Doctor Who: Ranking The New Who Openers From Worst To Best
3. The Eleventh Hour
The Eleventh Hour was without a doubt a monumental piece of television. It was the first episode penned by new show-runner Steven Moffat, and the first to feature Matt Smith as The Doctor. Given the successful reign of Russell T Davies, alongside David Tennant's tenure as The Doctor, there was a lot riding on this opener to ensure the general audience stuck with the programme. Especially since the BBC weren't too confident with Doctor Who's future.
However, Matt Smith demonstrated that he was a fresh contribution, granting the show the necessary revitalisation it required. Fans, and audiences, were already acquainted with Steven Moffat's engaging, and often thought provoking, writing style (e.g. Blink and Silence in the Library), so it was exciting to see what he could do with full creative control.
Reminiscent of Spearhead from Space, The Eleventh Hour starts a clean slate, incorporating all the new elements into one giant, fun filled package that gave audiences a clear indication of what was to come with the new era. The show had regenerated from top to bottom, and the Eleventh Doctor quickly won over the heart of the fandom, alongside new companions Amy and Rory. Steven Moffat cemented a successful start to what would become a golden age for the modern era, as the Whoniverse prepared to boom across the planet.