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Hello Whovians! I know everyone has their own take on what are the best Doctor Who episodes. Here are my top 5 Matt Smith episodes in no particular order.
1. “The Eleventh Hour”
When Tennant left, I felt particularly sad. He was “my” Doctor after all. But Matt Smith did not fail to make me smile and his regeneration was a nice change from the Doctor I knew and loved.
In “The Eleventh Hour” Smith’s dorky, old soul Doctor débuted (and so did Moffat’s grand Amy and Rory storyline that spanned 3 seasons). For the first time, it felt like Doctor Who was more about his companion, in this case a sassy young Amy. Amy first appears as a young girl who is the first to encounter the new incarnation of the Doctor. After some fish sticks and custard, the Doctor tells her to pack her bags because he’ll be back to whisk her away in the TARDIS. When the Doctor finally returns, Earth is under an alien attack and the young girl he left behind is all grown up. Amy’s life has revolved around the disappointing moment the raggedy man left her waiting.
What I like the most about this episode is the chemistry between Amy and the Doctor. Their bond is set from the beginning of her childhood and evolves throughout 3 seasons. Not only is the angle of DW cleverly changed, but it is also enhanced. The story of Amy (plus Rory) and the Doctor is one of true friendship. The Doctor is present through the various stages of Amy’s life like a real friend, and “The Eleventh Hour” is our own little glimpse into what will be just the start of their adventure.
2. “Vincent and The Doctor”
What is not to love about this episode. Vincent Van Gogh and the Doctor! The title says it all. In this episode, the Doctor and Amy visit a museum and see something strange in Van Gogh’s painting. They travel back in time to see what it was he drew.
They find that monsters are chasing the eccentric painter. Catch is: only Van Gogh can see the creatures. When the Doctor explores what is happening, it becomes clear Van Gogh isn’t crazy at all. This episode is entertaining and interesting. I was enthralled by the storyline and all the art references. For any art lover, this episode is an interesting take on what “really” happened to the painter. Maybe he wasn’t crazy after all.
3. “Pandorica Opens & The Big Bang”
I love Riversong! For that reason alone, this episode rocks. But what gets this two-parter on my top 5 is how much more we learn about Doctor. Although the Doctor is powerful as the only living Timelord, he is also susceptible to downfall. The Doctor seems larger than life after all he is a sexy alien that saves the galaxy from evils and injustices time and time again but there’s always one person that knows his vulnerabilities: his companion.
In this episode, Riversong summons the Doctor to the Pandorica where the most frightening creature of all is imprisoned. Following that lead from Riversong, the Doctor investigates Pandorica, only to find he’s been trapped by all of his enemies.
Like I mentioned before, Moffat focuses on the companion rather than the Doctor. In these episodes, we see how important his companion really is… His companion is the only person the Doctor completely trusts and it is through her eyes that we experience the story. But what happens if that bond is exploited? That question had perhaps never been asked to this extent. These two episodes are very fantastical in an outrageously fun and emotional way—very Whovian episodes. Plus, Roman Rory! Who wouldn’t want a dude to wait for you for thousands of years?
4. “Let’s Kill Hitler”
Well let’s see. You’ve got a time machine; I’ve got a gun. What the hell! Let’s kill Hitler.
And with that epic quote this episode won my heart. In this episode we meet Mel, Amy’s childhood best friend who always gets herself into trouble. She hijacks the TARDIS, so she can kill Hitler. But in true Who style, they all just ends up saving him (hello paradox!). After they save Hitler, they discover another plot to murder Hitler is already in place by a secret agency that can make human replicas and live inside them like a huge Google office inside a robot. When Hitler shoots Mel (as all this madness is occurring), she regenerates into…Hello Sweetie… Riversong! However, even though this looks like the Melody we know and love, she has a very different MO than just flirting with the Doctor. Riversong attempts to kill the Doctor by poisoning him with a kiss…. How femme fatale of her.
So the plot thickens. What role does Riversong play in the Doctor’s life? Why is she trying to kill him? And because we know they have a great bond in the future, what happens that changes her mind about killing him? This episode answers a lot of those questions and more. The special bond between Riversong and the Doctor develops into something that’s very distinct from that of the Doctor and his companions. This episode gives us a glimpse as to how Riversong’s love of the Doctor begins and why it becomes so pivotal to both of their lives.
5. “Asylum of the Daleks”
In this episode, Rory, Amy, and the Doctor are beamed onto a huge Dalek ship (they could have done this from the beginning to get rid of the Timelord #justsaying). As if this whole idea wasn’t terrifying enough, the Daleks summoned the Doctor so he can help destroy the asylum of the Daleks located in a world just below the Dalek ship. The Daleks say those other Daleks are incredibly dangerous and insane Dalek on Dalek crime is no joke. After the Daleks provide the Doctor with companions (Amy and Rory), they are forced to help the Daleks or else extermination yadda yadda. So the power of three is hurled onto the scary planet. Geronimo!!!
Best things about this episode: Rory and Amy are having marital issues and we don’t know why but we know the Doctor will fix it. The Doctor doesn’t understand what makes these Daleks “insane” and this idea of insane Daleks seems kind of redundant to everyone else too. We meet Clara who helps the 3 navigate through the asylum. We then find out that she’s…. BIG spoiler HERE…. a human who was converted into a Dalek. ßThis is a huge deal because she returns not once but twice—during two different time periods. The Doctor is completely perplexed as to who she is and how she could be in so many different places in time. We meet all the kooky Daleks that are nuts because of the Doctor. Plus, Eggs…Eggs…EggsTERMINATE….EXTERMINATE.
Honorable Mentions:
(Of course) “Angels Take Manhattan”
“The Wedding of Riversong”
“Amy’s Choice”
“A Town Called Mercy”
“A Good Man Goes to War”
“The Impossible Astronaut & Day of the Moon“
What’s your favorite?
Bonus! Check out my favorite Tennant episodes: https://cubangalgonegeek.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/always-bring-a-banana-to-the-party-best-david-tennant-doctor-who-episodes/
Cuban Gal Gone Geek 