Doctor Who‘s second season concluded with a bang in the form of a surprise regeneration a few weeks ago. It’s not easy to say goodbye to Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. He poured his heart and soul into this role, and it shows. In fact, he’s become one of my favorite Doctors. And like any Doctor, Gatwa has a host of strong episodes under his belt.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Doctor Who Season 2 episodes. Proceed at your peril.
“Lux” (Season 2 Episode 2)
“Lux” incorporates vibrantly animated visuals, complemented by a versatile vocal performance from Alan Cumming as the titular villain. Gatwa continues to grow into his role as the Fifteenth Doctor as he squares off against another member of the Pantheon of Discord. Belinda Chandra is still a new companion here, but Varada Sethu turns in solid work and intriguing characterization. At this point, Belinda is more interested in going home than accompanying the Doctor on his adventures through time and space.
The scene with the Doctor Who fans solidifies this outing as a favorite of the season. It’s perfectly meta. This scene is also chock-full of Easter eggs from the series, from memorabilia adorning the bookshelves behind the trio of fans to their clothing. Russell T Davies even includes a cheeky, loving wink to Steven Moffat’s “Blink,” and how beloved it is among Whovians.
RELATED: Doctor Who: Our Favorite Easter Eggs From “Lux”
“The Well” (Season 2 Episode 3)
“The Well” is a sequel to “Midnight,” from Season 4 of RTD1 and during David Tennant’s run. At the time, the Tenth Doctor encountered a mysterious and formidable alien unseen to the naked eye. “Midnight” is essentially a bottle episode that sees Ten go on a side quest without Donna Noble (Catherine Tate).
Now, the Doctor reunites with this creature in “The Well,” 500,000 years into the future on a cold, brutal planet that used to be known as Midnight. Gatwa offers a compelling dramatic turn, truly conveying the terrifying nature of this alien and its objective to kill, well, everyone. “The Well” effectively builds toward a jaw-dropping climax while never taking its foot off the gas. There’s something spine-tingling about the horror you can’t see — only the blood it spills and the havoc it wreaks.
“The Story & the Engine” (Season 2 Episode 5)
Inua Ellams pens a beautifully poetic narrative in “The Story & the Engine,” weaving together an homage to African folklore and culture and the importance of hair in the Black community. There’s an inherent theatricality to the performances and Shakespearean flair to the dialogue, thanks to Ellams’ experience as a playwright and poet. The creativity of this story breathes new life into the series. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling and what happens when we elevate diverse voices — we get new, interesting stories.
RELATED: Doctor Who: 5 Jaw-Dropping Moments From the Season 2 Finale
Ariyon Bakare kills it as the Barber, delivering a nuanced, sympathetic performance. It’s hard to hate his character, even after holding Omo (Sule Rimi) and the others hostage to accomplish his objective of destroying the gods. In the end, the Barber finds redemption.
Perhaps the most surprising element of “The Story & the Engine” is the cameo from Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor, first seen during the Thirteenth Doctor/Jodie Whittaker era. Personally, I’d love more stories with her as our eponymous Gallifreyan.
“The Interstellar Song Contest” (Season 2 Episode 6)
Who doesn’t love a Eurovision-inspired Doctor Who episode set on a space station? “The Interstellar Song Contest” boasts one of the most haunting visuals in the show’s history — 100,000 competition attendees flying into space after the air shield collapses. It’s enough to send shivers down your spine.
RELATED: Doctor Who: “The Interstellar Song Contest” Ending, Explained
Admittedly, this episode is darker in tone as Gatwa gets his Time Lord Victorious moment as Fifteen. Kid (Freddie Fox) and Wynn’s (Iona Anderson) mission to commit genocide and blame the Corporation triggers the Doctor, reminding him of Gallifrey’s destruction. Thus, he tortures Kid. We’d never seen Fifteen deliver unrelenting punishment before this episode. Episode scribe Juno Dawson writes an impactful meditation on the devastating effects of genocide, which is quite timely.
Additionally, we get a few brief appearances from Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, the Doctor’s granddaughter. Fifteen last spoke of her to Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) in Season 1. I was hoping we’d see her again in the two-part finale, but alas.
The action culminates in a shocking reveal as we finally learn the identity of Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) … as she bi-generates. The Rani, played by Archie Panjabi, emerges. She relegates Mrs. Flood to a Rani, while she’s the Rani. And who can forget the TARDIS exploding before said shocking reveal? “The Interstellar Song Contest” delivers on all fronts and then some.
RELATED: Read our Doctor Who recaps
Doctor Who Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+.
Farewell to the Fifteenth Doctor, the Most Joyful of Them All
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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