Doctor Who Revival Watch Order (2005-2023)

Starting in 2005, classic series Doctor Who came back with a revival starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, with Russel T Davies running the show. While the main actors and showrunners have changed numerous times, the series continues having follow-ups to old plots all the way past its thirteenth season. In addition to the main seasons, Doctor Who has numerous specials and a number of spin-off series that expand on the supporting cast, which is where this watch order comes in, placing the specials and spin-offs in just the right place so nothing is missed. The spin-offs do not need to be watched to enjoy Doctor Who, but all the series enhance each other. This order is also divided up into eras based on the showrunner, providing good starting and stopping points. Comics and other media will not be included. Mild spoilers for modern Doctor Who, Torchwood, and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The spin-offs do not need to be watched to enjoy the main series, but all the series enhance each other. This order is also divided up into eras based on the showrunner, providing good starting and stopping points. Comics and other media will not be included. Spoilers for modern Doctor Who, Torchwood, and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Quality:★★★★☆ Cohesion:★★★☆☆ Accessiblity:★★★★★

Russel T Davies Era (2005-2009)

Russel T Davies took over Doctor Who for its first airing in 20 years, bringing with him Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion, joined later by David Tennant as the 10th Doctor. All of Davies' stories form one long run that concludes gloriously in its finale, making a perfect place to stop after just four seasons. The spin-off series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures also started during his run, expanding the world of Doctor Who.

1. Doctor Who (2005) Season 1 (2005)
2. The Christmas Invasion (2005 Christmas Special)
• This is the series' first of many Christmas specials and is the first full story featuring the Tenth Doctor.
3. Doctor Who (2005) Season 2 (2006)
• The end of season 2 sets up Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and sees Rose depart from the TARDIS.
4. The Runaway Bride (2006 Christmas Special)
5. The Sarah Jane Adventures Season 1 (2007)
• The Sarah Jane Adventures takes place after Sarah Jane's return in season 2.
6. Torchwood Season 1 (2006)
7. Doctor Who (2005) Season 3 (2007)
• The Torchwood S1 finale leads right into the 11th episode of Doctor Who's third season, but it simply makes more sense to watch each season as a whole.
8. The Voyage of the Damned (2007 Christmas Special)
9. Torchwood Season 2 (2008)
• Both Torchwood S2 and the 2007 Christmas special pick up right where the season 3 finale leaves off, but it makes more sense to pick up on the Doctor's cliffhanger before dealing with the aftermath for Jack.
10. The Sarah Jane Adventures Season 2 (2008)
11. Doctor Who (2005) Season 4 (2008)
• Torchwood S2 and The Sarah Jane Adventures S2 should be watched before the season 4 finale.
12. Torchwood Season 3: Children of Earth (2009)
13. Torchwood Season 4: Miracle Day (2011)
• While the last two Torchwood series are produced later, they are written by Davies and can go here as Torchwood and Jack do not reference events from the next era. While this is the end of Jack's story, it makes more sense to end Davies' era by concluding his time with the Doctor, tying up his remaining storylines.
14. The Sarah Jane Adventures Season 3 (2009)
• The Tenth Doctor guest-stars this season after Sarah Jane and her crew help him in the season 4 finale.
15. The Next Doctor (2008 Christmas Special)
16. Planet of the Dead (2009 Easter Special)
17. The Waters of Mars (2009 Autumn Special)
18. The End of Time Parts 1-2 (2009 Christmas Special/2010 New Year's Special)
• This series of specials follows season 4 and finishes the Tenth Doctor's story with his regeneration. Davies' time with the series also comes to a satisfying end.

Steven Moffat Era (2010-2017)

Steven Moffat took over from Russel T Davies as showrunner with season 5, writing six seasons of the show and working through the series' 50th anniversary. Unlike Davies' singular story across his whole run, Moffat's run can mostly be broken down into two separate storylines, those starring Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and those starring Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor. There is some overlap with the two, most notably with Jenna Coleman's companion Clara Oswald.

1. Doctor Who (2005) Season 5 (2010)
2. A Christmas Carol (2010 Christmas Special)
• These stories introduce the Eleventh Doctor as well as companions Amy and Rory.
3. The Sarah Jane Adventures Seasons 4-5 (2010-2011)
• The Eleventh Doctor guest stars in season 4. From there, it makes sense to finish the series as there are no more direct connections to Doctor Who and season 5 is the show's final season.
4. Doctor Who (2005) Season 6 (2011)
5. The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (2011 Christmas Special)
6. Doctor Who (2005) Season 7 Episodes 1-5 (2012)
7. The Snowmen (2012 Christmas Special)
8. Doctor Who (2005) Season 7 Episodes 6-13 (2013)
• Season 7 was aired across two years with an extra Christmas special in the middle. The end of the first half also sees Amy and Rory depart and get replaced with Clara.
9. The Day of the Doctor (50th Anniversary Special)
• This feature-length episode celebrates the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who and ties up a lot of plotlines from the start of the 2005 show very well. Despite leaving some threads from Smith's tenure as the Doctor open, most notably Trenzalore and the mystery of the Silents, it makes for a very satisfying endpoint.
10. The Time of the Doctor (2013 Christmas Special)
• Smith's last episode as the Eleventh Doctor.
11. Doctor Who (2005) Season 8 (2014)
12. Last Christmas (2014 Christmas Special)
13. Doctor Who (2005) Season 9 (2015)
• Season 8 introduces the Twelfth Doctor, with Clara departing at the end of season 9.
14. Class Season 1 (2016)
• A spin-off series that guest-stars the Twelfth Doctor. It makes sense to happen here while the Doctor is wandering around and before he sets up at school undercover in season 10. This is Class' only season.
15. The Husbands of River Song (2015 Christmas Special)
16. The Return of Doctor Mysterio (2016 Easter Special)
• There was no new Doctor Who season in 2016, meaning these specials air back-to-back as a sort of "lost" period for the Doctor. They do not really connect to any other stories, but do further the Doctor's character arc.
17. Doctor Who (2005) Season 10 (2017)
18. Twice Upon A Time (2017 Christmas Special)
• Season 10 introduces new companion Bill and is Moffat's last season as showrunner, as well as the last season with the Twelfth Doctor, who regenerates in the 2017 Christmas special. Due to the nature of the episode and it being the end of Moffat's run, it is also a good endpoint for the series, as no elements carry over into the next era.

Chris Chibnall Era (2018-2023)

Following Moffat, Chris Chibnall took over as showrunner with Jodie Whittaker portraying the Thirteenth Doctor. Chibnall's run lasted three seasons, of which his third season functioned as a single storyline. The entire run focuses on the mystery of the Timeless Child, and is the first era with no spin-offs. The run is designed to be mostly separate from the rest of Doctor Who to start, making it a good starting point continuity-wise.

1. Doctor Who (2005) Season 11 (2018)
2. Resolution (2019 New Year's Special)
3. Doctor Who (2005) Season 12 (2020)
4. Revolution of the Daleks (2021 New Year's Special)
5. Doctor Who (2005) Season 13: Flux (2021)
6. Eve of the Daleks (2022 New Year's Special)
7. Legend of the Sea Devils (2022 Spring Special)
8. The Power of the Doctor (2023 Fall Special)

60th Anniversary Specials (2023)

Russell T Davies returns as showrunner to provide a follow-up to the Donna storyline from the end of his run. David Tennant also takes up the role of the Fourteenth Doctor, closing out long-running threads on the weight of the Doctor's past and his failure to protect his companions. If you started back in Season 1, this is a great ending for the Doctor and the show as a whole.

1. The Star Beast (2023; 60th Anniversary Special #1)
2. Wild Blue Yonder (2023; 60th Anniversary Special #2)
3. The Giggle (2023; 60th Anniversary Special #3)