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[APZonerunner]

I must be in a terrible mood, because I didn't think much of this episode at all.

Several reasons, many already mentioned. What were the beaked people? Were they robots like the little girl, if so, why did they have beaks when she didn't?

As for the 'real life' parts of the ep, the implication that they spend SO much time with the Doctor off screen made me feel distanced from Amy and Rory. There's so many adventures that we don't get to see that it kinda felt like I didn't really know them. Ten years?! Part of the joy of series 5/6 was that we were with them every step of the way, discovering as they did.

I'm sure I'll watch this season again later and love it.

This is Moffat doing something before they go that RTD later expressed regret for - there's not many gaps in the Tennant/Eccleston years for extra stories, such as audio dramas etc etc. He's deliberately leaving untold stories, I'm sure, so that there's scope for others to fill them in later in other mediums.

I didn't even watch old Who, but I listened to an Eighth Doctor audio drama on the radio once... it was great. I hope the BBC draw another line, perhaps under the RTD era stuff, and let Big Finish start doing stuff with those lot. The current license those guys hold is only for pre-2005 characters and lore.

 

[ag-my001]

Also, in the 'next time' preview, they make it very clear that angels send people back in time. Perhaps backtracking on the previous episode in order to set up Amy/Rory being sent back in time? Although I'm not really sure how big a problem that is for a guy with a time machine..

Depends on what they do in the past. Kathy and Billy had to be left there because it was their actions that got the TARDIS back to the Doctor.

Reversing everyone's heart attacks was the part that really made me roll my eyes

Yep. Reminded me of the shots of "world events" from the RTD days. Also, I'm pretty sure people don't just stand up and look around when they've had their hearts stopped for several minutes.

 

[mrklaw]

I loved the montage of them having silly adventures 'during' their anniversary party

This confused me though. They talk about wanting a real life, and show how Rory is away for months from work etc because of going away with the Doctor. Yet in that montage they are gone for 7 weeks but arrive back at the same time they left. Isn't that the point of a time machine? The whole 'we are away from our real lives' thing doesn't really work

 

[Hot Coldman]

Reversing everyone's heart attacks was the part that really made me roll my eyes

That's annoying if only because inducing mass cardiac arrest upon Earth is actually a real fucking solid plan for a Who villain. Even the Daleks never tried that shit.

 

[Mariolee]

This confused me though. They talk about wanting a real life, and show how Rory is away for months from work etc because of going away with the Doctor. Yet in that montage they are gone for 7 weeks but arrive back at the same time they left. Isn't that the point of a time machine? The whole 'we are away from our real lives' thing doesn't really work

TARDIS has a knack for being unreliable I suppose.

 

[eastmen]

This confused me though. They talk about wanting a real life, and show how Rory is away for months from work etc because of going away with the Doctor. Yet in that montage they are gone for 7 weeks but arrive back at the same time they left. Isn't that the point of a time machine? The whole 'we are away from our real lives' thing doesn't really work

Kinda hard to live your life when your 25 and then go on amazing time traveling trip to come back 5 minutes later and be 35.

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Kinda hard to live your life when your 25 and then go on amazing time traveling trip to come back 5 minutes later and be 35.

I've never even really considered that!

 

[TheOMan]

So Space is saying the season finale is airing next week. Is this true?

So there was something a bit funky about this week's opening titles:

Looks like a cube.

The Fall finale is. It will have the Christmas special and then come back next year (probably in April like Season 5 and 6) for 8 more episodes.

Thanks man.

 

[BatDan]

So Space is saying the season finale is airing next week. Is this true?

The Fall finale is. It will have the Christmas special and then come back next year (probably in April like Season 5 and 6) for 8 more episodes.

 

[mclem]

My crazy theory:

We're going through these episodes in the order that Rory and Amy are... the Doctor is *not*. The story from *his* standpoint is in a very different order. We've seen hints of that with some sideways comments (Phone charger in Henry VIII's bedroom?)

The question arises: What is the order from the Doctor's POV, and is there some significance in it? This week's titles were brighter than before - does that mean - from the Doc's POV - this week's episode came before last week's?

Were this week's titles brighter or darker than week 2's? Week 2's an awkward one, because in that the Doctor appears to meet Brian for the first time (But then again, rule one: The Doctor lies...). Week 4 fitting between 2 and 3 from the Doc's chronology would seem to make sense, though.


...of course, the question to add to this is *why*...?

 

[Hela]

I didn't care for the latest episode at all.
It'd be pretty spectacular if it was just a Doctor and the Ponds story all the way through, but of course it had to have an alien threat, which unfortunately while it started intriguingly on the whole was just laughable and the ending fell flat like nothing in Who for I don't know how long.
But then again I don't think much of all of the episodes aside from the first one.

 

[Incendiary]

I would have written the cubes to be what alien-Google uses to map out places for alien-Streetview.

I would have really liked it if that had happened. Or maybe, since all the cubes did different things, the entire cube invasion was a mass psychological experiment to test how humans reacted to things.

It would have been really neat to have a completely mundane "threat" that wasn't really a threat at all. The Doctor and Amy show up in the spaceship, ready to kick ass, and Rory and Brian are chillin' with the doctors and the head alien, talking about the results of the psychology experiment, and then everyone goes home.

 

[Jintor]

Who always needs to have a 'villain', which I think for a universe as bonked out crackers as the Whoniverse is a bit reaching. I mean, okay, occasionally they run into medical systems which just happen to resemble plague viruses or deadly quarantine systems or whatever, but is it so much of a stretch just to run into perfectly well-adjusted fellas up in the stars?

 

[isny]

Who always needs to have a 'villain', which I think for a universe as bonked out crackers as the Whoniverse is a bit reaching. I mean, okay, occasionally they run into medical systems which just happen to resemble plague viruses or deadly quarantine systems or whatever, but is it so much of a stretch just to run into perfectly well-adjusted fellas up in the stars?

The cat people?

 

[Jintor]

 

[CorvoSol]

Who always needs to have a 'villain', which I think for a universe as bonked out crackers as the Whoniverse is a bit reaching. I mean, okay, occasionally they run into medical systems which just happen to resemble plague viruses or deadly quarantine systems or whatever, but is it so much of a stretch just to run into perfectly well-adjusted fellas up in the stars?

The dinosaur guys seem to be nice. But we're also talking about a universe in which a religion was established to hunt down and kill one man. The most powerful man in the history of the universe, but still, one man.

 

[Future Foundation]

Were this week's titles brighter or darker than week 2's? Week 2's an awkward one, because in that the Doctor appears to meet Brian for the first time (But then again, rule one: The Doctor lies...). Week 4 fitting between 2 and 3 from the Doc's chronology would seem to make sense, though.

Week 4's titles were brighter than the previous three.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Finally back at my PC, wearing the flashy new avi Quick made (yay). I'll keep it on until the fall finale whee!

Edit: Also, I pretty much agree with everyone else. Excellent episode with a subpar finish, but they can't all be hits right? And I too am confused about the slightly brighter credits, with interesting colours.

And strange visual anomalies in them as well.

 

[Quick]

Finally back at my PC, wearing the flashy new avi Quick made (yay). I'll keep it on until the fall finale whee!

Edit: Also, I pretty much agree with everyone else. Excellent episode with a subpar finish, but they can't all be hits right? And I too am confused about the slightly brighter credits, with interesting colours.

The anomalies on the clouds look like the same kind that the TARDIS vanished into in the preview for next week, as well.

 

[Exterminieren]

Hang on a second.

Is that the A Town Called Mercy Stetson hanging from the wall in that gif?

 

[Vesmir]

Hang on a second.

Is that the A Town Called Mercy Stetson hanging from the wall in that gif?

Yeah it is.

 

[neoanarch]

Also, did anyone else notice how there were still bodies on the beds in the ship moments before it blew up? One can assume that the Doctor, Amy, and Rory only had a few seconds to get out before it blew up. Error or did the three of them really just disregard at least more than five people?

Yeah that was a weird thing to overlook. Although I figure it was what Rory and Amy were doing offscreen during the Shakri exposition.

 

[Alphahawk]

Who always needs to have a 'villain', which I think for a universe as bonked out crackers as the Whoniverse is a bit reaching. I mean, okay, occasionally they run into medical systems which just happen to resemble plague viruses or deadly quarantine systems or whatever, but is it so much of a stretch just to run into perfectly well-adjusted fellas up in the stars?

I would imagine that within the universe they go to a lot of points in time that don't have monsters/ We just don't see them always.

I kind of hope that Amy and Rory's second honeymoon is one of the Adventure Game episodes this season.

 

[Jintor]

I wonder if the Doctor ever just takes companions out to sporting events. The closest thing I can remember is that electro-chess thingy.

 

[Alphahawk]

I wonder if the Doctor ever just takes companions out to sporting events. The closest thing I can remember is that electro-chess thingy.

He tried taking Rose to the 2012 Olympics...

That didn't go so well for anyone (including viewers)

Spoiler

I actually didn't mind "Fear Her"

 

[radioheadrule83]

I'm happy that the Doctor likes Nintendo, but not happy that he uses the crappy 3rd party controller shells.

I use crappy controller shells now. Crappy controller shells are cool!

 

[neoanarch]

I'm happy that the Doctor likes Nintendo, but not happy that he uses the crappy 3rd party controller shells.

I use crappy controller shells now. Crappy controller shells are cool!

Rory and Amy's house. Blame them for using 15 year old systems and all.

 

[mclem]

Who always needs to have a 'villain', which I think for a universe as bonked out crackers as the Whoniverse is a bit reaching. I mean, okay, occasionally they run into medical systems which just happen to resemble plague viruses or deadly quarantine systems or whatever, but is it so much of a stretch just to run into perfectly well-adjusted fellas up in the stars?

I'd argue that Utopia is *pretty much* that. Yes, I know about the ending, and all, but the actual driver of the story *of that episode* is pretty much what you're asking for.

 

[hamchan]

Rory and Amy's house. Blame them for using 15 year old systems and all.

Or maybe the Wii U cycle actually lasts 8 years lol.

 

[neoanarch]

Or maybe the Wii U cycle actually lasts 8 years lol.

Wii-3 nano based controllers that morph into multiple configurations?

 

[mclem]

The Wii was explicitly named, wasn't it? That's a little odd, although to be fair it does help to ground the story in the real world.

 

[Gregorn]

Can someone explain the Rory and the phone charger thing?

Also why did I read speculation that Rory is the master?

 

[Monado Blade]

Also why did I read speculation that Rory is the master?

What? Tosh

 

[Box of Bunnies]

Also why did I read speculation that Rory is the master?

Everybody is the Master. And the Rani. And 100 other past villains lurking in secret before the revelation of their return.

 

[Clegg]

Also why did I read speculation that Rory is the master?

That theory is absolute rubbish.

He's obviously the Valeyard.

 

[Htown]

The Wii was explicitly named, wasn't it? That's a little odd, although to be fair it does help to ground the story in the real world.

So were flickr and twitter

 

[ultron87]

Reversing everyone's heart attacks was the part that really made me roll my eyes

That was a little too convenient for my taste as well. But then I didn't really expect Dr Who to have a 1/3 human population death event stick either.

Have there been times in the series past where that large of a group of innocent civilians died and it didn't get flipped around or reset by the end?

 

[The Elite]

That was a little too convenient for my taste as well. But then I didn't really expect Dr Who to have a 1/3 human population death event stick either.

Have there been times in the series past where that large of a group of innocent civilians died and it didn't get flipped around or reset by the end?

I really feel they shouldn't go down that road if they're simply going to fix something on that scale by episode's end. Even the tragic impact of people being temporarily dead would have a huge impact on humanity.

 

[radioheadrule83]

The right tone to go for with the heart attacks would have been to show some people recovering via CCTV (like they did) and the subsequent celebratory scenes, but have a line in there somewhere about those who couldn't be saved. No need to be specific.

So were flickr and twitter

I'm surprised nobody GIF'd the Doctor's reaction to twitter...

He was listening to Muse in the tardis a while back as well. I know he gets on with most people but I reckon me and the Doctor could really bro-out and have a party through time and space.

 

[infiniteloop]

Wow, Mercy got 8.42 million viewers.

 

[Exterminieren]

Geniune attempts are being made to make a Peter Jackson-directed episode happen.

Neil Cross has proposed a New Zealand-based episode for him to direct.

Wow, Mercy got 8.42 million viewers.

There is a distinct possibility that series 7a could be the most watched series since the show came back on average.

 

[mclem]

Wow, Mercy got 8.42 million viewers.

The overnight ratings haven't been brilliant, but the timeshifted ratings have been phenomenal. And since the BBC aren't reliant on ad revenue, the fact that people are watching it timeshifted isn't actually a problem for them like it would be for ITV.

 

[Exterminieren]

The overnight ratings haven't been brilliant, but the timeshifted ratings have been phenomenal. And since the BBC aren't reliant on ad revenue, the fact that people are watching it timeshifted isn't actually a problem for them like it would be for ITV.

Not brilliant by new Who standards, yeah, but Who is still a big Saturday presence; observe ITV hurriedly shifting X Factor away from TATM when the BBC refused to blink (heh).

We have to give a bit of context here; in 2005, in overnight ratings, Who, while still successful, often wasn't top-tier; it battled it out with Casualty, and the soaps were well and truly out of reach. Nowadays, Casualty has a good week if it gets two-thirds of Who's overnights, and Who is often nestled amongst Coronation Street and EastEnders. Coupled to the astounding timeshifts and iPlayer views, and Who is currently pretty damn close to its 2008 Journey's End peak.

 

[Quick]

Geniune attempts are being made to make a Peter Jackson-directed episode happen.

I'm 100% behind this. And Peter Jackson directing a Gaiman script would blow my mind (like one of the comments said).

 

[gabbo]

Geniune attempts are being made to make a Peter Jackson-directed episode happen.

Neil Cross has proposed a New Zealand-based episode for him to direct.

There is a distinct possibility that series 7a could be the most watched series since the show came back on average.

An episode in three parts with 7 endings? I'm in! I jest of course, but that would be amazing to see.
Liked the build up of power of three, and actually dealing with how the Doctor effects the lives of his companions, but didn't find the Alien of the week baddie to be all that scary or interesting.

Not sure I like River coming back next week (though I feel Amy gets Angel'ed given his 'you died' comment in the trailer), but perhaps that will spur on the 'Doctor WHO' arc.

 

[Dr Zhivago]

That was a little too convenient for my taste as well. But then I didn't really expect Dr Who to have a 1/3 human population death event stick either.

Have there been times in the series past where that large of a group of innocent civilians died and it didn't get flipped around or reset by the end?

End of S1, Daleks melting continents of Future Earth.

 

[Kilrogg]

Like the first few episodes, felt a bit rushed. Or anticlimactic rather.

The Doctor playing the Wii proves once and for all that it's a cool console though, just like bowties and Stetsons .

 

[Hot Coldman]

Maaaaaaaaan, I would love a Peter Jackson directed episode. Or at least an episode set somewhere as beautiful as New Zealand.

 

[RichardAM]

I liked and disliked in equal measures.

I like Brian, the dialogue between the main party, the fun stuff, the exchanges between these characters- it felt a lot like The Lodger/Closing Time episodes with James Corden.

What I didn't like was the conflict between fun/dramatic and serious as fuck that the episode seemed to be having. I did like the lower production values but it seems wasted when, in the last fifteen minutes your episode is trying to go huge.

So, bit undecided but I think it's definitely my least favourite of an otherwise awesome episode run. Still better than the horrid Vampires of Venice though

 

[The Real Abed]

I adored the whole episode except for the end when it wrapped up way too fast. I love when the Doctor tries to fit in with humans. Like The Lodger when he becomes roommates with someone in order to find out why he couldn't get the TARDIS to land. It was charming and one of my favorite standalone episodes from Eleven. (The Girl in the Fireplace from Ten and The End of the World from Nine if you we're curious.) Also The God Complex. Love that one.