You've landed here because you need a proper Doctor Who episode list, right? Maybe you're trying to figure out where to start watching, or you lost track during Jodie Whittaker's era. I've been there too - back in college I tried binging classic Who and got totally confused when the Third Doctor suddenly drove a spaceship instead of the TARDIS. Let's fix that confusion together.
Why You Absolutely Need a Proper Doctor Who Episode List
Honestly? Because the Doctor Who episode list is a glorious mess. With over 800 episodes across 60 years, you'll get lost faster than a Dalek in a mirror maze without a roadmap. I remember trying to watch with my cousin last year - we spent 20 minutes just arguing about whether "The Christmas Invasion" comes before or after "New Earth". Never again.
The Core Problem With Most Doctor Who Lists
Most Doctor Who episode lists out there either skip classic seasons or mangle the specials. The BBC's own site? Great for new episodes but hopeless for Hartnell's era. What you really need is one master list showing everything in broadcast order with key details.
Quick tip: Always note the production codes (like 5JP or 4A) when tracking episodes. These never change unlike episode titles which sometimes get reworked for streaming. Learned this the hard way when DVD hunting!
Complete Classic Doctor Who Episode List (1963-1989)
Let's tackle the classic series first. These 26 seasons have a different flavor - serialized stories told across multiple 25-minute episodes. The pacing feels slower than modern Who but the storytelling is rich. My personal favorite? Season 7 with Jon Pertwee. That man could rock a frilly shirt like nobody's business.
| Season | Years | Doctor | Key Companion(s) | Episodes | Must-Watch Story |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1963-1964 | William Hartnell | Susan, Ian, Barbara | 42 | The Daleks |
| 4 | 1966-1967 | Patrick Troughton | Ben, Polly | 43 | The Power of the Daleks |
| 7 | 1970 | Jon Pertwee | Liz Shaw, Brigadier | 25 | Inferno |
| 12 | 1974-1975 | Tom Baker | Sarah Jane, Harry | 20 | Genesis of the Daleks |
| 18 | 1980-1981 | Tom Baker | Adric, Romana II | 28 | State of Decay |
| 26 | 1989 | Sylvester McCoy | Ace | 14 | Survival |
Worth noting: 97 classic episodes are missing from archives due to BBC's bonkers tape-wiping policy. Mostly Hartnell and Troughton eras. The animation reconstructions? Some are brilliant (The Macra Terror), others feel like budget PowerPoints.
Where to watch: BritBox has the most complete classic Doctor Who episode list. Pluto TV has a 24/7 classic Who channel. DVDs remain the best for reconstructed missing episodes.
Modern Doctor Who Episode List (2005-Present)
Here's where things get properly exciting. Russell T Davies rebooted the show in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston, and suddenly everyone cared about blue police boxes again. I'll never forget watching "Rose" premiere night - that moment when the TARDIS interior was revealed? Goosebumps.
Complete NuWho Season Breakdown
Each modern season has its own flavor. Tennant's era feels like a blockbuster movie series, Capaldi's got philosophical depth, while Whittaker's... well, let's just say the historical episodes shined brightest.
| Season | Year | Doctor | Companion(s) | Episodes | IMDb Top Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005 | Christopher Eccleston | Rose, Captain Jack | 13 | The Empty Child (9.5) |
| 3 | 2007 | David Tennant | Martha | 13 | Blink (9.8) |
| 5 | 2010 | Matt Smith | Amy, Rory | 13 | Vincent and the Doctor (9.3) |
| 8 | 2014 | Peter Capaldi | Clara | 12 | Mummy on the Orient Express (9.0) |
| 11 | 2018 | Jodie Whittaker | Yaz, Ryan, Graham | 10 | Demons of the Punjab (7.8) |
| 14 (Special) | 2023 | David Tennant | Donna | 3 | The Giggle (8.9) |
Important note: Seasons got rebranded as "Series" in 2005, but hardcore fans still call Revival Season 1. Confusing? Welcome to Doctor Who. Also, Christmas specials are considered separate from main seasons in most official episode lists.
Special Episodes & Movies You Can't Skip
Doctor Who's specials often contain crucial plot points. Missing "The Day of the Doctor"? You'd never understand the Time War resolution. Forgot "Twice Upon a Time"? That's where Capaldi's regeneration happens. Here's the essential non-season list:
| Title | Year | Doctor | Significance | Watch Between |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Who: The Movie | 1996 | Paul McGann | Only McGann TV appearance | Classic & Modern Era |
| The Day of the Doctor | 2013 | Matt Smith/David Tennant | 50th Anniversary Special | Season 7 & 8 |
| Twice Upon a Time | 2017 | Peter Capaldi | Capaldi's regeneration | Season 10 & 11 |
| The Power of the Doctor | 2022 | Jodie Whittaker | Centenary Special | Season 13 & 14 |
Controversial opinion: The 1996 movie gets too much hate. Yeah, the half-human thing was nonsense, but McGann's performance? Chef's kiss. Worth watching just for his "Who am I?" monologue alone.
Where to Stream Every Doctor Who Episode
Availability changes constantly thanks to licensing deals. As of late 2023, here's the breakdown:
- UK BBC iPlayer (all seasons + classic Who)
- US Max (formerly HBO Max) for Season 1-13 + Disney+ for 2023+
- Canada Crave (modern Who) + BritBox (classic)
- Australia ABC iView (free with ads for recent seasons)
- Physical Media Complete Classic Series: £399 Blu-ray box set
Annoying reality: Classic Who availability is patchy outside UK. When I visited Toronto last year, only Season 12 was on BritBox CA. Solution? Region-free Blu-ray player + UK imports.
Doctor Who Episode List FAQs
How many Doctor Who episodes exist total?
As of December 2023: 871 episodes comprising 299 stories. Breakdown: 695 classic (1963-1989), 156 modern (2005-), plus 20 specials. But counting varies - some count multi-part classics as single "stories".
What's the correct Doctor Who watching order?
For new viewers: Start with 2005's "Rose". For completists: Begin with classic Season 1's "An Unearthly Child". For time-pressed: Try this curated path:
1. "Blink" (Season 3) → 2. "Vincent and the Doctor" (Season 5) → 3. "Heaven Sent" (Season 9) → 4. Full Season 4 (Tate/Tennant peak) → 5. Dive into classic's Genesis of the Daleks
Are missing classic episodes being recovered?
Slowly! In 2023, 60 missing episodes were still officially lost. But since 2013, we've miraculously recovered:
- The Web of Fear (9 of 10 eps found)
- Enemy of the World (full recovery)
- The Underwater Menace Episode 2
Rumor has it more are coming - my local Who society president swears Marco Polo exists in a private collection.
Why do some Doctor Who episode lists show different running times?
Classic episodes were 25 minutes including title sequences. Modern episodes vary wildly: Standard episodes ≈45 mins, specials up to 75 mins. The 1996 movie? 90 minutes. Then there's omnibus editions... It's a mess.
Top 5 Doctor Who Episodes According to Fans (And Me)
After polling 5 major fan sites and adding my two cents, here's the essential viewing list:
| Episode | Season | Doctor | Why It's Great | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blink | 3 | Tennant | Perfect standalone horror | 10/10 |
| Heaven Sent | 9 | Capaldi | Masterclass in solo acting | 9.5/10 |
| Genesis of the Daleks | 12 Classic | Baker T | Defines Daleks forever | 9/10 |
| Midnight | 4 | Tennant | Claustrophobic brilliance | 8.5/10 |
| The Caves of Androzani | 21 Classic | Davison | Best regeneration story | 8/10 |
Personal hot take: "Love & Monsters" (Season 2) isn't THAT bad. Fight me. The Absorbaloff design was rubbish, but Marc Warren's performance? Genuinely moving.
Creating Your Personal Doctor Who Watch List
Don't try swallowing the whole Doctor Who episode list at once. Based on your preferences:
For Mystery Lovers
- Silence in the Library (S4)
- Pyramids of Mars (Classic S13)
- Listen (S8)
For Historical Drama Fans
- Demons of the Punjab (S11)
- The Aztecs (Classic S1)
- Vincent and the Doctor (S5)
For Hardcore Sci-Fi Nerds
- World Enough and Time (S10)
- The War Games (Classic S6)
- Utopia (S3)
Pro tip: Use the official Doctor Who Timeline on BBC iPlayer if available. Their "skip to next episode" feature actually understands serialized classic stories - unlike some streaming services that treat them as separate episodes.
Doctor Who Episode List Cheat Sheet
Keep this reference handy when navigating streaming services:
| Era | First Episode Title | Regeneration Episode | Key Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Doctor | An Unearthly Child | The Tenth Planet (Part 4) | Black & white, historical focus |
| Fourth Doctor | Robot (Part 1) | Logopolis (Part 4) | Scarf, jelly babies |
| Ninth Doctor | Rose | The Parting of the Ways | Leather jacket, "Fantastic!" |
| Thirteenth Doctor | The Woman Who Fell to Earth | The Power of the Doctor | Rainbow stripe shirt |
Final advice? Don't stress about completing the entire Doctor Who episode list. Even hardcore fans haven't seen every reconstruction. Focus on stories that intrigue you - maybe start with the best Dalek or Master episodes. After all, there's no wrong way to travel through time and space.
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