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[Sober]

Love these stand alone episodes That still lead to the leaving of the ponds.

I like how the format has kinda changed from him carrying around a companion or two and the show only showing us some adventures, but it ends when Something Bad Happens and they have to part. Now it's more like the Doctor goes around having fun, sometimes pops in and asks in the Ponds want some adventuretime and then they're off. And other times he goes solo or meets other people.

Kinda feel like they're leaving as big a gap as they can so Matt Smith can do audiobooks or what have you even after he leaves.

 

[Arment]

Amazing.

Wow. That was the best episode in years, possibly since The Waters of Mars. I just don't even know how to process all of these emotions. I've always been a Whithouse fan, but this was just so far beyond his previous efforts. The first one that really felt like "From the Creator of Being Human".

The emotional drama, the maturity, the themes, everything was top notch. Jex was a wonderful and complex character both as a villain (but not really) and foil to the Doctor, and the Gunslinger was so good. I loved how both of them evolved over the episode. Isac also gave a great presence in his leadership and death, and evoking the themes of mercy. Seeing this follow on right from last week makes perfect sense (and I'm now completely happy with how Dinosaurs on a Spaceship ended). The Doctor goes through great turmoil and growth, and even Amy was bearable here.

Just incredible. A true tour de force.

I really loved it too. The Doctor pulling a gun? Holy shit. Amy calling The Doctor on his bullshit right after was equally as awesome.

1 > 3 > 2 so far. That 2 is going to be moving right a lot I hope.

 

[Caelus]

Awesome episode. The Doctor was REALLY badass in this one, especially when he took the role of Marshall. I hope Kahler-Tek will appear again to assist The Doctor.

 

[The Technomancer]

It might just be my perception but Smith seems much less deliberately wacky this season, and that's a welcome change.

 

[Incendiary]

Upon further thinking about it, I really liked this episode. The moral grey area, the no clear villain, building on the idea about The Doctor's mercy and how he always negotiates. The only thing it was missing was Rory, really, although this episode was much more about The Doctor than his companions.

As much as I hate to say it, this five-episode run I think is good for the series because even though they're all stand-alone episodes, this set of episodes is really starting to feel like the closest thing we'll get to a "serial" in New Who. It's not one story, but the same themes are carrying over each week between The Doctor and The Ponds, and aside from the forced divorce crap in the opener all the episodes have been really solid in the overall thematics and characters. I especially love the continuing theme of people searching for "the doctor" over "The Doctor."

 

[hateradio]

This series is interesting. What some consider a great episode, others think it mediocre.

Spoiler

I'm kinda on the mediocre side.

 

[R_thanatos]

It might just be my perception but Smith seems much less deliberately wacky this season, and that's a welcome change.

he has matured !!

not that i mind .

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

It might just be my perception but Smith seems much less deliberately wacky this season, and that's a welcome change.

Agreed. I've been really impressed by Smith in the last couple of episodes. The wackiness is toned down, and more importantly, much less self-referential compared to last year. He's brought out his serious drama chops in the last couple of episodes.

 

[Goldrush]

I agree it wasn't all that, but:

1. I think the point here is that the Doctor is still mighty guilty about what he did. He feels he ought to be punished, and he's projecting that onto Jeks. It's not just the Master's and the Dalek's victims that deserve justice, it's his own victims too. But the Doctor, as we all know, is ultimately fairly selfish so he's having real trouble reconciling his emotions at that point. That was the best part to me, the Doctor dragging Jeks over the line and the fallout of that (although the out-of-place comedy with Amy, I could have done without that).

That's the impression I got too. Almost every single conversation between the two is about the Doctor moreso than Alien Doctor.

The part that doesn't make sense to me is Rory and Amy turning down the Doctor's repeated offer to travel. The Doctor obviously wants them to stay. Amy sees why he needs a companion and complain about him not coming back. Yet they just leave him to his lonely life at the end of the episode.

 

[Error]

Love it, enjoyed it more than last weeks. So far I'm really enjoying this season.

 

[The Real Abed]

I enjoyed this one more than the last two. I really did. But maybe I just really like futuristic westerns.

Back to the Future III
A Fistful of Data's
Gunmen of the Apocalypse
All of Firefly and Serenity

Love it all.

 

[maharg]

That's the impression I got too. Almost every single conversation between the two is about the Doctor moreso than Alien Doctor.

The part that doesn't make sense to me is Rory and Amy turning down the Doctor's repeated offer to travel. The Doctor obviously wants them to stay. Amy sees why he needs a companion and complain about him not coming back. Yet they just leave him to his lonely life at the end of the episode.

Because they want to stop waiting. What's being set up here is a pretty rare thing: The Doctor's companions leaving because they want to, not because the Doctor abandons them.

 

[Mariolee]

What? I didn't like this episode much compared to the last two. I mean, still good but was I the only one that felt it was so goddamn predictable? "I've given this town all the good left in me" didn't hit anyone as him being the bad guy as well as the countless guilty stares into space? I also felt the characters were a bit cliche, even if the circumstances surrounding them were of course unique, I saw from a mile away that the robot guy would be the monster with a heart of gold. I dunno, I was simply really bored watching this. Some of the dialogue and blocking in this was a bit awkward too. That's not to say there isn't a lot to love in this episode, I just didn't like it too much.

Of course Kuwabara would love the episode that I dislike however.

Because they want to stop waiting. What's being set up here is a pretty rare thing: The Doctor's companions leaving because they want to, not because the Doctor abandons them.

That's a fantastic way of putting it. I did like how they noted how their friends would notice them aging faster than them, as I had been wondering about that for awhile lol

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I am hyped as hell for next week's episode. Always wanted a slow character study of the three's basic relationship, and this seems perfect for it.

 

[Lonestar]

Decent episode, but wish Browder didn't get killed off. Not that they'd let him be a companion, but dammit, he needs more roles.

 

[maharg]

Decent episode, but wish Browder didn't get killed off. Not that they'd let him be a companion, but dammit, he needs more roles.

Hey, in Who actors who's characters die have pretty good odds of becoming companions.

(but they probably can't afford Browder)

 

[Mariolee]

Speaking of Browder, I wish they put more emotional stuff into his death. They had a sort of good thing going with the Doctor crying a bit, but then his arm fell to the ground way overdramatically, and a minute later Amy was wisecracking. Sure, his death was what was pulling the Doctor from killing Jex, but the emotional resonance that Kuwabara is touting just wasn't there for me.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Speaking of Browder, I wish they put more emotional stuff into his death. They had a sort of good thing going with the Doctor crying a bit, but then his arm fell to the ground way overdramatically, and a minute later Amy was wisecracking. Sure, his death was what was pulling the Doctor from killing Jex, but the emotional resonance that Kuwabara is touting just wasn't there for me.

It usually isn't there for anyone BUT Kuwabara. But, he is the variable that balances out this thread. Someone always has to love what most of us hate. To hate what most of us love. He brings balance to the universe.

 

[maharg]

Like I said, it was golden age SF to the core. That's what Kuwabara likes, and that's what Doctor Who has been for most of its run. There's more focus on the execution under Moffat's run and arguably less on 'high' concept (for SF) ideas, and that's almost certainly why he doesn't like it as much.

 

[The Technomancer]

Like I said, it was golden age SF to the core. That's what Kuwabara likes, and that's what Doctor Who has been for most of its run. There's more focus on the execution under Moffat's run and arguably less on 'high' concept (for SF) ideas, and that's almost certainly why he doesn't like it as much.

That's basically my most fundamental problem with the last few series as well. I recognize the increase in production values and even the writing in certain respects (although I'm adamant the writing has gone downhill in others) but I don't quite find myself as interested as I used to be, and its the area where I agree with Kuwabara the most.

 

[maharg]

I'm pretty happy with both, personally. I only really dislike the more golden-agey stuff when it goes completely batshit, as in Last of the Timelords.

 

[Ventilaator]

It likely meant absolutely nothing, but the fact that they specifically called out the Master in the "Showing mercy sucks" speech made me wonder if they have plans to bring him back. There are so many enemies to choose from, but he just said "The Daleks and the Master".

 

[Box of Bunnies]

Last couple episodes were pretty good, though Dinosaurs was the better of the two.

Shame to have a western and get no clips worthy of adding to this though.

Spoiler

Any excuse to post it some more, really

 

[Beaniedude]

Did anyone else find it strange when they first entered Mercy. They're walking through town and Amy goes "Doctor." and then kinda trails off.
Then the Doctor starts going on about his christmas list.

 

[Jintor]

I assumed she's just y'know... starts off but then remembers who he is and the liklihood of him just ignoring her

 

[StalkerUKCG]

Medicore Episode again, So far only the Dalek season opener has been good. The fact we only have 2 episodes left as part of this run is pretty depressing.

The next episode looks okay I suppose more interested in that than i was for either of the last 2 and then we have got the Manhattan episode which could either be the best of the season or a real stinker depending on how the Angels are portrayed.

They pretty much sucked in the "Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone" 2 parter but were really well done in blink. (which makes me think they work best as a Monster of the week type villian)

Hopefully the 2nd half of this season is better than this half. Saying that my general reception of Moffat's Era has been 1-3 great episodes with fluff filling the void.

These split seasons really suck as well.

 

[Ventilaator]

They pretty much sucked in the "Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone" 2 parter but were really well done in blink. (which makes me think they work best as a Monster of the week type villian)

They work best in Blink. That's it. Moffat should stop using them again and again and completely destroying their scariness in the process. Midnight>Blink at this point.

 

[maharg]

They work best in Blink. That's it. Moffat should stop using them again and again and completely destroying their scariness in the process. Midnight>Blink at this point.

Again and again? Seriously?

 

[Ventilaator]

Again and again? Seriously?

Two agains. With the upcoming episode they've been brought back twice. I'm not technically wrong!

anyways...that's two times too many.

 

[Beaniedude]

I never understood how in Blink they sent their victims back in time and then in every single other iteration after that they just kill everyone.

 

[Axiom]

I think this and Dinosaurs are both superior to Asylum and I greatly prefer these more stand-alone episodes than the previous season.

The show feels very different now though, even compared to Matt Smith's first and I can certainly see why I'm noticing so many people - big fans, who just aren't into it like they used to be.

Something they'll watch, but not a 'set a timer so I don't miss a second' type viewing as it had been. Though I think with all the breaks, people might also just be getting used to not having Doctor Who around for long and thus it doesn't get to build that momentum.

 

[Locke_211]

It's getting better audience figures and appreciation figures than Season 6, so clearly the new approach is working. I just personally happened to love the overly-convoluted arc from Season 6 and so am slightly less engaged this time around. Hard to argue that it's not the right decision for the long-run of the show, though, to stop it becoming increasingly culty.

 

[Alphahawk]

That episode was really good. Better than the trailer made it seem anyway. I really love seeing the darker side of the Doctor sometimes.

Also the line "His name is Susan and he wishes you'd respect his life choices" had me literally LOL.

Next week's episode looks great also.

 

[APZonerunner]

I am a bit bored of the Angels, really. The problem is I feel like the more I see of them the less scary I find them. They could stand to gain something, though, if they are the ones who separate him from Rory/Amy.

I think Moffat is acutely aware of what his "legacy" on the show will be - more than RTD was, as he had an assured legacy already - he bought it back! While RTD never really bothered to bring "his own" stuff back - repeat monsters were always old ones or cameos - Moffat wants to ensure one of his creations outlives him, and has picked the most popular one to flesh out and build.

The Ood's freqency towards the end was sort of an accident - other people wanted to use them, not RTD, and they were an accidental creation anyway (The Impossible Planet was meant to feature another family branch of the Slitheen as the 'slave race', but RTD vetoed it), but the Angels seem to have this carefully curated legacy. Sadly, knowing the way they then act in their two-parter, what they're up to in Blink feels less scary and interesting now. I'm still loving them and think Time of Angels is a fucking fantastic episode - I love the ideas of the religious army and things like that - I just find it marginally less interesting, I suppose. Which isn't the end of the world! Both eras have faults.

Like I say - by killing/getting rid of the companions of 3 years, they stand a chance to redeem some fear points, though. My theory/prediction:

Spoiler

Either Amy or Rory gets zapped back to New York's past around the time when River's there. Some timestream nonsense happens that prevents them just going and picking whoever it was up in the TARDIS without causing paradoxes, so the other goes back and they stay there together raising River. Due to Timestream nonsense he can't see them any more, as with Rose, and flies away I hope so, anyway - it would be cool to see them use those powers again.

Moffat clearly does hear criticism from fans - look at how they basically said "whoops!" over that new Dalek design and used RTD era ones this year - and the few New Paradigm Daleks they did have in the episode had been subtly redesigned so their 'hunchback' that was so hated was less pronounced. A lot of people complained about the Angels turning into more actiony villains, so maybe we'll get a more softly-softly approach to the Angels this time around, like Blink.

 

[StealthGoblin]

I think Amy needs to die to be honest. It would have a lot of impact if the angels actually did finish her off.

 

[Dmax3901]

I liked this one better than the first ep I think, and far better than the dinosaur one. Script was better, the emotional scenes had far more weight, especially those with Amy.

 

[The Elite]

I wouldn't be worried about this half only being five parts if I knew the show was coming back in January soon after the Christmas special. I'm a little concerned it won't come back until Easter.

 

[Hot Coldman]

I wouldn't be worried about this half only being five parts if I knew the show was coming back in January soon after the Christmas special. I'm a little concerned it won't come back until Easter.

I'm imagining they'll air the 50th Anniversary special(s?) mid-year, so an Easter return would likely get in the way of that. I'd expect Jan/Feb. It's 8 episodes, remember.

 

[MesserWolf]

What? I didn't like this episode much compared to the last two. I mean, still good but was I the only one that felt it was so goddamn predictable? "I've given this town all the good left in me" didn't hit anyone as him being the bad guy as well as the countless guilty stares into space? I also felt the characters were a bit cliche, even if the circumstances surrounding them were of course unique, I saw from a mile away that the robot guy would be the monster with a heart of gold. I dunno, I was simply really bored watching this. Some of the dialogue and blocking in this was a bit awkward too. That's not to say there isn't a lot to love in this episode, I just didn't like it too much.

Of course Kuwabara would love the episode that I dislike however.



That's a fantastic way of putting it. I did like how they noted how their friends would notice them aging faster than them, as I had been wondering about that for awhile lol

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I am hyped as hell for next week's episode. Always wanted a slow character study of the three's basic relationship, and this seems perfect for it.

I liked the episode but definetely less then the previous two.I agree with the post above, this episode, despite featuring the "far west", cyborg and aliens felt not particularly orginal and a bit dull.

What was interesting is that the series seems to be more and more set on the Doctor being more and more troubled by his dark side (which I very much prefer).

 

[gabbo]

Yeah that was a bit weird. I noticed it too.

She noticed towns people were starting to follow them. She even looked a Rory for confirmation, how was this confusing? The Doctor ignored/didn't notice it

Another good episode, Ben Browder can do no wrong it seems, even in

Spoiler

a moustache

. Glad Amy called the Doctor on the killing, but am also glad the ordeal came to the forefront in the first place, what with his 'mystique' causing so much trouble for everyone the last few series. It had the right levels of silliness and serious, and actually pulled it off, something it hadn't done well to this point in Smith's run.

Also, the conversation with the Horse, that was excellent work on Matt's part.
Hopefully his granddaughter wasn't named after a transgendered horse...

As someone whose forgotten as much about the show as I probably remember, has he come into contact with that race before?

Next week's episode looks to explore some issues/themes I've been hoping to see brought up for a while in a non-comical way (or Martha). Asylum was an okay start and it's been better each week since. I'm still of the opinion that a straight up serial could work, but it would have to be one set story with no non-arc episodes in the mix. Until such time as that happens (50th maybe?) these only semi connected episodes are damn good.

 

[Jintor]

Damnit, Who is so easy to crossover with other series. I was getting Firefly visions in my head that entire episode.

 

[isny]

She noticed towns people were starting to follow them. She even looked a Rory for confirmation, how was this confusing? The Doctor ignored/didn't notice it

Another good episode, Ben Browder can do no wrong it seems, even in

Spoiler

a moustache

. Glad Amy called the Doctor on the killing, but am also glad the ordeal came to the forefront in the first place, what with his 'mystique' causing so much trouble for everyone the last few series. It had the right levels of silliness and serious, and actually pulled it off, something it hadn't done well to this point in Smith's run.

Also, the conversation with the Horse, that was excellent work on Matt's part.
Hopefully his granddaughter wasn't named after a transgendered horse...

As someone whose forgotten as much about the show as I probably remember, has he come into contact with that race before?

Next week's episode looks to explore some issues/themes I've been hoping to see brought up for a while in a non-comical way (or Martha). Asylum was an okay start and it's been better each week since. I'm still of the opinion that a straight up serial could work, but it would have to be one set story with no non-arc episodes in the mix. Until such time as that happens (50th maybe?) these only semi connected episodes are damn good.

Well Rory's dad coming back in the next episode kinda makes it connected. I'm glad we get to see more of Arthur Dent, I mean Arthur Weasly, I mean Mr Pond...=p

 

[Mariolee]

I never understood how in Blink they sent their victims back in time and then in every single other iteration after that they just kill everyone.

This.

 

[BatDan]

Again and again? Seriously?

I know right? The Angels have had two stories. Why people claim they're overused is beyond me.
"BUT BUT CAMEOS" Oh shut up. That's like calling "Frontier in Space" a Dalek episode because they show up at the very end.

 

[Quick]

I never understood how in Blink they sent their victims back in time and then in every single other iteration after that they just kill everyone.

In Blink, those Angels were weak and that was the most they could do. The Angels after were a full arsenals and 100% healthy.

 

[Ventilaator]

In Blink, those Angels were weak and that was the most they could do. The Angels after were a full arsenals and 100% healthy.

Isn't it the other way around? I would think that time travel is a more powerful ability than killing someone.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

In Blink, those Angels were weak and that was the most they could do. The Angels after were a full arsenals and 100% healthy.

But it is isn't as scary. Them wanting to kill you is one thing, but them displacing you in time to feed off the energy left over just seems a helluva lot creepier.

Having said that, there were things in Time of Angels that made them even scarier. Like the videotape of the angel. And that one shot where you could see them actually move.

 

[King of the Potato People]

But it is isn't as scary. Them wanting to kill you is one thing, but them displacing you in time to feed off the energy left over just seems a helluva lot creepier.

Having said that, there were things in Time of Angels that made them even scarier. Like the videotape of the angel. And that one shot where you could see them actually move.

This ruined their mystery a lot.

 

[twobear]

And that one shot where you could see them actually move.

I thought that took off a lot of the mystery. I always sort of supposed that they only look like stone angels when they're staying still, and they're some kind of Lovecraftian horror when they move.

 

[ag-my001]

This ruined their mystery a lot.

Yep, rewatches of Blink are fun because there are shots where they should be moving but aren't, leading to the conclusion that the camera counts. Makes it more fun when the camera suddenly cuts away, removing its 'protection'.

The cherub blowing out the candle in the trailer looks creepy as hell, both for the contrast of innocence and danger, as well as the realization you can't see the breath, much like with the angel turning off the light by pointing at it.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Isn't it the other way around? I would think that time travel is a more powerful ability than killing someone.

Yeah, this is right. The Angels in "TToA/F&S" were on a mission, they'd be waiting around for the Byzantium for centuries and were weak. The Angels do send people back in time as a way to feed off their potential energy or some timey-wimey nonsense, but at the time the Angels weren't fucking around- they wanted to reach the Byzantium engines pronto. Especially with the crack in time closing in. Snapping necks just got the job done, and let's face it, killing a dude is always going to be a good way to freak out the non-Doctor characters.