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The Worst Episodes of Doctor Who

Every episode of Doctor Who ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Doctor Who!

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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 Worst Episode
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    Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 19 - The Underwater Menace (1)
    4.3/10(6 votes)

    #1 - The Underwater Menace (1)

    S4:E19

    The TARDIS materialises on a deserted beach where the Doctor and his friends are captured by primitive warriors and taken to the fabled city of Atlantis.

    Director:Julia Smith
    Writer:Geoffrey Orme

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  2. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 21 - The Centre
    4.6/10(8 votes)

    #2 - The Centre

    S2:E21

    The Doctor and Vicki are taken before the Animus but the isoptope is left behind in the laboratory.The only hope of victory lies with Barbara and her Menoptera allies.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

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  3. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 18 - Escape to Danger
    4.8/10(8 votes)

    #3 - Escape to Danger

    S2:E18

    The Doctor is forced to co-operate with the Animus but Ian uses the opportunity to make an escape attempt.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

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  4. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 19 - Crater of Needles
    4.8/10(8 votes)

    #4 - Crater of Needles

    S2:E19

    Ian and Vrestin are captured by the subterranean Optera while Barbara and her Menoptera allies attempt to escape from the slave camp.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

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  5. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 21 - The Twin Dilemma (1)
    4.8/10(12 votes)

    #5 - The Twin Dilemma (1)

    S21:E21

    Earth, the future. The genius Sylvest twins, child prodigies, are kidnapped by the mysterious Professor Edgeworth and taken to the planet Jaconda. But who is Edgeworth? Why does he serve the giant slug Mestor? And what is Mestor's plan?

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  6. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 20 - Invasion
    4.9/10(8 votes)

    #6 - Invasion

    S2:E20

    Barbara and the surviving Menoptera take refuge in the Temple of Light while the Doctor and Vicki attempt to escape by taking control of a Zarbi.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

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  7. Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 22 - The Underwater Menace (4)
    4.9/10(7 votes)

    #7 - The Underwater Menace (4)

    S4:E22

    With Zaroff's plan nearing completion, the Doctor and Ben realise the only way to save the world is to destroy Atlantis.

    Director:Julia Smith
    Writer:Geoffrey Orme

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  8. Doctor Who Season 23 Episode 11 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 11
    4.9/10(10 votes)

    #8 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 11

    S23:E11

    A course change that takes the Hyperion III closer to a black hole could prove unwise when there are so many aboard ship with hidden agendas. Disappearances continue, a murderer remains at large, and one person finally crumbles under the strain of harbouring a guilty secret.

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

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  9. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 1 - Time and the Rani (1)
    4.9/10(10 votes)

    #9 - Time and the Rani (1)

    S24:E1

    The alien world of Lakertya. With the aid of the savage Tetraps, the Rani has conquered this planet to allow her to continue her depraved biochemical experiments. But she finds herself needing the Doctor's assistance...

    Director:Andrew Morgan
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

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  10. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 17 - The Zarbi
    5.0/10(8 votes)

    #10 - The Zarbi

    S2:E17

    The Doctor, Ian and Vicki are captured by the Zarbi while Barbara meets up with the butterfly-like Menoptera who are trying to reclaim the planet.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

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  11. Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 20 - The Underwater Menace (2)
    5.0/10(7 votes)

    #11 - The Underwater Menace (2)

    S4:E20

    While Ara tries to save Polly from being turned into a Fish Person and Ben and Jamie try to escape from the mines, the Doctor discovers the full extent of Zaroff's plans.

    Director:Julia Smith
    Writer:Geoffrey Orme

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  12. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 24 - The Twin Dilemma (4)
    5.0/10(9 votes)

    #12 - The Twin Dilemma (4)

    S21:E24

    The Doctor and Edgeworth deduce that the real plan of Mestor, the gastropod ruler of Jaconda, will not only destroy Jaconda but lead to the devastation of other planets. Together they hope to thwart him despite his formidable ability at slipping into people's minds and controlling them.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  13. Doctor Who Season 23 Episode 9 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 9
    5.0/10(10 votes)

    #13 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 9

    S23:E9

    With the prosecution case concluded, at last the Doctor is able to present his evidence. It takes place in the future with a new companion and new problems.

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

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  14. Doctor Who Season 23 Episode 10 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 10
    5.0/10(10 votes)

    #14 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 10

    S23:E10

    As the Hyperion III continues its journey, more mysterious deaths occur.

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

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  15. Doctor Who Season 23 Episode 12 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 12
    5.0/10(10 votes)

    #15 - The Trial of a Time Lord: Part 12

    S23:E12

    With factions vying for control of the ship, the Vervoids are found to be responsible for the many disappearances. Only the Doctor sees the fundamental but missed point as to why they can't be reasoned with or why they can't be allowed to arrive on Earth.

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

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  16. Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 21 - The Underwater Menace (3)
    5.1/10(7 votes)

    #16 - The Underwater Menace (3)

    S4:E21

    The Doctor and Ramo are sentenced to be sacrificed to the goddess Amdo and must escape to put a stop to Zaroff's plan.

    Director:Julia Smith
    Writer:Geoffrey Orme

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  17. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 3 - The Dominators (3)
    5.1/10(7 votes)

    #17 - The Dominators (3)

    S6:E3

    Zoe and Cully are captured by the Dominators and put to work alongside the survey team while the Doctor and Jamie decide to return to the island to help.

    Director:Morris Barry
    Writers:Henry Lincoln, Mervyn Haisman

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  18. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 4 - The Dominators (4)
    5.1/10(7 votes)

    #18 - The Dominators (4)

    S6:E4

    The Doctor and Zoe are interrogated by Rago, who is planning to present his terms to the Dulcian council, while Jamie and Cully try to find a way to strike back against the Quarks.

    Director:Morris Barry
    Writers:Henry Lincoln, Mervyn Haisman

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  19. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 1 - Warriors of the Deep (1)
    5.1/10(7 votes)

    #19 - Warriors of the Deep (1)

    S21:E1

    Earth's ocean floor, 2084. With two superpowers poised on the brink of a devastating photonic war, a missile base comes under attack from the reptilian Sea Devils and Silurians, intent on eradicating the upstart human race and reclaiming the planet…

    Director:Pennant Roberts
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  20. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 23 - The Twin Dilemma (3)
    5.1/10(9 votes)

    #20 - The Twin Dilemma (3)

    S21:E23

    The Doctor arrives on Jaconda, once lush and green, to find it completely devastated by giant gastropods. Old legends about the planet's half-human/half-slugs weren't just myths after all. With or without help from the Doctor and his unpredictable mood swings, Lt. Lang is up for rescuing the twins, who are finally informed of the grand purpose they've been brought to Jaconda to accomplish.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

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  21. Doctor Who Season 22 Episode 10 - Timelash (1)
    5.1/10(9 votes)

    #21 - Timelash (1)

    S22:E10

    The planet Karfel, in the distant future. The tyrannical Borad rules with an iron fist, and any who oppose him are cast into the Timelash - a space-time tunnel leading to the past of an alien world called Earth...

    Director:Pennant Roberts
    Writer:Glen McCoy

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  22. Doctor Who Season 22 Episode 11 - Timelash (2)
    5.1/10(9 votes)

    #22 - Timelash (2)

    S22:E11

    The Borad accepts no opposition and enables Maylin Tekker to expose the rebels and trap Peri with the Morlox. The Doctor tries to avert a war between Karfel and the Bandrils.

    Director:Pennant Roberts
    Writer:Glen McCoy

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  23. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 11 - Delta and the Bannermen (3)
    5.1/10(8 votes)

    #23 - Delta and the Bannermen (3)

    S24:E11

    As Billy and Ray do what they can to help save Delta and the baby, the Doctor and Goronwy the beekeeper face Gavrok and his Bannermen one last time...

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writer:Malcolm Kohll

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  24. Doctor Who Season 3 Episode 32 - The Dancing Floor
    5.2/10(6 votes)

    #24 - The Dancing Floor

    S3:E32

    Steven and Dodo are forced to cross the dancing floor, where the Toymaker's dolls plan to force them to dance for eternity.

    Director:Bill Sellars
    Writer:Brian Hayles

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  25. Doctor Who Season 5 Episode 36 - The Wheel in Space (2)
    5.2/10(4 votes)

    #25 - The Wheel in Space (2)

    S5:E36

    The Doctor and Jamie are brought aboard the Wheel where Jamie is horrified to learn the crew plan to destroy the Silver Carrier with the TARDIS on board.

    Director:Tristan de Vere Cole
    Writer:David Whitaker

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Underwater Menace (1)" is the worst rated episode of "Doctor Who". It scored 4.3/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by Julia Smith and written by Geoffrey Orme, it aired on 1/14/1967. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Centre".