7X01 Asylum Of The Daleks (Grading/Discussion) (SPOILERS!)

[Mr. Adventure]

Liking this better on second viewing, I think it still has some logic/characterization issues but I'm liking the good stuff better on second viewing.

Odd observation: cool high heels in the beginning

Odd question, she has provisions, can a souffle only be made with fresh milk and eggs?

[Gov Kodos]

No, but the eggs and failed souffle may be her subconscious subverting the Dalek reprogramming. The failed soufle is the failure of the programming. The eg... slowly becomes the start of exterminate. The same happened to Rory. Oswin soon reasserts her control over the Dalek reprogramming and saves the Doctor. I suppose it is her monkeying around that the Daleks are looking to stop. They can't get in because she has totally hacked their controls so they send the Doctor.

[sidious618]

So I'm guessing Oswin is a great great grandchild of the new companion? Or am I to take her as the new companion? I would assume the former. Didn't realize it was her until I came here, likely because I've been avoiding spoilers and only vaguely knew what she looked like. She was adorable!

So was Rory and his new look, mind you.

I loved it. The line from the Dalek Supreme that maybe they can't kill the Doctor because they hate him too much was great. I wish we got more of the Daleks but I was cool with it because, emotionally, this episode was on target.

Unlike many, though, I loved last season so for me this is more of Moffat on target. I'm glad, now that I finally have BBC America, that I can see it on airing day.

Oh, and I loved the original series references. Can we get one to the books? Pretty please?

[chardman]

Gov Kodos wrote:

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That was a lot of fun. I loved Ms Coleman and look forward to seeing her in the show full time. It will be interesting to see if she really is Clara here, or some relative in some way. I suppose if she is companion Clara, she could be ending up like River Song here but that strikes me too similar. The Doctor first meeting her at the end of her travels. Looking at the start just once through, she might be physically saved and a duplicate set of memories uploaded to the Dalek casing?

I've got a feeling that she'll appear as a variety of different characters, before formally becoming a companion in the Xmas Special. The mystery of why he's encountered multiple versions of her is likely to be one of the big reasons that The Doctor takes her as a companion in the first place. She will be the mystery for him to solve in the next series or two.

[diankra]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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Easily the best Dalek story since "Dalek", as far as I'm concerned.

Key point, I reckon.
Lots of Daleks turn up and attack [wherever] is fun - but gets boring the next year.
Weak Daleks are still dangerous is worrying.
Most of the best Dalek stories have them off-stage or disabled (but threatening to do things) much of the time. Like Genesis, Power...

[Aldo]

I figured that was Jenna Louise Coleman as Oswin, especially considered how much screen time they were giving her. But then they pulled that twist and I wasn't so sure, so it was a nice surprise that I was right with my initial thoughts.

Let me just say I look forward to Coleman becoming the companion. First of all she is extremely cute, she seems like a decent actress, and I enjoyed her fast talking character. I eagerly await the revelation of how she will become unDalekized.

So they finally make a Who story for me. I've been complaining for years about the majority of the new Doctor Who taking place on Earth (of the past present or future), so it's nice to see an episode that takes place completely on an alien world.

Like others I was weary of the Daleks returning, but I thought they did handled it well, and they were simply an evil force. Unlike in the past where we've been subjected to Dalek civil wars, or rogue factions of Daleks, whatever convoluted mess they became under RTD (not his fault completely, they are a popular villain; they were getting overused).

[Sindatur]

Haven't read the thread, if you've answered my questions 100 times and are both with them, ignore them, I'll be rading the thread after my post.

So, Oswyn, was Jenna Louise Coleman, right? Shades of Roman/Astra and The "Richard Grant Eighth Doctor with the Master". I thought she got into character awesomely, and if that's her later character's personality, she nailed it out of the gate

Many of us opined about wanting someone other than Current Earth Girl. If The Doctor takes on the Dalek/Consciousness of Oswyn as a Companion, that'll be way cool. Otherwise, how do we explain the Nest Companion?

I thought the Episode was awesome, it hit a lot of the perfect beats, I'm not bothered if there are story details that are cliched or Don't make sense

Dang, 7 pages to catch up on? Well, hopefully I'll be able to catch up and reply again by tomorrow

[Alidar Jarok]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

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Easily the best Dalek story since "Dalek", as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah, I tend to agree. Fun episode. The Daleks were scary. The twist at the end was a surprise (I wondered if she was a robot, I did not expect a Dalek). Good use of something from the past (Nanogenes).

The memory erasing caught me by surprise. I expected the Daleks to continue to know who he was. That was a good cleanup.

People think the Rory-Amy subplot had problems. It was the weakest part, but I found it a bit touching. Especially when Rory wants to give Amy his wristband.

[Mr Light]

Excellent episode. No complaints. Felt more like an RTD era episode, like "The Doctor's Wife". Really good use of the Daleks. I like it when the Doctor doesn't actually defeat them, he merely escapes them.

I spent half the episode thinking to myself, gee, this hot girl looks kinda like the new Companion who starts at Christmas... finally I had to go check, and it was her!!! Did people know this? I was shocked!

[Aldo]

Mr Light wrote:

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I spent half the episode thinking to myself, gee, this hot girl looks kinda like the new Companion who starts at Christmas... finally I had to go check, and it was her!!! Did people know this? I was shocked!

As I said above, I spent the first half of the episode believing it to be her. Then when the twist happened, I second guessed myself, lol.

I really like her, she's going to be a great addition to the show.

[Gov Kodos]

chardman wrote:

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I've got a feeling that she'll appear as a variety of different characters, before formally becoming a companion in the Xmas Special. The mystery of why he's encountered multiple versions of her is likely to be one of the big reasons that The Doctor takes her as a companion in the first place. She will be the mystery for him to solve in the next series or two.

Rewatching, she said her name was Oswin Oswald. She may be a relation or someone else. I hope it's not another River type ending/first meeting. I don't expect Moffat to go for the same trick. Clara could be her mother, or she could be Clara's mom? Or they have nothing to do with each other, and the appearance is a red herring?

[tomalak301]

That felt like Doctor Who of old, not the convoluted "story arc" Doctor Who we've been getting for the last couple of years, but I had to go with good instead of excellent for one reason. The season ended with "Doctor Who", now the Season starts with "Doctor Who". Is "Doctor Who" going along the same theme of the words that shall not be named and will be that "Crack" theme this season? I thought that last bit was a little on the corney side (In the same vain as James Cromwell saying "So you guys are on some sort of Star Trek").

The girl reminded me of someone and she looked hot. I kept thinking (Mind you, other than reading there was going to be a new companion and seeing a picture) that she was the new companion and then they revealed the twist. I'm thinking she has a twin sister (Again, I don't even know the new companion's name and I haven't been in this forum at all for like a year) and that's how things come to be. Still, I actually grew to like her and didn't want "souffle" girl to die but man I am actually glad they answered the "How did you get the eggs" question.

It was a good start to the season, I enjoyed the character stuff between Amy and Rory (Even though the split should have happened on screen and agreed it did seem a bit out of character for both) and glad the show is back. We've got next week, and then the week after is the return of a great actor to sci fi TV. Forget the 50th anniversary and all that Doctor Who celebrations, bring on Ben Browder. It's only a shame they couldn't get Claudia Black on and have a little Farscape reunion.

[Cutter John]

Please Mr Moffat. May we have another dalek story from you?

Was a bit let down by the lack of a new opening theme. Although the credits were nicely done. I'll have to mull over the new logo though.

It was rather nice not having the dalek fleet destroyed at the end of the episode for a change. It looks like they've returned to be a force to be reckoned with in the universe. to me thi is one of the few times they've seemed truly powerdul and dangerous enemies, as opposed to silly saltshakers rolling around and shouting at everything.

I so loved the characterizations in the story. Eleven being brave and serious for once instead of the usual bumbling party animal. And Amy displaying some depth and emotion beyond the standard cool wisecracker from the previous two seasons. Its so rare that she actually displays feelings for Rory. I was starting to wonder if she really did love him. I actually got a bit teary-eyed during their scene together on the planet.

And of course, Oswin was amazing. A 21st century version of Zoey. Cute and brilliant. It'll be interesting to see just how the new companion story plays out between now and Christmas.

My only question was who the heck chained down the asylum daleks, and why even bother, since it appears the average dalek can tear through them like tissue paper.

[Alidar Jarok]

tomalak301 wrote:

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I thought that last bit was a little on the corney side (In the same vain as James Cromwell saying "So you guys are on some sort of Star Trek").

Forced references to the show's title are part of a tradition that goes back to An Unearthly Child.

BTW, I did get a Zoe vibe from Oswin. Glad I'm not the only one.

[Similitude]

Absolutely LOVED!

Great twist, lots of Amy and Doctor, Daleks being used well, no complaints!

SAVE THE DALEKS also kind of gave me the chills!