The Eleventh Doctor's Dark Side - Character Analysis

[@RamblingManYT]

What is your favourite 11th Doctor moment?? Want to support the channel? You can do so here: patreon.com/TheRamblingManYT?Link&

[@NickTheImpressionist]

Speech to Akhaten

[@victorfries8859]

i've recently rewatched season 7... many scenes with Clara are deep and intense. I seriously can't stop watching scenes and clips here too. All of season 7 is so important to me.

[@andrewhall6479]

One of my favorite 11 moments was his warning to the Atraxi. The Doctor is aware or how big a deal he has become on Earth, and he makes apparent his refusal to suffer marauders on a planet that has just about become his second home. It was the moment that cemented Matt Smith as a worthy successor in my eyes. Trust him… for 20 minutes.

[@rennythespaceguy7285]

Either Handles' death or when he goes back to Amy and Rory to reveal he's still alive

[@darkestwilightt]

Town called mercy where he was going to let the gunslinger kill his creator

[@jimstanley7786]

I also love how in Journey to the centre of the TARDIS, 11 lures the salvage crew on board with the promise of a great fortune, then suddenly has them trapped and scared when he threatens them with self-destruction unless they find Clara. A great use of his manipulation skills and going from quirky comical to serious game-player.

[@DfiftyMusic]

He’s a gangster who doesn’t want to be a gangster

[@jaredpalmer5501]

He probably taken some of the 7th doctor characteristics when comes to scheming and manipulating.

[@jaredpalmer5501]

@@NottherealLucifer I said some not all. I agree He takes those from the war doctor,but 11 and the war doctor get their trickery, manipulative and scheming skills from 7th doctor as he used those to reach his desire goal and be in control. like manipulative jan to sacrifice himself in Love and War and similar in the girl who waited he schemed and manipulated Rory into believing that two Amy could exist, until he return the younger Amy to the Tardis. Yes he tricked both of them but he did it more of manipulative and scheming way similar to his 7th incarnation way of manipulating and trickery.

[@saphironkindris]

I don't know if you'd count that as Chaotic evil or just chaotic neutral, but it's a real far cry from the normal chaotic good we see. It's really interesting to see how dark he can get to save his companion.

[@mustachemiss1983]

"Help me or die." 10 may have had some darkness behind his eyes, 12 may have been gruff and outwardly cold, but 11 was Fuckin' scary when he wanted to be

[@JeremyDuncan]

I will die on this hill: The Eleventh Doctor's darker side is far scarier than any other doctor. That scene in Good Man Goes to War scared the shit out of me.

[@julieeverett7442]

have you met 4th and 7th, you can hear them coming through with this. 4th was the most inhuman of ALL the doctors, remember he is NOT human, he never was, and every now and then he reminds you of this fact. I rather enjoy his darkness, its a good reminder

[@ptolemeeselenion1542]

Tenth Doctor's Doctor-of-War-ish glimpses into his Time Lord Victorious or Valeyard at a few instances in Tennant's run, the Seventh Doctor being artfully deceptive toward anyone or Twelth Doctor's wrath seemed way scarier to me.

[@garethmitchell7723]

It's between Matt Smith and Sylvester McCoy for me. I wish he had the chance to explore that more.

[@JeremyDuncan]

@@garethmitchell7723 I mean, Seven gets some really great moments on Big Finish especially with the Hex arc.

[@garethmitchell7723]

@@JeremyDuncan fair enough I have yet to delve into the big finish works.

[@Sydberry]

I loved that one scene where River, Rory, and Amy try to get him to go somewhere after they just saw him die, and he's like "don't play games with me, don't think your capable of that," and it's so short but it shows how darkly the Doctor thinks his intelligence is above those around him

[@27hiddenintheleaves]

Brooooo,that scene literally had me contemplating whether this is actually him,he let down the humility for a short moment and let them know what’s up

[@reptongeek]

I wasn't fully convinced when Ten got angry. But when Eleven got angry in The Beast Below, it created a tremor in me that was only appeased when he and Amy embraced at the end

[@ginge641]

Ten's issue is that he exploded with rage far too much, to the point where it lost all meaning and was way less interesting than it could've been. He's the one who gets "He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing." but that fits Matt infinitely more.

[@nivaneh1010]

As a huge Tennant fan boy I couldn't agree more with these statements. There was something off putting seeing someone as kind and childish like the 11th doctor showing his darker side... absolutely loved the general runaway scene.

[@thecrimsonavenger5750]

@@ginge641 it really does 10 was more rageful and had this anger inside him while 11 at time just flipped a switch when he got angry

[@ginge641]

@@thecrimsonavenger5750 Read my comment again. Slowly.

[@gamechatterbox5168]

I disagree about 10, do we not remember the Idiots Lantern episode, "WELL IM NOT LISETENING !!!" it had me pretty convinced of his anger and that was just one of the times

[@mariesilver6103]

The line that exemplified 11's dark side, for me, is in The Impossible Astronaut. When the Ponds and River are hiding from him what they've seen at the lake and he can tell they're doing it. He says, "Don't play games with me, don't ever, ever, think you're capable of that." He says it very casually but it's also quiet and vaguely threatening. I always found it chilling.

[@wafflingmean4477]

"Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many." - That is hands down one of the best written lines of all time. And it hits like a thunderclap when you remember he blew up an entire fleet of cybermen earlier in the episode just to make a point. This is someone who avoids killing unless absolutely necessary but he's wiping out entire fleets with the push of a button just because he can. Honestly if the Doctor hadn't realised River was Amy's daughter by the end of the episode, I think he'd have gone full War Doctor. He warned the kidnappers not to screw with him, then they immediately did. He was so angry that if River hadn't revealed who she was I think there's a chance he'd have killed her.

[@RamblingManYT]

It's such a chilling episode And yesss you are so right, if the river revelation didn't come when it did, he would have gone full War Doctor, brilliant point!

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@RamblingManYT *COUGH* The Tenth Doctor killed an entire race of spider creatures while silent. He hates doing it but he is more than willing during Christmas as well.

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

This makes me curious for an alternate timeline where River didn't reveal who she was in time. Maybe she was too slow in the reveal, being just a bit too coy with it, and Eleven just loses his patience and murders her on the spot. Then we get an entire rest of the season of him being a villain. More than just War Doctor. We're talking him being a bigger threat to the multiverse than the Daleks ever could.

[@peanut4831]

@@ShadeSlayer1911 Valeyard?

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

@@peanut4831 what's that?

[@HopeBanta]

Fully agree with your analysis, another great Matt Smith scene from early on in his run would be when he’s speaking to the weeping angels over the radio, as they try to make him angry by using the voice of a dead soldier, telling him he died afraid and alone. There’s a brief pause before he responds where you can see all the memories of those he couldn’t save flash, and it’s so brief but brilliant.

[@RamblingManYT]

Matt Smith's skill with his dramatic timing and vocal delivery is amazing

[@michaelhawkins7389]

@@RamblingManYT Christopher Eccleston was the best doctor , ( for the Reboot) a shame he gets forgotten about

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@michaelhawkins7389 He left after one season and impacted it little, I had not even watched Nine's stuff until like two years ago (2020). He is good especially with the Dalek, bringing out the Doctor's prejudice.

[@HawkTeevs]

This is one of the reasons why I love the Eleventh Doctor. He is able to go from this childish, whimsical man filled with a love for adventure, to someone cold and ruthless on a dime. And to quote River: he turns into someone who is able to make entire armies turn the other way and run in terror with just the mention of his name.

[@veebeelights]

What I've always noticed with 11 is, while he was, at the time, played by the youngest actor (matt smith was 25 when he started I think) he felt like he had the oldest soul. Technically was the oldest. Many people mention the childlike wonder, but I think it's more accurate to call it a gentle old man quality. like a playful, kind grandfather, who was most of the time holding back eons of pain and hurt and rage, so that when he got angry it was genuinely deeply terrifying

[@jakeclough8090]

The doctors darkest moments is easily when he lies to old Amy in the girl who waited. From the moment he shut the door till the look away at the end of the episode, that is clearly the doctors darkest few minutes and nothing else even comes close

[@tech10k14]

Matt's best line: 'Don't play games with me! Don't ever think you're capable of that...'

[@TimeyWimey-930]

11th was always one of the happiest and cheerful doctors- but on those occasions.. he was also the darkest doctor..

[@The3h4d0w]

The "Colonel Run Away" scene is even more meaningful when you view the Doctor as a military officer. He talks to the colonel like a disappointed general, shocked and betrayed at a fellow officer's poor character. As an Army NCO, I see these sorts of interactions on occasion and this is exactly how it goes.

[@TheGamingRobin-cm8hs]

I love Matt Smith's character. He's so jolly and silly, he frantically moves about with an anxious and giddy energy. Yet, those moments, when the doctor stops and stares, when he slows himself down. Those moments unnerve me as the jolly doctor isn't there, but the "oncoming storm". I've been listening to audio dramas of the 7th doctor, and the similarities are small, but when you see them. It's terrifying, because they remind you that the Doctor is NOT human.

[@thesimpsons17]

Elevens 'Colonel Runaway' speech gives me chills, the darkness behind the eyes is just phenomenal. Eleven on the face of it is one of the most fun and playful Doctors, but hides his dark side just below the surface

[@UltraSonicRainboom]

Matt Smith's doctor is criminally underrated. When you look at most top ten best Doctor's list, David Tennant or Tom Baker are always the 1st or 2nd, while Matt Smith is always in the middle or bottom of the list, when I think that he is the best Doctor ever. I love David Tennant, but honestly, Matt Smith is so much better. It's crazy to me that Matt Smith is this underrated. He's so underrated that it's a tragedy.

[@JunTekuTheEngima]

For me I can't rank them so I caterorize them into which I would travel with, which I would bet my life on, and which I would like to be

[@verobelli7592]

It is underrated? I've seen a lot of ranking with him at the top or in the second place at least... He is indeed my favorite and I feel like he's one of the public favorite. Edit: Actual question guys, is Matt's doctor underrated?

[@aidenfanucci9523]

@@JunTekuTheEngima in that case I'd probably go for either Tennant or Capaldi, none of Tennant's main companions die, and Capaldi tries really hard not to kill his.

[@JunTekuTheEngima]

@@aidenfanucci9523 but ten loses all his companions, I would rather be him than to put my life in his hands

[@ladrok97]

For me most underrated is Capaldi. Matt Smith play well, but I have some problems with his run - I stoped rewatching season 7 for weeks

[@ziyuanma1226]

After transitioning from 10, I watched the first three episodes of season 5 and immediately had this fear of 11. 10 felt like an open book, it was always easy to sync with his emotions. But 11 was more withdrawn, even when he’s stressed and angry he maintained that grin, like I knew something’s wrong, but can never tell when he would suddenly explode, and literally flinched each time he did. The 2010 Christmas special was deeply unsettling to me, he basically force changed one person’s entire life and also cut short another one’s in order to achieve his goal. I thought 10 in the mars episode was time lord arrogance at its height but gosh, 11 just broke all the rules and didn’t bat an eye. Which is brilliant of course. Makes me love and fear him.

[@PrimeMinisterRetsuko]

This is my problem with number 13… She has no Darkside! None whatsoever. she does not feel threatening or as though she has any trauma or weight on her shoulders aside from one single scene

[@HeidiSholl]

Ooh, yes this!! Although I think this is a single part of a wider issue I've noticed in some British shows recently. This bizarre lack of characters with flaws. I watched Call the Midwife from when it started, and the characters were dynamic with all sorts going on. I watched a new episode not so long ago and every main character was just good and happy. No one got irrational, everyone was nice and did the right thing. It was so boring. I don't know why this is happening, but I think someone needs to tell the BBC that's not how you write people 😂

[@selinawalsh9075]

It's frustrating, because Jodie is capable of that. But the writing keeps bottlenecking her into a less dark tone.

[@ladrok97]

Which is absurdly bad writing. Because 13th often makes bad decisions (Spiders... Kerblam... racist alien...), but somehow writers wish that you will root for her

[@9nikola]

All her sides are dark sides. She is the most ruthless doctor.

[@marxistlynchist]

I don’t really agree with this. A lot of her optimism in Series 12 and 13 is presented as a mask to reassure her companions- and especially herself in the face of an identity crisis. The mask slips a few times, like in The Haunting of Villa Diodati, and it’s quite effective. Though unfortunately this isn’t called out or questioned by the companions, especially Yaz, which makes it come across as low-stakes. Her Doctor had so much unfulfilled potential.

[@ShaggyDabbyDank]

“And Matt Smith, the uncle/ step-son?” This is just hilarious to realize because I’ve been watching house of the dragons and he is also an uncle/step-son.

[@RamblingManYT]

HOTD is actually incredible, I'm sure I'll get round to doing a video on aspects of it at some point

[@ginae.2462]

@@RamblingManYT The Doctor would just be their son-in-law, wouldn't he? Amy and Rory may treat him like a fun uncle/friend/brother at the beginning, but eventually they start treating him like their son anyway - 'i'll get a babysitter' (the angles take manhatten). Technically he is Amy's step-son because she married Henry VIII and he married Elizabeth I, but I think that's it.

[@Lunaryo]

the line "the doctor lies" is beautifully played out during matts entire run and i love it. great analysis

[@JMsolidsnake]

I love how when the doctor gets right up to the mans face in anger you can see he still holds himself back from letting his rage control him.

[@TheFiddleFaddle]

I always LOVED the Eleventh Doctor's emotional depths that he hid behind goofy dances and a cheeky smile. You could see so how much of his performance WAS a performance, for the sake of those around him. Very well observed.

[@TheFiddleFaddle]

"The man who regrets and the man who forgets." Eleven never really forgot though. He pushed everything down. There's pain behind every one of his smiles.

[@thepanpaladin1043]

One of the little things I love about this scene is when 11 goes fully into rage Vastra hisses like in fear.

[@Soliy87]

There is a moment in day of the doctor when the three incarnations are talking in jail. In it when the tenth doctor recounts the number of children he killed smith does a brilliant little headshake like its painful for him to revist it after he moved on

[@Rayjj7]

It’s funny how I started the Eleventh Doctor era with not really liking him and how I sobbed my eyes out during his finale. Even though my favorite Doctor is 12 but it’s kinda different when I look back at how I felt during Eleven’s story. I adore Nine and Ten, so much, and as I said Twelve is my all time favorite but there’s something in Eleven that made me feel sorrowful when his time came to an end. I felt like I really lost my best friend ? I don’t know how else to describe it but I remember that some times Ten terrified me as well as Nine, and sometimes I really didn’t know what Twelve would do or what should I expect from him, but Eleven truly sacred me sometimes but like the kind of emotion, of nervousness -if I can call it that- you’d feel when your best friend is so angry that they can’t think straight. There were moments I felt as I was truly feeling his sorrow, sadness, and/or anger as if they’re mine but most of the time I’d look at him as if I’m going through a trip with my childhood-best-friend. Needless to say that he’s one of my favorite, even if I love every Doctor -that I’ve watched their seasons/story- but Eleven and Matt’s Doctor will always have a special place in my heart.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

I started off hating him for the taking over from Tennant but now I find that a bit childish, still there but it literally mars by thought of that entire period. The thing about Smith is that I love when Pond was companion, except the really stupid plotlines about cracks which were horrible, and feel that the 12th Doctor suited Clara better. Emotionally the 10th Doctor's loss is the worst, I think the best example is the master's death where the Doctor literally is in a pool of tears even as his enemy is defeated. That contrast is what always gets to me. He can be stone-faced when crushing people and bawling his eyes out and in both cases you know he does not want it.

[@theoncomingstorm7903]

Something I've always felt was interesting about Eleven is just under the surface of this quirky, somewhat awkward young man is this ancient, tired, regretful being. The childishness and playfulness was a mask, a disguise, a way for forgetting who he was underneath and what he'd done. In some ways that makes him, the last Doctor in the Doctor's regeneration cycle, the perfect mirror of William Hartnell's First Doctor, who whilst he always conveyed himself as a wise old man, was more of a impish trickster. The old man visage hiding a young, playful, trickster underneath whereas Eleven plays at being young and playful, even taking on a young face, to hide the tired old man underneath.

[@stephen92]

Doctors 9-12 have all masterfully shown different sides to ptsd, different ways it manifests. I've been saying it for years. 9 is desperate to make up for what he's done, the atrocities he committed. 10 became friendly to hide the coldness within him, desperate to hold in to his friends so that he isn't left empty. 11 is a man who no longer fully controls his emotions, the rage at what he's done and at watching others make his mistake is explosive and deadly. Rewatch The Idiot Box from Tennent's time, he acts a lot like the father. 12 is just a tired old man losing touch with everyone and everything around him. He's tired of losing his friends, his home, his wife, the people he swore to protect. That's why he doesn't want to regenerate again, he just wants to stop losing everyone. Jodi is the first doctor to really be at peace with who she is and what she's done since the Time War.

[@jackburgess5712]

Something I kinda like the idea of is Smith's goofiness is to cover up/compensate for the increased darkness, favourite examples being the discussions about the time war in the 50th anniversary and the good men don't need rules line

[@Hanneth]

What I loved most about the 11th and 12th Doctor was how much they felt like The Doctor from the original run of the show. I mean Capaldi loved the show growing up and wanted to do it justice. My Doctor was Jon Pertwee. After I'd finish doing my homework in my post secondary education, I would turn on the TV late at night to wind down. They were usually playing old Doctor Who at the time. I got interested in the few William Hartnell episodes I saw. Tuned out for a while during the Patrick Troughton episodes. I found his portrayal of The Doctor as too silly in the few episodes I watched. I'm afraid Tom Baker never grew on me, also his episodes started showing just as I was graduating. I hated Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor. He never felt like The Doctor to me. Later finding out that he would only take the role if he could ignore everything that came before. Tenant was fine, but Matt Smith brought back aspects of the original Doctors, while putting his own spin on things. Jodie Whittaker suffered from poor writing and seeming to have no respect for what came before, just like Eccleston. I'm still trying to figure out how she survived that fall in the first episode. The amount of hand waving they did in the first episode alone made me not fond on the show. Anyways, I thought that Matt Smith did a fantastic job, even if he didn't get the best scripts at times. No seriously! I've been trying to go back and watch it. There are some really good shows, and there are some absolute stinker scripts, but Matt Smith deserves a lot of credit, because even the stinkers he made watchable.

[@RustyDalek72]

Matt will always be my faverouite Doctor. He just blew me away from the very first line in the Eleventh Hour. He apparetly only really watched Patrick Troughton for inspiration to his character. And it shows. Matt's Doctor has more in common with the cosmic hobo of Troughton than any other inncarnation.

[@DonHbankz]

Haven’t watched but I have always said this. The 11th is by far for me the scariest doctor and the incarnation I would want to piss off the least. The characterisation is so perfect for where the character is in his life and the events of his previous live(s). He is a walking contradiction. He is the oldest of the OG 12 regen set yet looks the youngest, he is arguably the most callous but has the aura of a baby. It’s so well done. I’m going to watch then add points that I had if they are not said in the video in reply to this

[@DonHbankz]

Perfect vid. I didn’t even think about the family dynamics he had with Amy and Rory. I wanted to add some of my points about how his look(him being the youngest doctor) is subconsciously linked to what his thoughts were while regeneration and how he acts is also linked to that and the pain and loneliness he felt at the end of 10 and some other things but I can’t articulate it right now 😭 I might add it later but I agree Smith portrayal and Moffat writing made this incarnation so unique, different and layered that is only truly seen and appreciated with his full story in mind and I love how it also links to Capaldi and Tennants they all feel like a natural progression

[@RamblingManYT]

Yessss that progression from Tennant through Smith to Capaldi is a beautiful exploration of how his character grew and changed through regenerations

[@highvoltage7797]

7 would like a word 😂

[@MultiTimelady]

Matt seems to channel Sylvester McCoy. Sylvester's doctor was the darkest of the classic who. He operated with psychology.

[@highvoltage7797]

@@MultiTimelady 7 was the closest to being legitimately evil or at the least an anti hero. And was certainly machiavellian.

[@fkez0510]

That's what I love about 11. He's predominantly fun and a bit silly here and there, but there's an underlying darkness and pain behind it all along with the manipulative quick witted genius covering everything which Matt Smith does really well. He can also convey the age of the character so well too despite being the youngest actor to play the Doctor

[@mattcalloway6254]

I think 11 was the best. 10 felt too human and 9 didn’t have long enough. 11 took the humour of 10 and darkness of 9 and merged the two. He was funny, acted like a child in a sweet shop and felt alien. But when he got angry, you saw how dangerous and serious he could be. That’s why he was so interesting to me.

[@RamblingManYT]

Yeah I think I agree that 10 felt just a little too human 11 and 12 felt very alien sometimes

[@user-gn5gb9pn1n]

completely agree

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@RamblingManYT 10 felt the most like a someone who has lost so much and is just trying to get away from it while wanting to help others as much as he can. I think his brutality comes from that and in that moment he is just so sad.

[@claytondavis6835]

Matt smith always felt to me like the definitive doctor. showing the goofy playful aspects of him along with the brilliant and big hearted stuff but always having a bit of the arrogance and rage there as well. He really comes across as this Ancient force of nature. whimsical yet utterly terrifying when roused to anger

[@jitteryslob1229]

I feel like so many people overlook this with Matt Smiths doctor! I felt his age and his depth in the acting even with him being the youngest Doc to play. I wish more people understood his depth instead! It took him being on HOTD for a friend of mine to understand what a good actor he is in these roles.

[@kingboarhog]

This episode aired at a really bad time in my life... I'm still around largely because of it.

[@StmaclGaming]

People who think that Matt Smith was nothing but childish and silly tend to forget. The brightest flames produce the darkest shadows. Sure Tennant had some dark moments, but I always felt that (especially in Family of Blood) it was used as a "Look at me I'm being dark and edgy" situation rather then actually being dark. Matt Smith was able to switch to the dark side of his personality so naturally it gave me chills every time he did it.

[@CutleNoodle]

The entire reason I love Matt Smith's Doctor the most is because of the contrast between his goofy, fun side and his dark side. To me, it always felt like all the other Modern Doctors always had some sense of darkness or weariness behind them, even when they're being silly. However, with Smith's Doctor, his silliness always feels like there's nothing else there except for his love of fun. Because of this, when he has moments like "The Rings of Akhaten Speech" or the "Colonel Runaway Speech," you can't help but notice it due to the stark contrast in personality, which just makes him much more endearing than any other for me.

[@Maeve_Rose]

the reaction of Vastra in the background is also critical. Of all of the characters in the Matt Smith era, and even the one episode of Capaldi's era, Vastra was the closest thing to an equal to The Doctor, she was the only one who The Doctor never put down, even in Capaldi's first episode, he insulted Strax, Jenny, and Clara, but Vastra remained as the one character he never put down. She has been this angry before, she mentioned it earlier in the episode, she knows it took The Doctor to keep her from that course, and on her face you can see fear, and she's afraid she might have to step between those two, and the knowledge she is not going to be able to stop him if he goes too far. that small hiss, both a warning and pleading for The Doctor to back down.

[@Mephiestopholes]

Great essay, mate. His chaotic portrayal reminded me of 4, but with a more deliberately sinister twist. 4 was cold and practacke like 12 was, after. 11 could be mean. There were times I gasped at how Un human he could be. Beautiful portrail.

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

I knew here were good reasons why I loved Eleventh so damn much, why he stood out to me compared to the other Doctors. And this video helped to explain those reasons in words. I like heroes with a dark side, heroes who have to struggle with their inner monster. This Dark side in Eleventh also helped to show just how old he is, because you can see glimpses of all that he's been through when his darkness seeps out. It's brilliant.

[@EngineerAAJ]

My god, Matt Smith is a genius actor

[@andrewmoore7416]

Matt...best Doctor ever...i'm 57, been watching the doctor all my life...i know what I'm talking about...

[@granadosvm]

To me, the next sequence in this episode is even darker. When Madam K. tells him "the anger of a good man is no concern, you have rules", and the Doctor's responds with the premise "Good men don't need rules", and then in a menacing voice "Today is not a good day to find why I HAVE SO MANY".

[@phshgaming5281]

one of my favorite things is that "a good man goes to war" refers to rory, the impossible old man from a ancient group of warriors whos been protecting mankind from the shadows for a thousand years

[@TheVortexmaster100]

I like to think 11 is also using the anger and frustration across his lives. This was the Doctor final life (at the time) so it’s seems he decided he wasn’t going to be as merciful as past versions, very much ending threats permanently attitude.

[@Chuck_Shurley]

No way, someone actually did notice that?! I've never seen anyone talking about it before. Nice. Good job. Another scene that makes a good portrayal of what this incarnation of the Doctor really is is in the first episode of the same ol' season 6. Starting with the 11 appearance in the cafe after the "death" of his older version, and continuing with the talk in the TARDIS before heading to 1969. It shows another aspect of the 11th dark side. To be exact - his secretiveness and mistrustfulness. Side note - I sincerely believe this is the only Doctor (of newschool) who could've gofyourself the Master (especially the Simm's one, as he's so heckheaded he works as a catalyst here). Tenth was all too soft with him, the 12th was noticably harsher and allowed himself a few witticisms. The first thing 11th did while meeting the oldschool master in one of the (I believe, canonical) comics, he said he 'hasn't seen his ugly mug in a pleasantly long time'. Love it. (Just google '11 doctor and the master' to see the panel)

[@malach6i]

Matt Smith had the impossible job of taking over from the most popular Doctor, and he delivered. 11 Is my favourite Incarnation, with David's coming in 2nd.

[@rainestar82]

the Colonel Runaway scene and the scene at the end of Doctors Wife, when he runs out the clock on House, monologues a bit joyfully but theres that vengeful undercurrent, and then turning away to face the console "finish him off, old girl". I've always got the sense he said that 1. for the sense of justice, letting the TARDIS destroy the thing that almost destroyed her but 2. because he'd want to do more. He'd want to find a way to make it LAST. It's a TINY moment but the quiet rage I can see him concealing after he nearly loses his FAMILY because he believed a false distress call...he goes through the ringer and Matt kills every second (Suzanne too!!). AGMGTW and Doctors Wife are two of the best episodes of Who to ever exist, in my opinion.

[@NickTheImpressionist]

Fish Fingers and custard became the staple meal for when mum and dad didn't care enough to cook a lot but also didn't want fast food. I think they always had something else but my brother and I loved it.

[@rennythespaceguy7285]

It's so funny how this intentionally gross sounding meal became part of so many people's childhood because of this dumb show, love it so much

[@9nikola]

@@rennythespaceguy7285 Custard goes with anything, and fish fingers are delicious, so while it may look gross and sound weird, it's no wonder that the result is a new traditional meal.

[@MandelaDefect]

Good Man Goes to War was the first Doctor Who episode I saw. Was instantly hooked. Made me want to go back and see how these relationships were formed. Would recommend this for any first timer

[@Infinity-j9l]

Can I just say I’m so happy to find this channel. God I love doctor who. It’s going to always hold a special place in my heart. Ps: a video over the weeping angels. Specifically the episode where the quote “there is one thing you never, ever put in a trap.. me.” Just that entire episode is filled with so much gold for his character. Cause we see a bit of that anger again when the angels are trying to mess with him with the dead guys voice.

[@beesbrownies]

AHHHH, you said it! I've tried a lot to explain why I love 11's dark side, or 12 being honestly an ahole sometimes, but you get it! The summary of them being regrets and anger is MWAH! yes, yes, yes. every point of analysis is spot on.

[@tbeller80]

It's Vastra who sells the scene I think. The lizard-cannibal-ninja panics when he simply raises his voice.

[@MinorAccidnt]

Awesome video essay! You said so much in such a short video and I loved what you had to say about it. You deserve more subscribers haha

[@RamblingManYT]

Thank you!

[@andrewhall6479]

Do you think you would be able to do a piece on the other three Modern Doctors? I’d be interested to hear your two cents on Eccelston, Tennant, and Whittaker.

[@RamblingManYT]

I'm planning on doing all of them yes!! And honestly, I have more to say about both Capaldi AND Smith so watch this space 👀

[@Juniper_Rose]

A Good Man Goes To War legitimately twists the idea on it's head. You assume it's The Doctor; he's the Good Man going to War! But it's not. And that sudden twist of the Doctor pointing out he's not a good man is kind of a great moment because it's a reminder he has seen things that most humans could only dream up in nightmares, and it has changed him.

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

11's anger is thriller+drama 10's anger is Unhinged but IMO 9's anger was the scariest Either WILD rage that lead him to torturing a dalek or the UTTER COLDNESS! when he lets that stretched skin die

[@MagicCardboardBox]

The man who regrets, and the man who forgets

[@sham2mar]

Happy to see someone talking about one of my fav moments

[@nivaneh1010]

Crazy, I was at work just doing going about my business and the colonel runaway scene came to mind out of nowhere, it's truly very effective because it remains relevant to me today. Then shortly after this video pops up. Guess I'm not the only one.

[@tbgold07]

The most potent part of this scene was always the belief you could tell the others feel. They start with blowing off his anger. Then the turn, the “good men don’t need rules” but when she believes him and has the run away order given.

[@elapidpython4378]

I think one of the reasons smith did so well with the dark parts of the doctor is that its such a large contrast with the way he normally played the character with his almost childlike wonder and charm that when that switch was fliped he didnt even really have to say a word and the entire audience knew shit was going down

[@DanParr-z2s]

11 was such a massive change of pace, and sadly I must admit it was only after his run I truly started to appreciate how good he was as an actor and as a character - the Cornel run away scene is one of the best new who scenes and proved smith as a true doctor

[@abcrazy9]

Found your 12th doctor video few days ago, now the 11th. Once again I would like to hear from you as to my favorite Smith Doctor moment. The Rings of Akhaten monologue: "I walked away from the last Great Time War. I marked the passing of the Time Lords. I saw the birth of the universe and I watched as time ran out, moment by moment, until nothing remained. No time. No space. Just me." and that ending with him yelling out "Take it all!" Up until that point I was feeling what you explained in your video that made Smith's doctor unique the "family" of the Doctor. But to me, and this is just my own feeling, the Doctor began to feel too childish. This made the clever parts of the Doctor, arguably the most important trait, less earned and more coincidental. This scene felt like he was leaving the childish anger behind and it became adult again, pain on a scale so large that it wasn't just personal it was everything, the everything of all everything. Smith took the very personable Tenant's doctor and went through a literal rebirth starting with being a child, befriending a child, becoming an adopted son to Amy and Rory, even marrying their daughter. He grew up and at that point the angsty anger became real, all of the previous life/lives of the doctor came rushing back. This is fitting since The Day of the Doctor was coming. Sorry for the length of the comment, you are making great videos, I look forward to more.

[@goatheadone5412]

Well he definitely fit the bill as the Val yard. Knowing he was the last, knowing the cruelty going on that he was not able to stop, but part of himself looking for more lives to give himself time to even things out.

[@asmamohammed5659]

i also love the scene of the angels take manhattan. i’d like to note the scene when 11 finds out that rory is going to die . im not 100 sure if it’s amy or rory. This is where i see an anger and hurt and overwhelming anger that he lashes out to River. His switch from flirty to anger is amazing and a glimpse of the darker side

[@razmir_]

"Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many." Oh my god dude, that quote

[@xander9866]

10th doctor was my fav and I was skeptical when 11th was first introduced but man he became my fav so fast when we got to see his darker side.

[@skullkid2129]

He just had to say colonel run away and I got chills that scene is amazing

[@findlayrussell1706]

I would just like to say that despite your channels recent creation i thought this video was very well made, looked and sounded great, and the dialogue was very engaging. well done

[@ankoku37]

This run upset me so much because over and over again Matt Smith proved himself to be an amazing actor that gave us amazing characterization of the Doctor, but as the seasons wore on I felt the overall writing kept declining slowly and steadily until by the end I just... didn't much care anymore.

[@sophiachalloner8951]

Its a miracle the doctor has such a strict moral code, otherwise we'd all be doomed.

[@fastertrackcreative]

Nice use of lighting around 6:58 to emphasise his menace.

[@1l2u55]

Awesome video essay. Thank you

[@RamblingManYT]

Thank you 😁

[@matthewdunn1263]

The "good men don't need rules" line I have incorporated in to some D&D characters before.

[@chrislaws4785]

I REALLY enjoyed the 11th doctor's rings of Akhaten speech, it really showed his pain, anger and sadness. I think it is probably Matt Smith's BEST speech in Doctor Who.

[@LibertyBridgeProductions]

Fish custard has made me sick but having a look I think I’m ready to try it.

[@marketingIdeaslol]

Agree. The doctor has a thing with names. He understands their meaning. That’s why he chose Doctor. The man who makes everyone better. Here tho he wants to punish this man forever. He wants the Colonel Manton to suffer , the way a military man would actually feel pain. His reputation. The Doctor attacked his legacy his reputation. He destroyed him forever. Poor colonel run away

[@yaboi9183]

I think 11s anger is so interesting because you see 9 and 10 and even when they’re happy you can kinda see and understand how they could be a threat if something doesn’t go there way but with 11 he doesn’t seem like an angry guy to me at least and then suddenly out of nowhere he’s acting angry and intimidating it’s scary because you wouldn’t expect him to be acting like that

[@NottherealLucifer]

The Tenth Doctor is the favorite of many, but he showed time and time again that he didn't want to destroy his enemies, and only did so rarely, he was a man who never would. Eleven, however, is my favorite because he was willing to completely annihilate beings he saw as threats. He was upbeat and positive even though he was constantly reminded of the horrors of his past. He was tired of losing people. Because every time you see them happy you remember how sad they're going to be, and it breaks your heart. Because what's the point in them being happy now if they're going to be sad later. The answer is, of course, because they are going to be sad later.

[@atharvadeshpande6907]

Eleven had probably the fewest outbursts of darkness and anger. But when they came, they were absolutely the scariest: 1. The Beast Below: His outburst at Amy, his sorrow over the fate of the Whale and his momentary death of faith in Humanity is excellently acted by Matt. 2. The Time of Angels: He sentenced an entire planet worth of Living Beings to erasure from existence. 3. Day of the Moon: He manipulated the entire human race to kill the entire race of the Silence, for all time. Very scary and non-chalant. There's no sorrow or angst that Ten and Twelve usually feel. 4. The Doctor's Wife: His almost boastful delivery of "Fear Me, I've killed all of them!" As he kills The House is downright chilling. 5. A Good Man Goes To War: He brought up a whole army, killed 3 ppl, and the Colonel Runaway Scene in barely 5 minutes. This is a powerful man.

[@TheShrouded]

Ya, he does that really well. Being playful yet seriously dangerous. I see that in In Bruges deleted scene. Even Daemon Tagaryen. Although there it's more of smirking than playful, and sarcastic laughs.

[@callumrobertson1081]

I've always felt that matt smith in these moments could have given maybe 10% more. It reminds me of David tenant's last line, 'I don't want to go', there was something like 15 different takes of that going more and more emotional. The perfect take was used. I've always always wondered whether Matt Smith had done this sort of thing and the toned down takes were used in the edit to keep things in line with his more childlike vibe.

[@chichopo_ow2758]

One of the only times I felt 12 was scarier than 11 was when Clara was about to die, and Me then says "I know the Doctor, the Doctor would nev" "THE DOCTOR IS NO LONGER HERE, YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME" That's probably worse than the angry Doctor, because that one is still the Doctor.

[@michaelkean5969]

that's what i love so much about the doctor as a character. he's not really a hero or a Villain or an Anti-hero. he's a person just trying to be good and do the right thing which 9,10,11 and 12 captured perfectly. Whittaker captured the quirky lighthearted side perfectly but that is ALL there was for her doctor and she just couldn't capture the darker more tragic and terrifying aspect of the character and it made it feel like she was only playing half a character. it's like chibnall was trying so damn hard to erase the doctor's evil nature when that just isn't who the doctor is he isn't a goody two shoes and never was. to quote 12 himself. "i am not a good man but i'm not a bad man I.......AM........AN IDIOT!!! with a box and a screwdriver coming along helping out and learning." THAT summed up who the doctor was perfectly as a character. i'm so god damn torn on which matt smith portrayal is better Eleven or Damon Targaryen it's so damn hard.

[@Legxnd]

My favorite doctor, always.

[@rebar6797]

I found 11 goof in the first episode, but Matt Smith sold it, 9 and 10, both had the rage down, and 11 came, and showed the "Fury of the Timelords" but the man who protects everything. Rings Of Akatem has one of my favourite scenes where the doctor is willing to show his losses but the anger he buries at everything he had lost. 11 sells the sad lone man, who has overcome what he has seen in the war. 10 has glimmers of it, but is clearly running away, on to the next adventure, never stopping.

[@Mrvoid180]

Matt Smith reminds me of a trickster god and I love him for he's way of the doctor and I find him funnier than David

[@BDTMack]

Great analysis video! Subbed!

[@christophallen8859]

That scene is one of my favorite moments. Smith was my Doctor through and through.

[@Menagerie_OS]

The valeyard being the darkest parts of the 11th and 12th regeneration being combined into one had a perfect payoff, though i hope he makes an appearance in later seasons because he is not only a very intriguing character but also a HEAVILY wasted character. It again should be pointed out that the doctor in one reality ruled over all of time and space just because he wanted to.

[@Hannah4765]

My favourite 11th Doctor moment will forever be his monologue in The Rings of Akhaten (Season 7, Episode 7). Although I enjoyed Matt Smith greatly as the Doctor on my first watch through, I at the time did not see him as grand as Eccleston or Tennant. Then he did that monologue and it felt like I'd be slapped. Holy Shit! SMITH IS AMAZING. Future rewatches made me fall in love with him since I was no longer "mourning" 9 and 10 - I got to watch 11 stand beside them as an incredible Doctor. (Honourable mention for the conversations between 11 and "Mr Clever" in Nightmares of Silver (Season 7 Episode 12) Matt Smith has such incredible range that it seems like two completely different people having a conversation, which I've only ever seen duplicated in Moon Knight with Oscar Issac.

[@Partyruller]

Doctor who used to be such a good show. From interesting sci-fi/time travel ideas to great scripts with perfect acting. Matt here is brilliant. You don't want to mess with an angry time lord.

[@cakeassassin6277]

As soon as he talked about family all i could think was stormagedon. That was a good family episode

[@orangepizzaparty688]

is this an underrated channel I see??

[@shufflingkaosperson5522]

Yaknow? I think it is! We need to fix that

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

From 9 on i always saw the doctor as an individual trying to repress the trauma of his past and failing. Each new iterations was a new crack in that defense. A bit more of the trauma breaking through. Before the Ponds each companions character only existed in their relationship to the Doctor. In and of themselves they were not much of a presance alone. Though i think they tried to make Donna a independent character to a degree. The Ponds were my favorite companion because the existed as independent characters even without the doctor, but the Doctor existed in relation to them. Like for a time the planet all moons orbited found a sun to orbit.

[@selatidos]

a Town called mercy with eleven with a gun

[@victorfries8859]

#YES!

[@julieeverett7442]

one of my favourites!

[@septicmomma9361]

I feel like this scene only works out of context. The broader the discussion of morality the scene offers is interesting but it never made sense to me why the Doctor would specifically act out like that, considering Jex isn’t much worse than any other villain the Doctor has gone up against

[@Dekarowski25]

Probably what it felt to see his scarry side on the time war.