The recently concluded Series 9, unlike any other Series of nu-Who, made it hard to rank stories using our favorite device, the Dynamic Ratings Table. While promoted prior to airing as a bunch of two-part episodes, the way it played out showed that some stories were as easily seen more-as ‘connected stories’ rather than a single story split in two. Hence for Tour purposes we’ve taken the ‘middling’ ground deciding which stories were more properly stand-alone versus joined.
Putting the stories in order, aside from which would be dead last, also formed a conundrum. In any other Series Under the Lake / Before the Flood would rank higher, but as a straightforward ‘BUS‘ story it seems too-too-ordinary for this year. Indeed it is the prevailing thought here at THT Towers that Series 9 should more properly be remembered for its moments, with one exception, than themes or stories.
The Doctor’s speech at the end of The Zygon Inversion was our highlight of the year, but here at least we rank stories, and while we thought the Zygon stories interesting and even thought provoking, in the end it was middle of the pack. at least for this year.
Perhaps it is our inherent bias towards uniqueness that propels a story to the top this year, and one can’t argue against Heaven Sent on that count. We’re not sure whether it’s a great story, but it’ll surely be long remembered, and that’s no small achievement.
The list:
