"It's important that we saw this side of the Doctor." Yep, much as he's my favourite and he's the silliest in places, he's also the most dangerous and the most ruthless at times.
For me Matt Smith is probably the most Doctor-y Doctor of them all. He does a great job at portraying an eccentric old soul in a young man’s frame and his anger when it comes out (not that often but…..) is chilling
Matt Smith, is my second favourite doctor, behind Patrick Troughton. And the similarities are uncanny. Matt Smith conveys an emotional depth behind a silly facade very similar to Troughtons depiction
Personally, I think Peter Capaldi did the best job. He was the perfect mix of new and classic Who by relying far more on using knowledge, compassion, and experience than gadgets and action scenes to get the job done, had more philosophical stories and lessons, and died to save just a handful of children rather than to save the universe; that last one is especially important to me, as it exemplified who the Doctor is at his core: a kind man who won't hesitate to sacrifice himself if it means good people can live another day.
This episode was way better than I remember. Cool set design, and an ending that moved me to tears, too. You’re right, it struck me here just how good Amy is for the Doctor. He felt seen and understood at the end here. She definitely means a lot to him already.
Underrated episode. Eleventh Hour (rightly) centres on the new Doctor, but I think this does a fantastic job of establishing Amy's qualities as a companion. Also the first time we see the darkness that Smith's Doctor has, just under his fun, eccentric surface.
this season was the first I watched, and I think this episode was pretty critical in selling me on the show with seeing both ends of the doctor- the whimsical funny guy and the ancient alien who has seen misery you can't imagine and is so far removed from normal humans in a lot of ways. The kind man and the rage both.
The water on the floor thing was "my moment" with Matt Smith. I hadn't really clicked with him as the Doctor during his first ep, but this won me. It just felt "So Very The Doctor!"
Amy: Very old and very kind, and the very, very last. Sound a bit familiar? (They hug.) AMY: Hey. DOCTOR: What? AMY: Gotcha. DOCTOR: Huh. Gotcha. That is a great description of The Doctor. I loved that scene, especially when the hugged. Amy was brilliant in this episode. Can't wait for the next reaction.
I know Moffat doesn't like this episode, but I love it. I love science fiction where it turns out, humanity is "the monsters," and the smilers are such old-school Doctor Who. This story also resonates with Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas."
@@dylanburton4955 IMDB trivia has him calling the episode "a bit of a mess." IMDB also says he reconsidered this judgement later. Once a TV episode is made, you often can't drop it if you don't like it. Sometimes you write something, and the budget or other concerns don't let you do it justice.
I only discovered your channel today, just watched The Eleventh Hour. I was going to mention something there but then remembered this one was next. I have seen Matt Smith on stage twice, and Sophie Okenedo twice, and in my opinion they're the best male/female actors working on stage or anywhere at the moment. Sophie I've seen in two massive roles, Cleopatra and Medea, Matt in slightly less well-known parts, but he's a powerhouse of a performer. They both are. When you're in the third row and Matt Smith is giving a speech just in front of you, or you're in a small intimate theatre and Sophie Okenedo is murdering her children just feet away, it's a transformative experience. Just wanted to say that, it's great to see them together in this episode. I'll be following along from now on.
Yeah, good Doctor/companion relationship development in this, creepy hench...beings (?) and Liz 10 is fun. Also like seeing how both the Doctor and Amy think (11 here is, as you might expect with Steven Moffat showrunning around 2010, quite Sherlock-ian in his reasoning and Amy solves it by holding the one perspective the Doctor can't have - seeing him as others see him). I remember first watching the panning shot thinking "Hang on, where's Scotland ?" and then knowing Moffat was a fellow Scot wondering "Ah, has he given us our own ship ?" so it was a really fun hint we might be on the same wavelength when he threw Amy's comment in there (a few years after this aired there was a pretty divisive referendum on Scottish independence so he may not have made the same joke if the episode was later in his run). ("fun" fact: about as close as I have to a claim to fame is, Moffat's dad was my old headteacher and his sister was in my sister's class at school - so, y'know, i'm basically _in_ 'Doctor Who'. Ahem :)
This is one of my favorite episodes, and the one episode I always think of when anyone asks who my favorite Doctor is. I love Amy in this one, too, although she's only my second favorite Companion. (You haven't met my favorite yet.) The depth of emotion and character development in this episode gets me every time.
What Doctor Who proves is that these actors are really good at their jobs. No Marvel movie or even a Game of Thrones spinoff can give a role that has a challenging role as a Doctor or his companion. David Tennant and Matt and all their companions proved themselves extraordinary actors even if we never saw them in any other show or movie.
"I'm the bloody Queen. Basically, I rule!" I love the delivery of that line. 😂 I'm so excited, Britany. In my opinion, series five is when the show starts to get really good! I never really cared for Eccleston, and I have nothing bad to say about Tennent, but Matt Smith was my first Doctor and will always be my favorite. The writing, the story lines, the characters in the the next few seasons are incredible.
This episode and the last one both bring me to tears. Not even watching the full episodes. Hell! Wasn't even looking at the screen half the time and I still cried in this with you
One thing I never understood. If you’re in a giant mouth and you hit the eject button…you keep your mouth shut! Holding your nose is also a prime option. Screaming while a flood of stomach contents are coming your way seems … less than ideal.
RIGHT?! Stuff like that always drives me crazy. That and when people have bugs on their face and they scream. Like, what?! There's absolutely no where I would be giving that thing (or any gross thing) more ways inside my body. lol
In theory, she could travel with the Doctor for years and still make it back before her wedding -- but we know the Doctor isn't always that accurate (cough*Rose*cough).
THANKS for this!!! I really don't remember the plots of Eleven's run; I just remember the relationships. I'm assuming that's a good thing :) All I remember about this episode was that Amy needed to put some clothes on and at the end of it, I was like "David Who?...Boy, that didn't take long." LOL!!!
I think this episode is kind of messy but I still think it has its moments. I think it does a good job of setting up the new doctor, showing off his new quirks and his slightly colder personality
This episode is absolutely wonderful, obviously the star whale works as a metaphor for the doctor but the more pressing metaphor is that it's a representation for the people the British empire has victimized and exploited through colonization, it's an innocent who would be perfectly willing to help and coexist with the British if allowed but out of self interest it has been abused and taken advantage of. It's an evil that every brit can see, but that they have historically chosen to ignore, and for hundreds of years it's a system maintained out of fear of retaliation, a fear that is tragically unfounded in reality
I loved that we saw matts version of the doctors anger he done a fantastic job and Karen was amazing as Amy but this wasn’t the best episode imo but next few episodes make up for it imo can’t wait for you to see episode 4&5
I like the idea of this episode more than the actual episode itself. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad episode, but for me it somehow lacks the emotional impact it should've had. I think the production team maybe didn't have the time it really needed to allow it to hit its full potential.
Not my favorite episode, but there are elements I like in it. I do like the Doctor's anger. I do like we get a sense of how Amy thinks. But it seemed to go a bit too long imo.
"There's been a sighting. A man." here was the first seed Moffat planted towards eventually getting a female Doctor. Having to clarify that he's a man. A second one comes in series 6 with an explicit mention of a timelord who was some times a woman, some times a man. There's a third step that it's too early to mention, but after it the audience was prepared for the idea.
I don't think this counts. The agent was just reporting that he saw someone place a glass on the ground, he didn't recognise the Doctor. It's Liz 10 who recognised him.
I think the first hint was before this, immediately after 10 regenerated in to 11 and thought he was a girl for a moment. Then again very clearly in TDW with the Corsair. (Channel is caught all the way up on Patreon, I wouldn't post "spoilers" otherwise.)
From Missy/Master or the thinking a girl in the regeneration to other signs over time. I think it was a sign eventually we would see it happen and the regeneration can just CHANGE (they change ma y rules over time as it is and we just go ok..... because they feel like changing rules whenever they feel like it and some get explanations and other times they just stop explaining because they don't care anymore to explain and just do it) it's just when they were going to and we now know the time they did by now. Yes she has seen the latest episodes on patreon, so spoilers we can post unlike other channels.
This is an incredibly poorly written episode. Amy made a decision that could have killed millions based upon a hunch. The Doctor would have attempted to communicate with the whale and negotiated something before taking a drastic action like he was going to do. She acted as arrogant as he has at times, assuming that her hunch was right, without even trying to convince the Doctor. He acted totally out of character.
He writes the key ones like Davies did. Yeah it's a creepy but really good what if situation. Not good but well considered. I do forget these ones but once they get going I remember. Yes she needs better clothes yep. But then again in nightwear it is like a dream at least going to such a strange place. Matt Smith and his quirks. Parents hmm yes. Yes the things in the booths. Cause trouble it's the Doctor. Quite observant Amy. Keep out signs hmm. Oh. Yeah slip your mind hmm sure the magical man changes things. Hmm yes it must be just floating but why. The title is hmm a beast. Ah the decision making yep accept or forget. Yes safety. Yep almost forcing the decision on her. Everyone wants to forget do they. Yep humans only. Screaming yep. A tunnel right into the beast. Very disgusting but is what it is. Yep more buttons. Heads changing again. Future Queen yep and decision making brings yep. Amy saying what she doesn't mean to say. The mask. Saving it and that wise. Saving the children. The beast and the Doctor hmm. Yeah we need to see other sides of the Doctor. But companions do what they do. Yeah offering more to the Doctor but also I guess the whole well he had the specials so Amy changes that as the companions do they help him then him trying to be helping then changing then reminding, with an oh we can do that.
I know many do not like this episode, but it so dear to me. So much emotion and also a good message. Love Smith's performance here, and btw have you watched House of the Dragon?
Yeah, there are definitely some odd bits to thus episode, but it really hits the emotional beats well and that's what I like. I have not seen it. I know he's in it, but it's my understanding that it's a Game of Thrones spin-off and I haven't seen Game of Thrones.
@@BritanyBinges ohh. You could definitely watch it before GoT tbh, it's set 200 years before GoT and it's a totally different story. He's amazing in it. Also The Crown where he plays Prince Philip.
People were worried that Matt Smith was too young to play the Doctor. I think as early as this episode proves that he was perfect.
Somehow he seemed to show his centuries of age in his expressions at times. The weariness is just there at times.
"It's important that we saw this side of the Doctor." Yep, much as he's my favourite and he's the silliest in places, he's also the most dangerous and the most ruthless at times.
For me Matt Smith is probably the most Doctor-y Doctor of them all. He does a great job at portraying an eccentric old soul in a young man’s frame and his anger when it comes out (not that often but…..) is chilling
To me, Smith's Doctor is depicted too often too childish, and as such, I don't ever truly believe his anger.
Matt Smith, is my second favourite doctor, behind Patrick Troughton. And the similarities are uncanny. Matt Smith conveys an emotional depth behind a silly facade very similar to Troughtons depiction
Personally, I think Peter Capaldi did the best job. He was the perfect mix of new and classic Who by relying far more on using knowledge, compassion, and experience than gadgets and action scenes to get the job done, had more philosophical stories and lessons, and died to save just a handful of children rather than to save the universe; that last one is especially important to me, as it exemplified who the Doctor is at his core: a kind man who won't hesitate to sacrifice himself if it means good people can live another day.
This episode was way better than I remember. Cool set design, and an ending that moved me to tears, too. You’re right, it struck me here just how good Amy is for the Doctor. He felt seen and understood at the end here. She definitely means a lot to him already.
Underrated episode.
Eleventh Hour (rightly) centres on the new Doctor, but I think this does a fantastic job of establishing Amy's qualities as a companion.
Also the first time we see the darkness that Smith's Doctor has, just under his fun, eccentric surface.
Bonus point for anyone who noticed the 'Magpie Electricals' sign in this episode.
It's blink and you'll miss it but it's some great world building.
I forget how often they sprinkle Magpie in the few episodes after that and for how long on many electronics.
Don't blink
Considering that this is the night before Amy's wedding, technically, this is the wildest bachelorette party ever.
this season was the first I watched, and I think this episode was pretty critical in selling me on the show with seeing both ends of the doctor- the whimsical funny guy and the ancient alien who has seen misery you can't imagine and is so far removed from normal humans in a lot of ways. The kind man and the rage both.
The water on the floor thing was "my moment" with Matt Smith. I hadn't really clicked with him as the Doctor during his first ep, but this won me. It just felt "So Very The Doctor!"
Amy: Very old and very kind, and the very, very last. Sound a bit familiar?
(They hug.)
AMY: Hey.
DOCTOR: What?
AMY: Gotcha.
DOCTOR: Huh. Gotcha.
That is a great description of The Doctor. I loved that scene, especially when the hugged. Amy was brilliant in this episode. Can't wait for the next reaction.
I LOVE the smilers! They are such a terrific monster for the show. Wish we could see more of them! They’re a really striking visual.
They're obviously not my favorite, but they're very effective in multiple ways.
I know Moffat doesn't like this episode, but I love it. I love science fiction where it turns out, humanity is "the monsters," and the smilers are such old-school Doctor Who. This story also resonates with Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas."
How come he doesn’t like it?
It's strange that he doesn't like it considering he wrote it, dunno why he bothered to have it in the series in the end, weird call he made lol
@@dylanburton4955 IMDB trivia has him calling the episode "a bit of a mess." IMDB also says he reconsidered this judgement later.
Once a TV episode is made, you often can't drop it if you don't like it. Sometimes you write something, and the budget or other concerns don't let you do it justice.
@@dylanburton4955 Because it was really poorly written. The Doctor was out of character and Amy made an extremely arrogant decision based on a hunch.
Karen and Matt are such a good duo. I can never watch this one without fuckin bawling lol
I love the “it’s a tongue, a great big tongue” scene.
I only discovered your channel today, just watched The Eleventh Hour. I was going to mention something there but then remembered this one was next.
I have seen Matt Smith on stage twice, and Sophie Okenedo twice, and in my opinion they're the best male/female actors working on stage or anywhere at the moment. Sophie I've seen in two massive roles, Cleopatra and Medea, Matt in slightly less well-known parts, but he's a powerhouse of a performer. They both are. When you're in the third row and Matt Smith is giving a speech just in front of you, or you're in a small intimate theatre and Sophie Okenedo is murdering her children just feet away, it's a transformative experience.
Just wanted to say that, it's great to see them together in this episode. I'll be following along from now on.
Happy to have you along for the journey! What an incredible experience you were able to have! Thanks for sharing! :)
Yeah, good Doctor/companion relationship development in this, creepy hench...beings (?) and Liz 10 is fun. Also like seeing how both the Doctor and Amy think (11 here is, as you might expect with Steven Moffat showrunning around 2010, quite Sherlock-ian in his reasoning and Amy solves it by holding the one perspective the Doctor can't have - seeing him as others see him).
I remember first watching the panning shot thinking "Hang on, where's Scotland ?" and then knowing Moffat was a fellow Scot wondering "Ah, has he given us our own ship ?" so it was a really fun hint we might be on the same wavelength when he threw Amy's comment in there (a few years after this aired there was a pretty divisive referendum on Scottish independence so he may not have made the same joke if the episode was later in his run).
("fun" fact: about as close as I have to a claim to fame is, Moffat's dad was my old headteacher and his sister was in my sister's class at school - so, y'know, i'm basically _in_ 'Doctor Who'. Ahem :)
This is one of my favorite episodes, and the one episode I always think of when anyone asks who my favorite Doctor is. I love Amy in this one, too, although she's only my second favorite Companion. (You haven't met my favorite yet.) The depth of emotion and character development in this episode gets me every time.
This was the worst of the Matt Smith episodes. It is riddled with holes.
And he never stopped running.
What Doctor Who proves is that these actors are really good at their jobs. No Marvel movie or even a Game of Thrones spinoff can give a role that has a challenging role as a Doctor or his companion. David Tennant and Matt and all their companions proved themselves extraordinary actors even if we never saw them in any other show or movie.
The last episode really established the 11th doctor and this one really established amy
I've never cried watching a reaction before until now. Even on rewatches I've yet to cry. Sometimes hearing only their lines really adds to the scene.
"I'm the bloody Queen. Basically, I rule!" I love the delivery of that line. 😂
I'm so excited, Britany. In my opinion, series five is when the show starts to get really good! I never really cared for Eccleston, and I have nothing bad to say about Tennent, but Matt Smith was my first Doctor and will always be my favorite. The writing, the story lines, the characters in the the next few seasons are incredible.
I like to think Liz 10 was created just to give Liz 2 (known Doctor Who fan) a good laugh. =:o}
Yes, and it was a terrible decent back into monarchy for Britain. That is not something a constitutional monarch would ever say.
This episode and the last one both bring me to tears. Not even watching the full episodes. Hell! Wasn't even looking at the screen half the time and I still cried in this with you
One thing I never understood. If you’re in a giant mouth and you hit the eject button…you keep your mouth shut! Holding your nose is also a prime option.
Screaming while a flood of stomach contents are coming your way seems … less than ideal.
RIGHT?! Stuff like that always drives me crazy. That and when people have bugs on their face and they scream. Like, what?! There's absolutely no where I would be giving that thing (or any gross thing) more ways inside my body. lol
Wasn't the whale in this episode similar species (possibly the same) to the one we've seen being cut for meat supply in Torchwood?
It's stated, but I like to think so.
In theory, she could travel with the Doctor for years and still make it back before her wedding -- but we know the Doctor isn't always that accurate (cough*Rose*cough).
THANKS for this!!! I really don't remember the plots of Eleven's run; I just remember the relationships. I'm assuming that's a good thing :) All I remember about this episode was that Amy needed to put some clothes on and at the end of it, I was like "David Who?...Boy, that didn't take long." LOL!!!
Six's run? Did you mean Eleven's?
@@therealpbristow I *did!* FIXED! TY!!!!!
last episode "why did she have a wedding dress?" lol
I've seen this episode a milion times and it still makes me cry.
this episode was powerful
I think this episode is kind of messy but I still think it has its moments. I think it does a good job of setting up the new doctor, showing off his new quirks and his slightly colder personality
This episode is absolutely wonderful, obviously the star whale works as a metaphor for the doctor but the more pressing metaphor is that it's a representation for the people the British empire has victimized and exploited through colonization, it's an innocent who would be perfectly willing to help and coexist with the British if allowed but out of self interest it has been abused and taken advantage of. It's an evil that every brit can see, but that they have historically chosen to ignore, and for hundreds of years it's a system maintained out of fear of retaliation, a fear that is tragically unfounded in reality
19:51 Hearts* :P
Such a great 2nd episode.
I love the star whale 🐋
The rage-filled demon face is the worst.
I wish we had more Liz 10, she's pretty cool.
I loved that we saw matts version of the doctors anger he done a fantastic job and Karen was amazing as Amy but this wasn’t the best episode imo but next few episodes make up for it imo can’t wait for you to see episode 4&5
Such a great episode though I really enjoy this season of who
I like the idea of this episode more than the actual episode itself. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad episode, but for me it somehow lacks the emotional impact it should've had. I think the production team maybe didn't have the time it really needed to allow it to hit its full potential.
Not my favorite episode, but there are elements I like in it. I do like the Doctor's anger. I do like we get a sense of how Amy thinks. But it seemed to go a bit too long imo.
The episode in general or the scene there at the end?
@@BritanyBinges the episode to me went a bit too long, but it is ok - just my own experience with it; I appreciate the theme quite a bit
When you said "she's gonna be good for him" oh you have no idea 😂 11 is my favourite doctor and Amy is my favourite assistant
"There's been a sighting. A man." here was the first seed Moffat planted towards eventually getting a female Doctor. Having to clarify that he's a man.
A second one comes in series 6 with an explicit mention of a timelord who was some times a woman, some times a man. There's a third step that it's too early to mention, but after it the audience was prepared for the idea.
I don't think this counts. The agent was just reporting that he saw someone place a glass on the ground, he didn't recognise the Doctor. It's Liz 10 who recognised him.
I think the first hint was before this, immediately after 10 regenerated in to 11 and thought he was a girl for a moment. Then again very clearly in TDW with the Corsair. (Channel is caught all the way up on Patreon, I wouldn't post "spoilers" otherwise.)
From Missy/Master or the thinking a girl in the regeneration to other signs over time. I think it was a sign eventually we would see it happen and the regeneration can just CHANGE (they change ma y rules over time as it is and we just go ok..... because they feel like changing rules whenever they feel like it and some get explanations and other times they just stop explaining because they don't care anymore to explain and just do it) it's just when they were going to and we now know the time they did by now.
Yes she has seen the latest episodes on patreon, so spoilers we can post unlike other channels.
Ahhhh 11
This is an incredibly poorly written episode. Amy made a decision that could have killed millions based upon a hunch. The Doctor would have attempted to communicate with the whale and negotiated something before taking a drastic action like he was going to do. She acted as arrogant as he has at times, assuming that her hunch was right, without even trying to convince the Doctor. He acted totally out of character.
IMO this is a deeply flawed episode…however. The only-mentioned-briefly parallel to how some (most?) democracies seem to work is interesting.
He writes the key ones like Davies did. Yeah it's a creepy but really good what if situation. Not good but well considered. I do forget these ones but once they get going I remember.
Yes she needs better clothes yep. But then again in nightwear it is like a dream at least going to such a strange place.
Matt Smith and his quirks.
Parents hmm yes.
Yes the things in the booths. Cause trouble it's the Doctor.
Quite observant Amy. Keep out signs hmm. Oh. Yeah slip your mind hmm sure the magical man changes things.
Hmm yes it must be just floating but why. The title is hmm a beast.
Ah the decision making yep accept or forget. Yes safety.
Yep almost forcing the decision on her. Everyone wants to forget do they.
Yep humans only.
Screaming yep. A tunnel right into the beast.
Very disgusting but is what it is.
Yep more buttons. Heads changing again.
Future Queen yep and decision making brings yep.
Amy saying what she doesn't mean to say.
The mask.
Saving it and that wise. Saving the children. The beast and the Doctor hmm.
Yeah we need to see other sides of the Doctor. But companions do what they do.
Yeah offering more to the Doctor but also I guess the whole well he had the specials so Amy changes that as the companions do they help him then him trying to be helping then changing then reminding, with an oh we can do that.
I know many do not like this episode, but it so dear to me. So much emotion and also a good message. Love Smith's performance here, and btw have you watched House of the Dragon?
Yeah, there are definitely some odd bits to thus episode, but it really hits the emotional beats well and that's what I like.
I have not seen it. I know he's in it, but it's my understanding that it's a Game of Thrones spin-off and I haven't seen Game of Thrones.
@@BritanyBinges ohh. You could definitely watch it before GoT tbh, it's set 200 years before GoT and it's a totally different story. He's amazing in it. Also The Crown where he plays Prince Philip.
@@LauraGS564 Also: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies...