Doctor Who's early years featured some of the series' best companions. The First Doctor traveled with a superb mixture of personalities, like the clever history teacher Barbara Wright, and the headstrong astronaut Steven Taylor. A firm fan favorite is Ian Chesterton, who is one of the Doctor's earliest assistants. Sadly, Ian Chesterton actor William Russell passed away on June 3, 2024, and fans have since been sharing their favorite Ian stories.

Ian Chesterton embarked on some of Doctor Who's grandest adventures. These 60s serials encompass many of the classic series' most memorable antagonists, such as the Voord and the Sensorites. They also introduced one of the show's most iconic adversaries, the Daleks. Ranking these Doctor Who plots is especially difficult, representing some of the First Doctor's strongest installments, and fans have firm opinions on which Ian Chesterton escapades are the best.

10 The Rescue's Quick Pace Keeps Audiences Engaged

"The Rescue" is a deeply significant Doctor Who story, representing the first time the series had introduced a new companion outside of Ian, Barbara, and Susan. It is a brilliant debut for Vicki, which sees the TARDIS land on the planet Dido, which is being menaced by the fearsome Koquillion.

"The Rescue" has an extremely quick pace, which keeps the audience engaged throughout its runtime. The Doctor Who two-parter has some nice character moments between the Doctor, Ian, and Barbara, which acknowledge Susan's exit in the previous story, and the trio demonstrates some strong chemistry with Maureen O'Brien's Vicki. This Doctor Who story also contains a neat twist, revealing Bennett to have been Koquillion all along.

9 The Keys Of Marinus Provides An Epic Quest

"The Keys Of Marinus" is an epic Doctor Who quest, which takes place over six episodes. It tasks the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan with locating the four keys to the Conscience of Marinus. Along the way, they encounter the villainous Yartek, who seeks the keys to assume control of the mind manipulation machine.

"The Keys Of Marinus" is a deeply exciting Doctor Who adventure, taking the TARDIS crew across various precarious locations on the planet Marinus, including a treacherous jungle and some precarious ice caves. William Russell is given some very strong material that sees him falsely accused of Eprin's murder, leaving audiences rooting for Ian to win the courtroom battle.

8 The Romans Is Highly Entertaining

One of the most notable story archetypes from Doctor Who's classic series are the historicals, which educate viewers on various historical periods. Doctor Who's "The Romans" is a famous example, transporting the TARDIS team to 64 A.D., during Emperor Nero's reign.

Ian and Barbara particularly stand out in this entertaining Doctor Who offering, being kidnapped by slave traders while trying to relax in Ancient Rome. William Russell demonstrates his comedic chops when he humorously quotes the Edgar Allan Poe poem "Oh, Mores!" while sporting a Roman hairdo. Ian and Barbara's chemistry is undeniable in "The Romans," and their flirtatious dynamic throughout this narrative firmly establishes the pair as one of the series' best romances.

7 The Sensorites Is A Mesmerizing Installment

The Sensorites may have only been in one story, but fans have been asking for their return for a musical number, reflecting how strong their debut is. Doctor Who's Sensorites make a big impression, using their telepathic capabilities to crash Captain Maitland's ship.

While Doctor Who's Sensorites may use shady mind control tactics to cause the crash, their actions are understandable, adding an interesting complexity to this adventure. They wish to protect themselves from humanity after their planet was plundered for minerals by another human ship. The Doctor Who story also shows a more vulnerable side to Ian, who suffers from a plague that has befallen the Sensorites brilliantly raising the personal stakes involved in the human and Sensorite conflict.

6 The Reign Of Terror Is An Amazing Showcase of William Russell And Jaqueline Hill's Acting Talents

History can be a dangerous place for the Doctor and his friends, and they decide to travel to one of the most precarious periods in "The Reign Of Terror." Doctor Who's exploration of the French Revolution does not disappoint, following the group's accidental involvement in a prison escape, and encounter with the British spy, James Stirling.

"The Reign Of Terror" delivers viewers a hugely exciting slice of history, showing the Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan's daring rescue of prisoners sentenced to the guillotine. William Russell and Jaqueline Hill feature in one of the Doctor Who story's best sequences, debating the morality of the French Revolution, which allows the pair to showcase their remarkable acting talents.

5 An Unearthly Child Allows Audiences To Witness The Doctor's Quirkiness Through The Companions' Eyes

Doctor Who's first story is a wonderful beginning for the show. It sees school teachers Ian and Barbara follow their pupil Susan to her home, where they discover she lives inside a time and space machine with her grandfather. "An Unearthly Child" establishes Doctor Who's premise extremely well, introducing audiences to the Doctor and the TARDIS, before whisking them to 100,000 BC.

Ian and Barbara become the charismatic leads of this Doctor Who adventure, allowing viewers to witness the Doctor and Susan's unusual behavior through the companions' eyes. William Russell superbly sells Ian's bemused reaction towards the events that transpire, showing concern towards Susan's strange actions before becoming confused when the TARDIS arrives in the cavemen era.

4 The Aztecs Is An Action-Packed Caper

Ian develops an extremely close relationship with Barbara - who is considered one of the best Doctor Who companions. "The Aztecs" mainly acts as an incredible character piece for Barbara, who is mistaken for the Aztec God, Yetaxa. Ian also shares some great scenes in the Doctor Who historical, though, where he is thrown into a battle to decide the Aztec army's next commander.

While "The Aztecs" is largely remembered for the Doctor and Barbara's fiery debate regarding changing history, Ian's subplot is delightful. His fight against the Aztec warrior Ixta is an electrifying watch and plays to the character's strengths as an action hero. Doctor Who's Aztec storyline is an action-packed caper and makes excellent use of its historical setting.

3 The Chase Is The End Of An Era For Doctor Who

"The Chase" is the end of an era for Doctor Who's original companions. It brings back the Daleks for a final showdown with Ian and Barbara before they leave the TARDIS behind. Doctor Who's "The Chase" involves the Daleks ruthlessly pursuing the TARDIS crew through time, on a mission to kill them.

"The Chase" is a thrilling Doctor Who serial, taking the TARDIS team everywhere from the desert planet Aridius to the Festival of Ghana theme park. Its playful tone makes this a breeze to watch, showing the Daleks traversing a haunted house attraction. "The Chase" concludes with a joyful ending for Ian and Barbara's time as companions, returning home to start a new life together in London, in 1965.

2 The Dalek Invasion Of Earth Is A Grand Tale

Doctor Who's viewers fell in love with the Daleks, prompting their return in "The Dalek Invasion Of Earth." Their second Doctor Who appearance is a grand tale, that shows the maleficent Pepperpots assuming control over 22nd Century London.

Mostly famous for the Doctor's emotional farewell to Susan, "The Dalek Invasion Of Earth" demonstrates why the Daleks are considered one of Doctor Who's scariest aliens. Their occupation of Earth is frightening, turning some of the population into Robomen, in a procedure so brutal that it sends a few of the unwilling subjects suicidal. Ian receives some energetic action sequences in "The Dalek Invasion of Earth," fighting Robomen and running from the Slyther, contributing a ridiculously fast pace to this 60s escapade.

1 The Daleks Left A Lasting Impact On Doctor Who's Future

Although the Daleks' personal history may not make sense, their Doctor Who debut is outstanding. "The Daleks" captured viewers' imaginations, through a horrific plot that portrays the longstanding rivalry between the Thals and the Daleks. Doctor Who's pepperpots have left a lasting impact, thanks to Terry Nation's sublime script.

"The Daleks" wisely separates the Doctor and his friends while exploring the Daleks' city, resulting in the unnerving scene where a Dalek's sucker advances menacingly on Barbara. Ian is impressive in this Doctor Who classic, inspiring the Thals to fight back against the Daleks so that they can obtain the TARDIS's fluid link. "The Daleks" makes audiences fearful of the time travelers, perfectly establishing the gigantic threat that the Daleks pose.