Matt Smith is a chaotic little shit as Damon Targaryen on House of the Dragon. It’s interesting watching what fuels him, how he inspires loyalty in others, and how charismatic he is. There’s also the ship with his niece/wife. There’s a tenderness between Damon and Rhaenyra born out of trust in a truly tumultuous world like Westeros. And people are enamored with them because of how compelling they are, even though that would be problematic IRL.
Keeping all of this in mind, Matt Smith’s best role isn’t in House of the Dragon. It’s as The Doctor in Doctor Who.
His time as The Doctor is truly one of the best runs of this beloved series. And this is coming from someone who didn’t start with Smith as their first doctor. That was Christopher Eccleston. But I would still argue that his Doctor was compassionate, charming, and seemed to have this light inside of him that others were attracted to despite all the pain he carried. And at the same time, his Doctor was brutal, full of rage, and so much sorrow.
Matt Smith’s time as The Doctor also had some of the most compelling storylines and episodes. “The Angels Take Manhattan” still makes me absolutely bawl. And that’s 100% due to the family that he formed with his companions Amy and Rory. “Vincent and The Doctor” was heartbreaking and emphasized that we’ll never know the effect we have on the world. So just create the things you want to. That one especially got me for Bill Nighy’s speech at the end. And “The Doctor’s Wife” went and took something iconic within the series and redefined it in a way that felt fresh but welcoming to new fans.
In a lot of ways, Smith’s Doctor has similarities with House of the Dragon’s Daemon Targaryen.
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Daemon and The Doctor both know how to quiet the storm and release it during the right moment. They also have the kind of laugh that lets you know they are up to mischief and are absolutely delighted in what’s happening. And they both are fierce protectors of their families. When it comes to romance, The Doctor has a complex, heartbreaking, and powerful relationship with River Song that is just as compelling as Daemon’s relationship with Rhaenyra. And that speaks to the amazing acting skills of Matt Smith and how he can play a tall giraffe of a man complaining about not being ginger again and a man with a bad white-haired wig who still manages to pull it off while being the biggest baddie in Westeros.
If you’re still reading this and need something to watch after House of the Dragon Season 3 ends, I implore you to give Smith’s run as The Doctor on Doctor Who a chance. It’s not perfect and there are some bumps along the road, just like in House of the Dragon. But it shows a duality to Smith in the same way that people were shocked at David Tennant playing Kilgrave on Jessica Jones and also being absolutely delightful as The Doctor in the previous reincarnation.
And if you’re worried about all the lore that you will have to know before starting Smith’s run on Doctor Who, don’t fret. That’s the magic of Doctor Who. You can really start with any Doctor that you want. And there are plenty of videos online to catch you up if you feel like you need to know everything. But watching Matt Smith as The Doctor is something that no one should miss out on because he’s exemplary, ridiculous, and the kind of oncoming storm you’ll never forget.
House of the Dragon Season 3 is now airing on HBO Max.
