DOCTOR WHO | 5x1 | The Eleventh Hour | Series 5 Episode 1 | REACTION 

The best opener for any Doctor for sure. This series is my childhood, but I still really love it watching it back. Hope you enjoy it as much as me.

One key to watching this series, is to realize that the new showrunner, Stephen Moffat had a different idea for the show. He said that he wanted it to be more like a fairy tale, and he slips in a reference to this when the Doctor said "Amelia Pond, sounds like a fairy tale". You are going to really like this series. And I like that you have good intuition - when the doctor said he would be back in 5 minutes, you immediately thought "Uh, Oh...." :)

You need to remember - when the Doctor regenerates it is not just his physical appearance that changes - his personality does too. Sure, he is the same person and has the same core traits, but different facets of his personality will come to the fore. That is what makes the show so interesting! It was, in effect, a soft re-boot - new Doctor, companion, Tardis and, above all, new showrunner. I grew up watching Tom Baker (the Fourth Doctor) but I think that, after a few episodes, Matt Smith became my all-time favourite. Enjoy!

Did you know that Matt Smith is actually the youngest actor to have played the doctor, a title previously owned by Peter Davidson who played the Fifth doctor. also I think the new intro is because of Steven Moffat becoming the show runner following Russel T Davies. I think that is also why it feels so different too

Welcome to the world of Doctor Who where, every few years, the show completely resets. I love this era. Production quality definitely takes a step up here. This is such a good season. :-)

All doctors act a different. When you come to seeing the first doctor especially his first few stories he is so different. 2, 10 and 11 are the most similiar and tbh my 3 favourite doctors.

Definitely wasn’t expecting this this early! This is one of my favourite Doctor intro episodes, especially given how different it feels to the previous era. I think the vibe the showrunner was going for was ‘fairytale’, and I think he definitely nails that, as you’ll hopefully see throughout the next few seasons. Very excited to see what you think of the rest of the series! There’s some good stuff to come :)

No spoilers, no worries. This is a GREAT era for The Doctor. Matt Smith has range, and some episodes and lines are the finest in the series. Many strains of Classic-era portrayals, too. Looking forward to your reactions!

to me the matt smith era has a sort of fairytale vibe it's interesting that you made the point of matt being a good "evil doctor" because multiple times recently he's come out and said he'd love to play the master 😂 edit: just seen someone already said about the fairytale vibe and now I am sad I thought I was being unique HAHAHA

A bit of fun trivia: When he started acting Matt Smith's first agent was Wendy Padbury who played Zoe companion to the 2nd Doctor.

Hadn't seen Mat in anything else when this aired . So refreshing . or Karen & Arthur . Olivia Colman hadn't won her Oscar yet.

A great start to his era. A episode that's a good jumping on point for new viewers too That's not the start of the classic of revival era.

Welcome to Matt Smith's era! It's very good opener. A long time ago I started watching DW with this episode 😅

Although not all of them were as well-known at the time, in retrospect the cast for this episode is insane. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Olivia Colman, Nina Wadia, Annette Crosbie, Tom Hopper... Sir Patrick Moore...

There's a fun theory that the Doctor only chose the bow-tie after Amy locked him to the car by his tie! 🤣. Although he feels different, and is different, you'll definitely start to feel that he is unquestionably the Doctor.

I'm abit annoyed some of the commenters refer to this as a "soft reboot" i think of this more as a "new chapter" to the show because Doctor Who is a continuous show has been right from 1963 to now.

You are so fortunate to watch the next doctor immediately :D

The Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant Eras of the show were overseen by Russell T Davies who was showrunner at the time. The Showrunner for the Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi Eras was Steven Moffat, who wrote The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, and Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead. So if the tone and that feels a bit different, that's why.

It's wild to see you are this point! Also so glad you've been watching the spin offs too as I know some other reactors usually miss them out

yoo you hit 800 subs! good job

Onto my favourite Doctor. Can’t wait to see what you think of his era.

"or he's gonna make her WAIT a very long time" yep, that about sums it up

Love your reaction. This is my doctor

Yes! So glad you’re back already :) can’t wait to see what you think of the rest of this series!

Finally someone had a reaction to the "everything's gonna be fine" line!

And the cosmic fairytale epic begins 💙

11 will FOREVER be my favorite Doctor!!!

When I was rewatching this episode with my sister she said she thinks Season 5 might be her favourite season of the show so far. Hopefully that’ll put your mind at ease a bit for the changes that come with the Doctor. Although maybe it may raise your hopes too high and it won’t be your thing. Who knows. But definitely this Doctor companion duo has a fabulous theme for the music in the background. I get chills just from the music now and I expect you might as the series progresses.

and here we go. Steven Moffat is showrunner now. You'll know him as the writer of some previous episodes. "The empty child/the doctor dances", "girl in the fireplace", "blink". He's got some of the BEST episodes in the show in my opinion

leTs goooo! I’ve been waiting for this all day!

Great reaction. This is my favourite series and favourite Doctor. However, I want to emphasise that whilst The Doctor won't be evil. he can still be dark and angry, as you've seen before. You've got a lot to look forward to.

I came onto this scene just as 11 did. I appreciate 10 and 9, but 11 is my Doctor!

Karen gillan showed up in Dr Who before now. She was one of the Soothsayers In the Pompeii episode. Granted that character was more make up heavy.

Behind the scenes, the people who played 1996/child Amelia and 2008 +2010/Adult Amy, are cousins in real life, though the table reading was the first time the two met Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill (Rory) were already friends following the pair having done a play together before hand, and Smith suggested Darvill, to the new showrunner, Moffat. Like Darvill still had to audition but helped that the rapport was already there.

A fairy tale about a mad man who stole a magic box and never stopped running away.

Ah Matt Smith, the first Doctor i first got into

Looking forward to this! I hope you enjoy him.

A few cool things - so the Doctor always loses his mind a little for a while after regeneration (Tennant only escaped this because he spent most of his debut asleep)... this time is actually pretty minor compared to some others 😅 As for the slightly different personality, this happens too -- its the same man underneath, but the surface persona is always a bit different. Also, this is the era where the show massively blew up internationally (mostly from next season onward) -- so Tennant is the most iconic in the UK, but around the world it's Matt Smith!

Matt is such a good actor especially in portraying a 1200 year old lonely alien who hides a lot of rage and I agree, he would make a great Evil Doctor or perhaps The Master, choosing this face to mess with a future Doctor

It’s a fab new era and a brilliant Doctor. Glad you enjoyed. Evil Doctor isn’t too fan fictiony.

Just got home from work, and was hoping this would be on when I'm back to chill with a beer too. YAY! haha... not watched yet, going to now :)

Was not expecting this today, so excited for the next 3 series!!!

Just to be clear, it's the same memories but a completely different doctor, not just the same doctor with a new face. His brain as well as his body has changed, so every doctor has a unique personality, albeit with the same life memories in common.

This is my fav everything. Doctor, companion, Tardis, screwdriver, serial, outfit. Matt Smith chose 11th a outfit. Bow ties are cool! The reason he is different from 10 is because with regeneration, it is not just the face and body that changes. His entire personality does too. That’s why 10 didn’t want to change. That why 11 said he didn’t know who he was yet to Amelia. Why 10 said in the Christmas invasion he didn’t know who he was either.

Glad you enjoyed it - it's a great intro to Matt with the story being incidental - but there is better to come! Current matt is my favourite doctor narrowly shading Pat Troughton (2nd doctor) who Matt was appently hugely infuemced by in creating the persona (specifically Matt said he took something from all his precessors but more so the 4th doctor but quite a bit from the 2nd iirc). It's interesting that both showrunners took something from the initial 3rd doctor story... - in Rose RTD started with the Autons (and gurning with pladtic props - here the doctor stealing his new outfit from a hospital .... (single handedly triggering a a boom in tweed jackets and probably bow ties ...🤣)

This is definitely one of my favorite Doctor introduction episodes. I mean, Tennant's opening special was alright, but the Doctor spent most of the episode unconscious that we never really got the whole time getting to know him up until near the end. While in this one, we spend so much time with Smith's Doctor, and we (as well as the Doctor, himself) get a chance to figure out what this new incarnation of the Doctor is like in personality, methods, thought process, etc.

You've probably been told already, young Amelia is Karen Gillans real life cousin. Great reaction

After regeneration, he is a little crazy (Tennant was a little crazy in his first story too) but after that, The Doctor settles into his new regeneration. Also, his brain gets regenerated as well so some personality changes are expected. It allows the new actor to give their own spin on the character without massive changes. You may notice this yourself but to me, Matt nails the young guy with an old soul look. His eyes have that "'I've been doing this a while" look. I dont know if that makes sense.

Glad you liked it! This episode (for me at least) sealed Smith as the Doctor. Btw, if you liked the music from Murray Gold the last 4 series, then you'll definitely love the music in the coming seasons.

We are also in the era when i knew about doctor who being on tv because of as a kid closing time came onto my tv in the living room as a kid when I was 5 and half and I didn't know how to use the remote control and charge the channel because my dad and mum or my older sister did it for me as a kid

When the show first aired I was soo sad that David Tennant had left and I wasn't sure about Matt Smith in the beginning. But after giving him a chance and watching season 5, 6, & 7 he's probably one of my favorite doctors (behind Tennant of course). Also the main reason why Matt Smith feels like a completely different doctor to 9 and 10 and that the show feels kinda different is because the showrunner Russell T Davies had left and the new showrunner Stephen Moffatt took his place, so it's a completely different vibe than to the previous 4 seasons. Granted each showrunner will try and blend the seasons together with Easter eggs and over arching storylines that might not be realized for some time, but you can definitely feel that this is a different doctor than what you are used to. But make no mistake he is still the doctor we all know and love.

Karen gillian has ALREADY been in dr who.... she was in the volcano, pompeii episode and played one of the sisterhood.....

The Doctor does change personality, but retains all the memories of the past, as if they were his own, so thats the price you have to pay, the sacrifice to be a Timelord, to change into something knew completely... great reaction!

By the way Steven Moffat is the writer who invented the phrase wibbly wobbly timey wimey and you're in for a ride of twists and turns.

In a way, you yourself are like Amelia Pond, who saw the doctor as a child and took along time before you saw him again :)

Fun fact: Thanks to this episode, April 3 is known as Fish Fingers and Custard Day

The Doctor's personality changes with his regenerations.

This is a fantastic introduction to Matt Smith. I personally have my problems with Moffat as a showrunner, but I do still very much enjoy his era, and I think this episode did everything it needed to and did it very well. It's probably my favourite new Doctor introduction, as many others have said. Regarding the new intro, the visuals and arrangement of the intro have always changed from time to time over the years, in the Classic series and now in the Revival series, so this is carrying on that tradition. I think it's good to have it change now and then, the same as the way the Doctor regenerates, to keep the show fresh -- that said the 9 & 10 intro is still very much my favourite and I miss it. In terms of the Doctor acting different, some incarnations are really quite different from others on a surface level. They have a tendency towards being quirky, energetic, eccentric, whatnot, but some do go away from that (indeed, the 1st Doctor was not like that at all). Him being the same person more goes down to his core values, the person he really is in his heart, but his outward persona is not always necessarily the same.

So great having both Karen and Arthur Darvill (Rory) on the show. Darvill is also Rip Hunter on DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

REGENERATION MAKES THE DOCTOR'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ASPECTS CHANGE A BIT LIKE THE LOTTERY BALLS BEING JUMBLED UP AND MAYBE THE SAME SEQUENCE CAN COME UP AGAIN

So……. It’s never QUITE the same person… it always takes time, but u will get used to regenerations! It’s all a big exciting new ride. 😊

Awesomeness 🩵

Weird thing is matt Smith may have been young but his doctor feels older like an old man in a young body

It feels so different because this was where the show pivoted from being for British people to being for a "global audience". Of course, at that time it meant being made to appeal to the American market that had just found and fallen in love with Doctor Who on BBC America. People often forget where the Globalist push to take over entertainment began.

and now you understand why i couldn't get used to certain actors cause they played a famous role in something big before the next big thing, thankfully i dont watch house of dragon so it made it much more easier. same goes for the actor after mattsmith but thats for way way later, hope this series gets you hooked

This is my favourite 'introduction' story in NewWho. Matt Smith hits the ground running. I like how you said you needed a break from Dr Who...which is why you had yesterday off! Next time you feel the urge to not watch it, sit down for 5 minutes and have a cup of tea; that should do it :)

In classic who, regeneration was very much a more extreme change. It was one man into a completely different man. New character, new personality, vibe, tone, mood, attitudes. As much as the RTD era will forever be my favorite and I adore nine and ten, the change from 9 to 10 wasn’t very extreme. It was essentially like you said, exact same man just with a different face and slight vibe change Moffat leans more into the classic era, so 11 is not ten by any stretch of the imagination, he’s like a whole new man. His whole outlook on life is different, he’s more childish, alien but with a serious side masked underneath

The one thing i fill spoil for you is that you are in for a good time dude. Have fun 👍

There was a new showrunner at this point too so ye things are very different from this point on.

Remember Karen Gillan before with 10th doctor episode Pompeii, different character

I can't believe Amy believes him at the end when he says he can have her back home by morning. Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor and the first Doctor I saw. I have a theory that people's favorite Doctor is usually the first one they saw.

I’m the doctor basically RUN lol 💯👍👍

Matt Smith has said that if he got to come back to Who, he’d love to play the Master, so…

I like the the 10 doctor and 11 but the 10 doctor is the best to me but mat did do a good job i will say that love all of your video keep up the good work

I think Tennant and Capaldi are both superior actors, but the Matt Smith run is nonetheless my favorite of New Who. Imo he had the best writing. (And the best theme tune...) Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

9:25 What is that? It's a (12:55) duck, Pond.

IT FEELS DIFFERENT AS STEVEN MOFFAT IS SHOWRUNNER FROM SERIES 5 TO 10 WHICH ALTERS THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE. BUT THAT'S ALWAYS THE WAY WITH DOCTOR WHO

Watching your reaction... I can now confirm you are a fan of the show... What you showed in this reaction is basically what the show is all about... every few years, the show does a soft re-boot and heads in a different direction. Didn't like a certain Doctor... wait a few years and there'll be a new one... It'll be interesting too, at the end of the season, so see what you make of the new feel of the show.. With this story the main show runner changed over, and as such they bring their own mark.... be cool to see what you make of that

Welcome to the Moffat era of Doctor Who. As mentioned in a previous comment, I'm not a big fan of RTD's writing style. The Moffat era by comparison is hands down my favourite era of New Who. It probably helps that Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi are my favourite Doctors. While the Moffat era has its own set of problems, there are some insanely good episodes to come that I'm really looking forward to you reacting to.

Is matt smith you're favorite modern era doctor? And who is you're favorite classic doctor? Matt smith had big shoes to fill just like peter davison taking over from tom baker, so like davison matt smith did not film his debut story first. This was actually something like the fourth story he filmed so he was comfortable in the role from his debut episode

The actor cast as the doctor at 26

The doctor is always disoriented when he regenerates. Not all time lords are. Some have no disorientation, some have a little, some have a lot, some have all sorts of issues. The doctor tends to be quite disoriented or confused. So his stuff with the food is part of his disorientation. I did find this episode good (better even when you look back at it after a time) but I had a hard time initially with the tonal shift. This ep is actually a good jumping off point for newbies that don’t want to deal with all the earlier stuff. It lets you see the doctor is a genius and not human. It lets you see what he is and what he does. It ties in to all the past doctors. It sets up the new companion. Rewatching all these years later… this was really such an excellent episode.

Not only the Doctor changes his face while your right he is the same Time Lord but he is also different his personality also changes including his tastebuds, likes and dislikes and dress senses it's like a change in your molicules if that's a better way of putting it?. Each Doctor is different even Eccleston and Tennant were different The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) was more of the PTSD Doctor and The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) while coming to terms with the Time War he's more of an angry god but more lonely and most human of all the Doctors The Eleventh (Matt Smith) is more of an old man in a younger body and very alien which is one of the reasons he's my favourite Doctor he's the youngest ever actor to play the Doctor which beats Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor who was the first youngest Doctor at the time. Amy Pond is also my favourite companion. A great start to the new era and Doctor Who in the 2010's.

My opinion with this doctor is he’s very good and nearly as good as tennant however he didn’t have as many good episodes. With the 10th doctor I think there was maybe 3 or 4 episodes I found boring but with this one I think there’s a lot more than that which are boring. But he has some really great episodes you’ll love him

I share your sentiment about exploring the darker side of the Doctor. No spoilers, but i think you are going to be very happy.

This doctors more funny and comedic than the other ones. I still prefer tenant but he’s really good and he’s my second favorite

you may be able to tell already but this is the fairy tale season, and it’s fantastic🙂

Karen is in the MCWho club

Olivia Coleman is the actress

I've got my fish fingers and custard all ready to go :)

I totally disagree that Eccleston and Tennant acted the same. They both had the same characteristics that the Doctor always has, but their personalties were about as different as Tennant and Smith, if not more so.

No spoiler but, If you think Smith would make an evil Doctor, just wait for 12

Ok i Amit this episode is ok

In your comment towards 11 acting differently at the start... I mean you saw 9 to 10 didnt you? thats the whole basis of the show, the new doctor is the same person but itsa different personality to some degree - theyre always different.

Series 4's theme is my favorite... I also like the 13th Doctor's. I like this episode. I liked Matt right away as the Doctor (I accepted him faster than I accepted David Tennant) and I loved Amy and Rory. But this is my least favorite era of Modern Who. I will drop in for certain episodes that I really like, though.

It's 100% a soft reboot. Past series are mentioned or referenced but series 5 was designed to be a launching off point for new viewers and it's premiere nails that perfectly.

I still prefer the old intro.

Who celebrates 60 years anniversary

Im glad u liked the vibe... i agree it very much has a cinematic feel... in fact this era does have a very movie feel to it... especially the finale... Regards to the Doctor...as others have said they all have very different personalities... u need to watch a multi Doctor classic ep one day... the way the personalities clash is brilliant 😂 that's what makes everyone have their fav... its not just about the performance...but personalities as well... like 9 was very action war PTSD hero... wud very happily punch someone 👀😂 10 was very happy go lucky, kind of romantic hero...but also broken and egoistic god like at times... 11 is...well that's for u to find out 😅 but its interesting that you felt he was different here too much... while the criticism at the time was that he appeared too much like Tennant... that he seemed to be copying him 😂 but that's very intentional too as he isn't like this and very much him (as in 11) going forward... what i love about this is that this wasn't Matt's first episode he shot... the 4/5th eps where his Doctor traits/personality are fully established were the first ones he filmed... so its clear his Tennantness (that's a word i promise 🤪) was very much on purpose...so love that u feel hes very different... I was waiting for your reaction on the titles considering what u said about not wanting them to change 😅... but as like the Doctor... they too regenerate.... Re the story... at the time i was in two minds... i loved the whole fairytale feel and small scaleness of it all in the first half... but while i didn't hate it... i felt the second half was trying to imitate the RTD era and two didn't seem to go well for me, i felt at the time it needed to be fully its own thing... that feeling has now changed cos i get it... i think because there was so many changes between the cast and crew, usually every serieshad either the Doctor or a companion as a continuation... but here there was no one...all brand new, and people were weary of getting something so different to what was Doctor Who at its mainstream peak... so it was done with the intention that this is all brand new but still the same crazy show that u all watched in the last five years... ive especially come to appreciate that method after 13s era... which went well very different to say the least. I also on one hand don't like the whole monsters running away cos they realise who the Doctor is... but then again Matt just nails it... its so symbolic him walking through the image of David... the dialogue is perfect to, so while the idea is annoying the execution is brilliant I absolutely love the fairytale look of the TARDIS.. Rory is just fab...absolutely fab.. Amy is brilliant... u made me laugh when u thought she was the aunt... but initially u guessed right that he was going not going to come back on time...😂 This series is overall nice.. probably my fav of the Matt era... im just not a fan of the arc... a lot of it still annoys me... but you'll love the fun and mystery along the way... I feel you will love it though... regarding dark Doctor... have you seen jessica jones?? DT does a brilliant evil character... Matt has said he wud love to play the Master.. i think he wud be brilliant as well!

The Matt Smith era marks the accentuation of the Surrealist trait that has been inherent in the series right from the start. Although the "Juxtaposition of Distant Realities" has never really been absent, after all that's how the show works, it is more pronounced with Steven Moffat. The soap opera element that really weighed down much of the RTD era starts to vanish and now we really feel the "all of time and space, anything that ever happened or ever will" now has more force and intentionality about it. To me, this is the furtherance of Doctor Who Classic restored and revitalized. Regenerated? Matt goes through his post regeneration as a confused toddler. Trying and tasting everything. Early days. Still cooking. The elegantly awkward Doctor Eleven has arrived. Geronimo!!