The Hand of Fear284. Kill the Moon (2014)
NuWho series 8, starring Peter Capaldi (the Doctor) and Jenna Coleman (Clara).
I must admit that when writing some of my mini-reviews to put with these rankings, I've realised that I've not watched some of them since they were broadcast, and have had to go back over them to refresh my memories. Sometimes this has made me realise the story has been underrated, but in Kill the Moon's case it made me think it should've been rated much, much lower.
I know what you're thinking -- the moon's an egg, right? I'm one of those whose imagination doesn't stretch that far. Well, you're partly right; I do find that bit very silly. I know Who is always presenting us with ludicrous scenarios that we're happy to accept. But I think we all have a threshhold, a line that when crossed induces an eyeroll. This one crossed that line for me.
But here's my main objection: The script contrives a situation in which three women are made to decide whether to destroy an unborn life form that has the potential to cause inconceivable damage to the Earth; they put the decision to a vote involving the entire population of Earth -- or at least the part currently experiencing night and in view of the Moon. The vote is to end that life, but Clara aborts the bombs moments from detonation and everything's somehow fine. It's this anti-abortion theme I find really distasteful and (IMO) doesn't belong in Doctor Who.
Inanimate Carbon God