5. Can I Tell You A Story?"
In this episode, the Doctor finds his voice once again. Clara (among other factors) has set him back on his heels, but over the course of this episode, he regains his footing. In the climactic scene of the episode, were given a speech from the Doctor the likes of which we havent seen since The Pandorica Opens." What makes it so gripping is the combination of great writing and Matt Smiths performance. For the first time in a long time, we see the Doctor laid bare. He tells the Slumbering God, and by extension the audience: I feel, and this is who I am because of it. Take me if you dare. Smiths performance crackles with a stunning array of emotion, tinged with the unique characteristics that belong to the 11th Doctor. Clara doesnt give a great, sweeping speech in this episode, but what she does do is just as important. Hiding behind the TARDIS with Merry, she tells her a story about getting lost as a small child. This encourages Merry to return to her duties and perform the Long Song with courage, and here again we see a classic Who theme brought to the forefront: ordinary people can do extraordinary things.