While it was controversial at the time, particularly later on, many would now argue that The Eleventh Doctor era was the last timeDoctor Whoreached the kind of greatness fans came to expect after Nine and Ten. It was also an era of change, with huge shakeups to the show’s structure ushering in the age of the interconnected narrative.
Whatever your feelings on the era as a whole, it’s hard to deny that Matt Smith got some truly fantastic episodes to work with during his time as The Eleventh Doctor, with some regularly ranking among the greatest in the series. These are our personal picks for his best: Eleven, not ten, for obvious reasons.
11The Eleventh Hour
Series 5, Episode 1
Following up the phenomenally successful David Tennant era was no mean feat, but with The Eleventh Hour, one of the strongest introductions to a new Doctor in the show’s history, they pulled it off. Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor feels immediately distinct and likable here, and his chemistry with companion Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond is excellent.
On top of that, it’s just a very solid episode. Prisoner Zero is terrifying, the pacing is perfect, and the final speech at the end sets the tone for what Smith will be bringing to the role going forward. There’s a serious argument that this episode is the best in The Eleventh Doctor’s run, which is something you can’t say for any other modern Doctor intro.
10The Time Of Angels/Flesh And Stone
Series 5, Episodes 4 And 5
While it messes with the simplicity ofthe Weeping Angelsin ways that feel contrived, this tense two-parter is still a highlight of The Eleventh Doctor’s run. Things kick off with a stellar cold open that deepens the lore behind River Song, and before we know it we’re creeping slowly through a maze of twisted statues as the Angels close in from all sides.
This episode is where we start to glimpse the grander designs of the River Song plot, and that intrigue blends perfectly with the intense action of the second act. We also see standout performances from both Matt Smith and Iain Glen, in another excellent speech and a touching death scene, respectively.
9Amy’s Choice
Series 5, Episode 7
It’s always great to see episodes of TV that deconstruct the very ideas their shows are built upon, and Amy’s Choice is a brilliant example of this. Trapping Amy, Rory, and The Doctor in a set of two dream worlds, the episode showcases the impossible choice that every Who companion must face at some point: fantasy or reality.
It’s an episode that’s equal parts bizarre antics and emotional reflection, with Toby Jones playing the enigmatic Dream Lord tomustache-twirling perfection. In fact, his performance was so compelling that the final revelation, that he was naught but a dream himself, was actually quite disappointing.
8Vincent And The Doctor
Series 5, Episode 10
Perhaps the most widely acclaimed episode of the entire Eleventh Doctor run, Vincent and the Doctor earns its rep and then some. It’s a classic historical episode, immersing us in the life of legendary painter Vincent van Gogh as The Doctor and Amy investigate an invisible alien haunting the parishes of Paris.
The episode is best known for its heart-rending conclusion, in which Vincent is given the chance to see the future impact of his work through a beautiful speech by Bill Nighy. While the rest of the episode is largely setup, the payoff here is so good that it more than makes up for it.
7A Christmas Carol
2010 Christmas Special
Doctor Who has a somewhat shaky record when it comes to Christmas specials, but few can deny that A Christmas Carol is an exception to that rule. Adding a time travel twist to Dickens’ classic novel, this episode managed to capture the dualistic nature of the holiday in a layered, nuanced way.
It’s a timeless tale of redemption, and one that strips things right down to basics: with Amy and Rory trapped on a crash-landing spaceship, the Doctor is on his own for this one. The younger, less cantankerous Kazran makes a nice companion stand-in, and his relationship with the doomed Abigail is as authentic as it is painful.
6The Impossible Astronaut/Day Of The Moon
Series 6, Episodes 1 And 2
A breakneck start to one of the most narratively ambitious seasons of Doctor Who, this two-parter kicks off with The Eleventh Doctor’s death and only gets wilder from there. Both episodes here are just packed to the gills, whether it’s cast-wise, as River Song joins the regular crew, or story-wise.
Introducing the Silence, a mysterious alien race built up throughout the entirety of series five, was a big move, and the Area 51 conspiracy plot they came wrapped in was enjoyable to unravel too. You come out of these two episodes with more questions than answers, which is fitting for a series as twisty and interconnected as six.
5The Doctor’s Wife
Series 6, Episode 4
This episode flowed forth from the peerless pen of legendary author Neil Gaiman, and you can see his influence in every inch of it. The ramshackle asteroid setting feels like something straight out of Coraline, while Idris, the physical manifestation of the Doctor’s TARDIS, is an offbeat, scene-stealing delight.
The comic writing here is excellent, but the real highlight is the relationship between the Doctor and Idris, which feels authentic despite its impossibly complex nature. In the end, this episode feels like a celebration of Doctor Who as a whole: something only big anniversary specials can normally pull off.
4The Girl Who Waited
Series 6, Episode 10
Despite its brightly-lit setting, this is one of the darkest episodes in all of Who history. After taking a wrong door in the Two Streams quarantine facility, Amy ends up splitting her timeline in two, with original Amy being joined by battle-hardened Amy who was never rescued, and left alone for 36 years. The ensuing chaos is about as thematically heavy as it can get.
It’s brutal seeing a version of Amy that’s lost all faith in The Doctor and Rory, and it hurts all the more given how it parallels the wait Amy was forced to endure during The Eleventh Hour. It also raises big questions around the ethics of alternate timelines: something only a complex sci-fi show like Doctor Who can truly accomplish.
3The God Complex
Series 6, Episode 11
Series six was all about the Doctor realizing he’d grown too big forhis ever-changing boots, and The God Complex is the perfect encapsulation of that idea. Trapped in an eerily nostalgic hotel, the gang are forced to reckon with a Minotaur that seemingly preys on fear, but demands constant praise.
The parallels between The Doctor and the Mintoaur could have been shown a little more subtly in the end, but it’s easy to forgive that misstep when you consider the immaculate vibes of the episode as a whole. Clever camera angles, creepy music, and eerie CCTV effects are peppered throughout, making The God Complex a hotel stay that’s hard to forget.
2The Rings Of Akhaten
Series 7, Episode 7
It’s a bit all over the place in terms of pacing and structure, but The Rings of Akhaten earns a spot on this list thanks to the sheer scope of its ambition. As The Eleventh Doctor’s first full adventure withnew companion Clara, it takes us to a bustling market planet orbiting a spooky sentient sun, painstakingly populated by a staggeringly diverse cast of aliens.
The central plot is quite simple, but the way in which the story of Clara’s parents is seamlessly weaved in, and how it ties into the emotional conclusion, gives it some serious weight. And yes, Matt Smith’s speech near the end is one of the series’ best, with some stunning cinematography thrown in for good measure.
