The Eleventh Doctor: Five Favourites
K-Ci Williams picks out five favourites from Matt Smith’s era.
It has been such a great year has it not? Don’t tell me you forgot this special day in the midst of the final hype because I certainly didn’t. It’s the birthday of the man who brought me into the world of Doctor Who. My Doctor, Matt Smith. For those of you who ‘tuned in’ to last years series of goodbyes and farewells to Matt as he left the show, you’ll know from my previous writing that I absolutely adore his portrayal. And with the year coming to an end and my privilege of sharing five favourites from every Doctor almost at the final straw, I’m going to take it back to where it all began. No tricks or timey wimey quips, no cheating where a favourite is qualified as multiple episodes. Just a simple set of five episodes that I love to pieces and they for me epitomise the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith.
The Eleventh Hour
Firstly, I cannot remember if this was the absolute first episode of Doctor Who that I saw. I vaguely remember an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures in passing, but this was really what started it all. Being major fans of this series, I suppose it’s not entirely out of the question or assume you all have that one story that made it for you. One simple story that enticed you into this confusing, sometimes convoluted yet always charming world. For me this is that story. I remember just thinking what is going on? Who is this man? Why is he eating an apple and then spitting it out? All these questions rushed through my head while a smile crept on my face. I don’t think my face muscles were ever used as much.
Matt Smith was an absolutely star. You must realise that there was no David Tennant to me. So I had no other Doctor to compare him to, and he just shone brightly. Every little aspect of his portrayal seemed perfectly imperfect (does that count as a double negative?). Alongside Karen Gillan he was just as fantastic. I distinctly remember an amazing dynamic between them. In recent years upon multiple viewings I’ve come to understand the dialogue more as well, because as a kid I wouldn’t have caught half the stuff they say.
But what this episode really points out to me is that there really are some great and stunning child actors out there. Caitlin Blackwood was amazing as little Amelia; while others further down the track didn’t really live up to her standards. But her charm and innocence, along with her Scottish flair and cheek, made the episode for me. Then there’s that Doctor moment on the rooftop. Matt had only really just sorted out his costume when he just brought the smackdown on the Atraxi. Definitely a super R.K.O. (Out of nowhere. I’ll just leave…). This story will always have a place in my heart as the one that got me started.
The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang
Matt’s era was a whole lot of firsts for me, and this was my first big finale. It was just epic. I’m all for character returns if they are pulled off right, and Steven Moffat incorporated our old friends from Series 5 into the pre credit sequence. I felt sad when Van Gogh was in pain, applauded when I saw Churchill and Bracewell, was intrigued by Liz 10 and bewildered by River Song. (By the way, Dark Water… Evil River? I love this theory). Also it’s River Song – you should know by now that I love River Song.
Smith continues the trend of a great first series with a climactic finale that ticks all the boxes for me. It was full of suspense, and a mass meeting of many monsters. I felt more threatened with the Pandorica Alliance than I had with any other episode. It made me empathetic of the Doctor and Amy. The first part had such a sad ending. The Doctor was being forced into the Pandorica, with a wonderfully directed shot of his feet sliding on the ground. Rory had shot his wife, and star systems were exploding (or imploding? Oh well, it doesn’t matter).
When we returned the next week the bets were off and everything was different again. It felt like a completely different yet tied story. River’s Dalek confrontation was one of my favourite scenes, and Matt was just bizarrely funny. His Vortex Manipulator scenes were as comedic as they were confusing. But the best scene goes to the post wedding for me. The Doctor is stood by himself watching his two best friends dancing. The music made me quite emotional, because the characters were all fine and it had been the best series ever!
The Doctor’s Wife
Neil Gaiman did such a spectacular job did he not? With a dazzling script and an ambitious title, Matt Smith did even better than I thought possible when paired with a new companion in order to save his actual companions. It’s really not that confusing. Idris is one of my favourite creations. This story is one of those ones where you think, why hasn’t this been done before? The chemistry and sentiment shared between Idris and the Doctor was beautifully acted and performed. We saw a reaction of immense glee; it’s exactly the way the Doctor would react.
I will always remember this story because it sent my group of friends clucking like hens for weeks. Never mind that pirate one they said (although in the defence of The Curse of the Black Spot, I quite enjoyed it. I saw the Siren more as mystical and mysterious than a threat.) and we continued calling it the best episode apart from Blink. Clearly Listen wasn’t made yet but anyway…. This story has the makings of classic, and it sure was. There was a masterful script, a gripping concept of House and a chilling voice artist of Michael Sheen behind him. All in all, it was history in the making.
The Angels Take Manhattan
This one is where I cried. When I first started writing more frequently on this site, one of my first articles was about the Ponds after they exited the show. They were my companions alongside my Doctor. So their final bow will always be in any top lists I write (despite the glaringly obvious plot holes and what not). I’m going to skip right to the emotional parts. When they both hopped up onto that roof and jumped, I just cried. If you ever need an injection right in the feels, listen to Together or Not At All on YouTube. It is in my humble opinion one of Murray Gold’s finest compositions. The script was just perfect here I thought. They all popped back to the gravesite, but Rory was cruelly taken away (and robbed of an actual goodbye to the Doctor).
This aside, I loved how Amy’s farewell was handled. If I remember correctly, my favourite Pond moments I chose two years ago haven’t changed. Amy’s final goodbye kicked me in the feels. The jump from Winter Quay annihilated my feelings. And that final monologue from Amy just made me depressed for the rest of the day. My family laughed at me for crying at a television show, but they don’t understand. Thank goodness you do, you know the struggle don’t you anonymous but really nice Doctor Who fan. I’m down I’m still reeling from the events of this episode. It’s definitely one of my favourites from Matt’s era.
Death of the Doctor
Technically this counts, and it’s really the only time I’m going to cheat because The Doctor isn’t in it for most of the first part – that’s all down to Sarah Jane and Jo. I’ll never let that go. It is the biggest loss to the Doctor Who universe, that Elisabeth Sladen passed away. She was very much a part of my childhood once I started watching her show, so any chance I get I will mention her. I came across her CBBC tribute video for the hundredth time yesterday and I cried my eyes out (again you know the struggle). I watched some of her episodes and felt better again, she was such a powerful character and definitely what we could call “a lead woman on television.” Rest In Peace, our dear Sarah Jane Smith, Elisabeth Sladen.
Now when Matt actually does show up he breathes life and joy and soul into the story. He complements both leading actresses in acting and vibrant respects. His interactions are well written by Russell T Davies (he should’ve written more for Matt) and I really enjoyed the whole story. And because their sentiment they shared was so powerful to me, I decided to give it a place here. I’m a bit all over the place writing his because these episodes mean so much to me. Matt Smith is an absolute, undisputed star!
Honourable Mentions
The Name of the Doctor – stellar acting from all present, such a beautiful farewell to River Song, an incredible score from Murray Gold, a shocking cliffhanger, a satisfying story arc conclusion and the beginnings of a Clara with some character development.
The Day of the Doctor – simply because it was Matt Smith alongside David Tennant, I mean come on. It was just perfect to me. They shared such a great dynamic and it was an awesome story for Matt’s penultimate episode.
Thank you so much for everything Matt Smith and a huge Happy Birthday to you! I still miss you.