The [Doctor Who] Thread

klokateer9047

MY BODY IS READY

BTW

melody pond - a melody is like a song, a pond is like a river, river song

TeaSpoon

Meh episode, but nice reveal at the end.

Domhnall

Well that was fucking shit. Spoilers:

Seven weeks ago people said 'The girl in the space suit is River!' and 'River is Amy's daughter' and I thought that was a load of fan ficy bollucks and that Moffat will have something much better planned. Something really great. Nope.

TeaSpoon

When

River was talking to the Doctor, I was expecting the reveal to be that she's the Doctor's mother.

BobCesca

I really liked that episode. I mean the spoilery stuff was kind of obvious, but it's still really nice.

The Fourth Estate

TeaSpoon wrote: »

When

River was talking to the Doctor, I was expecting the reveal to be that she's the Doctor's mother.

I thought that, but then immediately discounted it due to squick.

Also,

River can regenerate!

klokateer9047

My mind is full of fuck.

I totally called it though.

japan

I loved that.

I like this whole arc. It's a particularly interesting response to RTD being so into the whole "Oncoming Storm" thing.

Lave II

The title of the next episode.

Oh my yes!.

Shen

Pretty lame episode after a promising start.

Smith was a lot more intense last week, the pacing was eh, the setup was weak, the Doctor did some dumb shit and the reveal was awfully predictable.

Domhnall

Yeah, after:

The Doctor tricked all the Clerics into disarming themselves and that's when the Silurians (sp?) appeared I didn't enjoy it so much. The headless monks were a suitably cool and freaky effect that would have scared little children but.... God I just hated that bloody ending so much.

klokateer9047

I completely forgot but

Sontarans...lactate?

TheWizardOfJoz

I have a hunch there's going to be more to it than that.

Unless Moffat has realised the ultimate Moffat unexpected swerve would be for there not to be a Moffat unexpected swerve.

Bogart

Obviously, spoilers.

Seeing Melody Pond on the cradle made it kinda obvious what the final reveal was going to be, so I think they misjudged how much impact it would actually have.

I enjoyed the episode, and am glad I have remained spoiler free up till now. Still, it wasn't quite as epic as I was hoping.

BobCesca

TheWizardOfJoz wrote: »

I have a hunch there's going to be more to it than that.

Unless Moffat has realised the ultimate Moffat unexpected swerve would be for there not to be a Moffat unexpected swerve.

He already tweeted yesterday that

we would find out who River was

, but then suggested that this is not the question we're really asking.

Devious bastard.

Bogart

klokateer9047 wrote: »

I completely forgot but

Sontarans...lactate?

He mentioned he had undergone genetic splicing.

WMain00

I thought it was a weak episode but a good enough twist. Doctor showed off a far greater darkness to him than he normally does.

BobCesca

http://twitter.com/doctorwho_bbc/status/77097622900445184

Ha ha ha

Deaderinred

what time does the hd version of the ep usually go up on iplayer? last time i didnt watch live the hd was on at around 9ish and not there.. pondering waiting until it is, at least an hour maybe.

Bethryn

A lot of good moments, I felt. I much prefer Moffat's take on doing "epic" episodes (over cerebral ones) because of how he tends not to have horrible Deus Ex Machinae.

So, various bits and pieces;

Father Octavian was pleased to meet the Doctor. He's from the same religious military unit that is presently headed by Kovarian and Runaway. So what happened there?

There's still loads of stuff hanging over from the first episode. How do the Silence tie in to kidnapping Amy? Why are they raising River? Why does River escape the suit when flesh!Amy is captured by the Silence, and moreover, what caused River to regenerate? Likewise, was there a reason why she apparently didn't in the Library.

I'm fine with the reveal. Sure it's not a massive, overwrought-but-elegant twist as might be expected, but it opens up a lot possibilities more than it closes.

Also, massive awkwardness in knowing that your kid's boytoy is going to be the Doctor. 8D

The Doctor and Silurian Samurai working out when the baby was conceived was funny. A bit sad to see Jorian and the Lauren(?) soldier go.

The whole Doctor/Great Warrior thing is the only part I felt was really sloppy. The Doctor does his best almost all the time to try and solve things without trouble. Even River jabbing him on this is silly.

Let's Kill Hitler.

Igort

So...

The general viewer opinion seems to be that it was crap? Because I rather enjoyed it. The whole Melody Pond = River Song thing was a little obvious. Everyone I know has been saying that they thought the girl in the spacesuit was River, but the reveal was beautifully executed and still felt very emotional. Plus the Flesh Baby twist was heart breaking.

SniperGuy

Igort wrote: »

So...

The general viewer opinion seems to be that it was crap? Because I rather enjoyed it. The whole Melody Pond = River Song thing was a little obvious. Everyone I know has been saying that they thought the girl in the spacesuit was River, but the reveal was beautifully executed and still felt very emotional. Plus the Flesh Baby twist was heart breaking.

I loved it. Generally crap my ass. People are just annoyed they speculated the shit out themselves before watching the episode so there was no way they'd be surprised.

Although

I don't know if this means anything, but didn't the Valeyard become jack the ripper at some point? I thought that was interesting that the silurian killed him. Have the Silurian and Jenny been in an episode before that I don't remember? And the Sontaran?

Also, just because it was confusing

Totally thought River was the doctor's mom. Then I remembered the kissing thing. Interesting that it was the Doctor's name on the crib.

Bethryn

Igort wrote: »

Plus the Flesh Baby twist was heart breaking.

Yeah, I felt this too. Karen Gillan really did well again (first episode of this season also showed she's great at grief).

Oh, that's what I meant to write.

This might put a super-massive twist on River Song making sure they burn Doctor 1100's body.

Xagarath

I liked it, but it was very much part of a larger storyline.

Not much of a war, though, except the cyberfleet

Halos Nach Tariff

I had a huge grin on my face for half this episode, I enjoyed pretty much all of it. I guess the Reveal fell a little flat but I have a sneaking suspicion that Moffat's up to something...

Lanz

Bethryn wrote: »

A lot of good moments, I felt. I much prefer Moffat's take on doing "epic" episodes (over cerebral ones) because of how he tends not to have horrible Deus Ex Machinae.

So, various bits and pieces;

Father Octavian was pleased to meet the Doctor. He's from the same religious military unit that is presently headed by Kovarian and Runaway. So what happened there?

There's still loads of stuff hanging over from the first episode. How do the Silence tie in to kidnapping Amy? Why are they raising River? Why does River escape the suit when flesh!Amy is captured by the Silence, and moreover, what caused River to regenerate? Likewise, was there a reason why she apparently didn't in the Library.

I'm fine with the reveal. Sure it's not a massive, overwrought-but-elegant twist as might be expected, but it opens up a lot possibilities more than it closes.

Also, massive awkwardness in knowing that your kid's boytoy is going to be the Doctor. 8D

The Doctor and Silurian Samurai working out when the baby was conceived was funny. A bit sad to see Jorian and the Lauren(?) soldier go.

The whole Doctor/Great Warrior thing is the only part I felt was really sloppy. The Doctor does his best almost all the time to try and solve things without trouble. Even River jabbing him on this is silly.

Let's Kill Hitler.

Haven't seen the episode yet (BBCAAAAAAAAA!!!!!), but regarding

River not regenerating in the Library in series 4, they seemed to indicate that the Doctor only had a small chance of surviving it himself. River seemed convinced it was lethal enough to the point it'd kill him outright, no chance even for Regeneration. Hence back then (or... in the future, technically) her telling the Doctor that he dare not change one thing, not one single thing and take away their time together by doing something that'd kill him permanently, after he basically says it's okay if *he* dies, because time can be re-written.

klokateer9047

I really have no idea how anybody could think this episode is anything short of AMAZING.

chidona

The episode was pretty decent; I would've enjoyed it more, but my friend caught the hint that

Melody Pond = River Song

and said it out loud before the show could, so it kinda fell flat on me. Also, wasn't really digging the music in this episode and it kinda felt like it didn't really fit the mood in places.

Still, great acting from Smith, and the bit at the beginning with Rory was fantastic. Looking forward to the next half!

Mr_Rose

Heh. I love that

Moffat's still playing with the whole "Rory is 2000 years old" thing - like when Amy's talking to the kid and saying that someone's coming to save them and he's really old and he's her father and then they cut to *sonic screwdriver noise* and its..Rory the Roman!

Silas Brown

Heh.

A Good Man Goes To War

"I don't know why you put up with me."
*super massive tongue flick*
*meaningful look*

Igort

Silas Brown wrote: »

Heh.

A Good Man Goes To War

"I don't know why you put up with me."
*super massive tongue flick*
*meaningful look*

I giggled.

If there were any one watching with me I would have *nudge nudge wink wink*

SniperGuy

here's the incredibly brief and mildly upsetting teaser for the next half of the season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erH-6vd8C5o

edit: oh, and this in no way spoils A Good Man Goes to War.

Silas Brown

The more I think about it

A Good Man Goes To War

The more okay I am with this episode. Sure, I was a bit dissapointed with the reveal, but it beats the hell out of our other major option: Melody Pond being the Doctor's daughter. (Also, major points to Moffat for the "it's mine" line. Holy shit, that man.) And besides that, it kind of wraps up half the story arc real nicely. The beginning of the season starts with the mystery girl, the "impossible astronaut." Then we spend most of the following season establishing who that girl is and how she ended up in enemy hands. So basically that half of the story is over with this episode. The next half will presumably be concerning The Doctor saving River after the events of the season intro. That works pretty well for me. Solid narrative, imo.

Rhesus Positive

Guess what I saw on my Facebook feed minutes before I started watching on iPlayer?

Should probably only click this if you've seen the episode:

Some Douchebag: That Doctor Who was rather alarming, really. But wasn't it obvious when River turned up that she was the daughter?

I mean, for fuck's sake. I didn't scroll down enough to see if people were saying, "Ha, good guess," or, "Yeah, I thought that too," so I semi-convinced myself that I couldn't know for sure, but it became pretty damn obvious.

Really enjoyed it, nonetheless. That was one hell of a cold open.

The Wolfman

Good man spoilers:

Like others, for a split second I thought River was his mother, but then remembered the kiss.

I'm probably the only one who thought this one, but for the next split second, I thought she might have been the Doctor himself. Insane as that might be. I kinda figured that only the Doctor would get a kick out of making out with himself.

Also, did anybody initially think that the girl soldier might have been a young River, or even Melody (obviously before you find out the twist at the end... wibbly wobbly)? First I thought she might be the daughter, the way she seemed distraught over Amy's situation. Then when they go on about how she met the Doctor before, and she's from some forest, and the whole forest/river thing, I thought she might be a young River. Guess she is just some random girl though.

Well whatever. I liked it well enough. That opening was freaking badass though.

"Would you like me to repeat the question?"

Phail

The Wolfman wrote: »

"Would you like me to repeat the question?"

Best line ever.

VoodooV

Was I crazy to think one of the fobs on the mobile of the cot was a fragment from Adric's star?

Rhesus Positive

VoodooV wrote: »

Was I crazy to think one of the fobs on the mobile of the cot was a fragment from Adric's star?

Yes.

No.

Who?

The Wolfman

2 other random thoughts that just popped into my head now.

The forest people don't have a word for pond, so she wrote River. Well... apparently they don't have a word for melody either? Why wasn't that technically not brought up.

And... this also technically means that River Song's name is backwards. It should be Song River. :P

Rhesus Positive

The Wolfman wrote: »

2 other random thoughts that just popped into my head now.

The forest people don't have a word for pond, so she wrote River. Well... apparently they don't have a word for melody either? Why wasn't that technically not brought up.

And... this also technically means that River Song's name is backwards. It should be Song River. :P

I'm now wondering if they will keep calling her Melody, or just give up and call her River from now on.