I also never found 'John Smith' and Joan Redfern's romance to be compelling.
@nancyjay790 The Acting in the two parter wasn't the problem at all (I actually think the sequence where the 10th Doctor punishes the Family of Blood is one of David Tennant's best scenes as the Doctor), the problems I have are everything to do with the writing.
@@nekusakura6748 I agree that Martha's pining for the Doctor was really awful to her character. I kept hoping that at some point the Doctor would apologise to her for ignoring her feelings and also doing things that he should have known would mislead her (not just the tongue sandwich in Smith And Jones, although that was high handed of him however he felt about Martha).
Vincent and the Doctor would be number 1 for me (it is my favorite Who episode actually), and one and Thin Ice number 2. Fires of Pompeii would probably be 3. But I love most of the episodes on this list, and most of them would be in my top 10.
Great episode. Historical have always been quite hit & miss in Who. They almost always look great, but the content is often lacking. But when they hit, they hit hard. Top 10 new Who historically (no particular order): Human Nature/Family of Blood (just great), Girl in the Fireplace, The Unquiet Dead, The Fires of Pompeii, Thin Ice, Vincent & The Doctor, Rosa, Demons of the Punjab, Haunting of Villa Diodati, Tooth & Claw (is Fathers Day a historical?) Classic Who top 10 (those that were actually historical at time of transmission….): The Aztecs, The Romans, The Crusades, The War Games, The Time Warrior, Pyramids of Mars, Talons of Weng Chiang (and yes, I know there’s deeply unfortunate ‘historical’ issues with this), Masque of Mandragora, Black Orchid, The Visitation,
fires of pompeii being that low because its strengths lie in character work over the setting is ABSOLUTELY fair but that's not gonna stop it from being my all-time personal favorite doctor who historical lol. i adore the doctor and donna's relationship too much for it not to be
I have always adored Family of Blood and have sought out other novels by the writer which I also enjoyed immensely. I actually also liked The Villa of Whatever Its Name was. It was really the first of Thirteem's that I had felt was Doctor Who. I love your sign off by the way. Inspirational and comforting. Px
Excellent list! I agree with just about every story on it. For me, Fires of Pompeii is higher, because I teach Latin, and the family in that story is very heavily inspired by the family in the textbook I was teaching from at the time, the Cambridge Latin Series. They changed just enough about Caecilius, Metella, and Quintus to keep from copyright issues, but made them familiar enough that anyone who's learned Latin via that text would recognize them immediately. I also would not have ranked Human Nature/Family of Blood at the top because, for me, the good things aren't enough to make up for the fact that Martha has to bear the brunt of the story's downbeats again. Martha was such a good companion, but the writers sometimes had trouble figuring out her relationship to and with the Doctor. I've got the novel the story was based on/inspired by up on my shelves - I want to read it and compare the two versions at some point. 7 and Benny would have a different dynamic than 10 and Martha for so many reasons, and I think, for me, 7 and Benny might work better in the general setting/story. I think it'd still make my top 10, just not the top spot - that's either Thin Ice or Vincent and the Doctor.
I really hoped The Unicorn and the Wasp would be on this list. It has my two most favourite things in the world in it, Doctor Who and Agatha Christie. I’ve read all her novels and watched the series and obviously I’ve also watched all of Dr Who. The vespiform is ridiculous I grant you but still it’s AC and Doctor Who. She’d make a great companion.
My top is and always probably will be Vincent, with Thin Ice a close second. I recognise how good Human Nature/Family of Blood are, but I never voluntarily rewatch it
Good list. I was surprised with Robots of Sherwood, I had fun with that. The Doctor fighting with a spoon! I agree about the number one pick and appreciate the love for Cold War and Hide, loved those episodes. Still good ranking of the list. Ah history!
Thank you for the video, Vera! And that is a very good list! I find funny including the "Robot of Sherwood" episode considering how historians cannot agree on Robin Hood being a real historical figure or not. In similar note, it feels like a post-Mandela effect having to remember that Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character, and Jack the Ripper was real (at least, the series of murders attributed to the subject were real). Or how King Arthur and the Excalibur sword were real, but the tales of the "Lady of the Lake" and the "sword in the stone" were (probably) not.
I guess I can see your #1, given the context of what this list is about. However, I like your #2 as a story better, because it is more than just a historical, it is moving on a whole other level and I can't watch the final scenes w/dry eyes. Your # 3 is an excellent choice too! I particularly love the scene where he wins Bill back, talking about how you define a species.
classic era has some corkers: the polite english fascism of 'remembrance of the daleks' and the corrupted victoriana of 'ghost light' really stand out for me.
Funny how out of these 11 I have recently shown 2 to my partner! And you do have a point that Human Nature is the most down-to-Earth historical in the modern era at least. In terms of classic - most of Hartnell's historicals were just as down-to-earth. Heck, an Unearthly Child was like that. I'd say my favourite historical overall was the Black Orchid. Just such a feel-good story.
one of my personal favourite classic story (that you can watch) is pyramids of Mars, My all time favourite, and still reduces me to a sobbing mess, is the Massacre, but yes, Blacj orchid is fun!!
Hooray for your Thin Ice love! I think my list would be (in no particular order): Vincent and the Doctor Human Nature / Family of Blood Thin Ice Empty Child / Doctor Dances Girl Who Died Woman Who Lived Demons of the Punjab Eaters of Light Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon The Girl in the Fireplace
1) does father's day count as a historical! 2) Vincent is to me the reverse of Up, strong sequence (in this case the end) over a middling rest of the story 3) I've never loved no 1, but do enjoy it. A better "historical" is twice upon a time for including/introducing people to the Christmas miracle
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances has always been one of my favorites, if not my number one Doctor Who story. Though, Vincent and The Doctor is really up there for me too, and I agree Thin Ice is underrated, both as a historical piece and just as an episode in general. Human Nature/Family of Blood is good as well --- I always thought it was interesting that the story apparently wasn't afraid to make John Smith kind of a dick. Or perhaps, a product of his time might be more accurate to say. I know some people don't care for the story's depiction or treatment of Martha, which I get, but nonetheless I think it's still a compelling exploration of the time period, the Doctor's flaws, and humans having flashes of greatness and heroism while also being a bit rubbish.
Totally agree with your number 1. But I think this is a top 10 list cause The Girl in the Fireplace doesn't belong on it at all, it's true setting is the future not the past.
D’ya think Fear Her counts as an historical _now?_ When it was made it took place six years in the future…but as I write this, it takes place twelve years in the past. 😆
I love the historicals of the early classic era (Hartnell and Troughton) before aliens and the Doctor started getting too involved with historical events. I'd rank The Aztecs and The Romans higher than most modern historical episodes.
I liked your list. But here are a few comments. I don't know if I consider Sherwood a historical. I also have a few historical episodes I really like that aren't here. I hope they're not in your bottom 11. Unicorn and the Wasp, Rosa, Witchfinders, The Unquiet Dead, and one of my all time favorites.....The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe.
Good friend, the year is currently 1880 and I find myself asleep, dreaming that I have just watched your "You" "Tube" "video". Now I dream of leaving a comment under this marvelous moving picture (truly, the wildest dream that ever I have had). And now, before I wake, I wanted to tell you the manner in which I have come to watch your video (per your penultimate request) and also to tell you that you too are beautiful and valid! Good show, brava, etcetera! What a thing these under-market psychic soporifics... Kindly, Maez Birmingly (she/they) born 1855 - died (please don't tell me)
Being a traveller from the early 3000's I also find this screen based communication and manual comments to be rather strange... History is weird, but important.
For a long time, I did not fully understand the experiences and points of view of LGBTQ+ (and especially trans) people due to my upbringing, and I want to thank you for opening my eyes to those perspectives and helping me to realize that they are people just like me, and not a political football. - A fan of yours since 2014
Random thoughts: Thin Ice: the fact that David Warner was never cast as a TV Doctor will always make me sad. Fires of Pompeii: shouldn't have taken 10 minutes of begging for the Doctor to do the right thing. Aside from that, a solid episode. Vincent and the Doctor: Would have worked just as well without the alien. Human Nature: will always like the book better, because he the book the Doctor gets a cat.
@@travishiltz4750 they should've brought that into the story and have the Doctor keep the cat, even if it was only for the rest of series 3 and he gives it to Martha when she leaves.
I wouldn't really count Hide since it wasn't really about the setting, and the characters unique to the episode weren't historical figures. Also I'm surprised The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances wasn't number 1 considering your placement of The Doctor Dances in your complete new-Who episode ranking.
I dunno. It's fun. And werewolf aside the historical bits are some of the stronger aspects and the historical facts like about how the diamond kept getting cut down were woven into the story pretty seamlessly.
Slightly misleading title, as it's "Best Historical Episodes of new Doctor Who". Nitpicking aside, can't fault your top 3 as these are all solid episodes. Demons of the Punjab would be my number one and next time the Doctor meets Churchill, maybe they can ask him about the Bengal famine?
I do really like human nature/famaly of blood, but the one thing which always bugs me about it is how they try to make the doctor seem less human by bringing up how he didn't consider the possibility of him falling in love. Something about that just kinda annoys me.
Speaking as somebody who gets annoyed when the Doctor feels too human, that’s absolutely worked for me. But I get that not everyone is on the same page on that.
My problem with this is I am a historical purist, that means no Science Fiction element, no monsters etc. This means that that by my reckoning the historicals in modern Who are all quasi historicals & not real ones. Indeed most real historicals only happen in Hartnell, there is one in Troughton, The Highlanders & one in Davison Black Orchid. All the others whether classic or modern are not real historicals, but pseudo ones. Having said that some of them are excellent stories, one I really love is The Abominable Snowmen, as well as most of the ones in your list. I'm just pedantic as to what is defined as a historical story.
for me theres only like... two or three historicals in modern who. An alien element that isn't brought in by a tardis or similar small scale time machine disqualifies it from being historical. So stuff like the empty child would count since it was just captain jack and the doctor, but any of the examples with multiple robots or aliens running about in a period setting or unicorn and the wasp where the central threat is revealed to be an alien who grew up there would not count because it's not about the history but instead the setting.
But by your logic Empty Child isn't one. Its about (contemporaneous) alien tech that crashes to earth. Jack and the Doctor are tracknig the anachronism, but the nanites themselves dont time travel.
Personally, a "historical" has real characters and/or events in it, and those characters/events should be imporant to the plot. Doctor Who is a time-travel show where going into the past is part of the territory, so merely setting a story in the past isn't enough of a differentiator for me.
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A playlist of videos covering the issues with the BBC and transphobic reporting: th-cam.com/play/PLmWFOeT2jEofVIDW9X3OL7GqWuX3Dxopu.html
For the algorithm and to encourage more people to take a look at this issue.
So glad you have Demons of The Punjab so high because as a student of Indian History with a focus on the last days of The Raj, I found this episode to be a brilliant depiction of the personal trauma of India’s partition. A wonderfully poignant episode that elevates the Chibnall era.
I am just frustrated with the presence of the Aliens in this episode. I know it ended up being a red herring and the were just there to observe the history but I've always felt the episode would have been better without this distraction.
You are not alone with liking Robot of Sherwood. I adore it. Plus, its one of those episodes that actually could've worked with literally ANY doctor. Be it Nine, Ten, Eleven, Thirteen, Fourteen, and no doubt FIFTEEN, even though we've not seen much of him yet.
I like it too, it's just a good fun episode. Plus, it's the only time I know of where the Doctor gives the middle finger to someone.
Personally, I can’t imagine 9 in it
Great point!
@@jamlife919 I can see Nine taking it even further than Twelve does, continually telling Robin he doesn't exist, isn't real and being a real grump about it.
Same here! Robot of Sherwood is one of my favorites! 😊❤
Vincent and the doctor still makes me teary even thinking about that ending. SO well done.
I was getting so heated up inside and getting ready to leave a passionate comment when I was at number 2 in the list and still hadn't seen Human Nature/Family of Blood, thank God I was then saved by seeing it at number 1. Easily my favourite look back / retrospective analysis of a time period Doctor Who has ever done.
I love the choice the story makes to be set before WW1 instead of during it. Exploring what it was like during this peacetime in Britain, how even though nobody was dying at the time, there was this growing sentiment among the government, the general public and especially men that a "just war" was exactly what everyone needed to prove themselves and achieve glory for the country. An idea not only common in Britain but all across Europe at the time, making the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 and it being one of the most bloody and ruthless wars in history, while also being one of the most fundamentally pointless in both the reasons for it's outbreak and it's conclusion.
The fact that boys as young as 14 would volunteer on mass to be part of the British army just to be slaughtered in their thousands within a single day on the bloodiest days of the absolute hell that was Trench Warfare on the Western Front. The entire male population of small British villages like the one in the episode would be absolutely eradicated in the space of a few years, leaving countless grieving mothers, daughters, sisters and wives, just like Nurse Redfern which makes her distaste for the military since she already lost her husband in a war already, make it all the more poignant since she was just one of countless many that would experience that same tragic loss in the years to come.
The scene in Thin Ice when The Doctor Falcon Punches that nobleman: GREATEST. DW. MOMENT. EVER.
The thing about The Aztecs that I found cool was Barbara believing she could lead the people away from human sacrifice, only to have to face that some stuff can't just be changed by one person.
I remember watching "Fear Her" in 2006 and feeling like 2012 was the far flung future. Now it's fully a historical (not that this episode would ever be part of a Top 10)
We old.
I don't think it's not a historical because the doctor and rose still go to the future
Unicorn and the Wasp should be in the list - i know its silly, but Donna is on comedy fire in it. And i know you hate it but Villa Diodati is pretty enjoyable in terms of atmosphere and the characters, its only the ending that ruins it.
Only just started watching but I thought Vera liked Villa Diodati? I could be wrong though or maybe it was elements of it, not the whole thing.
“The Unicorn and the Wasp” is fun… until you remember it was written by a transphobe sod (as was “The Shakespeare Code” also by Gareth Roberts). As for “The Haunting of Villa Diodati” (the one time Vera can’t pin the hard-to-pronounce name on Chibnall), she’s said that it falls into the aggrandising of both historical figures AND writers at the expense of the “little people” who die in that story, which detracts heavily from her ability to enjoy and appreciate it.
@@borjankosarac3645 I know it's not for everyone but this is why I try to separare the art from the artist as much as possible. As long as their 'message' isn't featured in that art of course, which in this case it isn't. There's no way to completely separate them but it does allow me to enjoy those episodes as Doctor Who episodes (or director episodes) without thinking of them as Gareth Roberts episodes.
Your points on Villa Diodati kind of ring a bell, so maybe I'm thinking of another story.
@@Elwaves2925 I think she liked it at the time of broadcast while still taking some issue with certain aspects (namely the "great man" aggrandising aspects), but she seems to have soured on it more recently
@@christianwise637 Thanks, I might go back and watch their first review again, then follow it with the re-review as I didn't bother with the re-reviews for Chibnall's era.
Robot of Sherwood is a fun episode, for sure.
Fires of Pompeii is one of my personal faves.
It's astonishing that Edison even cares about his employees than a certain current CEO who ppl compare to Edison.
Can I just say, I absolutely LOVE your loosey goosey way of going about things - basing things off of vibes is the best way to do things!
Robin Hood is almost always good fun! To quote my favorite Klingon, “I am NOT a Merry Man!”
I think Jodie's era had the best set of historical stories, what was great is that it returned Doctor Who back to it's original remit of educating as well as entertaining! I loved that
My Top 10 modern historicals would be:
1. Vincent and the Doctor
2. The Haunting of Villa Diodati
3. Rosa
4. Demons of the Punjab
5. The Fires of Pompeii
6. The Girl in the Fireplace
7. Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
8. Thin Ice
9. Robot of Sherwood
10. The Witchfinders (really underrated)
As someone who likes the historicals more than the sci-fi / other planets stories, maybe that's why I really liked Jodie's era more that some others seem to.
Stat Trek's Time's Arrow ticks all the boxes of a Dr. Who historical
Nice to meet a fellow Robot of Sherwood enjouyer. As somebody who suffers from depression I think Vincent and the Doctor portrays it perfectly and I think can guess 3 episodes which are going to be your worst historical episodes; The Eaters of light - The hunting of Haunting of Villa Diodati and The idiot lantern. Great video
Going by the placement of your 4th Doctor scarf, I think your number 4 pick (The Doctor Dances) is your last minute placement add - it is folded differently in this segment when compared to the other segments, including the 1st and 2nd spot segments. However, you either dubbed in or re-record your line about the Robot of Sherwood being number 11 when you talk about number 9, the Telsa episode. I have to rewatch that part to see the placement of the scarf.
EDit: I just watch the Tesla part and it is intact redoubled with the scarf matching the other segments. This confirms that your number 4 was the one you had forgotten.
I actually really liked all of 13’s historicals - Rosa, Demons of Punjab, the Witchfinder, Haunting of Villa Diodati and War of the Sontarans, as well as Nicola Tesla’s Night of Terror. are also cracking episodes. In fact, that’s a fairly comprehensive list of my favourite 13 Doctor stories.
It's beautiful to see how you have grown as a critic, writer, and person. Thank you for being you, awesomesauce!
this has made me realise how many of my favourite episodes are historical ones
I first learned about the Partition of India from Demons of the Punjab ... and I was 46 when it aired, so I;m glad that it made it into the top half of your list. It filled a shameful gap in my historical knowledge.
These are my top 10! Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror would be my number 11.
1. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
2. Vincent and the Doctor
3. Father's Day
4. The Girl in the Fireplace
5. Human Nature/The Family of Blood
6. Village of the Angels
7. Thin Ice
8. Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks
9. Cold War
10. Rosa
not fond of 13 so no to 6, but i do agree with the rest
Robot of Sherwood is a really good episode, that I love dearly.
Not only do I agree with your number one pick, but the way they cap off that story with the glimpse into present day and how emotional it is... It hits me EVERY time because I think it's a very honest reflection of just what a human tragedy the whole thing was, through the eyes of a character we've gotten to know over the story...
Also, I have a lot of love for Robot Of Sherwood, as a fun, low-stakes adventure, and always have - and that was BEFORE I moved to Nottingham myself 😂
Also, thank you for not counting any episodes that are technically historical now, but set in the future on air date, such as Dalek - though I wouldn't have expected to see Fear Her in here regardless...
I adore Human Nature/Family of Blood so much. The end scene with the voiceover breaks my heart every. Time.
I adore Hide. The performances of the two ghost hunters (their names escape me) are really good and the spooky house setting is solid.
I can't fault you for putting Human Nature at the top. Not only is it a great story with great performances from all involved, but it managed to juggle all that and also put just enough focus on the WW1 aspect.
Dougray Scott and Jessica Raine are the two hunters. I also like that episode, especially the way it turns out for the 'ghosts'.
@@Elwaves2925 That's them. Thanks! :)
They were great, but not just them. I think this is probably one of the better episodes for Clara and 11's dynamic. So all 4 main characters here are great.
YES! THIN ICE IS AMAZING! It's one of my favorite 12th doctor episodes
I'm basing my top-ten list partially on how I rate the episode overall but with added weight on how the historical aspects impact the story:
1. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
2. The Fires of Pompeii
3. Vincent and the Doctor
4. The Girl in the Fireplace
5. Human Nature/Family of Blood
6. Thin Ice
7. Tooth & Claw
8. The Unquiet Dead
9. The Shakespeare Code
10. The Haunting of Villa Diodati
Honorable mention to Fathers Day, Rosa and Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
My favourite historical from the classic era by far is The Time Warrior
I'm not fond of that last one, these are some of my favourites too. Classic era one of my all time favourites is Pyramids of Mars, bur yes time warrior is high up there, if you want to be a sobbing mess listen to The Massacre, its one of the missing stories, but the audio exists
@@julieeverett7442 I adore Pyramids of Mars but I tend to think of it as a pseudo-historical story rather than a full historical. It's set in the past but the time period is inconsequential to the story it's telling. It could have been set almost any time. In contrast, the medieval period is intrinsic to the story in The Time Warrior
Can't believe you almost forgot The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances. It's a great list. Historicals and Daleks were definitely the Chibnall's era's strong suits. Glad to see they're rising in everyone's appreciation 😊
I did kind of hint at why I forgot it in the entry. When I think of it, the fact that it's a historical is like the 4th or 5th thing I think about.
@@CouncilofGeeks That's absolutely fair
Fully agree with number one. Never fails to make me cry, often rewatch it
My favourites would be Hide, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, Human Nature/Family of Blood, Demons of the Punjab, Cold War, Vincent and the Doctor, Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror, Village of the Angels, The Unquiet Dead, Crimson Horror, The Snowman, Rosa, The Girl in the Fireplace, Thin Ice.
Its worth noting that the classic series bigging up the "great men of history" happens significantly less than the modern series. You would think it would be the opposite but the writers from that eras were less interested in aggrandising as you would say. One thing I didn't appreciate about The Gunfighters (because I didn't like it) when I first saw it, is that it's thumbing its nose at that over mythologised event.
Love to see some Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror appreciation! Honestly probably one of my favorite Whittaker era stories
I really liked the Robin Hood episode. It was really funny. The interactions between the Doctor and Robin Hood were hilarious.
Great list, and a wonderful appreciation of these stories. I agree that Hide is underrated - I recently rewatched season 7 for the first time since it aired, and was pleasantly surprised by how much better Hide was than I remembered it.
I'd have 'the Unicorn and the Wasp' somewhere, rather than 'the Robots of Sherwood,' but that's just me.
Same here. I think because it really commits to the bit of the Poirot-esque mystery, complete with flashbacks, and it's a great supporting cast, the whole poisoning scene. Agatha, not unlike Bill, questions the Doctor, how he can enjoy himself when there is so much death. Plus, y'know, it's a Donna episode.
Surprised there was no The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon on this this list! Also think I would have included The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Village of the Angels but that's just me.
My top 10 in no particular order:
Human Nature/Family of Blood
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
Vincent and the Doctor
Remembrance of the Daleks (yes its a Dalek story but the historical setting is quite significant)
Curse of Fenric
Horror of Fang Rock
Fires of Pompeii
Demons of the Punjab
Thin Ice
The talons of Weng Chiang (Great story but the yellowface has aged poorly)
I don't have time to watch this as it comes out sadly, but I'll quickly say that if you haven't seen the Massacre yet (as much as you can 'see' missing episodes), please do. It's so good! I really need to rewatch the modern historicals, but I remember finding the two historical Flux episodes to be the enjoyable parts of that series.
I have two things to say, so I'll separate them as if they were two different comments, (I just wanted to say that just so it doesn't look too jarring).
I understand that the world of TH-cam collaborations has changed drastically over the years (definitely for the better), and people tend to choose to collaborate with friends they really know and click with over just people who do similar things BUT
I would love to see you and Bernadette Banner tackle this together, with possibly all modern era Doctor Who historical episodes/ historical appearances. She outed herself as a Doctor Who fan with a fantastic Missy cosplay, and I think both your intelligence and knowledge in your respective areas would create something well worth watching!
I fully agree with your list and your reasoning! So much so that when you got to number one I honestly thought "what could possibly beat out the last 3!" And then wasn't a bit surprised at what it was! I don't think I would add or change anything, except I do agree that I would put Robot of Sherwood higher, if it weren't for the blatant inaccuracies 😂 I've watched you for years, and I have to say, I always find myself agreeing with you, but I think this might be one of my favourite videos you've put out to date! And I am pleased that Demons of the Punjab made it, as that's one of the few Chibnall era episodes I enjoyed enough to want to watch again.
You're incredibly optimistic that I would ever have in-roads with someone with over a million subscribers.
@@CouncilofGeeksNot so optimistic, just recognising quality when we see it. 🎉
Is "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances" the one you had to add? lol
FINALLY robot of sherwood is getting the respect it deserves. I claim responsibility
I love that episode! It's just a fun, corny episode
Its the "Yes Jamie...I am your Mummy" that gets me every time !
Empty Child/Doctor Dances was my intro to Doctor Who. Whew, high bar. Still, became a massive fan, going way back & forth in the saga. Love most all of it. Still, this one is a masterpiece. Sucked me right in.
Thin Ice balanced fun history with utmost tragedy. Watched several times, but dang the tough bits are rly tough.
Punjab easily the best of the Chibnall era for me. So well done. So very sad.
Ready to rewatch Vincent for the umpteenth time. Watched what I think was your og review (wait up, must be the overdue review) several times, so dang inciteful, it meant a whole lot to me. Ty Vera for that one, always. Surprised it’s not yr #1 ep, but I get it.
Have to rewatch yr top pick.. Love Paul Cornell, and/but wow I found that a tough watch. History student here, find my dips into WWI both fascinating & overwhelmingly excruciating…
Thank goodness for Sherwood! Fave Doctor & hilarious romp compared to all the historical tragedy in the “best” eps.
Looking forward to the worsts! Betcha I have some faves among them 😅
My top historicals:
10 - fires of Pompeii
9 - hide
8 - thin ice
7 - curse of the black spot
6 - unicorn and the wasp
5 - empty child/ doctor dances
4 - Rosa
3 - Vincent and the doctor
2 - impossible astronauts/ day of the moon
1 - Girl in the fire place
GOD TIER - Let’s kill Hitler
Thinking about it now I would probably put hide above curse of the black spot.
Oh completely forgot about family of blood two parter as well, I would remove fires of pompeii and put that above empty child and doctor dances
Human Nature / Family of Blood is my favourite Doctor Who story EVER! So it would definitely be no. 1 for me as well!
I know you're doing New Who but from the Seventh Doctor era, Curse of Fenric and Remembrance of the Daleks are both way up there for me
and ghost light for its corrupted victoriana
@@elizabethveldonstuff Yesss, one of the best political historicals, although a good example of unnecessary aliens
Haha, there are some that weren't originally historicals, but became so thorugh the passage of time. I love it.
Fear Her leaps to mind.
That actually is the one that jumped for me as well. I just couldn't remember it a the time of watching this video.@@CouncilofGeeks
My guess for the one you forgot, is the Girl in the Fireplace due to you stating its the Moffat episode you forget about lol
I wasn't sure at first what could possibly top the Vincent Van Gough episode, but you're right, the first time I watched the Family of Blood episodes they hit home their time period perfectly
Vincent would definitely be my number 1, but this is a real good list.
Historical episode you didn't mention that's probably on my top 10: Tooth and Claw. Mostly cuz I love werewolves and it establishes Torchwood.
some of my favorites too, however i would include the unicorn and the wasp, and leave out Teslas night of terror, Rosa wasnt too bad either.
If you would like a list of classic era historicals to watch
Reign of terror (french revolution) 1st
the Romans
The Aztecs
gunslinger
the crusade
time warrior 3rd
pryamids of mars 4th
Talons of Wen Chiang
time flight 5th
Black orchid
the visitaion
curse of fenric 7th
tribe of gum 1st
almost all of these are pure historicals, no monsters to spoil them modern era are semi historicals as they have a scifi element
I share your deep love for "Thin Ice." When that episode first aired, I distinctly remember the huge smile it put on my face and a sense of pure fun that I hadn't felt from Doctor Who in such a long time. And I appreciated how it didn't hand-wave racism against the companion ala "The Shakespeare Code." Of course, the anti-woke crowd will rag on it, but let them bitch all they want. That episode is a wonderful, joyous, all-time classic, 10 out of fucking 10.
Scarf is in the same place throughout the whole video except for the Empty Child, thats my guess for the added in one
I’m surprised it’s the scarf that people are catching. I thought it’d be the different nail colors.
@@CouncilofGeeks I caught as well on my own. The way the scraf is folded on the right side of your chest is so obvious. If you mess around with your scrap with each segment, no one can tell. LOL
Considering the callous way Martha's awful treatment is handled, I really can't enjoy the Number one choice.
It really feels like the show is Punishing Martha and at 2 Parts, the episode makes that treatment drag a lot.
I also never found 'John Smith' and Joan Redfern's romance to be compelling.
However, Tennant did a nice job of playing adorkable.
@nancyjay790 The Acting in the two parter wasn't the problem at all (I actually think the sequence where the 10th Doctor punishes the Family of Blood is one of David Tennant's best scenes as the Doctor), the problems I have are everything to do with the writing.
@@nekusakura6748 I agree that Martha's pining for the Doctor was really awful to her character. I kept hoping that at some point the Doctor would apologise to her for ignoring her feelings and also doing things that he should have known would mislead her (not just the tongue sandwich in Smith And Jones, although that was high handed of him however he felt about Martha).
@nancyjay790 If Martha ever encounters another Incarnation of the Doctor, I hope they treat her with more respect from the get go.
Vincent and the Doctor would be number 1 for me (it is my favorite Who episode actually), and one and Thin Ice number 2. Fires of Pompeii would probably be 3. But I love most of the episodes on this list, and most of them would be in my top 10.
Great episode. Historical have always been quite hit & miss in Who. They almost always look great, but the content is often lacking. But when they hit, they hit hard.
Top 10 new Who historically (no particular order): Human Nature/Family of Blood (just great), Girl in the Fireplace, The Unquiet Dead, The Fires of Pompeii, Thin Ice, Vincent & The Doctor, Rosa, Demons of the Punjab, Haunting of Villa Diodati, Tooth & Claw (is Fathers Day a historical?)
Classic Who top 10 (those that were actually historical at time of transmission….): The Aztecs, The Romans, The Crusades, The War Games, The Time Warrior, Pyramids of Mars, Talons of Weng Chiang (and yes, I know there’s deeply unfortunate ‘historical’ issues with this), Masque of Mandragora, Black Orchid, The Visitation,
Empty Child / Doctor Dances reads as the addendum.
fires of pompeii being that low because its strengths lie in character work over the setting is ABSOLUTELY fair but that's not gonna stop it from being my all-time personal favorite doctor who historical lol. i adore the doctor and donna's relationship too much for it not to be
I have always adored Family of Blood and have sought out other novels by the writer which I also enjoyed immensely. I actually also liked The Villa of Whatever Its Name was. It was really the first of Thirteem's that I had felt was Doctor Who. I love your sign off by the way. Inspirational and comforting. Px
I'm surprised twice upon a time isn't there but a great list regardless
Excellent list! I agree with just about every story on it. For me, Fires of Pompeii is higher, because I teach Latin, and the family in that story is very heavily inspired by the family in the textbook I was teaching from at the time, the Cambridge Latin Series. They changed just enough about Caecilius, Metella, and Quintus to keep from copyright issues, but made them familiar enough that anyone who's learned Latin via that text would recognize them immediately. I also would not have ranked Human Nature/Family of Blood at the top because, for me, the good things aren't enough to make up for the fact that Martha has to bear the brunt of the story's downbeats again. Martha was such a good companion, but the writers sometimes had trouble figuring out her relationship to and with the Doctor. I've got the novel the story was based on/inspired by up on my shelves - I want to read it and compare the two versions at some point. 7 and Benny would have a different dynamic than 10 and Martha for so many reasons, and I think, for me, 7 and Benny might work better in the general setting/story. I think it'd still make my top 10, just not the top spot - that's either Thin Ice or Vincent and the Doctor.
I really hoped The Unicorn and the Wasp would be on this list. It has my two most favourite things in the world in it, Doctor Who and Agatha Christie. I’ve read all her novels and watched the series and obviously I’ve also watched all of Dr Who. The vespiform is ridiculous I grant you but still it’s AC and Doctor Who. She’d make a great companion.
My top is and always probably will be Vincent, with Thin Ice a close second. I recognise how good Human Nature/Family of Blood are, but I never voluntarily rewatch it
Good list. I was surprised with Robots of Sherwood, I had fun with that. The Doctor fighting with a spoon! I agree about the number one pick and appreciate the love for Cold War and Hide, loved those episodes. Still good ranking of the list. Ah history!
Thank you for the video, Vera! And that is a very good list!
I find funny including the "Robot of Sherwood" episode considering how historians cannot agree on Robin Hood being a real historical figure or not. In similar note, it feels like a post-Mandela effect having to remember that Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character, and Jack the Ripper was real (at least, the series of murders attributed to the subject were real). Or how King Arthur and the Excalibur sword were real, but the tales of the "Lady of the Lake" and the "sword in the stone" were (probably) not.
I guess I can see your #1, given the context of what this list is about. However, I like your #2 as a story better, because it is more than just a historical, it is moving on a whole other level and I can't watch the final scenes w/dry eyes. Your # 3 is an excellent choice too! I particularly love the scene where he wins Bill back, talking about how you define a species.
classic era has some corkers: the polite english fascism of 'remembrance of the daleks' and the corrupted victoriana of 'ghost light' really stand out for me.
hmm Image of the Fendhal is def in my top ten historicals if it counts.
This is a really nice list!
Funny how out of these 11 I have recently shown 2 to my partner!
And you do have a point that Human Nature is the most down-to-Earth historical in the modern era at least. In terms of classic - most of Hartnell's historicals were just as down-to-earth. Heck, an Unearthly Child was like that.
I'd say my favourite historical overall was the Black Orchid. Just such a feel-good story.
one of my personal favourite classic story (that you can watch) is pyramids of Mars, My all time favourite, and still reduces me to a sobbing mess, is the Massacre, but yes, Blacj orchid is fun!!
@@julieeverett7442 Yeah that’s a historical alright. But it kinda doesn’t feel very Mars-like because of how it’s all in-doors on Mars.
@@Yan_Alkovic i meant the time frame 1911
"Rosa" was amazing
I’ve got complicated feelings about that one, but I get why people like it.
@@CouncilofGeeks Thanks for the reply :) it's cool to hear other people's opinions
Hooray for your Thin Ice love!
I think my list would be (in no particular order):
Vincent and the Doctor
Human Nature / Family of Blood
Thin Ice
Empty Child / Doctor Dances
Girl Who Died
Woman Who Lived
Demons of the Punjab
Eaters of Light
Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon
The Girl in the Fireplace
What do you like about The Eaters of Light?
@@Cayles764 just find it a rather lyrical, poignant story - Celtic folklore and so on is my jam which helps - & it’s got a beautiful novelisation too.
1) does father's day count as a historical!
2) Vincent is to me the reverse of Up, strong sequence (in this case the end) over a middling rest of the story
3) I've never loved no 1, but do enjoy it. A better "historical" is twice upon a time for including/introducing people to the Christmas miracle
Father's day doesn't dwell on the Historical Moments, it's a Family Historical.
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances has always been one of my favorites, if not my number one Doctor Who story. Though, Vincent and The Doctor is really up there for me too, and I agree Thin Ice is underrated, both as a historical piece and just as an episode in general.
Human Nature/Family of Blood is good as well --- I always thought it was interesting that the story apparently wasn't afraid to make John Smith kind of a dick. Or perhaps, a product of his time might be more accurate to say. I know some people don't care for the story's depiction or treatment of Martha, which I get, but nonetheless I think it's still a compelling exploration of the time period, the Doctor's flaws, and humans having flashes of greatness and heroism while also being a bit rubbish.
Love your opinion of the number 3 on this list. It's a very underrated episode 🫶
What, no Idiot’s Lantern? [ducks]
Totally agree with your number 1. But I think this is a top 10 list cause The Girl in the Fireplace doesn't belong on it at all, it's true setting is the future not the past.
Set in Future, spends most of it in the Past.
D’ya think Fear Her counts as an historical _now?_ When it was made it took place six years in the future…but as I write this, it takes place twelve years in the past. 😆
No, it has to have been a historical point in time when it was released.
I honestly thought "historical Doctor Who" was referring to the Doctor before the 2000's 😂❤
I love the historicals of the early classic era (Hartnell and Troughton) before aliens and the Doctor started getting too involved with historical events. I'd rank The Aztecs and The Romans higher than most modern historical episodes.
I liked your list. But here are a few comments. I don't know if I consider Sherwood a historical. I also have a few historical episodes I really like that aren't here. I hope they're not in your bottom 11. Unicorn and the Wasp, Rosa, Witchfinders, The Unquiet Dead, and one of my all time favorites.....The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe.
Good friend, the year is currently 1880 and I find myself asleep, dreaming that I have just watched your "You" "Tube" "video". Now I dream of leaving a comment under this marvelous moving picture (truly, the wildest dream that ever I have had). And now, before I wake, I wanted to tell you the manner in which I have come to watch your video (per your penultimate request) and also to tell you that you too are beautiful and valid! Good show, brava, etcetera! What a thing these under-market psychic soporifics... Kindly, Maez Birmingly (she/they) born 1855 - died (please don't tell me)
Being a traveller from the early 3000's I also find this screen based communication and manual comments to be rather strange... History is weird, but important.
For a long time, I did not fully understand the experiences and points of view of LGBTQ+ (and especially trans) people due to my upbringing, and I want to thank you for opening my eyes to those perspectives and helping me to realize that they are people just like me, and not a political football.
- A fan of yours since 2014
Obviously the Tesla episode is the one you added since you referred to there being 11 top episodes ;)
Check that again, because I went out of my way to dub in "top 11" really badly and obviously.
Random thoughts:
Thin Ice: the fact that David Warner was never cast as a TV Doctor will always make me sad.
Fires of Pompeii: shouldn't have taken 10 minutes of begging for the Doctor to do the right thing. Aside from that, a solid episode.
Vincent and the Doctor: Would have worked just as well without the alien.
Human Nature: will always like the book better, because he the book the Doctor gets a cat.
I'm guessing John Smith gets the cat? Please tell me the Doctor kept it
@@mrdr0161 He did and later writers would occasionally include a scene with it in their novels, wandering around the Tardis.
Blanking on its name.
@@travishiltz4750 they should've brought that into the story and have the Doctor keep the cat, even if it was only for the rest of series 3 and he gives it to Martha when she leaves.
thin ice is technically the only full historical (historical story with no aliens) in the revival :)
Why 11? Because she likes to go 1 step beyond.
I forgot how good some of these episodes are.
I wouldn't really count Hide since it wasn't really about the setting, and the characters unique to the episode weren't historical figures. Also I'm surprised The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances wasn't number 1 considering your placement of The Doctor Dances in your complete new-Who episode ranking.
Surprised that the queen turning into a werewolf wasn't at the top lol
I dunno. It's fun. And werewolf aside the historical bits are some of the stronger aspects and the historical facts like about how the diamond kept getting cut down were woven into the story pretty seamlessly.
Farewell Great Macedon will forever be Doctor Who's greatest ever historical
The girl in the fireplace is the one you forgot to add?? Probably wrong
Slightly misleading title, as it's "Best Historical Episodes of new Doctor Who".
Nitpicking aside, can't fault your top 3 as these are all solid episodes. Demons of the Punjab would be my number one and next time the Doctor meets Churchill, maybe they can ask him about the Bengal famine?
I do really like human nature/famaly of blood, but the one thing which always bugs me about it is how they try to make the doctor seem less human by bringing up how he didn't consider the possibility of him falling in love. Something about that just kinda annoys me.
Speaking as somebody who gets annoyed when the Doctor feels too human, that’s absolutely worked for me. But I get that not everyone is on the same page on that.
What about the "Haunting of Villa Diodati"? Do you consider it not historical enough?
I know that has been collectively dubbed "the best one" from the Chibnall run but, um... I have a LOT of problems with that episode.
My problem with this is I am a historical purist, that means no Science Fiction element, no monsters etc. This means that that by my reckoning the historicals in modern Who are all quasi historicals & not real ones. Indeed most real historicals only happen in Hartnell, there is one in Troughton, The Highlanders & one in Davison Black Orchid. All the others whether classic or modern are not real historicals, but pseudo ones. Having said that some of them are excellent stories, one I really love is The Abominable Snowmen, as well as most of the ones in your list. I'm just pedantic as to what is defined as a historical story.
Do we count episodes like Dalek and Fear her as historicals yet
No, because they were the future when they where set.
for me theres only like... two or three historicals in modern who. An alien element that isn't brought in by a tardis or similar small scale time machine disqualifies it from being historical. So stuff like the empty child would count since it was just captain jack and the doctor, but any of the examples with multiple robots or aliens running about in a period setting or unicorn and the wasp where the central threat is revealed to be an alien who grew up there would not count because it's not about the history but instead the setting.
But by your logic Empty Child isn't one. Its about (contemporaneous) alien tech that crashes to earth. Jack and the Doctor are tracknig the anachronism, but the nanites themselves dont time travel.
I really like the Agatha Christie episode.
Personally, a "historical" has real characters and/or events in it, and those characters/events should be imporant to the plot. Doctor Who is a time-travel show where going into the past is part of the territory, so merely setting a story in the past isn't enough of a differentiator for me.