The Definitive Doctor Who Series 9 Episode Guide [Updated]

Your wibbly wobbly timey wimey episode guide to the next season of Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor

The next series of Doctor Who is coming up quick. How will it continue the story threads from series 8? How will the Twelfth Doctor develop as a character? And, most importantly, just who is Maisie Williams playing?

Well, we don’t have answers to all these questions… but we do know plenty about season 9 to get your prepared. Episode names, air dates, rumored subject matters for the episodes, and even a few guest stars. So, we decided to put everything into a handy dandy guide you can read while eating your fish fingers and custard.

One thing we have learned is that many of the story arcs will actually be told over a series of two-parters. So… expect a lot of cliffhangers.

[UPDATED 9/14/15: We now have episode titles for the whole season! We also put up the series 9 short and have information on the Christmas special!]

First, you might want to check out the Doctor Who Series 9 prequel short as well. It features the Sisterhood of Karn, who made their last onscreen appearance during the 8th Doctor webisode Night of the Doctor:

Doctor Who Series 9

Episodes 1&2: The Magician’s Apprentice/The Witch’s Familiar

Director: Hettie MacDonalds

Writer: Steven Moffat

Airdates: Episode 1: September 19th, 2015. Episode 2: September 26th, 2015

What do we know? The episodes are directed by Hettie MacDonalds, who also directed the fantastic episode “Blink” from Series 3. We only know that Missy will be returning and that the story will include a snake made of other snakes. They decided against airing these in the theater to preserve the cliffhanger between episodes.

Episodes 3&4: Under The Lake/Before The Flood

Director: Daniel O’Hara

Writer: Toby Whithouse

Airdates: Episode 3: October 3rd, 2015. Episode 4: October 10th, 2015.

What do we know? Toby Whithouse wrote the great “School Reunion” from series 2, so he’s making a welcome return. While we don’t know much, we know that these episodes will deal with ghosts in an underwater base.

Episodes 5&6: The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived

Director: Ed Bazalgette

Writers: Episode 5: Jamie Mathieson and Steven Moffat. Episode 6: Catherine Tregenna.

Airdates: Episode 5: October 17th, 2015. Episode 6: October 24th, 2015.

What do we know? Not much, other than the fact Maisie Williams will be the big guest star in these two episodes. We also know that the story has highwaymen and space Vikings. Make of that what you will.

Episodes 7&8: The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion

Director: Daniel Nettheim

Writers: Episode 7: Peter Harness. Episode 8: Peter Harness and Steven Moffat

Airdates: Episode 5: October 31st, 2015. Episode 6: November 7th, 2015.

What do we know? This story is supposedly something of a sequel to the 50th Anniversary Special. It will see the return of UNIT, Kate Stewart, Osgood, and the Zygons. Apparently, rogue members of the shape shifting Zygon race are hunting down Osgood as she tries to seek the Doctor’s help. How is Osgood alive, you may ask? We don’t know for sure, but our money is on the fact she’s dead and this version is the Zygon who copied her in the 50th Anniversary special.

Episode 9: Sleep No More

Director: Justin Molotnikov

Writer: Mark Gaitiss

Airdate: November 14th, 2015.

What do we know? This will be the first standalone episode of the season. It will supposedly be a found footage episode and be unlike any Doctor Who episode that’s come before.

Episode 10: Face The Raven

Director: Justin Molotnikov

Writer: Sarah Dollard

Airdate: November 21st, 2015.

What do we know? The only description we have for this one is: “invasion of invisible streets.”

Episode 11: Heaven Sent

Director: Rachel Talalay

Writer: Steven Moffat

Airdate: November 28th, 2015.

What do we know? This episode is being described as a “one hander,” which means Peter Capaldi will apparently carry the entire episode by himself. He’ll be the only speaking character in the show.

Episode 12: Hell Bent

Director: Rachel Talalay

Writer: Steven Moffat

Airdate: December 5th, 2015.

What do we know?  Moffat loves keeping his finales under wraps, so we don’t know much.

[UPDATE: 9/16/15] The Mirror is reporting this will be Clara’s last episode, as Jenna Coleman is moving on to other commitments.

2015 Christmas Special

Director: Unknown.

Writer: Steven Moffat

Airdate: Christmas, 2015.

What do we know? River Song will be returning.