Matt Michael's Top Ten Top Tens

As you probably know, today is the birthday of the editor of this very site, Matthew Michael. To mark the occasion, we're counting down his ten best Top Ten lists.

10. Top Ten 2000s Doctor Who Stories

Michael's rundown of his ten favourite noughties Who stories sadly missed out the classic Boom Town, which is why it's at the bottom of this list. An otherwise enjoyable list ruined. 7/10.

9. Top Ten Paperclip Manufacturers

After seeing off big hitters like WHSmith and Tesco, this list - one of Michael's more popular - ended with a result no-one saw coming. 7/10.

8. Top Ten British Train Operators

It wasn't entirely clear who took the number one spot in this countdown, but it didn't take Sherlock to tell who came bottom of the list. Above average; 4/10.

7. Top Ten 2010s Doctor Who Stories

One of the more niche lists in this list, Michael was determined to ruffle feathers with this one. 6/10.

6. Top Ten 1980s Doctor Who Stories

Who can forget the time when a decent list was spoiled by the omission of the best story of the 1980s, The Ultimate Adventure? Disappointing. 8/10.

5. Top Ten 1970s Doctor Who Stories

As we pass halfway, we reach one of Michael's most recent lists. More of a filler instalment. 7/10.

4. Top Ten Months

One of the best-received lists in living memory, the outcome was what we all suspected. 7.5/10 nonetheless.

3. Top Ten Knitted Tea Cosies

After dismissing the rainbow cosy as 'infantile', Michael concluded with a somewhat controversial choice. 5.5/10.

2. Top Ten CD Running Times

A very important deciding factor for a CD review, this gave a fascinating insight into Michael's analysis technique. A classic. 9/10.

1. Top Ten 1960s Doctor Who Stories

The typo only makes this one better. A true classic in the history of top ten lists, an undisputed masterpiece. 6/10.

Happy birthday Matt! Let's hope there are many more lists to come yet.

ANALYSIS: Mighty 241

As a result of DWM's recent survey, I thought I'd do my own little analysis piece. What follows is hopefully quite self-explanatory, but do feel free to comment if there's something you don't understand - or (dis)agree with! Enjoy.

Some of my least favourite stories:

The Dominators, The Time Monster, The Masque of Mandragora, Underworld, Silver Nemesis, The Wedding of River Song, The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, The Time of the Doctor.

Some of my top stories:

The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Enemy of the World, The Invasion, The War Games, Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, The Green Death, The Robots of Death, Image of the Fendahl, Resurrection of the Daleks, Boom Town, Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways, The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit, Vincent and the Doctor, The Lodger.

As you can probably tell, I find there's a lot more to like in Who than not. Below is a comparison table of the top 25 stories in DWM's poll. I'm sure you can work out what the other columns are. Click for a larger version.

I also did comparison between the average DWM's reader top 12 Doctors and mine. That's below, alongside a companions thing.

LIST: Nine's 9

To celebrate the birthday of Christopher "One Series" Eccleston, my favourite (and first) Doctor, I thought I'd compose a list similar to the one I did for Matt Smith, here. The score is this: I pick my favourite nine episodes (not stories) from Nine's era and sum up my thoughts on them in nine words.

9. Rose
written by Russell T Davies | directed by Keith Boak

Snappy, stylish introduction to the Doctor and Rose's worlds.

8. The End of the World
written by Russell T Davies | directed by Euros Lyn

Outrageous fun with impressive direction and an enormous budget.

7. Aliens in London
written by Russell T Davies | directed by Keith Boak

One of the best-plotted and -paced episodes this century.

6. The Empty Child
written by Steven Moffat | directed by James Hawes

Creepy atmospheric wartime thriller, just what the Doctor ordered.

5. The Unquiet Dead
written by Mark Gatiss | directed by Euros Lyn

Ghosts, Victorian times, dark cellars? It's gotta be Gatiss.

4. Bad Wolf
written by Russell T Davies | directed by Joe Ahearne

A fusion of great ideas, writing, direction and acting.

3. The Doctor Dances
written by Steven Moffat | directed by James Hawes

Moffat used all his best ideas first, simply superb.

2. The Parting of the Ways
written by Russell T Davies | directed by Joe Ahearne

The greatest finale so far, it cements Eccleston's legacy.

1. Boom Town
written by Russell T Davies | directed by Joe Ahearne

Eccleston, Piper, Barrowman, Clarke, Badland, Davies and Ahearne.