Doctor Who: Top 10 of the Matt Smith Era

Doctor Who: Top 10 of the Matt Smith Era

Matt Smith's time as the Eleventh incarnation of The Doctor is coming to a close in this year's Christmas Special of Doctor Who. With only two episodes left featuring Eleven, it's time to continue our monthly article celebrating 50 years of Doctor Who by looking back at the biggest and best stories from across his three full series.

10 - The Angels Take Manhattan

Series 7, Episode 5

Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song

Writer: Steven Moffat

The plot: Having decided to finally give up their normal lives and travel with The Doctor as long as they can, Amy and Rory join the Time Lord for lunch in New York's Central Park. The Weeping Angels soon find their opportunity to strike, however, and send Rory back in time where he is reunited with River Song. Amy and The Doctor attempt to rescue him, but it becomes clear that the future is inevitable and that his best friends are about to leave him forever.

Why it's awesome: After two and a half series as The Doctor's companions, Amy and Rory (and by extension, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill) finally depart his side in a brilliantly tear-jerking fashion. There are also some nailbiting scenes atop a New York skyscraper as Rory contemplates suicide, a topic rarely explored in Doctor Who. Oh, and you might want to keep an eye on the Statue of Liberty the next time you're in the big apple.

Best line: "Raggedy man - goodbye."

9 - A Good Man Goes To War

Series 6, Episode 7

Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Writer: Steven Moffat

The plot: With his best friend kidnapped and giving birth to a baby girl named Melody Pond, The Doctor assembles an army to take her back. On an asteroid called Demon's Run, the battle commences and The Doctor saves Amy and her baby without a drop of blood spilt. Or so it seems...

Why it's awesome: After her first appearance alongside the Tenth Doctor in Series 4, the identity of River Song had been shrouded in secrecy - until now. A Good Man Goes To War finally revealed the truth behind her character, along with some brilliant battle scenes and a huge twist that left many fans with their jaws on the floor. How could it have been better? Writer Steven Moffat wanted John Barrowman's Captain Jack to join The Doctor's army but unfortunately he was busy filming Torchwood's fourth series. Gutted. 

Best line: "If that man is collecting on his debts and raising an army against you - then God help you."

8 - The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang

Series 5, Episodes 12/13

The companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Writer: Steven Moffat

The plot: River Song sends a mysterious message to The Doctor, bringing him to Roman Britain in 102 AD. Underneath Stonehenge lies a fabled prison known as "The Pandorica", a box rumoured to contain the most feared being in all the universe. However, The Doctor has walked unwittingly into a trap set by "The Alliance", a group of his oldest enemies including Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans. When it finally opens, The Pandorica is empty...because it is designed to contain him. 

Why it's awesome: This really turns the tables on The Doctor's reputation as a super-heroic being, instead implying that most cultures in the universe are actually terrified of him and his ability to thwart those plans he doesn't agree with. The two-parter makes up the end of Smith's first season as The Doctor and, by the end, it feels like he's been doing it for years, especially with an amazing speech to his foes.

Best line: "If you've got any plans on stopping me tonight, just remember who's standing in your way. Then do the smart thing - let somebody else try first..."

7 - Hide

Series 7, Episode 9

The Companion: Clara Oswald

Writer: Neil Cross

The plot: It's 1974; Professor Alec Palmer and his psychic assistant Emma Grayling capture evidence of a ghost haunting an old English mansion. They're soon joined by The Doctor and Clara, who immediately feel as though they are being watched in the house. Is Caliburn mansion truly haunted by a supernatural entity, or will The Doctor find a more logical explanation?

Why it's awesome: Doctor Who has tackled spooky stories before, mostly in the old classic series. With Hide however, New-Who finally dips its toe into the horror genre and it's a brilliant success. There are some truly spooky scenes as the "ghost" creeps on the characters, and actor Dougray Scott is a very welcome guest star in what is one of Series 7's truly excellent stories.

Best line: "Watch out for him, Clara. He is a good man but there is a sliver of ice in his heart."

6 - The Doctor's Wife

Series 6, Episode 4

The Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Writer: Neil Gaiman

The plot: The Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves on a mysterious, desolate planet where Time Lords have been led to be imprisoned and die. When the life of the TARDIS is pushed out by an intrusive force calling itself The House, the TARDIS places its soul inside a dying woman. For the first time ever, The Doctor and his ship communicate face-to-face in order to escape the dangerous planet.

Why it's awesome: Written by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman, The Doctor's Wife is a superb piece of science fiction that focuses on the relationship between The Doctor and his iconic ship. Companions come and go but the TARDIS will always be his, and The Doctor finally shows how ruthless he can be when his way of life is threatened.

Best line: "Fear me, Doctor. I've killed hundreds of Time Lords." "Fear me. I've killed all of them."

5 - The Name of The Doctor

Series 7, Episode 13

The Companion: Clara Oswald

Writer: Steven Moffat

The plot: Clara discovers that three of The Doctor's friends have been taken hostage by The Great Intelligence and taken to Trenzalore, a planet fabled to contain The Doctor's grave. Aware that his greatest secret is about to be discovered, The Doctor is terrified and yet makes his way to the horrific planet to save Jenny, Strax and Madame Vastra. Once there, the truths behind both Clara Oswald and The Doctor's past are revealed - Clara has been scattered along The Doctor's timeline, saving him in the shadows all his life. The Doctor, on the other hand, has hidden a previous incarnation...but who is he?

Why it's awesome: John Hurt! As The Doctor! John Hurt as The Doctor! Couple that with an amazing intro featuring all of the previous incarnations of The Doctor and the heartbreaking departure of River Song and this episode should get you marking the 50th Anniversary Special in your calendar immediately.

Best line: "I said he was me. I never said he was The Doctor. The name you choose, it's like a promise you make. He broke the promise."

4 - Asylum Of The Daleks

Series 7, Episode 1

The Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams, Oswin Oswald

Writer: Steven Moffat

The plot: The Doctor, along with a soon-to-be-divorced Amy and Rory, are captured by the Daleks and forced to enter the Asylum where broken and insane Daleks are left to die. According to the Daleks, the Asylum has to be blown up in order to stop them escaping - and of course they plan to do so with The Doctor inside. Luckily, the trio are helped by Oswin Oswald, a woman whose ship crashed on the planet a year ago and has somehow been surviving ever since...

Why it's awesome: This episode sees every single version of the Daleks on screen at the same time, and it truly is the definition of a great Doctor Who story. The reveal of Jenna-Louise Coleman's mysterious character was also successfully kept secret from the public, and both her performance and a hugely positive public reaction made Asylum of the Daleks one of the most enjoyable season openers ever.

Best line: "Titles are not meaningful in this context. Doctor who?"

3 - Amy's Choice

Series 5, Episode 7

The Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Writer: Simon Nye

The plot: The Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves in a trap set in motion by the "Dream Lord", a mysterious foe who has somehow found his way on to the TARDIS. Constantly alternating between a sleepy English village being invaded by aliens and the TARDIS, which is slowly drifting towards an ice cold sun, the three travellers have to decide which reality is the correct one - and in order to survive, they must kill themselves in the fake world. Tricky.

Why it's awesome: The Dream Lord is one of the most mysterious and clever enemies to emerge from recent series of Doctor Who, and Toby Jones brings a very creepy ambience to the role. The plot itself is incredibly exciting, with the trio hopping back and forth between dream and reality, and a terrific climax bags Amy's Choice the number 3 spot. 

Best line: "If you die in a dream, you wake up. Ask me what happens if you die in reality." "What happens?" "You die, stupid. That's why it's called reality."

2 - The Girl Who Waited

Series 6, Episode 10

The Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Writer: Tom MacRae

The plot: With the intention of treating his companions to a holiday, The Doctor takes them to the planet Apalapucia - unfortunately the entire planet is under quarantine due to a deadly plague which affects two-hearted natives. Amy accidentally gets separated from The Doctor and Rory but when they try to rescue her, they arrive 36 years later in her timeline. Now in her early 50's, Amy does not trust The Doctor after having been left abandoned on the planet and being forced to fend for herself. It's up to Rory to save the woman he loves, both the old and young versions - but how can he choose between them? Only one can survive.

Why it's awesome: A mixture of outstanding plotting and heartfelt performances make The Girl Who Waited an essential episode of Doctor Who. For all the running, battles and exploration that the central trio indulge in, this episode really digs deep into the friendship that they all hold for each other and for once, Rory and Amy are truly equals in their marriage. Karen Gillan is incredible as an older version of her character, while Arthur Darvill's tearjerking dialogue opposite her in the final scene is delivered with huge emotional gusto.

Best line: "There can only be one Amy in the TARDIS, Rory. Which one do you want?" "This isn't fair, Doctor. You're turning me into you."

1 - The Eleventh Hour

Series 5, Episode 1

The Companions: Amy Pond, Rory Williams

Writer: Steven Moffat

The plot: A young Scottish girl in the sleepy English village of Leadworth is scared of a crack in her bedroom wall; as if answering her prayers, a huge police box lands in her backyard. Out steps a peculiar man: a new Doctor, his clothes tattered and burnt from his Tenth incarnation's regeneration. After inspecting the crack in her wall, The Doctor promises Amelia that he will return in five minutes. Due to the TARDIS malfunctioning, he arrives twelve years later and is confronted by Amelia, who no longer trusts him. The Doctor attempts to regain her trust by dealing with the shape-shifting alien Prisoner Zero, an intergalactic criminal who has taken residence on Earth - but with the planet about to be burnt to a crisp by Prisoner Zero's guard the Atraxi, and The Doctor still trying to get used to his brand new body, Amy might have no choice.

Why it's awesome: Series 5 welcomes in a brand new era of Doctor Who, with a new Doctor, a new head writer and a new supporting cast. As well as being the first episode to fully feature Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill as The Doctor, Amy and Rory, The Eleventh Hour is also an incredibly entertaining story in its own right. Thanks to the regeneration and a brand new cast, this is the perfect jumping on point for newcomers to the series, and Steven Moffat keeps the Eleventh Doctor's likeable momentum going all the way through the episode - no mean feat considering that the Tenth Doctor had a special place in British hearts. A truly outstanding debut for a truly outstanding Doctor, The Eleventh Hour is the defining episode for the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who. 

Best line: "You know when grown ups smile at you and tell you everything's going to be fine, even though you know they're lying?" "Yeah." "Well...everything's going to be fine..."

Doctor Who returns on the 23rd November for its 50th Anniversary Special, followed by the departure of The Eleventh Doctor in this year's Christmas Special.

Check back to Movies Under The Microscope next month for another monthly retrospective of 50 years of Doctor Who!