Top 10s-Top 10 William Hartnell Doctor Who Episodes

Hi guys. Today I will be detailing my top 10 doctor who episodes starring William Hartnell. These, however, will not include episodes such as The Three Doctors and Day of the Doctor. So, without further ado, let's get started.

10. Marco Polo

My first story in this list is one that I have not seen. However, I have listened to it and I am very surprised at how good the episode is. The first episode of Doctor Who to star a prominent historical figure (the namesake of the episode, Marco Polo), this episode is really fun to listen to, and features a very intriguing plot. The seven-part story explores many different genres, from WhoDunnit and adventure, to quest and ancient crime with great success, while never straying from the genre of historical drama along the way.

Overall, this episode is a brilliant story, and one of the best historical ones. I really enjoyed the different genres, and I thought this seven-episode story was really good.

9. The Keys of Marinus

A surprisingly good story, The Keys of Marinus is a true sci-fi story, featuring one of the weirdest plots ever in Doctor Who. It sees the Doctor and his companions try to find the Keys for a machine that will bring universal peace, while also having to fight strange creatures called the Voord. The 6-part story is one of the most intriguing Doctor Who stories of the first season, and also one of the strangest.

Overall, this story feels very unique and intriguing, and is only let down by the absence of the Doctor for two episodes, as William Hartnell had to take a holiday.

8. The Tenth Planet

The final First Doctor story is also one of the best. Featuring a much-used Sci-Fi story as we learn that Earth has a twin planet, it puts a new twist on it as we find out that robots live on the Earth. No, not robots. Cybermen. This four-part story sees the debut of the Cybermen, and they are as menacing as ever. Many people say that these Cybermen were not menacing because of their whiney voices and strange look, but I found these Cybermen creepier than most others, (I will hopefully be doing a Top 10 Cybermen Designs very soon so stay in tune for that).

Overall, this story is nowhere near the best Cybermen story, but is still a brilliant one and one of the best leaving episodes for a Doctor yet.

7. The Celestial Toymaker

The Celestial Toymaker is one of the strangest Doctor Who episodes to date. It sees the Doctor, Dodo and Steven have to play sadistic games against an evil villain called The Toymaker (a bit like Saw actually). The four-part story is very creepy and very atmospheric, introducing creatures that would soon become staples of the Sci-Fi and Horror genre, such as Living Toys and killer dolls. It is a crime that only the last episode remains, and I hope they are found as soon as possible.

Overall, this story is massively underrated, and I really hope parts 1-3 are found sooner rather than later.

6. The War Machines

The War Machines is another very underrated story of Doctor Who. One of the final William Hartnell. it saw two new companions come on board the TARDIS (Ben and Polly), one companion leave (Dodo), and a supercomputer called WOTAN try to take over London using War Machines. The story is really good, and is one of the first uses of computers going sentient in the Sci-Fi genre. A prelude and inspiration to many great films, such as The Matrix and Westworld, this 4-part story really shows the innovativeness and creativity of the original Doctor Who writers.

Overall, this 4-part story makes for classic Sci-Fi drama, and introduces 2 new companions in a very unique and, frankly, quite strange manner.

5. The Daleks

The Daleks is the second-ever Doctor Who story, and the first to feature the iconic Daleks. In a time when the Daleks weren't boring and overused. this 7-part story really creeps out the audience with its eerie setting of a barren metal city and a stone forest. And with the first cliffhanger introducing the Daleks in the best, and creepiest, way, this 7-part story really is a blast to watch. Written by Terry Nation, this story never drags, never gets boring and is always full of suspense, terror, and action.

Overall, this 7-part story is one of the best Dalek stories made so far (but not the best) and begins the long run of one of Doctor Who's greatest writers.

4. The Time Meddler

The Time Meddler is the first episode of Doctor Who to star a Time Lord other than The Doctor himself. It follows the Doctor as he has to stop the Meddling Monk from changing time with his TARDIS. One (but not the) first stories of Doctor Who to explore the consequences of changing time, this story is a very original and intriguing time-travel story. One of the most complex of the First Doctor stories, it also sees one of the first returning villains introduced, after the Daleks.

Overall, this 4-part story is a brilliant and complex that will be the inspiration for stories featuring characters The Master, Rani, The Valeyard and others.

3. The Dalek Invasion of Earth

The Dalek Invasion of Earth is one of the most iconic episodes of Doctor Who, and was received so well by the audience that a film was released based on it. The first Doctor Who story to feature the return of an old villain, this 7-part serial was the first story to really show the conquering ability of the Daleks. Also the episode where Susan (The Doctor's granddaughter) leaves, this story has a brilliant plot and continues the amazing run of Terry Nation, which lasts for another decade to come.

Overall, this iconic 7-part serial is one of the best Dalek stories to date, and really introduces the Daleks' immorality in this universe.

2.  An Unearthly Child
 
An Unearthly Child is the first ever Doctor Who story, and has been very hard to beat. The first episode especially, this 4-part serial features an amazingly original story, introduces the Doctor and his companions splendidly, uses set and costume design stunningly, and starts the best TV show to date, Marginally worse than #1 on my list, this premiere is probably the best series premiere of Doctor Who yet.

And now, for my number 1:

1. The Aztecs

Now, many of you may be wondering why this is top of my list. The reason for this is that it is the first Doctor Who episode to really delve into the effects of time travel. It sees the Doctor and his companions travel back to the Aztec times, and introduces massive amounts of strife between the friends when the Doctor has to stop them from changing the way of the Aztecs, and therefore changing time, forever. Introducing concepts such as paradoxes and time loops, this historical story is one of the best stories of Old Who.

Thanks for reading, please do check out my other posts, and also check out my friend's blog DarkMatterMedia.blogspot.com. Thank you for reading and see you next time for Doctor Series 2 Episodes Ranked Worst to First.