10 PERFECT Places To Start Watching Doctor Who

The Eleventh Hour saw the dawn of a new era in the revived show. With David Tennant departing as the Doctor, relative unknown Matt Smith took the reigns, bringing a new companion, a new TARDIS, and some new series arcs with him.

As with many selections on this list, the fact that The Eleventh Hour is a soft reboot makes it an ideal first episode for newbies. But what earns it the number one slot is that it's the greatest debut story in the show's history.

Smith is instantly winning as the Eleventh Doctor, and the way his connection with Amy Pond unfolds does a remarkable job of investing you in this new Doctor Who leading duo. There's a magical quality about this episode (and the series as a whole) that feels universal, but still retains the core qualities that make Doctor Who so special.

As a bonus, The Eleventh Hour still feels modern by today's standards, so those accustomed to the latest TV won't find it jarring to start with – the production design, writing, and special effects all hold up very well 13 years later.

This episode also marked the beginning of certain plot threads that would stretch all the way to the Eleventh Doctor's final story, so it's a good one for hooking people long-term. All in all, there's no better place to start watching Doctor Who.