Doctor Who: Every Doctor Ranked From Worst To Best

Matt Smith was basically a child when he took over the role of the ageless Time Lord, being just 26 when he filmed his first scenes in the TARDIS. Audiences were nervous. Sure, young actors had played the part before, but never this young. How could such a wee lad depict the gravitas of the Doctor?

But then... Smith blew them all away.

His tenure saw the expansion of the franchise to the States, which, in turn, led to a wider audience. The whole feel of the show changed, taking on a more fairytale aesthetic. Eleven's relationships - Amy, Rory, River, and Clara - all mixed comedy and tragedy to a perfect degree, though his final series left a little to be desired. That said, Eleven ended on a high, with the incredible one-two punch of The Day of the Doctor and The Time of the Doctor, coupled with a regeneration scene that shattered hearts across the world.

"Raggedy man... goodnight."

Smith's tenure saw some of the most intricate writing for the franchise, which did at times veer a little too complex. That said, the actor rose to the challenge, bouncing from whimsy to fury with an ease beyond his years. Few will forget his turn in A Good Man Goes To War, where he was tearing apart "Colonel Runaway" in one scene, and speaking baby in the next.

Whether you're looking at the stories in his era, or the character himself, the Eleventh Doctor has it all. To us, he is the definitive Doctor. Geronimo!