Although Chris Chibnall set to step down as Doctor Who showrunner at the end of 2022, he has made his mark on the esteemed sci-fi program. Since 2007, the man has written 28 episodes for the show ranging from prehistoric forays in space to Dalek incursions on Earth.
At the heart of Chibnall's best stories is the inherent humanity of his characters. Even amidst the most trying of circumstances and outlandish of plots, there is still a sense that the characters on screen are people one might encounter at the supermarket, something which increases investment in the episode and raises the stakes. All this can be seen in the following episodes which were considered by IMDb users to be Chris Chibnall's best episodes for Doctor Who.
10 "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" - 6.9/10
Jodie Whitaker's first episode as the Doctor, "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" follows her incarnation of the Time Lord as she adjusts to her new body amidst an alien attack. Taking beats from the movie Predator, the Doctor must team up with a group of strangers to stop an alien assassin from killing an innocent man.
While the episode is a bit bogged down with establishing the companions and setting up their dynamic with the Doctor, Whitaker's take on the madman in the blue box is already formed from the start. She's quirky, quick-witted, and full of charm. Basic as these attributes are, they become more nuanced as the series progresses and allow the episode to give a confident start for Whitaker as the Doctor and Chibnall as showrunner.
9 "Rosa" - 6.9/10
Co-written with Malorie Blackman, "Rosa" follows the Thirteenth Doctor and her companions as they attempt to stop the time-traveling Krasko from changing history. It's a standard premise, but one that is elevated by the fact that the TARDIS team must ensure that discrimination occurs for the Civil Rights movement to proceed.
The episode is unflinching in its portrayal of racism. The writers and actors push the tension of the situation as far as possible for a family show, as evidenced by Ryan getting slapped in the first five minutes for the color of his skin. It's these details along with the moral dilemma of letting something awful occur for the good of mankind which makes it one of Thirteen's best episodes.
8 "War of the Sontarans" - 7.1/10
The second part of Doctor Who: Flux, "War of the Sontarans" is the first proper outing for John Bishop as companion Dan Lewis and marks the return of the Sontarans as a genuine threat, having launched an invasion across multiple time periods. Given the diverging storylines which alternate between past, present, and future, it would be easy for this episode to fall apart, yet the timey-wimey elements miraculously hold together.
Besides the meticulous plotting, the key to this story's success lies in the characterization of the Sontarans. Chibnall strikes a balance between the haughty, imperial threat they gave off in 2008's "The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky" with the inherent goofiness they give off as a race of potato-shaped aliens who glorify war. It ultimately results in a story which understands the Sontarans better than most others.
7 "The Hungry Earth" - 7.2/10
"The Hungry Earth" is the eighth episode of Doctor Who series five, and sees the return of the Silurians. Boasting a slight horror atmosphere, the episode goes outside Chibnall's comfort zone yet shows his capabilities in adapting to other writing styles.
Though the script fails to live up to the quality of 1970s "The Silurians," the tension and drama is still palpable in "The Hungry Earth." At any moment, conflict could erupt because of a simple mining operation. It's a generic plot beat, but one that skillfully points to how wars can start for the most random reasons.
6 "42" - 7.3/10
Chris Chibnall's first episode for the show, "42" follows the Tenth Doctor and Martha as they're trapped on a spaceship hurtling toward a sun. It's a tense situation that is made all the worse by the two friends being separated while members of the crew are being possessed.
Beyond the breakneck pace of the script, the episode is one that displays David Tennant's strengths as an actor. His cocksure incarnation of the Doctor is put to the test as he fights to not just save the day but bring Martha home. It's an intense performance that reveals the depths of the Doctor's humanity, and it ultimately shows why the Tenth Doctor is so beloved.
5 "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" - 7.3/10
"Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" is the second episode of Doctor Who series seven and introduces the audience to Rory's dad, Brian. It's one of the show's most light-hearted outings and presents a colorful TARDIS team that fans have been clamoring to see since it aired back in 2012.
Balancing out the joyousness the titular dinosaurs bring to the story are the sinister machinations of Solomon who is played to perfection by David Bradley. His black market trader brings out the more serious side of the Eleventh Doctor who chooses to let the unrepentant villain perish. It might be tonally jarring for some, but it just goes to show how far Chibnall can push the Doctor as a character.
4 "Cold Blood" - 7.4/10
The second part of "The Hungry Earth," "Cold Blood" progresses the plot of the previous episode and the escalation of the conflict between humans and Silurians. The tension is racked up to eleven and exhibits how not even the Doctor can solve every problem.
While the first part mostly works as a setup, "Cold Blood" focuses on the dynamic between the Silurians and humans, showing how the two races aren't that different from one another. The script offers the best and worst of both races, with atrocities committed by both factions. It all culminates in one of the most shocking endings in the show's history, thus proving why series 5 is one of the best seasons of Doctor Who.
3 "Fugitive of the Judoon" - 7.4/10
Balancing fan service with show-altering revelations, "Fugitive of the Judoon" pits Jodie Whitaker's Doctor against the titular rhino-faced space police. The dynamic between her and the Judoon is delightful, but it pales next to the revelation of Jo Martin's Ruth as an unknown incarnation of the Doctor.
While not much has been done with the Fugitive Doctor since this episode, Martin absolutely nails the material she's given, offering up a darker, more ruthless take on the Time Lord. She leans into the qualities of the character that have only been hinted at previously, yet never deviates from the core of the Doctor's morals, ultimately teaming up with Whitaker's incarnation to save the day.
2 "The Power of Three" - 7.5/10
The penultimate episode to feature Amy and Rory as companions, "The Power of Three" presents a long con alien invasion, forcing the Doctor to stay on Earth to monitor the situation. Though this does make it a slow episode, it does offer great characterization for the main trio and explores what life outside of traveling looks like for the Doctor's companions.
Coupled with the examination of the Doctor's relationship with his companions is the return of U.N.I.T. Though they had been a presence in a handful of Tenth Doctor episodes, they were a largely faceless entity. Here though, they're restored to a sense of glory they hadn't seen since the classic series, something which would be carried over into the Twelfth Doctor's run.
1 "Village of the Angels" - 7.8/10
"Village of the Angels" marks the first time a writer other than Steven Moffatt has written an episode for the Weeping Angels, and the results are cracking. Maintaining the abilities they had been given in "The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone," the Angels are used to horrifying effect as they chase after the Doctor and a rogue Angel with information about the Doctor's past.
What makes the episode so gripping is the threat the Angels provide. No longer are they zapping people into the past, now they're killing people on screen by turning them into stone. Considering how well this works with the environment of a sleepy village, it's clear why the episode is a standout from Chris Chibnall.
From dinosaurs in space to Sontarans on Earth, the following are Chris Chibnall's finest writing contributions to Doctor Who, according to IMDb users.Connor Shelton