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The Best Episodes of Doctor Who Season 17

Every episode of Doctor Who Season 17 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Doctor Who Season 17!

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The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 1 - Destiny of the Daleks (1)
    7.8/10(681 votes)

    #1 - Destiny of the Daleks (1)

    S17:E1

    Skaro, the Dalek homeworld, some time in the future. The TARDIS lands in the irradiated ruins of the old Kaled city and something is moving underneath the wasted surface of the planet…

    Director:Ken Grieve
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  2. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 2 - Destiny of the Daleks (2)
    7.5/10(602 votes)

    #2 - Destiny of the Daleks (2)

    S17:E2

    Romana has been captured by the Daleks, the Doctor is the guest of the Movellans. The Daleks are drilling deep into Skaro for something and the Doctor has an awful suspicion about their objective…

    Director:Ken Grieve
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  3. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 3 - Destiny of the Daleks (3)
    7.5/10(586 votes)

    #3 - Destiny of the Daleks (3)

    S17:E3

    The Daleks have awoken Davros in the heart of Skaro. Only the Doctor and the Movellans stand between them and their objective. But are the Movellans really on the Doctor's side?

    Director:Ken Grieve
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  4. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 4 - Destiny of the Daleks (4)
    7.6/10(589 votes)

    #4 - Destiny of the Daleks (4)

    S17:E4

    Trapped between the Movellans and the Daleks, the Doctor must find a way to defeat both. Meanwhile, vast space fleets await new orders.

    Director:Ken Grieve
    Writer:Terry Nation

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  5. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 5 - City of Death (1)
    8.6/10(969 votes)

    #5 - City of Death (1)

    S17:E5

    Paris, 1979. The Doctor and Romana are here on holiday, but something is disturbing the flow of time. Could the time travel experiments of Count Scarlioni be to blame?

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writers:Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

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  6. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 6 - City of Death (2)
    8.2/10(837 votes)

    #6 - City of Death (2)

    S17:E6

    Captured by the Count, the Doctor and Romana uncover an elaborate plan to steal the Mona Lisa. But there is more to Scarlioni's plans than a simple theft.

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writers:Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

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  7. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 7 - City of Death (3)
    8.3/10(815 votes)

    #7 - City of Death (3)

    S17:E7

    The Doctor and Romana unwrap an intricate plot involving aliens, time travel and the Mona Lisa. How is Count Scarlioni living in two times at once? And what does he want?

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writers:Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

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  8. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 8 - City of Death (4)
    8.2/10(854 votes)

    #8 - City of Death (4)

    S17:E8

    Scaroth is determined to go back 400 million years in time to prevent a mistake. But the Doctor must stop him – because the consequences would be disastrous.

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writers:Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher

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  9. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 9 - The Creature from the Pit (1)
    6.2/10(551 votes)

    #9 - The Creature from the Pit (1)

    S17:E9

    The planet Chloris. Drawn here by a mysterious distress signal, the Doctor becomes the prisoner of the ruthless Adrasta. A strange and deadly pit awaits those who displease her.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:David Fisher

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  10. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 10 - The Creature from the Pit (2)
    6.5/10(484 votes)

    #10 - The Creature from the Pit (2)

    S17:E10

    The Doctor is in a pit with a deadly creature. And Adrasta has plans for Romana and K-9.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:David Fisher

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  11. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 11 - The Creature from the Pit (3)
    6.0/10(485 votes)

    #11 - The Creature from the Pit (3)

    S17:E11

    The Doctor has come face to face with a massive green creature. Adrasta goes into the mines to kill the monster. But everything is not as it appears…

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:David Fisher

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  12. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 12 - The Creature from the Pit (4)
    6.0/10(484 votes)

    #12 - The Creature from the Pit (4)

    S17:E12

    The truth about the creature is revealed. But its imprisonment may have already set in motion a terrible revenge.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:David Fisher

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  13. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 13 - Nightmare of Eden (1)
    6.8/10(517 votes)

    #13 - Nightmare of Eden (1)

    S17:E13

    The orbit of the holiday planet, Azure, the year 2116. The starships Empress and Hecate are fused together after an accident in hyperspace. Naturally the Doctor thinks he can find a solution, but has the accident unleashed a far more deadly menace?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Bob Baker

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  14. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 14 - Nightmare of Eden (2)
    6.4/10(471 votes)

    #14 - Nightmare of Eden (2)

    S17:E14

    Two ships have collided above Azure but that may be the least of the Doctor's problems. Monsters and drug smugglers are loose on the ship. And it all seems to tie in with Tryst's electronic zoo…

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Bob Baker

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  15. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 15 - Nightmare of Eden (3)
    6.2/10(469 votes)

    #15 - Nightmare of Eden (3)

    S17:E15

    The Doctor and Romana begin to uncover the truth about the strange events aboard the luxury liner Empress. They first have to separate the two ships from each other, but they've got Mandrells, drug smugglers and police chasing after them.

    Director:Graham Williams
    Writer:Bob Baker

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  16. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 16 - Nightmare of Eden (4)
    6.5/10(474 votes)

    #16 - Nightmare of Eden (4)

    S17:E16

    The Doctor finally discovers the truth about the drug smuggling ring. But the villains are still one step ahead.

    Director:Graham Williams
    Writer:Bob Baker

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  17. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 17 - The Horns of Nimon (1)
    5.8/10(543 votes)

    #17 - The Horns of Nimon (1)

    S17:E17

    Deep space, an unknown time. The TARDIS encounters a disabled Skonnon battlecruiser transporting Anethan 'tribute'. The co-pilot is determined to reach Skonnos at any cost.

    Director:Kenny McBain
    Writer:Anthony Read

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  18. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 18 - The Horns of Nimon (2)
    6.0/10(490 votes)

    #18 - The Horns of Nimon (2)

    S17:E18

    Having reached Skonnos, Romana is sent with the Anethians to face the deadly Nimon.

    Director:Kenny McBain
    Writer:Anthony Read

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  19. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 19 - The Horns of Nimon (3)
    5.8/10(483 votes)

    #19 - The Horns of Nimon (3)

    S17:E19

    The Doctor and Romana are trapped in the Nimon's lair. Is he really the last of his race? What are his real intentions toward Skonnos?

    Director:Kenny McBain
    Writer:Anthony Read

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  20. Doctor Who Season 17 Episode 20 - The Horns of Nimon (4)
    5.8/10(489 votes)

    #20 - The Horns of Nimon (4)

    S17:E20

    Romana is trapped on a ruined planet. The Nimons are launching their invasion of Skonnos. Can the Doctor stop the 'Great Journey of Life' ?

    Director:Kenny McBain
    Writer:Anthony Read

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Season 17 Ratings Summary

"Destiny of the Daleks (1)" is the best rated episode of "Doctor Who" season 17. It scored 7.8/10 based on 681 votes. Directed by Ken Grieve and written by Terry Nation, it aired on 9/1/1979. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Destiny of the Daleks (2)".