User blog comment:MasterCharmander13/Doctor Who Series 9 - Top 12 Episodes/@comment-19366571-20151206123005

A fantastic top 12 list MC. Here is my top 12:

12) Sleep No More:

Just a boring episode, nothing really happened with the gimmick of the episode being the only thing that was interesting. The twists were mostly obvious especially the various viewpoints which I figured out fairly warly on. The only redeeming factor is the fantastic conclusion but the rest off it was boring and dul.

11) Face The Raven:

Nothing really happened in this episode, numbers on neck, secret street, raven and that was it. The ending is the only reason why people fell in love with this episode but on a rewatch it is largely boring with the twists being obvious. A really missed opportunity.

10) The Women Who Lived:

On a rewatch it loses a lot of it's value. The elements of looking into immortality were great and the gallow stand up bit was awesome but the plot was dull and felt forced in. Especially the breathing fire lion thing which hardly did anything in the end.

9) The Girl Who Died:

A light hearted affair that was wedged in a series of serious drama. It felt out of place, although I enjoyed Ashildr but the Mire were rubbish and the space Odin was overly hammy. The episode built up to a satisfying conclusion but overall is not one that I will be rewatching voer and over again.

8) The Magician's Apprentice:

It was good for an opener but after all the shocks have worn off it turns into an episode that is good overall but in a series of high quality episodes it feels a bit of a let down to start with. An episode that set up several great plots although the cliffhangers were spoilt beforehand.

7) Before The Flood:

These are the stories that I enjoy. This was a very good episode with great characters although the Fisher King was barely in it and the plot felt a bit lagging at some points. But the episode was enjoyable overall. Although some characters were underdeveloped and the conclusion was obvious to the overall plot.

6) The Zygon Invasion:

Great drama that was fantastic television. With it being the first part it felt like it could have been improved with a slow moving plot. This was a great watch but felt a bit under Doctor-Who like and the church scene felt forced. Why would they just go into the church? UNIT were incompetant but the cliffhanger was good.

5) Under The Lake:

Getting into a great episode category. Whitehouse set out a fantastic first part that the second part could not live up to. The characters were fantastic despite only having 45 minutes to develop in the first part and the mystery and various plots that were set up were very interesting.

4) The Zygon Inversion:

Mainly for the speech that this episode is so high up. The plot came to a great end and the 10 minute Capaldi speech will be remembered for years to come. Osgood was well developed as was Kate and the Zygon's were very interesting villians.

3) The Witch's Familiar:

A lot better than The Magician's Apprentice with Davros coming back in a glorious way. The Clara-Missy dynamic was also brilliant especially the "get your own stick" and the stone pushing moments. This was a great conclusion with Davros-Doctor dynamic being pushed like it had never done before. The twists were unexpected and I was actually tricked into thinking Davros may have been morally improved.

The performances deserve a special mention especially Julian Bleach as Davros. Has he had his eyes closed whenever he was on screen? The acting was amazing all around with the twists being very interesting and what did Missy offer the Daleks? Very strong from Moffat.

2) Hell Bent:

A brilliant finale that ranks among the best. The Clara plot line was brilliantly handled especially her return and the Doctor forgetting about her - tragic. The episode was one of the best finales that I can remember (in the mix with The Name Of The Doctor and The Big Bang).

Gallifreys return was brilliantly handled but spoilt previously. The views of the Capital were great to see and the regeneration of the General was very cool. Although Ken Bones is gone! The President was the only downside with him not being so good.

The ending was brilliant and a fantastic way to end the series. I cannot wait to see what Clara and Me get up to next. They seem to be coming back to the show one day.