September 26, 2024

Doctor Who 5x1 "The Eleventh Hour" | Full Reaction

Things just got even more Wibbly Wobbly. This really did feel like a show refresh. It is different, but our first story with Matt Smith’s 11th doctor and Amy Pond still captured the spirit of Doctor Who!

Welcome! Since this is the first episode of the series I've made this available for everyone! You will need your own copy of the episode to watch along, I purhcased the series on Amazon Prime Video.

If you enjoyed this consider becoming a member either here on Patreon or on my brand new site at casualnerdreactions.com where you can use the coupon code SMITH and get the first 2 months for 25% off and only $8.00/month after that.

I upload these episodes to Patreon, but some people prefer the youtube video player so I provide a YouTube link as well.

Enjoy!

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/diyD-XuCXMc

Comments (33)

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Amy burtonpye · March 21, 2026

Lov watching your brilliant reaction seeing this Premier of the 5th series of the show with u on your YouTube membership page it was one of my favourite doctor who openings 😁😁🙂

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Peter Powis · November 23, 2024

Loved watching the whole episode with you - first time I've done that and it was so much better than just the highlights! Although I've seen them all I can't wait to see your reaction to the rest of the series!

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Casual Nerd Reactions · November 25, 2024

Glad you enjoyed it!

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Channy H. · November 15, 2024

It was so kind of you to put this episode up for free but I also wanted to watch your reaction to the last episodes with David Tennant in order before starting Smith's era and so it was a long hard wait but it at least I didn't have to wait 12 years. It's also nice to see you enjoying this first introduction episode with Amy and the 11th Doctor and just like it is for the Doctor watching the universe through his companions eyes, in a way this is for us watching Doctor Who again though your eyes. Thanks for lending them.

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SeeJay · October 4, 2024

Just got back from vacation so playing catchup. Most people have said what I want to say already, so I'll add a little fun fact instead. The scene at the beginning with the food is an almost exact copy of a Winnie the Pooh scene featuring Tigger where he's trying lots of foods and doesn't like any of them, including the part where he throws the entire plate out. Welcome to 11, can't wait to continue this amazing journey with you.

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Casual Nerd Reactions · October 4, 2024

HAHAHA that's kind of amazing. Thank you for sharing.

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Izzy · October 1, 2024

I know this came out some days ago but got round to watching it today and after having a hard week and failing my driving theory test again yesterday this really boosted my spirits so thank you so much as always it’s great to re-experience doctor who with you:)))

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Casual Nerd Reactions · October 2, 2024

I'm so glad it could lift your spirits. This episode did that for me this morning actually :)

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Izzy · October 1, 2024

I have so many thoughts about this episode!, I love it so much! especially as our first introduction to the eleventh doctor ‘The corner of your eye/six rooms’ part gives me chills every time I absolutely love it! Rory is such a sweetheart too and Amy, Amelia pond is so just FANTASTIC can’t wait to see more reactions to other episode and without giving any spoilers next episode is one of my personal favourites! I think this season has so many great quotes but ofc the iconic one “Bow ties are cool”

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Casual Nerd Reactions · October 2, 2024

I definitely enjoyed the next one! I won't say more, but I am excited to release it tomorrow. About to go edit it now.

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Melissa Smith · September 29, 2024

So many things to absolutely love about Matt Smith's Era. I'm super excited for you!

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Guin12 · September 28, 2024

While Eccleston is my Doctor, I think the Moffat era is my favorite. He's a writing hero of mine. Love the vibes of the era an and the overarching storytelling.

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Casual Nerd Reactions · September 28, 2024

Excellent perspective!

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Drake · September 27, 2024

the huge difference between this doctor and the last ones is that they all said "run" to their companions and they did run away together, but this doctor says "run" to his enemies as hes coming for them xD

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Casual Nerd Reactions · September 27, 2024

Ooh great distinction! Curious to see if that general mindset continues.

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Drake · September 27, 2024

Matt Smith's is so good! but Amy is the best

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Mellie-B · September 27, 2024

We're here!! Matt Smith's entrance is so good!! He was so young and he just shined so bright. He did so well. I feel teary this entire episode. The music and soft lighting. It really feels fairy tale like. And I LOVE Amy. "Why did you say five minutes!?"

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Casual Nerd Reactions · September 27, 2024

Oh man that FIVE MINUTES moment hit hard. I was so impressed with Karen's performance as I was editing this, especially how expressive she is with her eyes.

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Shelbyyyy · September 27, 2024

Oh to watch that roof top scene for the first time again! It really is a highlight of the entire show for me. So powerful!

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Jimmy Jones · September 26, 2024

This is my Doctor. His theme tune is also one of my favourite pieces of music. I was won over by him with "Hello. I'm the Doctor".

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Maria Stoycheva · September 26, 2024

new people jumping in just now? what? how?? how do you skip Ten??!?! never mind, the more the merrier. but really, those people should go watch *all* your previous Whoniverse reactions - they are all excellent ^^ very excited for you to get a bit of respite with this new Doctor who, we are hoping, will be much more chill and goofy than Matt Smith's most recent role ;) (tell us when you start being able to see him as the Doctor and not as Daemon first :D )

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Maria Stoycheva · September 26, 2024

dude, we have the same shirt! so happy to see other supporters of Hoeg Law around the interwebs <3 how did you stumble onto his content? did it have anything to do with a certain high-profile court case a couple of years ago?

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Casual Nerd Reactions · September 26, 2024

lol I 100% discovered him and lawtube as a whole during that trial 🤣 I really enjoy his headlines videos and particularly this catchphrase. It's basically the only merch I've ever bought from a creator.

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Jason Jeffery · September 26, 2024

Matt Smith is my favourite doc and I hope you end the same. David Tennant was great but I don't know what it is about Smith but he makes the role his own.

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Maria Stoycheva · September 26, 2024

I have my theory on that. Chris will tell us later if he agrees. I think Matt managed, somehow, surprisingly, masterfully, to appear both young and old at the same time. his performance in that regard is amazing. also, he does that half-wink sometimes, when he is being both wise and reassuring, that is the most calming thing ever and I instantly trust him. Tennant is *my* Doctor but Matt Smith definitely has a very special place in my heart.

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Charity Konusser (the chonus) · September 26, 2024

Here's a bit of the very last Confidential from the Davies and Tennant era - Matt Smith's first day on set - STOP THE CLIP AT 4m30s so you don't see a spoiler from the stupid YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dobxbndOqd8 Here's a brief bit from Moffat about that opening scene for The Eleventh Hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNOBxUz4Wy8 And here's Doctor Who Confidential: The Eleventh Hour - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hznd3

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Casual Nerd Reactions · September 26, 2024

Thanks, I just finished editing for the day so I'm ready to sit back and enjoy Confidential!

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Jason · September 26, 2024

Yes that is Oscar winning actress Olivia Colman & Moffat has continually joked that he was stupid for giving her such a minor role lol

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Maria Stoycheva · September 26, 2024

well, they originally gave Karen Gillan a minor role and then she came back... not to mention the other dozen or so times that has happened. I wouldn't mind seeing Olivia Colman back tbh. would have been fun to see her during Tennant's run but, you know, you never know (iykyk) :D

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Jason · September 26, 2024

On set they were almond cakes in batter with custard. Always blows my mind how many people tried fishfingers and custard, mad people!

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Maria Stoycheva · September 26, 2024

oh, me and my brother tried it for sure! we didn't have custard in our country, so we waited until we visited London and bought custard there :D pretty disgusting, as you might imagine (and yet, still better than Marmite ^^)

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Jason · September 26, 2024

David Tennant met with Steven Moffat who pitched his plans for S5 over dinner. It would definitely have been David's last series but in the end David left a small voicemail politely declining the offer to stay on. 10's series 5 story would have been very similar to this beginning. The 10th Doctor would arrive in Amy's garden on the verge of regeneration, he would then be helped by little Amelia back to his broken TARDIS & fly off. She would then meet him again as a grown-up Amy Pond but she would know him but he would not have any memory of that encounter. We would then come to realise that The Doctor who crashed into Amelia's garden was a future version of The Doctor in the finale.

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Casual Nerd Reactions · September 26, 2024

Oh that would have been a great surprise had they gone this route, but I think it is fitting that the new showrunner gets a new doctor, although I can imagine a lot people were hoping David stayed a bit longer, because of how much of a cultural icon he had become in the role. Maybe that is even more for the best that he left when he did?