114 replies to this topic

[darkestboy]

UK paced and tonight featuring a lot of drilling and the return of a certain race.

Edited by TWoP Mars, Aug 1, 2010 @ 11:12 AM.

[Ransom]

Stuff happened, and then some other stuff happened and then it ended. I wasn't really interested to be honest- the Silurian's slowly moved through their one plot (Retake the planet, wipe out the humans, Doctor wants peace, he's not going to get it) and got a really clumsy introductory infodump where the Doctor explains who they are and what they want to the audience at home.

Best bit was Meera Syal's cheery geologist being the only one clapping the Doctor's heroic speech. I'm betting she's going to heroically sacrifice herself for some stupid reason about half way through next week's episode.

Bad bits- awkward plot contrivance to explain why there's only five people who live near this massive mining facility, no explanation at all why only one bloke runs the massive mining facility during the night (the wrath of the NUM?), Silurians look too human to be scary or alien (which makes the whole "let's live in peace with them" seem a lot simpler and less noble), Matt Smith's face looked silly when trying to express grief over losing Amy, who else predicted exactly what was going to happen when the characters started moaning about the sticky door of dooooom, the Silurian warrior lady seemed surprisingly astute at "Ape" psychology considering she's a different species and has never met humans before and has also been living underground for 10 million years, Ambrose (Ambrose? Isn't that a boy's name?) took an awful long time to notice her only child was outside in the middle of a monster attack, the Doctor being all "Silly human bothering to try and defend yourself, throw away your weapons NOW", also HEY GANG LET'S MAKE OUR DEFENCES TOTES DEPENDENT ON THE ALIENS NOT CUTTING THE POWER- IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE CLEVER OR ANYTHING, all that guff about the blue grass being full of Minerals of Yore didn't make any sense, that plastic CGI city at the end was less "lost city of the ancients" and more "lost level from The Legend of Zelda" and finally don't you have to be dead to be dissected?

Hmm, that was a tad long. Back to the sunshine.

Edited by Ransom, May 22, 2010 @ 1:48 PM.

[rowan sjet]

Yeah, that was fairly meh. Nice to see a bit of Rory and the Doctor working together but other than that...

Meh. And dumb.

EDIT: Also, was surprised to look at the clock and see that it was coming down to the last couple minutes, as it felt that so little had happened.

Edited by rowan sjet, May 22, 2010 @ 3:35 PM.

[bitchbully]

I jus love Rory and the Doctor working together, can he be a permanent companion please writers? There are some interesting bromance going on there...

[sive128]

don't you have to be dead to be dissected?

Yeah, when you're alive, it's called vivisection.

I thought the episode was fine, though it was mostly just set-up for next week. I don't really have that much sympathy for the Silurians--it's not like the drill killed any of them. They just woke up really cranky!

[supposebly]

They just woke up really cranky!

Heh.

The Doctor is terribly untrustworthy in this one. Pretty much every "promise" he made he couldn't keep. I like that.

The pacing was rather off, I thought. After about a half hour I realized this must be a two-parter but even that didn't help keeping me engaged.

I'm waiting for Rory to yell at the Doctor some more.

I'm not entirely sure what Matt Smith tried to do when he asked "nicely" to put the weapons away but I got a creepy vibe and I'm fairly certain that wasn't it.

Still, the buried alive bits and the swallowed-by-the-earth idea were scary. The execution, however, meh.

[MariaArg]

Meh. I feel more and more like my impression of each episode is informed by my reaction to the series. The longer I wait for Moffat to prove me wrong and show he's been sowing the seeds of something awesome, the more disappointed I am by lackluster episodes such as this one. Grievances:

- The Doctor chooses to completely ignore a totally relevant point right at the beginning: bodies have gone missing. This means the Silurians have been operating for a while, know humans at least biologically, and suggests there might have been surveillance. This is no longer the "things you can almost see" running theme, this is the "Doctor being a pompous, self-satisfied, arrogant ass" theme.

- That mother was possibly the fakest character I have ever seen. Nothing she said rang true to me, and I can't blame the dialog. Terrible actor.

- Amy was pretty much absent the whole episode. And of course, while the guy can show a scar, the truly scary moment is when the female body is threatened. The more of that body that is exposed, the better, by the way. Blame it on Rio.

I did have fun following Jacob's tip to look at what people are wearing. Maroon/bordeaux all around - Amy, Rory and the trapped guy match the Doctor's bowtie. So does the geologist's coat when she walks into the TARDIS. Mom and Grandpa clash.

[Whiteotter]

Oh dear. Another decidedly unimpressive episode. This does not bode well.

The Doctor chooses to completely ignore a totally relevant point right at the beginning: bodies have gone missing. (...) This is no longer the "things you can almost see" running theme, this is the "Doctor being a pompous, self-satisfied, arrogant ass" theme.

Agreed. No excuse for that. "Bodies are disappearing" is highly relevant information, even if we don't yet know why, and he just blew it off. Tsk.

And this is the second time in three episodes that Amy's (a) taken hostage, (b) struggling while tied to a chair whilst © another race feeds off her/cuts her open, isn't it? My feminist squick-o-meter doesn't jump into the red very often, but I'm starting to be unnerved by that pattern. There's spooky and then there's... just creepy.

Edited by Whiteotter, May 22, 2010 @ 4:05 PM.

[darkestboy]

Not my favourite episode of the season. I mean it was good but there was something lacking compared to others.

Amy's role in this episode was the worst. She went on about rio, got captured and was barely in the episode but on the plus side, it did mean more scenes for Rory as well.

No cracks but we did see a future Amy/Rory and I can't believe that is a good thing. Neither can the Doctor.

I did like the five people this mining village focused on a lot though, in particular Nasreen but that was the way the script was edging me towards.

I've only seen snippets of previous Silurian stories so this one was like a crash course for me in a big way. I did like the interrogation with the Doctor and Alaya. And I wasn't surprised with the Silurian city at the end.

Hopefully next week is better, 7/10.

[Markeer]

I think I liked it a bit better than several people above. I liked the pacing, the little boy character was used well (came off as interesting instead of cloying, which highlights the drama when he's taken). Amy basically wasn't in it except to show some leg (which I'm fine with) but I thought this was Rory's best outing so far. He straddles the line between capable and clueless fairly well.

And Matt Smith rocked.

I watched the old show from the first season of Tom Baker onwards, so I don't really have the squee-ing excitement of seeing the Silurians that I would imagine the writers are hoping for. I saw them in "Warriors of the Deep" which had a cool ending, but was otherwise forgettable to me, so they're just some lizards.

But...over on the Gallifrey Base boards there's a thread about the numerous parallels between this episode and some classic Jon Pertwee serials, so apparently this whole episode was a Pertwee shout out, and I pretty much missed all that. Ehh, I recognized the quote from Sylvester McCoy at least ("there will be no battle here").

Good, not great, I'm interested enough I'll look forward to part II.

[cwaldo]

Wow, that was a really boring episode. I could barely keep my interest, I kept on stopping it to find something else to do. I can't believe they made it a two-parter. And I was so encouraged by the last two episodes. You know, I never understood people who said they found they found Ten annoying and arrogant. I think I do now. I've never thought of the Doctor as obnoxious as he was in this episode. Of course, I haven't watched much of the Classic Era of Doctor Who, so maybe there were worse examples. All the shushing really got on my nerves. And maybe I've just got Lost on the brain, but all his promises of saving everyone reminded me of Jack Shepard at his I'll-fix-it-complex worst.

My feminist squick-o-meter doesn't jump into the red very often, but I'm starting to be unnerved by that pattern.

I hear you Whiteotter. Amy seems to be falling dangerously close to Classic Who female companions whose only purpose were to scream and get kidnapped. Stop it show! I want to like Amy and the Doctor, so stop this nonsense right now!

Things I did like:
The look of the alien. I don't know, her skin looked really cool.
The geologist. Can we call her a one-off companion now?
That's about it.

[John Potts]

Like many stories that rely on suspense, this was fine... until the monsters actually started turning up. So long as it dealt with things disappearing through holes in the ground, mysterious "blips" appearing on their scanners (very Aliens), discovering they were trapped in the village and finally the lights going out, it was tense. Once we actually met the Silurians, it was rather anti-climatic. And was I the only one thinking "Where's their third eye gone?"

The Doctor seemed more than usually disregarding of those around him. I hated the "No weapons!" scene (yes, you don't like violence, but you can't always avoid it and Davros had a point when he called you the "Great Exterminator") and I couldn't believe he just let the kid wonder off without at least some warning to hurry back. I also can't think of any reason to vivisect people while they're conscious - it seems to add an unnecessary complication to learning about human biology to have them struggle, unless their anaesthesia isn't fully effective on humanity (hell, even humans can get that wrong, on occassion).

I hope there is some reason why future Rory & Amy were there at the beginning, as otherwise that was a completely pointless scene.

[Doctor Quist]

It was an OK episode, with some glaring flaws, which have been stated. But as I said to my co-viewer who isn't into old Who: "I dunno why the Doctor thinks things can be resolved peacably between the Silurians/Seas Devils, previous experience has always forced him to choose human over reptle and it never ends well".

I'm holding out for ohdearthemyrka next week.

I didn't see too many paralells between this and the pertwee serial, apart from the prisoner. The Pertwee story is much better, yes it's long but tonnes of stuff happen in it and it has Liz Shaw, best red headed companion evah!

Edited by Doctor Quist, May 22, 2010 @ 6:23 PM.

[Wednesday Last]

The Doctor chooses to completely ignore a totally relevant point right at the beginning: bodies have gone missing.

The Doctor didn't know about the missing bodies, did he? It was Rory who was told by the mother and son after he steps out of the TARDIS. The Doctor and Amy were already by the mining area. He only found out about the guard who was taken and then Amy was. Or am I misremembering?

[antmoose]

I liked the episode but I didn't think the Silurians had much of a leg to stand on. They've been living in their ginormous city 22 km under the earth's surface and now they feel they're under attack, even though they aren't, and they decide to KILL ALL HUMANS? A bit of an overreaction -- yes, they did wake up cranky, didn't they?

It was a little chilling how the Doctor didn't stop the kid from going to get his headphones, with one minute to go on the counter and the scary things coming up from below at any moment. The Doctor should have said, "Forget your sodding headphones for a moment, you need to be able to hear so you can survive this, plus it's pitch black outside in the middle of the daytime and your mum's not here to give you permission, so no, you're staying here." No one really held him responsible for it much, either.

[John Potts]

antmoose they feel they're under attack, even though they aren't, and they decide to KILL ALL HUMANS? A bit of an overreaction -- yes, they did wake up cranky, didn't they?

Well, nobody's at their best until they've had their coffee in the morning...

[OverrideB1]

I pretty much agree with the other posters that this episode was pretty "meh". It seemed over-long and drawn out: I'm hoping part 2 picks up the pace somewhat.

[cutecouple]

There's a deleted character scene that was shown in Confidential, and put up (in pieces, as part of a clip on editing) here. The show's cut at that point was 60 minutes and they were trying to get down to 42 or 45.

It was a little chilling how the Doctor didn't stop the kid from going to get his headphones, with one minute to go on the counter and the scary things coming up from below at any moment. The Doctor should have said, "Forget your sodding headphones for a moment, you need to be able to hear so you can survive this, plus it's pitch black outside in the middle of the daytime and your mum's not here to give you permission, so no, you're staying here." No one really held him responsible for it much, either.

It was, but I'm starting to wonder about the reality of the entire season. If it's all a dream, why care?

[Sapphie3]

I hope there is some reason why future Rory & Amy were there at the beginning, as otherwise that was a completely pointless scene.

Of course there will be. If there's not I'll track down the writer and lock him in that little gas chamber Amy woke up in.

I agree with what everyone was saying, the acting seemed a bit flat. In general I find the "strange aliens" episodes a bit meh.

Two things I did like:
The line that what something like "Who's protecting us? Him??" "Me!"
And Rory was looking all kinds of handsome this episode. I'd never thought him attractive before, but YUM.

[NIccibee]

I bet it's just me who wants Meera Syal to be a companion from now on? I thought she was awesome.

[SunlessNick]

I liked the episode but I didn't think the Silurians had much of a leg to stand on. They've been living in their ginormous city 22 km under the earth's surface and now they feel they're under attack, even though they aren't, and they decide to KILL ALL HUMANS?

Alaya did say the drill was threatening their life support system. Although, I agree that killing all witnesses would make more sense than killing all humans, at least for the time being. I prefer the idea of the Silurians being lost and panicked, not really knowing what's happened to their planet - and I also prefer it when Silurians aren't universally hostile (in the original Pertwee story, there were Silurians who helped prevent the human extinction plan - and then UNIT killed them all anyway).

[joyful girl 52]

And Rory was looking all kinds of handsome this episode. I'd never thought him attractive before, but YUM.

I know what you mean, I hardly noticed him before but he was extremely distracting in this episode. I think it's the whole Sam Merlotte outfit he had going on.

A bit of an overreaction -- yes, they did wake up cranky, didn't they

I can hear Amy having that exact reaction when someone fills her in on who the aliens are.

If it's all a dream, why care?

Huh? When did they say it's all a dream?

The Doctor didn't know about the missing bodies, did he? It was Rory who was told by the mother and son after he steps out of the TARDIS. The Doctor and Amy were already by the mining area. He only found out about the guard who was taken and then Amy was. Or am I misremembering?

Rory mentioned it to the Doctor when he ran into him again (around the time they discovered the force feild I believe) and the Doctor brushed him off.

Not a fantastic episode but I have faith that it will be redeemed in the second half. This was the first episode my mom watched so I didn't mind the slow pacing because it allowed me to fill her in on the universe of Doctor Who without pausing.

I am intrigued by the missing bodies though. Were they just taken to be studied or are they going to reanimated or something? The Doctor vs. Zombies...I'd watch that.

[patriotickid]

It was an okay episode. The only scene that didn't go by the book of how to scare someone was the scene in the crypt when the Silarian said one of them would kill her.


One thought I had about the future Amy/Rory was that they might have sent a message to the Doctor that only he saw with the binoculars.Moffat likes playing with Time Travel. The Amy/Rory of our present now know they have to appear ten years later to give the Doctor a message to escape the Pandoric.

Edited by patriotickid, May 22, 2010 @ 8:34 PM.

[devilsavocat]

I didn't love this episode, but I did see a fair bit of good in it:

1. As a special ed teacher, I appreciated that the kid was dyslexic and the doctor loved him anyway.

2. As someone who spends copious amounts of time with 9 and 10 year olds, I thought the scene of the little boy being chased by something dark and scary was awesome. My kids would have been freaking out!

3. There was a lovely moment when the boy asks the Doctor if he misses his home and Matt Smith's face went really still and sad as he said "so much." It was small but I really liked how MS played it.

4. There was one major concept in this episode. Drill + Underground Race = Trouble. (Though the dialogue felt a bit like we were really talking about Israel and Palestine there for a minute, which was strange.) After the Britain-in-space episode, with the spacewhale and the carnival guys and Liz 10 forgetting every so often, I appreciated the fact that this episode got from one plot point to the next without too much confusion. We'll see how part two goes...

[Radagast]

Did like a lot of this: South Wales AS South Wales, complete with old mining town; the straightforward handling of the dyslexic kid; Rory jumping in as a 'plainclothes cop' and investigating on his own; the unexpected mature romance; the scientific glee of the geologist; the Silurian calling out her minders and knowing which one would kill her. A bit uneven on the whole, but it's one of those Part Ones where it's mostly setup. Everyone's in place now, Part Two can go head at full bore (pun intended).

[Mack the Spoon]

I really enjoyed this episode. I mean, the "drilling down disturbs an ancient power" thing has obviously been done before (even on Doctor Who), but I thought it was done quite well this time. Interesting that the Doctor has indeed seemingly broken many promises at this point, although of course Amy and probably at least Elliot will be rescued.

I haven't seen any of the classic episodes with the Silurians, but they're interesting enough and I like the actress who plays the one we've met as of yet. They do seem to be overreacting a tad, though, yeah. But based on the giant city, and the preview for next week, maybe the drill is just their excuse, and they were getting ready to attack anyway.

I, too, am expecting Nazreen (I hope I spelled that right) to die heroically next time, though I will be sad because she's cool.

[Namarie]

I quite enjoyed this ep. Hadn't even realized it was going to be a two-parter, but I guess that's the usual for when they bring back a classic villain. I've never seen the Silurians before, so actually, it most reminded me of "The Green Death" - which I still haven't seen all of, but what I've seen I enjoyed - what with the underground and the green and the, er, death.

I liked Rory clearly debating for a bit, and then deciding to go with the plainclothes detective investigating (as Radagast mentioned). Good for you, Rory! And I liked the Doctor's interactions with Elliot, and his conversation with Alaya. Blecch and oh dear to the disection/vivisection - reminded me rather forcefully of poor Mulder in season 8 of The X-Files.

All in all, quite intrigued to see where the next part goes.

[TheSporkWielder]

While this ep wasn't OMGAWESOME, it was pretty good, and here's hoping that Part Two will end up awesome and action-packed since Part One was pretty much all setup.

As mentioned, I loved the Doctor's interaction with the dyslexic boy. Eleven sure does get along well with kids, doesn't he? Though I missed the second half of his line to Elliot after Elliot tells Eleven he's dyslexic. What did the Doctor say? "I can't make" something?

I am really loving Rory, more and more each week.

[Melewen]

Stuff happened, and then some other stuff happened and then it ended. I wasn't really interested to be honest.

Me neither. And way to remove all the tension right at the beginning of the episode. Why should I give a damn about Amy when we know she survives?

My feminist squick-o-meter doesn't jump into the red very often, but I'm starting to be unnerved by that pattern.

At first I just groaned at Amy's "never let go, Jack!" scene. It's getting tiresome and skeevy the number of times she's been tied up and had to be rescued.

I did love the female scientist though. I think she and the Doctor were the only ones with any decent dialogue, too. It's a shame she'll probably die in the second half.

Edited by Melewen, May 22, 2010 @ 10:27 PM.

[sweetestsiren]

This episode felt more to me like the first half of the first two-parter of a series, not the second (at least going by the way RTD's seasons were organized). The first two-part episode has almost involved some alien threat to present-day (or thereabouts) Earth, while the later two-part episode is usually higher-stakes and has more going on in terms of character development and philosophy. Unless a lot happens next week in terms of how these episodes fit into the series, I almost feel like this series of episodes could be switched with the Angels stories.

The way Amy's being written grates considerably. Rory is great, though. And it'll be interesting to see how the Doctor's "Yes, I promise to save them" thing works out. Because he obviously will save most of them, but his arrogance and carelessness need to be addressed. I'd love to see him called out on it, maybe by Rory. I absolutely hated the scene where the Doctor gave the mother grief about the weapons. I know, Chekov's gun and all, but it was still really irritating and sanctimonious on his part.