I did enjoy the Doctor getting angry with Ginge, but overall I didn't think the episode was anything that different to what we've seen countless times during the RTD years. Dare I say it was almost formulaic?
Doctor Who... Page 423
Quote: chipolata @ April 10 2010, 11:11 PM BSTDare I say it was almost formulaic?
As in, the Doctor arrives somewhere, spots something terrible going on, has it all sorted by the end? 
For me, if you were to put this side by side with RTD's second episode; which similarly took the new companion on her first adventure to the far future on a spaceship orbitting the Earth, Moffat's take is leagues ahead; just the oddness and the ideas and the execution. I think last week's episode was superior, basically this was too constrained by the time length. There was too much jostling about too comfortably fit a forty-five minute episode.
But what ideas! And having the whole of Britain riding on the back of a massive space whale!! Brilliantly bonkers.
Quote: Nil Putters @ April 10 2010, 10:58 PM BST
I know. I know. I hated it last week but this week when I watched on iPlayer once the theme came on I was like "Yehhh man!"
Quote: Gavin @ April 10 2010, 11:51 PM BSTI know. I know. I hated it last week but this week when I watched on iPlayer once the theme came on I was like "Yehhh man!"
The titles are ok, it's just the music I don't like.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 10 2010, 11:37 PM BSTAs in, the Doctor arrives somewhere, spots something terrile going on, has it all sorted by the end?
For me, if you were to put this side by side with RTD's second episode; which similarly took the new companion on her first adventure to the far future on a spaceship orbitting the Earth, Moffat's take is leagues ahead; just the oddness and the ideas and the execution. I think last weeks episode was superior, basically this was too constrained by the time length. There was to much jostling about too comfortably fit a forty-five minute episode.
But what ideas! And having the whole of Britain riding on the back of a massive space whale!! Brilliantly bonkers.
Not to mention iconic London transport logos, phone booths and Cockney black queen.
Lots of nifty creative ideas neatly done.
Though surely the teeth should have looked bigger.
I did rather like the Liz 10 thing. 'I'm the bloody queen, mate'.
One week away! The tension is building!
Quote: Nil Putters @ April 10 2010, 11:53 PM BSTThe titles are ok, it's just the music I don't like.
I'm not fond of the lightning.
I have nothing to say about the theme tune.
But I liked the episode. Not a classic but crammed with lots of really good ideas. Judging from last week, this one and the trailer for next week the series is brimming with ideas again after the flabby end to the RTD's reign. And the Doc and Amy seem a fine double act.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 10 2010, 11:37 PM BSTAs in, the Doctor arrives somewhere, spots something terrile going on, has it all sorted by the end?
And the terrible monster down way below, the pantomime grimacing faces, the teeth of course, yet more kids, the 'clockwork' droids, the ignorance of time dilation, the mask....
Any or all of these could be said to be 'trademarks' though.
So did I miss something; when did the message from Amy get recorded?
A small coninuity error understandable in such a compact episode.
Maybe it wasn't recorded and the machinery devised it, it's self from recordings of her?
I like Dr Who bud boy does it look cheap!
Quote: Nogget @ April 11 2010, 7:45 AM BSTAnd the terrible monster down way below, the pantomime grimacing faces, the teeth of course, yet more kids, the 'clockwork' droids, the ignorance of time dilation, the mask....
Jeez, you're a downer! 
Clockwork droids aren't a recurring thing; I don' t think anyone said the Smilers were clockwork?? Plus, if they were, there's only been one other set of clockwork robots, and that was about three years ago!
The Smilers were an example of bunch of neat no budget tricks to create an effect monster.
The how do they have 3 faces and the bit where they come out of their box.
The only bit that was a bit naff was when it was revealed they'd been wandering around in disguise all the time.
Quote: sootyj @ April 11 2010, 11:00 AM BST.
The only bit that was a bit naff was when it was revealed they'd been wandering around in disguise all the time.
Oh I didn't see it like that, the man who turned into a Smiler wasn't actually a Smiler, at least according to what the Doctor said, he was half human, half Smiler.
Quote: Nogget @ April 11 2010, 7:45 AM BSTSo did I miss something; when did the message from Amy get recorded?
Just before she hit the Forget button, I would imagine.