Matt Smith defied every critic with his best Doctor Who moment

Matt Smith defied every critic with his best Doctor Who moment

As a long-time Whovian who has seen more than my fair share of Doctors come and go, I must say that Matt Smith’s rendition of the Eleventh Doctor is without a doubt one of the most memorable. His speech in The Pandorica Opens was nothing short of brilliant, a testament to his acting prowess and the writing genius of Steven Moffat.


“I. AM. TALKING.”

In the year 2014, Matt Smith delivers an outstanding Doctor Who speech, one that stands among the finest in recent history, or perhaps, one that could be considered among the greatest ever delivered.

Over five million people eagerly tuned in to their televisions for The Pandorica Opens, the initial installment of the season 5 finale two-part series. In this episode, the Eleventh Doctor courageously took a stance at Stonehenge and, using just one powerful speech, successfully deterred an entire alliance of his most formidable adversaries.

Initially, the exceptional storytelling by former showrunner Steven Moffat, an astonishingly captivating scene (depicting an alien force at Stonehenge!), and undeniably, a remarkable acting feat from Mr. Smith. However, upon reflection, it carried much deeper significance than just that.

Initially, there were doubts when Smith was chosen as The Doctor due to his relative obscurity and the question of whether he could live up to David Tennant’s hugely successful portrayal. However, looking back now, those concerns seem almost ludicrous because Smith has since achieved international fame and his tenure as The Doctor is now regarded as one of the most popular periods in the history of Doctor Who.

Initially, when Smith was chosen for the role, many raised concerns about his age, as he was just 26 years old. The question was whether he was too young to play the Time Lord. Despite the Doctor’s character evolving significantly since William Hartnell first brought the grumpy yet twinkling-eyed old man to life, there was still an older aspect to him. Smith needed to prove, and fast, that he could portray a character close to 900 years old.

And that he did. It certainly didn’t take until the season 5 finale for him to prove himself, with his first episode, The Eleventh Hour, proving a triumph, both in terms of viewing figures and critical reception. But his speech in The Pandorica Opens, which must be considered one of the Eleventh Doctor’s finest moments, was enough to silence every critic.

In harmony with Murray Gold’s unique composition, Eleven eloquently addressed a timeless speech, underscoring to both adversaries and spectators the enduring legacy of the Doctor.

Matt Smith defied every critic with his best Doctor Who moment

Without a strategy, no backup, and weapons that aren’t particularly effective – and to make matters worse, I have nothing valuable to risk. If you’re considering attacking the Pandorica tonight from your advanced spaceship with its high-tech weaponry, keep in mind who is standing firmly against you.

On those grim days when I halted you, think wisely before intervening. Allow someone else a chance to take action first.

Smith skillfully portrayed the Doctor in that short speech, offering us glimpses of the Time Lord who’s experienced countless lives and fought through numerous battles across time and space. He brought to life the 900-year-old traveler who’s witnessed universal conflagrations only to emerge unscathed. And he evoked the Oncoming Storm, a warrior who’s defeated countless foes without needing to fire a single bullet.

Although Eleven seemed quirky, lovable, and a bit goofy at times, it was essential to include scenes that underscored his immense power and the potential danger he posed within the universe. Simultaneously, these early moments in Smith’s acting career showcased his incredible versatility as an actor.

It might be a cliched favourite moment to choose, but there’s a reason it’s gone down in Doctor Who history as one of Smith’s finest ever Doctor Who moments.

After ten years, on his 42nd birthday, Smith finds himself and Doctor Who both having traveled a considerable distance. Remarkably, the Doctor now faces competition for Smith’s most iconic role, with the actor delivering standout performances in House of the Dragon as Daemon Targaryen and in The Crown portraying Prince Philip, leaving indelible marks on his career.

For numerous reasons such as his emotional, tear-jerking moments, his humorous quips, his imaginative soliloquies, and a scene that left critics speechless, fans of “Doctor Who” will forever recall the time when the Doctor was portrayed by Matt Smith.

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2024-10-28 13:34