Once we had recovered from the shocking “Asylum of the Daleks” reveal (namely, Clara’s appearance), we settled in for a roaringly great episode. What made this for us was the connection between Clara and the Doctor, especially given that they were never in the same room. We can’t say enough good things about the Chin and Soufflé Girl. After this episode, we were desperate for more.
The 50th anniversary of Doctor Who was a special thing, and they gave us a special episode. The plot may not have been watertight (and Rose was drastically under-utilised), but just seeing these three Doctors on screen together was joy enough. Also, Matt Smith may have better chemistry with David Tenant than with any other actor on this show.
Much like “The God Complex,” “The Girl Who Waited” gave viewers the opportunity to understand more about the Doctor through the experiences of his companion. In “The Girl Who Waited,” the effects of time with the Doctor became quickly apparent to the trio of Amy, Rory and the Doctor. Stories like this can quickly become silly, but this one was simply heartbreaking.
“The Time of Angels” and “Flesh and Stone” was a two-parter that showed us exactly how a two part story arc should work. The Weeping Angels returned with a killer new twist, and seeing the Eleventh Doctor interact with them gave us a whole new perspective on these creepy killers. The fast pace, twists and turns, and the return of River Song made this an unforgettable story.
Amy and Rory’s farewell episode will always be bittersweet. Even though we knew they were departing, the framing of the episode allowed us (and the Doctor) to believe that they really were going to get through it. While the couple’s scene on the rooftop can always stir a tear, it is Amy’s goodbye to the Doctor, and his reaction, that really and truly destroys us.
“The Lodger” is another controversial choice. While some viewers may have found the pacing somewhat slow in comparison to the more fantastical adventures we were given in season 5, we adored seeing the Eleventh Doctor adjusting to a domestic setting (or not adjusting, as it was). James Corden was brilliant as the sort-of companion, and the combination of Corden and Smith made this one of the most wonderful episodes of Smith’s tenure.
This finale is undoubtedly our favourite two-parter from the Matt Smith era. Somehow, it managed to tie up every loose end and question we had from the season, as well as giving us some of the best lines Matt Smith has ever had. Our favourite, of course: “We’re all stories in the end,” a line that basically exposed the central philosophy of Doctor Who.
It would not be an overreaction to say that “The Doctor’s Wife” blew our minds. Every Doctor Who fan loves the relationship between the Doctor and his TARDIS, but to see the human manifestation of that “sexy” machine? It was almost too much. Except it wasn’t. It was perfect. Smith was absolutely delightful in this mystical episode from the mind of Neil Gaiman.
“Vincent and the Doctor” remains one of the most masterful episodes of Doctor Who we have ever seen. The unflinching depiction of Vincent van Gogh made him the best historical figure that has been on the show to date, and the emotional range shown from all actors in this story made it unforgettable. It was funny, complex, and utterly mad – it really was close to perfect.
It will always come back to “The Eleventh Hour” for us. Matt Smith’s introductory episode was everything we love about Doctor Who – funny, emotional, and a well contained episodic story. Smith was facing a mountain of fan expectation after David Tennant’s departure, but after this episode, we knew our favourite time-and-space-traveller was in the safest of hands.
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