Surprised at some of the reaction to the series so far, but then Who fans really are a funny lot. I really felt last nights episode gave us a chance to see Matt's Doctor shine. I loved his attack on the Dalek, from the smashing of it's tray to the full on scary physical, and felt he handled the fun well ("Dorabella?? Oh yeah, its a lovely name."), alongside the quieter, more intense moments.

But saying all that means nothing if he isn't grabbing you on a deeper level. Ecclestone sometimes was a very external Doctor, and not one for grabbing himself or you inside so much (though I loved him in the role). Tennant was very good at grabbing at the heart strings, sometimes a little too much imho, but again I thought he was brilliant. Smith seems to me to be excellent at grabbing all of that in the same role. I'm absolutely loving his performance.

It's the little things I'm enjoying. Like when he holds objects up close to his eyes as if he should be wearing thick-rimmed glasses, or the professor style wringing of his hands, or his simply awkward looking stance; all limbs and lankiness. I love the fact that he can be grand and powerful, without overstating or overselling it, or sending it up. The Daleks reveal last night really hinted at his strength imho. Can't wait for more.

So that's my little fan letter to Matt. Just to balance out the negativity of the few miseries yomping about the place of late. Matt, you're a star as the Doc!

He is working out rather well, isn't he?

I totally agree with the bit in bold.
He seems a bit gangly and clumsy sometimes, which I think is quirky.... but there is also strength and precision

I am liking him apart from his Mr Bean holding up of hands and the nasally laugh

"You. Are. My. Enemy."


Not even David Tennant was as angry as that. I think Matt Smith could be the angriest Doctor ever! His anger is powerful because Smith is a less manic Doctor than Tennant so when Smith's Doctor gets angry it really shows!

There's a lot of light and dark with Smith's Doctor. He's charming, eccentric, angry, calm, all rolled into one. It's hard to predict how he'll react.

I think he is the best Doctor of new era Who.

nasally laugh?

I don't think it's remotely nasally.

Anyway, he is off to a good start for me...

He is doing very well.

YES! You've hit the nail on the head! He's now unpredicatable. You felt with the last days of RTD and Tennant that you were just always waiting for a Doctor revelation and it would all be OK. Now you just don't know what to expect. There's a lt of things rolled into his performance, and it's very early days yet too.

The 'HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA' he keeps doing it sounds very nasally to me.

I prefer a quick 'HA!' from the Doctor.

The Mr Bean thing is annoying me more though, all I can see is Bean when he walks along with his hands up to his waist.

Apart from that I quite like him.

Funniest thing I've read today.

I think he is brilliant and I think he is getting better as it goes along whereas many people on here think he is getting worse every episode if he stays like this he will definately be my favourite Doctor ever.

I don't get the Mr Bean analogy either. I like his quirky mannerisms if thats what you mean.

Watch him closely, then watch Bean, you can compare the two. Both hold their hands up at waist height with fists lightly clenched.It is exactly the same mannerism and whenever he does it all I can see is Bean.

Then again, R A was quite good as the Doctor

I don't really need to since I like Matt's mannerisms just fine.

I really like him so far. In fact, the only thing I can really fault in the episodes so far is that the series arc is so prominent as to be already quite boring.

On the side debate: Smith's Doctor is not particularly Bean like, but I do see what is being got at. I seriously considered making a catty remark here along the lines of being unable to appreciate Mr Bean on account of having a fully developed right frontal lobe, but it'd be a bit trolly wouldn't it?

This is what I adore about 11 - he keeps you on edge as he is! A very well written incarnation methinks.

Agreed! I'm loving quirky Matt.

Oh, and I loved DT's "Ha!" and I'm loving MS's "Ha haaaa" too.

In terms of Classic Who, Matt is easily the most "Doctor-ly" of the new three. Certainly gets my thumbs up. Any reservations I have are related to the scripts which, occasionally, seem to be forcing an uneven performance.