Journalists say farewell to Matt Smith and my top eleven Matt episodes

I just watched The Day of the Doctor bluray and saw the Comic Con trailer. I have to tip my hat off to the thousands of Whovians who had to keep that secret for months.

I am reminded once again of what we are about to lose, but feel spirited about what is yet to come. Although we don't have the comfort of knowing when we will see Matt next other than a vague release date for How To Catch a Monster, there is no doubt in mind we shall see him again.

It is not simply his natural leadership on set and the way he can recall all the names of those who work with him and the names of their children. It isn't the remarkable way he interacts with kids and takes time to wave and hug everyone around him even when he may not feel at the top of his game. It isn't how extremely sexy he can be when he smiles. I always refer to him as a gifted actor, but it goes beyond his ability to portray our inner most desires, fears, rage, pain, delight and curiosity.

 

He's a remarkable human being. One that many will try to emulate, but will never quite succeed. Since my illness still makes it hard for me to write, I will simply let others take my place.

 

Telegraph: Farewell Matt Smith

 

LA Times: Farewell 10 moments with Matt Smith

 

Guardian: Matt Smith was my ultimate doctor and I will miss him

 

Slanted: My 10 favourite Matt Smith episodes

 

Hypable: Matt Smith's best Doctor Who quotes

 

Anglophenia: Roundup on Eve of destruction

 

Now if I were to choose my top 10 favourite Matt Smith episodes, they would have to be

 

11. The Doctor's Wife

 

I love how the scene begins with the Doctor puzzling out how exactly he will execute his win over the entity that has taken control of his TARDIS. Matt's eyes reveal so much about the inner workings of the Doctor. It's wonderful to see his speech take a sharp turn and we can hear the menace behind his words as he threatens and reveals the truth on what is about to happen next. There's a moment of delightful exhilaration followed up by a darker order to finish him off. The most heartbreaking moment comes with his final words to the TARDIS. Our eyes well and lips tremble with the Doctor as this great old man crumble and all the rage dissipates leaving him hollow. It's the waves of emotion in this scene that makes it so memorable and perhaps why RadioTimes readers chose it as their favourite episode.

 

10. The Lodger

 

My ultimate favourite line in the episode is

 

 

 

There are many delightful moments in this comedic episode with James Corden and lest we forget Matt in a towel or watching him play football. I think the greatest moment is when Craig tries to outline some house rules and requests each flatmate to tell the other when company is coming over so they can offer some privacy. The Doctor's lack of understanding highlights he is an alien. He may be old, half human and a time traveler, but he is alien. Matt's performance reminds us all of who and what we really are watching.

 

9. A Christmas Carol

 

 

There are so many rich details in this episode from Michael Gambon's terrific performance to Katherine Jenkins/ Abigail's haunting song. Although the love story between Kazran and Abigail is probably one of the most memorable innovations on Dickens' tale, I think it is how easily Matt weaves through his interactions with children, elderly, and imaginary actors. He is not only generous in the way he allows each performer to have their moment, but he also makes you believe in the fairy tale.

 

8. The Name of the Doctor

 

You could argue the prequel could actually be speaking about Time of the Doctor more so than The Name of the Doctor

 

 

 

It is this moment that most remember

 

 

If we're all a little honest, we all want someone to kiss us like that. For some of us, we specifically would like the Doctor/Matt to kiss us like that. I like the nod in the beginning to Nine's farewell to Rose. I'm always impressed when Eleven grabs River's arm despite not facing her at the moment.

 

I think everyone's favourite line is "Since no one can actually see you, God knows how that looked". The reactions on the face of the Doctor's friends is priceless. 

 

The reason this particular scene stands out amongst the rest is it is the first time in Matt's tenure we actually see him play a lead romantic role. The Doctor's companions and River have come onto the Doctor and he has flirted back once in a while, but we never see him profess his feelings or initiate a kiss. Although the chemistry (or perhaps 19 year age gap) seemed to be on and off, this moment seemed genuine.   

 

7. A Town Called Mercy

 

 

 

It's rare for us to see The Doctor handle a gun. This is one of these moments where we are not entirely sure whether he will break his no gun rule. It is the confrontation between Amelia and The Doctor that is so riveting. There is one moment when we can see the utter rage and regret in the Doctor's face and then almost immediately we see it all dissipate. Although it is Matt's delivery of lines that I tend to gravitate towards in that scene, I also find the reaction shot astounding.

 

6. The Girl Who Waited

 

 

The main thrust of the episode examines what would happen if we had to contemplate ending our existence so another version of ourselves could live on. Nothing can be more heart wrenching than seeing Rory have to choose between his two wives and the Doctor closing the door on Amy sentencing her to death. I think it is this scene at the end that we remember so fondly. Matt's whispery hoarse voice sounds so ancient as he talks to young Amelia.

 

The way he looks at her as he says "You won't remember me. Well, you'll remember me a little. I'll be a story in your head" is both uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. You can see the age and wear of an old man as he tilts his head back and closes his eyes while talking about his magical box. It guts you to hear him say "I don't belong here anymore. I think I'll skip the rewind. I hate repeats." 

 

5. The Angels Take Manhattan

 

You will have to go to 4:08 to see which scene I am referring to (although I like all five of this viewer's choices). We rarely see a time when the Doctor is at a loss for words or gestures so it's hard to watch him unravel. The first time we hear Matt say "No" is so emotional. His voice cracks as he struggles to talk with Amelia and request help from River who is encouraging her mother to take her life. We see his arms outstretched as the Doctor tries to take command of the situation. "Stop it. Just stop it." We almost believe Amy will listen to hero once again as she has in the past. We see the Doctor try reasoning and then actually pleading and begging with Amy to change her mind. That moment of shock and then recognition of what has just transpired can bring anyone to their knees. Matt kills us with that guttural scream at the end.

 

4. The Rings of Akhaten

 

 

I actually voted for this episode as my favourite in the RadioTimes survey for best Matt Smith episode. I have seen this episode more times than any other one in Matt's tenure predominantly because I love this speech so much. The images in the video do not correlate with the ones in my mind when I listen to the words, but it's impossible to find a clip strictly of Matt delivering his speech. It may surprise you that I would list it as number four the night before Time of the Doctor. I thought hard about which episodes to choose and how they should be ranked. Despite this being Matt's best speech, there are three episodes I liked a bit more overall.

 

3. Vincent and The Doctor

 

You are going to have forgive me on this one a bit.

 

 

Tears are streaming down my face as I watch this scene again. The truth of the matter is the writing and ensemble in this episode is beyond fantastic. Tony Curran gives us a riveting portrayal of  Vincent Van Gogh. Bill Nighy offers us an emotional summary of Vincent's life and legacy. Karen and Matt nail it as Van Gogh's companions.

 

Whenever people would ask me to recommend an episode of Doctor Who, Vincent always comes to mind. I was already a Van Gogh fan prior to watching this episode and have seen his paintings in galleries and museums around the world. I even have a book of all of his letters and I thought this episode had to be the greatest tribute I have ever seen to such a remarkable painter and human being.

 

2. The Eleventh Hour

 

Honestly, if it were up to me I would just include the entire episode. The only problem is that's a bit excessive. There are so many reasons why I love this episode. The self references in the episode are amazing like when the Doctor snaps his fingers to open the door and lure Amy into his TARDIS. We can't help but remember David doing it for the first time. The wedding dress hanging on Amy's wardrobe reminds us of Donna's stint as The Runaway Bride.

 

Then there is the actual writing and performance in the episode. The beautiful blend of comedy, action, and drama. There's a reason why Matt and Steven cite this episode as one of their all time favourites. It's astounding.

 

If I were to pick one pivotal moment in the episode, I would direct you to 8:26. It's not only the way Matt reaffirms his identity as the Doctor and reiterates the magnitude of the problem, it's the way his eyes search Karen's. Everything from the gaze between Matt, Karen and the apple to "Amy for twenty minutes" is perfection. The pivotal line for me is "Twenty minutes. Just believe me for twenty minutes."  

 

I was so close to dismissing the entire franchise, because I thought the show was utterly ridiculous and I couldn't find a protagonist that I enjoyed enough that would make me forget everything I hated about the series. It wasn't until I saw Matt dangling out of the TARDIS above London that I thought the franchise deserved a chance. It wasn't until he said the pivotal line that I knew he would be my Doctor.

 

I use to cite Vincent as the episode that made me a Whovian. It was the time when I decided I would commit myself entirely to this franchise and that I would probably go back and watch everything I missed just so I could come back to Vincent and watch it with a new eye. If I were to be honest with myself, I could have never gotten to Vincent if it wasn't for that belief in Matt being the Doctor in the first place. I would have never truly believed him if he didn't utter those words about twenty minutes.

 

My entire life has changed because of that line. I have not only gone back to watch everything in the reboot, but I have also watched classic episodes as well. I've written posts about how Doctor Who can help those with depression and mental illnesses and I've discussed the merits of Doctor Who for daily living. My own life has been altered by this show and it has only brought me joy and peace. 

 

1. The Day of the Doctor

 

Please be mindful there are SPOILERS in this clip

 

 

Although I don't think of this episode as a "Matt Smith episode" because I think David and Matt are equal leading men with John Hurt as the supporting actor, it is my favourite one featuring Matt. We waited in agony for this episode to come out and there were so many fiascos prior to its release. It could easily have not lived up to all the hype surrounding it, but it seemed to exceed everyone's expectations. It was and still is an example of how Matt Smith and Steven Moffat are masterful geniuses.

 

Some critics claim Matt is the most gifted actor to ever don the Doctor's clothes and I believe this episode illustrates they are right. You can see him standing next to two of the most beloved Doctors of all time, David and Tom, and they seem like hacks. They simply can't hold a candle to what Matt offers as an actor. You don't even need to like him as a Doctor to see that the nuances he brings to the role are superior. David and Tom have a tendency to rely on exaggeration (and as David admits pulling faces) to convey a certain emotion or idea. This isn't the case with Matt. He's much more subtle and therefore natural with his choices.

 

I credit Moffat with the brilliant writing in this one and giving us the Skyfall version of Doctor Who. If Skyfall was a love letter for the last fifty years of Bond then Day of the Doctor is the love letter to Doctor Who.  

 

There are so many moments I wanted to include from The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang, Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon, The God Complex, Asylum of the Daleks, Power of Three, The Snowmen, The Bells of Saint John, Nightmare in Silver and so many more. I'd love to hear what your top eleven moments are or what you have changed about the list.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



News, Videos and Personal Musings: Farewell to Matt Smith/11, Time of the Doctor and Series 8

It's that time again when I search for articles on Matt. Here is what I discovered:

 

 

 

FAREWELL TO MATT SMITH/ ELEVENTH DOCTOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have what it takes to be the Doctor? Apparently, it's all in the looks. Read here

 

TIME OF THE DOCTOR

Doctor Who Magazine reveals there will be nudity in Time of the Doctor. Read here

 

Orla Brady's interview with Den of Geek about Time of the Doctor. Read here

 

Steven Moffat talks about a new female character and how this farewell will differ from David's. Read here

 

In an interview with SFX, Moffat was pretty matter-of-fact on the topic Tennant's "I don't want to go" regeneration scene saying, "The Doctor doesn’t die. He really doesn’t. He just gets a new body. He escapes death, he evades death, so that’s a triumphant ending rather than a sad ending."

'I was trying to think about it from the point of view of what it would be like if someone told you, “When you wake up tomorrow morning, you’ll still be alive, but you won’t be the same. You will like different things, you will sound different, you will look different, and have a different temperament.” That would be utterly terrifying.That would feel not like death, but something quite mortifying – you would be horrified by the idea of just being rewritten like that. I think that’s what contemplating regeneration must be like for the Doctor. So there’s an element of that, but because it was played that way the last time we wouldn’t play it the same way this time – that would just be wrong

Read here

 

STEVEN MOFFAT AND PETER CAPALDI

Jenna Coleman says the show will move in a new direction with Peter Capaldi. Read here

 

Steven Moffat on moving on with Peter Capaldi. Read here

 

Steven Moffat on Series 8. Read here

 

An in depth look at Steven Moffat. Read here

 

PERSONAL MUSINGS

 

With the recent death of Nelson Mandela, Paul Walker and Peter O'Toole, I began to ponder why these deaths matter to us. Mandela's death is so much more significant and poignant than anything I can say other than he was our generation's Gandhi. The man may not have been a saint, but he was a beacon of hope and a symbol of strength. I could honestly write an essay on why his death matters.

 

It is not as easy to explain why the death of a fictional character or actor matters to us. The best way I can explain it is we choose these people. We choose to let the Doctor into our homes every week. We choose to pay money to go to the cinema to see our favourite stars. We choose to buy the blurays and merchandise. Although it may not always be a conscious choice, we are actively seeking these people out and trying to create a connection with them.

 

The choices are often sentimental. We buy into these characters and/or actors, because something resonates with us. Sometimes it can be as simple as gazing into a mirror. We see our own actions and hear our own words reflected back upon us and that gives us a moment to pause. Since the words or gestures are not coming from our mouth or body, it offers a glimpse into how we must sound or look to others and to ourselves. The introspections offer clarity, catharsis and hope.  

 

Sometimes these characters inspire and drive us into things we never dare dreamed. We can indulge in our fantasies, but also create blueprints for our future.   In some cases, these fictional characters and worlds influence what we do with our lives like those who pursued science and engineering due to Star Trek.  

 

They are our heroes, teachers, and/or imaginary lovers. They express things within ourselves that we fail to say aloud. They evoke our greatest desires, dreams, hope, fears, sorrows, and everything in between. They rekindle our childlike wonder and youth and yet allow us to grow wise at the same time. They take us on adventures and tell us stories about our lives and universe.  They influence the clothes we wear, the way we style our hair, the way we speak, and our perspectives of the world.

 

If it is an actor we take special interest in, we choose to stay up  and watch them being interviewed on late night talk shows or wake up early to see them on breakfast shows. We seek out information about these people and take the time to learn as much as we can about them. We can spend anywhere between minutes to hours to days to years just thinking about these people. It's no wonder why there is a sense of loss when they leave. There is a small, yet genuine, moment of mourning or grief when that character dies or is simply off the air. There is a longer grief period when the actual actor dies depending on how much we have invested in that person.   

 

So how do we say goodbye? I don't really know. We all need to process it in our own ways. In the case of some fans, they put it best to music and video.