For many, Doctor Who
is a go-to comfort show, with episodes that span genres, and characters that people can’t help but fall in love with, but there are some stand-out feel-good episodes among the lot. While I may be a part of the younger generation who began watching Doctor Who in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston leading the charge in the TARDIS, I immediately fell in love with the incredible sensation that is Doctor Who.
Yes, the show is a sci-fi, it’s got every trope going in terms of time-travel, aliens, intergalactic space travel and more, but somehow, the blend all comes together in this wonderful mix. The show manages to deliver something cozy, comforting, and constantly endearing. So, when the day isn’t going exactly to plan, these episodes could be exactly what is needed to turn things around.
10
City of Death
Now, I understand what you may be thinking when looking at the title of this article and then the name of the episode. And then again, the fact that this is a classic Doctor Who adventure may perturb some readers even further, but the thing is, “City of Death” is one of the very best Doctor Who stories ever made. Not just in the classic era, but of all time.
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It stars Tom Baker, one of the most beloved actors to ever tackle the role, and the story is largely set on Earth, with an art heist as a central theme. However, the brilliance and joy of this episode come from the humor, the connections, the fun, and the reveals. It is a spectacular piece of writing, and the episode that came out of it sets the tone for the series in a wonderful way. If you have been hesitant to jump into the classic era until now, this is a wonderful place to start.
9
The Lodger
Moving into the modern era, Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor is responsible for some of the most brilliant moments in the show, with plenty of humor, heart, and joy along the way. “The Lodger” also stars James Corden, the comedian and talk show host, in an episode that provides the Doctor with something he has rarely ever had; a home.
The Doctor discovers an odd energy signal, and sets out to investigate. However, in order to properly figure out what is going on, it takes the Doctor months of sitting in an apartment, tinkering with inventions, and generally causing a nuisance. In the meantime, the Doctor also gets close to his new roomate, and begins to enjoy parts of ordinary life that he rarely has the time for. It’s a wonderful story about a beautiful blossoming friendship.
8
The Romans
Going back even further in time, “The Romans” is another classic era serial, this time starring the First Doctor, William Hartnell. While Hartnell is often criticized for being harsh, grumpy, and short-tempered, this set of episodes reveals another side to the man. Hartnell is bright and downright jovial as he gets to interact with Roman’s in this wonderful outing.
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It also leaned more into comedy, for the first time in the show’s history, which allowed the actors to get a little bit looser, and shed some of the harsh outer shell that had been built up over time. It’s fun, and it is well worth watching this episode ahead of other classic adventures to see where the classic series ties into the modern day, and how these two shows really do have more in common than just a time-traveling alien named the Doctor.
7
Robot of Sherwood
Another Doctor who is often reduced to his tendency to be grumpy, and indeed Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor does have some serious eyebrows capable of striking fear into the hearts of his enemies, but he also had some insecurities that poked through at times. In “Robot of Sherwood,” the Doctor and Clara meet the man behind the legend of Robin Hood. Of course, this is exciting for Clara, who is a teacher and knows the stories of Robin Hood well.
However, the Doctor is made to feel somewhat inadequate, and so he sets to proving his own status as a legend, repeatedly competing for attention. The playfulness, the joy, and the imaginative retelling of a classic British folklore are all brought together in such a satisfying way that it has to put a smile on your face.
6
A Christmas Carol
Speaking of British tales, Charles Dickens, one of the greatest authors of all time, is also the man who wrote the popular novel, A Christmas Carol. Over the centuries, this story has been adapted and recounted countless times, but the twist that Doctor Who puts into the story has to be one of my favorite of all time.
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Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor meets a young boy named Kazran. Simultaneously, due to timey-wimey stuff, the Doctor also meets Kazran as a man, played by the extraordinary Michael Gambon, and finds him to be a very different person hardened by difficult experiences. The Doctor becomes the Ghost of the Present, Past, and Future, as he seeks to open Kazran’s heart again to the joy and wonder of Christmas.
5
Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead
“Silence in the Library” introduces one of the most menacing monsters in Doctor Who’s history, the Vashta Nerada. While this episode sets up a tense and dark adventure, it becomes clear in the second part just how beautiful this moment is for the series, and the Doctor as an individual. In fact, this episode shaped the course of his life for many hundreds of years.
The Doctor tries his best to help others wherever he finds them. He tries to save people, and to show forgiveness, kindness, and put on a brave face. This is especially true for David Tennant’s Doctor, but more often than not, there are losses. This episode’s final moments reveal a remarkable miracle that allows the Doctor to save so many people who were already lost, in a spectacular final scene. And, these episodes also introduce the incredibly important River Song for the first time.
4
The Chase
When Susan left the TARDIS, it was a difficult moment for her grandfather, but he also recognized it was her time to move on and seek out a life of her own. However, in “The Chase,” the Doctor has to say goodbye to two other dear friends whom he grew to love and respect, Ian and Barbara. This is a challenging set of stories, and one that will pull on the heartstrings, but it’s also a perfect send-off for two of the Doctor’s first-ever companions.
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This is not an episode that new viewers should go into looking for an upbeat comedy story, but it is one that can be thoroughly appreciated by long-time fans who have seen many other companions come and go. It’s emotional, but it’s an important step, and one that lays the foundation for many more similar situations down through the show’s history.
3
Demons of the Punjab
While the Christopher Chibnall Doctor Who era is one that can be a hot-button topic for many, it did give voice to some extremely profound and meaningful topics that had yet to be addressed in other episodes of Doctor Who. Such is the case with “Demons of the Punjab,” which sees the Doctor’s companion, Yasmin, visit her grandmother in India when she was a young woman.
Yasmin is confused to find her grandmother with a strange man that she does not recognize as her grandfather, but as the episode unfolds, the partition of India begins to come into effect, and things begin to make sense. There is a beautiful love story, accompanying a confronting narrative about where people’s allegiances lie, with family, or national pride. It’s well-written, aesthetically stunning, and profound.
2
Vincent and the Doctor
Talking about stunning visual episodes of Doctor Who, another Matt Smith adventure stands out for highlighting one of the greatest and most underrated talents of his time, Vincent van Gogh. The Doctor and Amy Pond meet Vincent when he is in the middle of a rough patch. One that started early in his life and would continue until his dying day. Despite being praised as one of the world’s most influential and greatest artists, Vincent was mocked in his time.
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The episode has a sci-fi monster, and thrilling narrative moments, but the beauty of it comes from the way it handles the story of Vincent. He is a troubled man, and someone who faces tremendous stress, but the framing of the episode provides the visionary artist with the perfect send-off. It may not redefine history, but it serves as one of the most touching moments in all of Doctor Who.
1
School Reunion
Finally, the last entry on this list combines the old and the new, with a David Tennant story that sees his young and agile Doctor meeting a dear old friend, Sarah Jane Smith. Sarah Jane was one of the most influential companions from the classic era, having traveled largely with the Fourth Doctor. Now, as an elderly woman, she meets her old friend with a fresh new face.
It’s a wonderfully told story, and Tennant was the perfect actor for this part as he grew up watching and loving Doctor Who, which allowed him to really explore genuine emotions in his time with Elisabeth Sladen. For some of the most heart-warming and feel-good episodes of Doctor Who, this list is just the start, with more than 60 years’ worth of stories to dig into.
Doctor Who
- Release Date
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1963 – 1988
- Writers
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Sydney Newman
