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[JonathanEx]

The Earls Court joke is a reference to the real world. Up until February of this year, The Doctor Who Experience was there (it's now back in Cardiff), so there would've been a TARDIS parked there permanently. For you Americans, the DW Experience is literally a Who museum of sorts - they have all the Doctor's costumes on display, enemies, prosthetics, sometimes people like the guy who plays Strax appear there in full makeup and costume to entertain the kids. There's full versions of the 63, 2005 and 2010 TARDIS sets you can run around and push buttons in and such, a replica of Davros' mothership from Series 4 etc - So the joke is just that they stormed... er, a Doctor Who Exhibition.

Incidentally, every week Cult Box posts (BBC sanctioned) hints for next week's episode. They're very safe hints, fluffy things like "A number one hit from 1981 is heard" and stuff like that. One of those hints for next week is that

Spoiler

"Clara makes a reference to Jenna-Louise Coleman."

This is really interesting to me, and potentially related to this DW Experience joke and the whole 'Doctor Who' angle. I imagine the Earls Court reference was just a fun nod for those in the know, but...

Spoiler

Is something really meta about to happen?

I don't think Earls Court was about the exhibition - there is an old police box there: http://londonist.com/2011/07/a-spotters-guide-to-the-tardis-in-london.php

Unrelated note: really liked the title and how it worked. Very clever!

 

[APZonerunner]

Aha! I didn't know that was there! That's awesome too.

 

[Mr Mike]

I'm fairly sure the Earl's Court reference is to this 'real-life' Tardis, that was built and put outside one of the station's exits in 1997.

Ah, beaten

 

[JonathanEx]

Question: what the hell did the bells have to do with anything

The Bells of St John? Ah, I think that's the phone ringing: hence the shot of the St John's Ambulance logo on the TARDIS.

 

[gdt]

Oh this is back? How many episodes have I missed?

 

[Box of Bunnies]

Oh this is back? How many episodes have I missed?

None. Just started back this weekend.

 

[Diablos54]

Oh this is back? How many episodes have I missed?

Only 1, yesterday.

 

[Symphonic]

What if Clara is

Spoiler

the Doctor's name

somehow?

Loves the episode, it was just really comfortable and reminded me a lot of some of the earlier 2005 episodes.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

Only 1, yesterday.

Oh yeah, I guess they've technically missed this week's, haha.

 

[Raoh]

Yeah, that scene was stupid. Almost anybody can at least connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot. What made it worse was the password bit, where she typed it wrong once and gave up on the connection immediately.

Its one of the reasons I still have a job in desktop support. People are not as knowledgeable as you may think. Makes it hard to have a healthy technology debate difficult when people forget consumers are quite basic or even less so when it comes to their knowledge of technology. Most products and apps (like games) are aimed at them, not you or I.

As much I'd love that, and would love some new Who with Sparrow, I cannot see anyone going for tech info to this shop...

I always felt like Amy and Rory were based on those two characters.

Question: what the hell did the bells have to do with anything

Outside of the beginning, I felt like it had nothing to do with anything outside of just the opener.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

[*]The big bad had a really dumb face. Should've just left the screen a voice or something

That was a direct continuation from the christmas episode when Richard E Grant (the "really dumb face") played Dr Walter Simeon.

 

[Metalmarc]

That's not the finale. It's the anniversary special. Nowhere does it say anything about them appearing this series.

Oops my bad

 

[isny]

Solid opener (But best opener of the Moffat era IMO). The plot was a bit wishy washy, but the Doctor and Clara together are fantastic so I can look past it. Although, I was pretty hammered when I watched it so I'll have to watch it again at some point today.

Fixed.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Oops my bad

It's cool, I just got excited then

 

[Deleted member 10571]

Okay, the "where's my mommy and daddy" part honestly got me.

 

[Diablos54]

Fixed.

It's not even better than AotD, and let's not bring The Eleventh Hour into this discussion.

 

[Jintor]

That was a direct continuation from the christmas episode when Richard E Grant (the "really dumb face") played Dr Walter Simeon.

Needed a top hat and a monocle

 

[isny]

It's not even better than AotD, and let's not bring The Eleventh Hour into this discussion.

They're both missing JLC =p

 

[Quick]

Technically, it's the middle of the season. So, we've already had our premiere months ago. This is episode 7.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

I thought it was the best episode of this season. I thought the entire first half was pretty weak, but the Christmas Special (surprise surprise) and this return episode were a marked improvement.

 

[whatsinaname]

Maybe the girl in a shop is Jenny.

I think I mean this in a bad way, but this episode was the most "RTD" episode since Moffat took over, a mix of pop culture and sci-fi with a dash of cultural statement. Even the visuals were disappointingly bland. In series 5+, with the exception of the 1st episode, there was a real attempt to make even the modern day setting seems fantastical. That fairy tale atmosphere is something that I come to really love in the 11 era.

Having said that, this was still a fun episode and the next one seems to be the most alien-setting since Series 1.

I really liked the episode. This episode definitely had more of an RTD-era feel, aside from the "Doctor Who?" moment that was typical Moffat. I can't wait for the Question arc to be over so that can stop being shoehorned into every episode.

Other than that, really liked the wi-fi stations and the uploading minds into a database was suitably creepy. Jenna-Louise Coleman is super-duper attractive, and while Clara is a great character so far she's already falling into the typical Moffat female companion archetype that he used with Amy and River. I hope there's more to her that sets her apart. I'd love it if she and the Doctor have the type of relationship where she constantly flirts with him just as a friend to tease and make him uncomfortable, not because there's any sort of attraction.

http://yellowcrayonwillow.tumblr.com/post/46716989284/parallels-the-idiots-lantern-the-bells-of

 

[Savitar]

Okay, the "where's my mommy and daddy" part honestly got me.

Goes to show how long she was being controlled.

Where her "momma and daddy" went probably isn't a happy story either.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Okay, the "where's my mommy and daddy" part honestly got me.

The Great Intelligence is pretty much a serial child slaver. What an asshole.

 

[mightynine]

Plot-wise, it was just ok. I liked more of the small beats - restore factory settings, "Where's my mummy and daddy?" scene was quite creepy, the misdirection with the motorcycle helmet, "Did you completely miss the anti-grav?" - but it moved by very fast. I think I need to watch it again, perhaps not at 1 in the morning.

But Matt/Jenna together on-screen is just so enjoyable, that it lifts up a somewhat dodgy episode.

Still getting used to new TARDIS, but like how it gives the cameras the chance to do some different shots.

 

[Ein Bear]

I always felt like Amy and Rory were based on those two characters.

Wouldn't surprise me if this was the original plan, actually, before Carey Mulligan went and got all famous.

 

[Quick]

The new TARDIS console is going to take some time for me to get used to. The last design was awesome, and I really loved how bright and messy it looked.

Anyway, GIF!

"Is it an evil spirit?"

"It's a woman."

 

[Savitar]

Was I the only one to wonder how long she was calling and letting in rings if it took the monk time to get back to the monastery, get the doctor and go back.

 

[RichardAM]

Technically, it's the middle of the season. So, we've already had our premiere months ago. This is episode 7.

I was going to ask actually, is this a new season or just a continuation? How are the Beeb treating it?

Either way, AOTD was a lot better than both this and the Xmas episode

 

[Hot Coldman]

Makes more sense to rank this alongside over companion introductions.

So, that'd go 11th hr > this > Rose > Smith and Jones > Partners in Time.

 

[Symphonic]

New TARDIS is best TARDIS

 

[grimshawish]

Honestly didn't like it all that much; lots of time not spent doing much. Like have the Great Intelligence as the over-arching villain, growing up to be a big sentient threat for The Doctor I guess; probably leading to the 50th.

Next weeks looks very very interesting though and I really like Clara.

 

[Mariolee]

I was going to ask actually, is this a new season or just a continuation? How are the Beeb treating it?

Either way, AOTD was a lot better than both this and the Xmas episode

It's being treated as a new season that has plot threads beginning from the first part of the season. But it's still regarded as part of Series 7. People have just been calling it Series 7b. I also though the Xmas episode was subpar, but whatever.

New TARDIS is best TARDIS

I had reservations of it at first, especially in the Christmas episode, but I think it really is the best TARDIS so far. The way the camera floats through it is so different than what we've seen before, and there's a lot more breathing room.

 

[The Technomancer]

I was going to ask actually, is this a new season or just a continuation? How are the Beeb treating it?

Either way, AOTD was a lot better than both this and the Xmas episode

Oh yeah, agreed, AOTD was pretty great even if it didn't explore its full potential. The christmas episode was incoherent in places and this was decent if unimaginative.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Do we know yet if the 50th and the finale to this season are linked in any particular way?

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

I had reservations of it at first, especially in the Christmas episode, but I think it really is the best TARDIS so far. The way the camera floats through it is so different than what we've seen before, and there's a lot more breathing room.

I love how the different sections above the console rotate. I thought it was a nice touch.

 

[Mariolee]

Do we know yet if the 50th and the finale to this season are linked in any particular way?

We know shit about either.

 

[mclem]

Maybe the girl in a shop is Jenny.

Maybe the 'girl in the shop' is #12... Now that'd throw a spanner in the works!

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

We know shit about either.

We haven't even got a title for the finale have we?

 

[infiniteloop]

Do we know yet if the 50th and the finale to this season are linked in any particular way?

i would be surprised if there wasnt a lead in to the finale in ep. 13, even if it's at the very end.

 

[JonathanEx]

I was going to ask actually, is this a new season or just a continuation? How are the Beeb treating it?

Either way, AOTD was a lot better than both this and the Xmas episode

Official BBC name is "Series 7 Part 2", listing Part 1 separately with its own episode count. So, they're sort of treating it as both.

 

[RichardAM]

Official BBC name is "Series 7 Part 2", listing Part 1 separately with its own episode count. So, they're sort of treating it as both.

Sounds like an easy way to make more money through DVD sales again

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Maybe the 'girl in the shop' is #12... Now that'd throw a spanner in the works!

 

[RetroMG]

I liked it. It wasn't super amazing, but it was a solid and fun episode. The bit at the end with the "Where is my mummy and daddy?" was super creepy.

My wife disliked the Doctor using the tablet to alter the guy's emotions. She felt that was a line the Doctor shouldn't have crossed. I kind of agree, but we are seeing a darker side to the Doctor these days.

Clara is adorable. JLC was an inspired choice for the new companion.

And from the earlier: Eleventh Hour>Rose>Bells of Saint John>Partners in Crime>Smith and Jones

(Do we count Partners in Crime as Donna's first episode, or Runaway Bride? I don't think it actually changes my list either way. I actually quite like Partners in Crime, but it's not as good as the three ahead of it. Runaway Bride was lousy, but not as bad as Smith and Jones.)

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

My wife disliked the Doctor using the tablet to alter the guy's emotions. She felt that was a line the Doctor shouldn't have crossed. I kind of agree, but we are seeing a darker side to the Doctor these days.

It was either that or Clara & everyone else being stuck in a computer forever. We're shown not 5 minutes later that everyone's broken free of the Great Intelligence's control anyway, so The Doctor was doing it for his own good.

 

[pxleyes]

Maybe the 'girl in the shop' is #12... Now that'd throw a spanner in the works!

Nice. I like.

 

[Symphonic]

So did people die from being downloaded? Kinda dark.

 

[Hot Coldman]

So did people die from being downloaded? Kinda dark.

Well, if their bodies had been destroyed, sure

a creepy angle they ignored was all the people who woke up six foot under

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Well, if their bodies had been destroyed, sure

a creepy angle they ignored was all the people who woke up six foot under

They did make reference to that IIRC, "The one's who have bodies left to go back to" or something to that effect.

 

[Symphonic]

Well, if their bodies had been destroyed, sure

a creepy angle they ignored was all the people who woke up six foot under

Yeah my friend mentioned this while we were watching. Makes it one of the darker episode conclusions.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Yeah my friend mentioned this while we were watching. Makes it one of the darker episode conclusions.

It was never about saving the world, anyway. The Doctor was very narrow-minded with this one- it was all about Clara. So it's a fitting conclusion.