Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour Is the Best Opener Ever (Why It's Great)

The Eleventh Hour is the best opener of Doctor Who... ever. Here's why.
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[@laviarray]

"Amy as a kissogram does more police work than the actual police companion" Damn....

[@denisenaylor1229]

Not wrong

[@ShadowKamehameha32]

Take note Chibnall....

[@mattevans4377]

Well, it isn't hard to do a better job than Yaz. Notice how she never scans an area once, she just jumps straight asking questions. In an actual investigation, you examine the crime scene, preserving all evidence as best you can, and then, and only then, do you ask questions. You also ensure no one is lying by cross referencing statements and that sort thing. And I'm not even in the police force.

[@lizziex7117]

LaviArray - so true

[@RobG001]

Ya burned!

[@adamstringham7277]

Nobody's talking about Matt's amazing performance. You can see him slowly transform from Tennant mannerisms into his new, Smith personality. It takes real skill as an actor to pull that off.

[@tristansteinbomer3256]

I personally don't think Matt was the right choice as the Doctor, i've seen him in other roles that were perfect for him. I still think that Deep Breath is the best opener so far. Rose was interesting...

[@tristansteinbomer3256]

The Christmas invasion had David sleep for 90% of the episode, the eleventh hour was.....ok..... Deep Breath was the best. (Obviously a normal episode is way better than an opener because you know the personality of the doctor and other stuff) Deep Breath showed us what Peter's doctor was gonna be like right off the bat. I mean obviously his character will change over time but, you know what I mean.

[@tristansteinbomer3256]

The villain in Deep Breath was also a really good choice. ( flash back to The Girl In The Fireplace) Deep Breath also showed us a major difference between the 11th doctor and the 12th doctor, which helps us understand why Clara was confused/scared. Please note this is just my opinion yours may be different but it does matter. In the words of my doctor, Allonsy!

[@legofan370]

I adore Eleven in every which way. Even when his run started to get... Eh... Not great. He was still as perfect and amazing as ever. As for Deep Breath... when I watched it way back when, I thought it was kinda stupid and ridiculous.

[@tristansteinbomer3256]

@@legofan370 me personally, I never thought Matt's tenure was good. Season 5 had ok stories but for me 11 just isnt the doctor, Matt just wasn't able to atleast attempt to fill David's shoe. (Nobody will ever fill his shoe but for me Capaldi was so close) Season 6 was....meh? Season 7 absolutely outrageous. From ridiculously stupid stories to the 11th doctor being ridiculous, season 7 is the worst season ever in my opinion. 11's tenure was full of ridiculous paradoxes and the whole Let's Kill Hitler episode ruined River's continuity.

[@matthewashley4276]

When Matt says “hello I’m the doctor, basically run” I get the biggest chills

[@sugarnads]

matt ashley yep. Chills.

[@SMon42]

that moment cemented him as the doctor for me.

[@s.31.l50]

The theme music that played through that scene too!

[@SMon42]

@@s.31.l50 yeah,that song was amazing.

[@TheFinalProblem6]

matts performance combined with murray golds amazing music just aaaaahhhh my soul

[@soup2885]

Amy got more character development in this episode than Ryan Yaz and Graham did in two series

[@harley7836]

Daisy Clark 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 so true!

[@mattevans4377]

So did Rory lol.

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

Doesn’t mean the episode was good

[@mattevans4377]

@@justsomerandomguyonline1144 You mean Eleventh hour? I hope I'm misunderstanding, lol.

[@harley7836]

JustSomeRandomGuy Online you should Change your screen name to JustSomeRandomTwatOnline. Matt Smith’s first full episode is always in the top five best NuWho episodes countdowns. So you must be on your own thinking it’s not a good episode because it was that very episode that started Doctor Who gaining worldwide attention making Doctor Who one of the most watched and biggest shows on the planet. None of Chris or David’s episodes made the show what it is worldwide it was The Eleventh Hour that turned the show into what it became, Chris and David’s episode’s/season’s only started becoming popular after Matt took over. The show wasn’t getting any of the viewing figures it started getting here in the states until Matt took over. 🙄

[@sparkymist]

Rory’s reaction when The Doctor calls back the aliens is priceless lol.

[@StarManta]

Deadly aliens aliens... of death

[@TheJadedJames]

Sparkymist you saved the world from aliens just to bring them back again

[@michaelgillespie9112]

To be fair, his reaction is perfectly reasonable, I mean he barely knows the Doctor anyway, having just met him, and so hearing the guy you barely know, but saved you from death, call back the very same beings that threatened him in the fist place, it makes sense he reacted like he did. I would

[@wilfteasdale2681]

Ahhh Rory is my favourite companion

[@samsignorelli]

Rory had the greatest development of any character in the Smith era, hands down. From this appearance to when he confronted the Cybermen to open "A Good Man Goes to War" to someone who simply could NOT be flustered by the weirdness. I mean, the three of them were the perfect Doctor/Companion combo for me, but as time went on, Rory really started getting some meat on his bones.

[@derekteter982]

"I am the Doctor" was the piece that could just emotionally override any bad writing if there was any. I was always giddy when it started playing. It feels like "Oh shit, he's got this figured out. What's he gonna do?" Always so fun.

[@urmum843]

it's just the perfect embodyment of the 11 docter

[@elliebrooke3987]

I always sing along to it tbh, my favourite is the "There's always a way out" bit from Time Of Angels, you know that he is the Doctor and he is in control and honestly the score compliments that wonderfully.

[@Petrolosis]

I miss Murray Gold's music :(

[@TheLizardWizard_the2nd]

Moffat invented Giorno's piano before it was a thing.

[@laisensei6984]

Murray Gold was a true legend just like Hans Zimmer.

[@thesisypheanjournal1271]

When little Amelia sits on the suitcase and waits for The Doctor and he doesn't come back, my heart breaks. Every time.

[@Es-Pea]

To be fair, he does come back when amy gets sent back by the angels. She was sleeping on the suitcase and the doctor took her I side and tucked her in. This may have been episodes and episodes after but time wise, it was minutes. Wibbly wobbly timey wimey!

[@killatrackz2467]

@@Es-Pea didn't he also go back when he was trapped in the TARDIS after the pandorica exploded ?

[@LadyDoomsinger]

@@Es-Pea But Amelia never knew he came back... So heart still breaks.

[@Es-Pea]

@@killatrackz2467 that's the episode, yeah

[@Es-Pea]

@@LadyDoomsinger that's true... 😢

[@OrpheusBloom]

It wasn’t Marie Antoinette in “The Girl in the Fireplace” it was Madame De Pompadour

[@tahunuva4254]

He wanted to have his cake and eat it too

[@Groundsey]

Glad someone else noticed so I didn’t have to point it out.

[@nathanielmalikgan5527]

Thank god i wasnt the only one to notice

[@airbooks9163]

glad it wasn't just me. he said that and i had to rewind i was so confused

[@rwilliamisen]

Oh thank god someone else noticed it. They are usually bang on abut their facts so this was very much out of place for them.

[@ToxinWolffe]

"Eleven's hour is over now, the clock is striking twelves." It was obvious foreshadowing for something we already knew, but when that line strikes home it truly dawned on me that my favorite Doctor was going off the show.

[@olliejobson6371]

This single quote was one of the most heartbreaking quotes for me. While I absolutely loved 10, 11 was easily my favourite. One of the most relatable thing for 10 and 11, was their dislike for endings. Up until the very last moment, I really thought that 11 might actually be the last one. It sucked because 11 was the "Young" doctor. He was always super energetic, the hero, the kind old wizard. Now it's time for one last bow, like all your other-selves. Eleven's hour is over now, the clock is striking twelves. The signal that our old wise wizard who we never thought would lose... for the first time... he'll finally lose to old age, lose to the fact that his entire race lost the war... Trenzalore... the place of his grave... Even with the TARDIS being back to him, he will never run away because he will always try to save one more life. When he continued to make jokes to the people around him, it showed how much he loved humanity, how kind he was. It doesn't matter how hopeless he feels, he is the man that will always heal, the man that will never cower, possibly one of the oldest beings alive. His kindness is what made it so heartbreaking for me.

[@unclegumbald989]

And my favorite Doctor was incoming!! Sorry, had to be a jerk there for a moment....

[@tristansteinbomer3256]

@@unclegumbald989 no it's alright, 12 is way better than 11. (10 is my doctor)

[@thedoctor1263]

@philipp ii. but soon will come the 14th hour

[@yorkgrass]

I didn't get it.

[@AviRox1154]

I'm sure you'll bring it up when you discuss the series as a whole later on, but this series gave me my favorite Doctor quote ever. "Didn’t anyone ever tell you? There’s one thing you never put in a trap-if you’re smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow-there’s one thing you never, ever put in a trap. Me."

[@nickthepick8043]

And that quote pays forward when the Alliance tries to seal the Doctor in the Pandorica. By sealing him in, they doomed the universe's existence.

[@tinykemper2561]

They already covered that two parter

[@georgercop]

Provided cartoon Graham Norton doesnt ruin it again xD

[@tinykemper2561]

@@georgercop Nah man that's the best part

[@mattevans4377]

My personal favourite is when he admits, he is, in fact, a madman in a box.

[@LazerzZ]

Also can we talk about the moment we see him emerge with his bow tie, we see the beginnings of the man River described in the library “I’ve seen whole armies turn and run away, and he’d just swagger off back to his Tardis and open the doors with the snap of his fingers” always gives me shivers watching that scene back when you know Matt Smith’s run as The Doctor

[@topdog5252]

Omg yes

[@BooneBluemel]

Odyssey bad

[@skeeterinnewjersey5256]

You are so so right

[@danthemeegs8751]

Can’t believe it’s been ten frickin years man. Remember watching this as a kid and just being amazed. WHY AM I SO OLD NOW

[@cloroxusthestainlessone4324]

@@Ashley.D right in the feels bud

[@db5094]

WAIT WHAT IS 10 YEARS?? IM 15 NO WAY I WATCHED IT WHEN I WAS 5, NO

[@db5094]

@@Ashley.D welp im over the shock but still damn. How did 13 mess up so many decades of good writing

[@db5094]

@@Ashley.D Damn, it does feel like yesterday, im reeling from the fact that i can remember Tennant

[@MarionBaggins]

I first watched Smith when I was 9 and now I am near 20, I feel Old!!!

[@samvertue6104]

This was my first ever doctor who episode and it made me fall in love with the characters of the doctor amy and rory

[@entfffyr4598]

Same

[@jackdaw99]

I had the opposite experience, Amy is what made me stop watching the series.

[@turtleisland1940]

Sam Vertue i had watched the sarah jane adventures and parts of tens before his, but when 11 was introduced, this episode was the reason why i got into doctor who as a whole

[@jeffthesnail5617]

This was my first ever episode and I love it to this day. It’s beautiful. I feel like a 10 year old again every time I watch it.

[@kaimargonar1000]

11th is my Doctor. Period. And the tardis is my favorite.

[@seanmurphy7845]

The fact that Matt Smith was able to jump around entirely different attitudes with the Doctor always made me love him, same as Tennant. From a younger insanely energetic Doctor to an old, angry and very much bitter Doctor. 11 will always be my favourite Doctor, especially with how the show is looking now.

[@LordofFullmetal]

Matt Smith is an incredible actor and he deserves the best career Hollywood can offer.

[@inkblotCrisis]

Basically...run. THAT MUSIC. MURRAAAAAAY...WE MISS YOU.

[@cabronmalisimo]

Oh brother, we sorely do...

[@chrissonofpear1384]

The rough writing and poor music of Timeless Children helped turn a passable concept into a pretty weak episode, for me.

[@GothAtheist]

I love wise old wizards in fairy tales. They always end up being the Doctor.

[@alphamineron]

I get that reference! *River Song*

[@sayandas5]

I hate wise old wizards is what River said though 😂

[@kosh9639]

xD

[@shisno7914]

I usually get pilloried when I say this, but Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor. He just charmed the pants off me, as the saying goes. Such a good turn as the Doctor. I hated to see him go.

[@lanmandragoran8337]

My favorite doctor is "not 13". Its not even her. The episodes writing was such trash that I just stopped watching. Its like they thought they could hang off the coattails of having a female doctor and not bother writing anything worth watching. She SEEMED fine, if they gave her anything worth doing.

[@DecimoTrixx]

He is also my favorite i basically stopped watching the show for a year or two becuase i hated the fact that he changed, only recently watched 12's run and currently on 13 and i do not like her, not because shes a woman but she just doesnt have the charm, i dont know how to describe it, she just isnt my doctor i guess. I enjoyed 12 at some moments and hated him at others but i just havent had a moment of 13 that ive liked.

[@shisno7914]

Lan Mandragoran you hit it on the head about the writing. It’s just weak. Actors can only do so much.

[@shisno7914]

Theta Sigma it’s definitely a deficiency in the writing. I felt similarly about 12’s run. Peter Capaldi is an outstanding actor and I was excited to see him as the Doctor but I felt that he was never quite given enough material to shine with (tho he was able to a few times). I was also excited to see what a female Doctor would be like, but the writing has been atrocious which has lead to terrible story lines and a Doctor with no real personality. Jody Whitaker deserves better. I feel for her, or any actor that’s given bad material and direction. But we’ll always have 11.

[@viditjain2653]

he's my favorite too. David was fantastic as 10 but Matt was just amazing

[@legofan4409]

Still love the fact that while everyone is happy that the aliens left the Doctor is like "no wtf come back here you dinguses" Nice to see that he does not take a threat to earth lightly

[@chelsea1062]

I still to this day cannot get over when the atraxi were scamming everything and it shows all 10 doctors and then Matt Smith just freaking walks through David tenants face and says hello I'm the doctor. That was freaking amazing!

[@lucypreece7581]

The moment on the rooftop when Smith steps forward in full costume and says "Hello, I'm The Doctor. Basically, RUN" Still gives me chills. just brilliant. the whole episode is brilliant in General but that moment is iconic.

[@TPNsBiggestFan]

holy shit its me again! (i will never stop doing this)

[@DigitalVanquish]

Being 10-years-old when watching the episode live, I didn't believe anyone else could work as The Doctor. By the end of the episode, I loved 11.

[@mattevans4377]

Honestly, I had a similar experience when Capaldi replaced Smith. It took me a bit longer though. I think Flatline was the moment I never looked back.

[@MarionBaggins]

I was 9 and a half years old, and I was channel surfing when I stumbled across 11 Placing his head out of the TARDIS!!!

[@Lord_Phoenix95]

All Doctors are like that except for Ecclekles for me. Didn't like him one bit.

[@ClaireWritesSometimes]

I think one of my favourite things about this episode comes with hindsight. I remember watching, and the moment Rory said he was Amy's boyfriend thinking "oh no, they gave her a Micky". Not that I didn't end up loving Micky, but it took until School Reunion, and I didn't like that Moffat felt the need to give us the same "companion has a boyfriend but falls in love with the Doctor" dynamic as Davis did with his first companion. But Rory is given so much more to do here than Mickey was in "Rose", and a proper rapport with the Doctor. You can tell Moffat was setting this up as a three-person TARDIS team from the start. Rory is my favourite companion, second only to Donna, and I adored this trio and their dynamic.

[@deusexmachina9776]

Oh my goodness yes. I was about to tuck myself into bed and watch this episode. I dont like rewatching things but I see this episode every six months. Just gold.

[@lizardlegend42]

This, midnight, Heaven sent, Blink and a few others.

[@lanmandragoran8337]

@@lizardlegend42 The husbands of River Song.

[@sarahspooks4802]

The eleventh hour was the first episode of doctor who I ever saw. I knew next to nothing about the series and had no clue what was going on, but I was instantly captivated by Smith's almost manic energy and the dynamic between he, Gillian and Darvill. Five years on, and it's still one of my absolute favorites.

[@edasuarat3809]

I miss the times where the Doctor acted like the Doctor, like an alien genius.

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

13 tries too hard

[@simonster-9094]

Moffat may not have been the best writer, but at least he understood and respected Doctor Who.

[@Ricochet-cn7xb]

Same

[@michaelgillespie9112]

@@simonster-9094 Moffitt may not have been the best writer, but he was still a good one, just as you said, not the best.

[@DecimoTrixx]

Omg this, this is exactly it and why i dislike 13 so much, every little thing happens all 13 does is try to reinforce that they are good and oh 'no guns' meanwhile 11 had river blasting at the silence and basically ordered their deaths. 13 is just a weird human, 11 was an alien that had armies run away at the mention of his name

[@markprior2278]

Totally agree. the "Basically Run" speech at the end is one of the best ever. Matt Smith is still my favourite Doctor and Amy Pond my favourite companion.

[@jeffsmith9126]

I've never been so ready to hear this, because it's something I completely agree with. Amy is a forthright and abrasive person and that's the point! She's active and doesn't just sit in her tiny little box letting the Doctor push her around from set piece to exposition. Rory too questions things and has an active part to play. Also the police line about Amy's fake job being taken more seriously than Yaz's actually job is so funny, how did I never think of that? Guess I'm only a half fat video!

[@SteveSmith-wk9dx]

When Matt Smith was cast, I had no belief in him. I didn't know anything about him, and he just looked like a weird boy-man with no eyebrows (sorry Matt). I'd known a lot about Christopher Ecclestone going in, and had huge respect for him, especially for his amazingly-played death scene in 'Cracker'. I knew less about Tennant, but I'd seen him in 'Blackpool' and he seemed like a great fit for the role. Then I watched the episode. With the slightly cringe-y 'Geronimo' out of the way, I was soon interested. Five minutes in, I was fascinated. Who * was * this guy? How was he doing all this? I'm still not sold on Matt Smith as the best portrayal of the Doctor, but I've never switched opinions on an actor as fast as I have watching this episode. He was strangely human-yet-inhuman, deranged yet in control. He hit the ground running and set out his version of the Doctor so completely, I had to wonder what he had left. No disrespect to Matt Smith's originality, but I felt like we got a blend of Ten's confident fast-talk, Two's obfuscating stupidity, Four's alien weirdness and Five's boyishness... with a touch of Jack Sparrow thrown in.

[@peterullinger2814]

None other Doctor before and since has switched between buffoonery and deep, deep, hidden menace and 11th - the switch as he says "Good man don need any rules, and today is not the day to find out why I have so many!" in A Good man goes to war still give me chills.

[@Geznoo]

But he is a weird boy man, that's what made his Doctor great lol!

[@StarManta]

> with no eyebrows They're just delicate

[@jcharpak]

@@StarManta that's why he overcompensated with the next regeneration :)

[@DannyMakesVideosIGuess]

The way 11 could switch from boyish, silly and loving life to menacing and dark was so intense, it was my favourite aspect of it it didn't seem 'acted' at all

[@rashidbaxter4697]

"Moffat is on fire here" Very nice.

[@xeptian]

6:00 THANK YOU, I’ve been saying this since series 11, fun fact we’ve actually seen Amy in a police uniform more times than yaz

[@muskaan3711]

The fact how little Amelia waited all night in the garden for the Doctor to return really broke my heart... Also later in season 7, when doctor keeps coming and going into Amy and Rory's life, it shows how the companion's life are temporary when compared to the doctor's long long long life. I really liked how they showed this.

[@OptimysticPessimyst]

The Girl in the Fireplace wasn’t Marie Antoinette. It was Jeanne Antoinette Poisson/Madame de Pompadour

[@janiskeating9004]

Thanks, you beat me to it.

[@TinPrince]

"I just snogged Madame de Pompadour!"

[@darkecofreak23]

Aka Reinette Poisson. You beat me to it. Thank you.

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

It doesn’t matter who it was. The episode was forgettable anyway

[@thecoloradokid5418]

Devi oh yeah and I met a horse

[@ChannelPup]

I thought I was alone in thinking The Eleventh Hour was the definitive Doctor Who opener. Probably my favourite Matt Smith episode too. Moffat hit the ground running with an opener that was absolutely packed with energy and charm. Also a superb supporting cast...that we never. saw. again. For some reason.

[@2ndlegend125]

While I love Ten. Smith is my Doctor.

[@gigaatom]

While i watched 10s run i was just too young to retain it. I remember the end of time clear as day and then Smiths run better than my parents who were just confused by then

[@unityedits3722]

Here, here

[@FPV-wi8fw]

Same, he is the one I remember most growing up, im 100% gonna start watching series 5 again

[@FPV-wi8fw]

Same, he is the one I remember most growing up, im 100% gonna start watching series 5 again

[@godhathirumalaianandanpill3140]

Smith will always be my Doctor. Capaldi is a close second, though, because though the guy is amazing, I found Eleven more relatable to me because he's a bumbling idiot at times and is so weird and adorable

[@skippertrey]

Every time I see this episode, I cry such happy tears. Tennant might have been my first Doctor, but Smith's era was when I really got into the show and this episode encapsulates everything I love about his run. For once, it seemed like the show was less-concerned with picking up the pieces from the Time War (for the moment), and just decided to go full-out with the outlandish sci-fi concepts and embrace the wonder of the universe. I actually really miss this era a lot.

[@Rebellions]

"You were a little girl five minutes ago!" Is still one of my favorite lines ever. It kinda sums up the show in a way.

[@Temptation666]

4:26 Ehh Uhm no. This is not Queen of France Maria Antonieta (1755 - 1793) It is The French kings Mistress Madam de Pompadour (1721 - 1764)

[@planesight1142]

Thank you! Love a nit-pick! That's exactly what I came down here to say :). Otherwise his analysis is quite good tho. Lol.

[@matthewgriffiths9796]

He was probably confused as in deep breath the ship is known as the Maire Antoinette and that episode is a sort of sequel to girl in the fireplace

[@Temptation666]

@@matthewgriffiths9796 Might be. I have only seen Deep Breath ones and i can not remember a thing from it, so I have to take your word for it. Clara made me sick to my stomach. Sadly

[@Temptation666]

@@planesight1142 Pitch perfect. Yes. 💖

[@matthewgriffiths9796]

@@Temptation666 in deep breath a similar model to the ship in girl in the fireplace lands in prehistoric England and the robotic crew cannibalise people similar to the robots in girl in the fireplace. Although the episode may have under-performed it is a sequel to the 2006 episode

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Your analysis is always in depth, you're very perceptive and analytical when it comes to the topic at hand. Hence why I love your videos.

[@3N3MYKN1GHT]

I agree, it's almost hard to separate their analysis from subjectivity.

[@kajiko88]

Are you the new Justin Y?

[@duhimdave]

This episode was how I was introduced to the show. Got me hooked right off the bat. It's still where I tell people to start if they're interested in watching

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Something that's overlooked is that almost every Doctor of the revival had themes running through various stories in their tenure that told us something about their character. For 10 it was romance; e.g. Rose, River, Redforn, Madame Da Pompadour, for 12 it's being a teacher e.g Clara, S10 he's a lecturer. Smith's was children and I love how that's established right here, he is the imaginary friend of a child, a fairy story told to children. Then as the series grows up we see the reverse of that, the dangerous side and the impact 11 has on the lives he touched like a Good Man Goes to War or the Girl Who Waited.

[@sasha6454]

And I like how the question "How do you know if it's a duck pond if there aren't any ducks?" is answered later in the series and ties in thematically.

[@atharvadeshpande6907]

@@LeopardMask12 The Crack kept eating them up. Amy's Parents, her memories of the daleks, and the Ducks

[@GradeEcho]

Me and my older brother, him now 31 and me 21, used to adore watching David Tennant's Doctor together over a decade ago. When his time ended, and we first saw Matt Smith on the trailer, we both agreed that we couldn't watch it any longer, it seemed so wrong. However, 10 years later, we both decided it was time to get back into the show and see if it was as good as we had heard. We started from Season 1 again and moved through Eccleston and Tennant, loving every minute. Then the time came to watch season 5... this episode brought us back! Matt Smith is amazing, I loved every second of his Doctor and was extremely sad to see him come to an end. We then had to move onto Peter Capaldi. In his first moments, especially with the usual energetic tone of Tennant and Smith being reduced by this old, greyed man, we were a little unsure of how he would play out in our minds. However, we let it run and by the end of season 10 he was yet another to add to the list of great Doctors. I'm now at the start of season 11 and once again am unsure about the new Doctor, after all it's the first time a woman has played the character. I've only watched two episodes but I have faith in Moffatt to deliver. My love of Doctor Who was reignited in a way I never thought possible. I will treasure it to the end.

[@Cat-nb5qs]

Yeah, I'll never get over that moment where Matt Smith steps through the image of Tennant's face and announces himself as the Doctor. What a moment.

[@ciarancoleman4640]

Smith had this look to him, maybe his hair or clothing, that tennant, eccleston and capaldi didn't quite capture for me. His whole look feels alien ( the old man professer type suit on a man in his twenties) and the fact smith made 11 so human is a testament to his ability and season 5s writing.

[@zombie_115]

Murray Gold's music in Matt Smith's era was the best.

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

No it was shit

[@atharvadeshpande6907]

@@justsomerandomguyonline1144 isn't it enough you hate Moffat? Do you have to hate on Murray Gold too? Without a doubt his music during Moffat era was great. I am the Doctor, Melody Pond, The Majestic Tale, Amy Pond in the Tardis, Clara, The Impossible Girl, The Long Song, A Good Man, Clara in the Tardis, The Shepherd's Boy, Where There's Tears, Face The Raven.

[@oldoldmeme]

This for me is possibly the best episode of Doctor Who, for both people new to the show and older fans. The introduction of a new, younger yet still somewhat familiar Doctor whose brilliant performance and magnificent script manages to both reassure Tennant and Davies fans that the show is in good hands, as well as opening the door to people who've never seen the show before. As well as this it also pays tribute to the classic Doctors, showing how they all are at the end of the day the same person no matter their differences in one of the best fucking scenes for any fandom ever, I genuinely get so emotional everytime I see the "I am the Doctor" scene. And speaking of "I am the Doctor", Murray Gold is absolutely fantastic here, his best performance in my opinion, I commend him, Matt Smith and Steven Moffat and anyone else involved for the best episode of modern Doctor Who to date

[@ZoeBateman]

I think it has all the elements of a great "new doctor regeneration" story. 1. being high on regeneration energy/ being "powered down" in some way e.g. not having the sonic for most of the episode 2. running around in the previous doctor's outfit but finding a new one of their own that perfectly fits their vibe by the end of the episode 3. huge stakes and managing to pull it off despite everything 4. showing off new personality well (calling aliens back to tell them off like a disappointed teacher/parent, lmao) 5. new companion/s and them being very confused 6. a line that's along the lines of "I'm the doctor, here's who I am, I save people" at the climax of the episode that really shows who the doctor is as a character ("basically, run")

[@Colour_Smash]

"10 years on" WHAT DO YOU MEANNNN I swear it only came out like 4 years ago wtf

[@beepthemeep12]

Ikr. That slapped me in the face I was five (hiding six a few episodes in) then and now I'm off to do collage i-

[@aleshagarrett7742]

I KNOW RIGHT. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT WAS THAT LONG AGO

[@azcomicgeek]

Timey, whimey, wibbly wobbly

[@pmiles363]

I’m so glad you mentioned Murray Gold’s mastery of music All the way through the video I was like “You better mention “I Am The Doctor” it was one of the best elements of series”

[@prizegotti]

There's a lot of mention about how Moffat had to start a new, new cast, new characters etc etc. But we were already expecting a plot, River Song. There was no way she was a one off character after her first/last meeting with 10. We knew she would return and there was big a huge story arc around her. He had the whole thing planned out when he wrote "Silence In The Library" when replacing Davies during series 4. He knew where he was taking series 5 before series 4 was even finished.

[@ciarancoleman4640]

Series five is still my favourite series and I think it always will be. The fairytale aesthetic, warmth, how homely the tardis felt, the relationship with the companions, Amy's character growth and Smiths energy. In later series he almost became somewhat of a parody of himself, thanks to some lazy writing, but here he IS the doctor - young and old, alien and human, dark and campy, eccentric and calculating. Smith had it all and I'm convinced he would have got the appreciation he deserved if he didn't take over from the powerhouse that was Tennant.

[@floraice11]

I think a lot of problems with Moffat’s era stems from him being unable to keep up with the production pace of the show. Part of the reason why I think Series 5 is so perfect is that the guy had almost a year to work on it, in comparison to much shorter time spans for other seasons (resulting in more ex machinas than one would like). Series 5 is the best of Moffat and upon comparing it with Chibnal’s first season there’s zero competition.

[@caleb7551]

IMO, series 5 was phenomenal, Series 6 was almost as good but the finale was shit, series 7 was awful, series 8 was better than series 6 because the finale was really good, series 9 is average, and series 10 is a bit worse than series 6. It's sporadic.

[@thefonzkiss]

More character and charisma in one episode than 13 had in two entire series.

[@misssupercookie2011]

Just swinging in to say your video essays have reignited the old love I felt for Doctor Who as a young'un, so thank you for that. Also the parallel between Amy and Eleven and Wendy and Peter Pan is my favourite thing in the history of the universe.

[@Shroudey]

I've never seen anyone comment on this before, but the tie that he is wearing before he opts for the bow-tie is also the tie that David Tennant wore in The Girl in the Fireplace episode, just to demonstrate that it is literally the same concept, I only noticed this because The Girl in the Fireplace is my favourite episode of all time lol :)

[@DaBigIsh]

Matt Smith taught me to give actors a chance before judging them. I was a big David Tennant fan (still am) and I was more than upset when he left so I came to the conclusion that Doctor Who was dead after he left... Boy was I wrong...

[@leifthesilly]

"Hello I'm the doctor, basically, run" Is the single moment in the show I've returned to the most, whenever I'm feeling a bit nostalgic I just look up the clip on KZbin

[@adamburke4738]

The moment he walked through that hologram of Tennant will always be epic. And I loved Matt Smith as the Doctor, and I say that as a Tennant fanboy.

[@michaelfraser1073]

Matt Smith doesn't get enough credit for this episode. He was a young actor relatively inexperienced with major roles having to step in and follow one of the most iconic and beloved Doctors. In the space of a single episode, he made it look easy.

[@a-cxnt]

S5 was my jumping on point of the show, almost 10 years later and it has barely aged a day. It was great back then, and it's still great today. Matt Smith's doctor will always be my doctor.

[@themightybob]

Its just the best intro ever With the calm and then boom! the explosions fire crashing, it continues from exactly where it left off in the last series. It sort of glides smoothly from one series into the next

[@ThePonderer]

I adore this story so much, and I’m so glad that series 5 was my introduction to this show. Looking back on it, it remains one of if not the best first foot forward in the series (though Smith & Jones is no slouch in that department and always deserved a bit more recognition for it, I felt).

[@christianwise637]

I agree. Smith and Jones is seriously underrated

[@livingandthriving]

The Eleventh Hour was the first episode of Doctor Who I ever watched, and I was hooked within 5 minutes. Less than that, actually: I remember watching the cold open and thinking, "Well, this is promising" and then the theme music started playing and I got chills. That's when I knew this was indeed something special. I'd first heard about the show years before but for some reason never got around to checking it out until 2010. Having now seen the majority of Classic and New Who, I'm kind of glad I waited until then to start, because I honestly don't know if the earlier seasons would have sucked me in as quickly as this one did. As a jumping-on point, this episode is basically perfect. You get all the necessary background information thanks to characters who know as little as you, the new viewer, do. Plus with the Doctor newly regenerated, he's basically playing catch-up as well, getting a feel for who he is in this new body. And you get a taste of the wacky shenanigans that tend to happen around the Doctor. It works for established fans as well, with the little call-backs to previous Doctors and stories, while also reminding them that things are going to be different now. Basically, this is one of my very favorite episodes of Doctor Who and I highly recommend it to anyone who's thinking about watching the show.

[@tomimpala]

For me, it used to be the Eleventh Hour by a mile. Going back and seeing Rose though... It's tough. And also I do love Smith and Jones. And Partners in Crime too as a treat.

[@princessthyemis]

I think all of those are EXCELLENT first companion episodes!!!!!!

[@galarstar052]

tbf i don't see anything special about Rose. The "i can feel the turning of the world" speech is good but the plot is fairly basic and the monster is decent (plastic mickey is somewhat funny), there's not much amazing character development so i don't see what's special about it beyond nostalgia.

[@lukefitton7329]

@@galarstar052 despite Christopher Eccleston being my favourite Doctor I have to agree. Also nice profile picture, good to see a cultured Emboar enjoyer.

[@galarstar052]

@@lukefitton7329 thank you very much my dude, you're quite cultured as well.

[@andrewcroft5606]

And especially considering the climax of the Tenth Doctor's end in the 2010 New Year special, this new Doctor really needed to stick it with fans in this episode. Needless to say, Matt Smith was and is a great Doctor, and this episode is a brilliant jumping in point for anyone wanting to get stuck in.

[@Pond721]

Series 5 was like an utterly different universe, it was very important to get Matt's opening right due to that, and my god did they do that. They didn't dwell on the past, they started off with a fresh new take on the Doctor and immediately introduced the companion who would be the crux of the entire series. Series 5 is easily my favourite series ever, as the 11th Doctor is my favourite. This is definitely the best opening for the best series with the best companions and the best Doctor.

[@marijkecuffe5488]

I liked how Matt Smith looked young and sometimes acted very childish but when the heat was on and he got serious he took on a lot if old man mannerisms, even the look in his eyes changed and made him look ancient.

[@megadude967]

8:45 God first yhe doctor goes snooping through his Internet history, then his dad sends him to the moon. Man can't catch a break!

[@Raftors]

wait what?

[@megadude967]

@@Raftors the actor in that scene is the same actor who plays Luther in The Umbrella Academy

[@jpm42cartown]

HOLY SHIT I KNEW I RECOGNIZED HIM WHEN I WATCHED UMBRELLA ACAMEDY

[@kian72olner]

Fun fact: (Young)Amelia Pond is Scottish, but the actress is northern Irish

[@atharvadeshpande6907]

And a Cousin of Karen Gillan

[@zardox78]

9:30 I thought you were about to bring up the music there, but then you never mentioned it once. It amazes me how often people completely overlook the music and its importance, subtly but definitively affecting your emotions, informing the audience how they should be feeling about the thing they're currently seeing. I mean, the main action theme has this "Here we go again... and again, and again, and again!" quality to it. Sorta makes one freshly excited at the prospect of going again, and again, and again... which I'm guessing was the idea, given the circumstances. And the sad little magical lullaby when little Amelia is packing her suitcase and eagerly running down the stairs to go wait for the Doctor. Really pulls at the heartstrings. Might be my favorite piece in the whole series (and I'm using the American definition of the word "series"). I hate when they cut the episode down to fit into an hour time-slot and completely omit that moment.

[@maxtaylor3531]

I’m 100% with you on this! The 11 hour is still one of my favourite episodes to date and gave Smith an epic opening. It managed to do so much in a small amount of time and the pacing never felt wrong.

[@LukeBeardmore]

The speech that The Doctor makes when getting changed is one of my favourites. He just comes out like "I'm in charge, leave now"

[@MartinInBC]

That iconic line, "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically ... run" ... is it a callback to the very first word Ecclestone's Doctor utters in the opening episode of modern Who: "Run"?

[@Amy-J]

I’m kinda disappointed you didn’t bring up the delicious cherry on top, and that’s the goddamn Coming Soon trailer originally shown at the end of the episode. My god, what a way to get hyped for the rest of the epic series. Even after the Eleventh Hour launched the new series brilliantly, that Coming Soon trailer proved not only that Doctor Who was in good hands, but the best is yet to come.

[@louvie1066]

One day my brother walked in the veranda and was like... "hey, wanna watch something together?" I don't know what stroke of genuis I had, but I asked him if he wanted to watch Doctor Who, and that was the first episode he watched, and he bloody loved it. Fast-forward to the end of the year, I watched the special of Capaldi, and from behind my back I hear 'Oh, I watched that one, I thought he was brilliant!' I had NO IDEA he had been watching more. xD

[@galaxymutant]

I watched this episode 5 times in one day when I was younger truly the best show ever

[@duncann_donutss]

this episode was my very first introduction to doctor who ever. series 5 was the first season i watched and matt smith is MY doctor. if i hadn’t started with this episode who knows if i would’ve become as big of a fan of the show as i became. absolutely perfect episode and infinitely rewatchable!👌👌👌

[@phelnox]

Wow when you reminded me it was ten years ago at the end, I just lost it

[@tyrant-den884]

the Pond arch is my favorite set of seasons, Midnight is my favorite episode, 12 is my favorite Doctor; Graham is my favorite companion, I have a crippling weakness for old cockney men; and the Emperor of the Daleks is my favorite villain. What a sampler.

[@Ben_Kirkham]

Absolutely brilliant start to an era. Still my favourite of the 21st Century openers, and my favourite Doctor

[@ailospjellok7475]

man, matt smiths doctor was actually the first i was ever introduced to, i cant remember how or why, all i remember is that i somehow learnt about doctor who and when i went to watch it, smiths run was the "first" according to the site i was watching on

[@Vinvininhk]

4:26 the Girl in the Fireplace was Madame de Pompadour, not Marie Antoinette who got executed.

[@srgfubar]

11th hour is on of the episodes that always gives me the shivers because of ONE singular scene. ''You know what I think? That must be one hell of a scary crack in your wall.'' and that ambiance that followed. Incredibly well performed on all parts.

[@MrProbeNWatch]

I remember the 6 door moment as a, child has me SHOOOK. Even watching it now bought back memories ❤️ Matt Smith is my favorite doctor and he's very relatable to me as a person. His impulsive and recklessness like an adult who refused to grow up. But also his observation to things other don't notice. It really resonated with me as someone who has ADHD and I LOVE MATT FOR THAT ❤️❤️ Edit: 11:34 I just cried so thank you 😊

[@Cavi587]

Even though I was there during the 9th Doctor era and later occasionally watched Doctor Who during the Tennant era, I only became a real fan after the Eleventh Hour and watched the whole run of Matt Smith. I didn't stick around for Capaldi and Whittaker, but that was more because I had less and less free time to just enjoy stuff as the years went by. But still, 11th is my Doctor. I wish to catch up one day.

[@SennaJeagerjaques]

David Tennant is my Doctor but I agree with you, this is the best series opener of Doctor Who. This is how you introduce new Doctor, new companions, new Tardis AND a new vision of the show in just one episode in a convincing way. Moffat had many problems (RTD as well) but when the episode was good, it wasn't only good, it was GREAT.

[@sharkstargames3930]

My three favourite scenes are the doctors speech in the eleventh hour, the day of the doctor all thirteen scene, and Amy's wedding, all Matt Smith episode

[@vincentfelix299]

Personally, this trio is the best of all. Great character dev and story arc on all 3 of them, especially Rory. Who would've thought the skinny, awkward man could be the bravest and greatest dad/husband ever?

[@MrRetroDev]

I do like the way Moffat knew what he was doing from the beginning, he knew where he wanted 11 to end.

[@chrisconcannon6490]

The Eleventh Hour is my favorite season premiere of any season of Nu Who so far and it's probably my most re-watched episode of Doctor Who ever.

[@TymersRealm]

Yea, that whole interaction with the Atraxi as 11 is getting his look together. As he ends it with the "Basically... Run." bit, I knew Smith was gonna be a interesting Doctor for sure.

[@TheMidnightwolf15]

I loved Matt Smith as the Doctor. It was weird to see someone else in David Tennant's role (who was my Doctor during my teenage years) but he really hit the spot with the Eleventh Hour. I loved his time as the Doctor, and him, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darville are my favorite Doctor Who trio. Even surpassing the previous trio that was David Tennant, Freema Agyeman, and John Barrowman. But those three are a close second :)

[@castellanofgundabad5]

One thing I love about this episode is the contrast between London and Amy's house. We've seen so many important things and people in London, and from the beginning of rose the city seems so busy, and we got so used to the characters in the Davies era so that when the Tardis crashes in Leadworth it feels like the doctor's fallen out of the story, which gives a wonderful feeling of us and the doctor being like strangers in another world, like we've travelled off the edge of the map, much more so than when we've actually gone to distant planets before.

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

This opening is a huge influence for why Eleven was my favorite Doctor.

[@Night-vq5mg]

the eleventh hour holds a special place in my heart it was the first episode I ever saw and for like 5-7 years it was the first-ever episode of doctor who so I'm really happy that this video exists so thank you for putting why its so good in words

[@scott2181]

My favourite of the revived series. For all of your reasons, and one more. Karen Gillan. Does more with a look than most actors do with an entire page of monologue. Watch that scene where the Doctor zips off in his "you sexy thing" TARDIS, Amy catches up just a few seconds too late. He's off. And that heartbreak, anger, upset, rejection - six or seven different emotions in a single push in shot. My Doctor. My companion. Couldn't wait for the rest of the series. First rate Who.

[@jonathankozenko]

One of my favorite elements from any story in the old series was that The Doctor became a literal evil god due to his past actions in The Face of Evil (a massively underappreciated story) - and in turn, one of my favorite things about The 11th Hour is that it explores this concept again, just in a way that's far more positive and vastly more personal in scale.

[@abcdefgh6951]

When Doctor enters someone's life on different points of their life and it's years for them, but just a moment for him, now that's something I hate, it scares me

[@blue_sweater]

Ponds` story and Doctor 11 era generally ....my heart tears apart every time i watch it!!!!

[@damienmuir9771]

"Amy as a histogram does more work than the actual police officer companion" Me: oh I forget she was a police officer

[@jacob4tee]

*kissogram

[@Rayrix360]

@@jacob4tee I think he's talking about the other actual "police officer" companion

[@jacob4tee]

Brennen Martin Ik but he is also talking about Amy when he called her a histogram

[@jeffthesnail5617]

HISTOGRAM

[@alphamineron]

@@Rayrix360 I love how you don't even bother naming the actual "police officer" companion XD