I think the fact that Amy will be in the four downloadable games, and that the BBC has said they're episodes 14-17 of this season, is suggestive that Amy does not depart the TARDIS before the Christmas special.
5x02 The Beast Below (Grading/Discussion) (SPOILERS!)
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"Overrated" means "I hate it and and everyone who likes it is stupid" and "underrated" means "I love it and everyone who hates it is stupid". Surely there are many better ways to express an aesthetic opinion.
Works for me.Good points either way. I guess it makes more sense when I remember that they themselves got up and walked at Amy and the Doctor.
The people on this forum, I'm convinced, are hell bent on ruining Doctor Who by overthinking it.
I swear for a show that doesn't even pretend to stand up to analysis, it's scrutinised a fuckload more than say Star Trek - a fictional universe which presents itself as coherent but actually makes even less sense than the botched, plastered, loop-de-loop timeline of Who.
/rant
I swear for a show that doesn't even pretend to stand up to analysis, it's scrutinised a fuckload more than say Star Trek - a fictional universe which presents itself as coherent but actually makes even less sense than the botched, plastered, loop-de-loop timeline of Who.
/rant
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Final viewing figures for The Beast Below published today by BARB show the story was watched by 8.42 million viewers.
Now it's Canada and America's turn! 
I think this episode proves once again that, especially with Moffat at the helm, it's hard to predict where a DW episode is going to go. One minute the episode looks like it might become a Sarah Jane story in disguise, the next it becomes a rather light-hearted romp - the barf scene had me laughing - and then the episode went about as dark as Moffat has gone. When Eleven says "I won't be the Doctor anymore", I actually got a chill up my spine.
The only concern I have is that Karen Gillan is clearly stealing the show. Mind you, that's what was said with Billie Piper, too. But just as before, the chemistry between the two leads is what makes it work. I just hope they don't overdo it because I remember how some fans became (and remained) resentful of Rose being the focus of the first two seasons. I'd hate to see Amy wear out her welcome.
I hope we see more of Liz10. I didn't realize royalty could be so sexy! (And I imagine -- without having read the review thread or the boards -- the confirmation of the whole "Virgin Queen" thing probably made a few purists choke on their jelly babies!)
And I loved having the old-school link between this episode and the next, though if I were in charge I'd have ended with the shadow of the Dalek as a cliffhanger. Still, it's got me looking forward to Victory of the Daleks.
Second episodes are always pretty tricky for new Doctors: "The End of the World" was kind of awkward at times and I recall Cassandra wasn't an instant hit (and people still chuckle about Eccleston's grooving to the music during the show!); New Earth was actually called a somewhat weak season opener, as I recall. Fortunately, Beast Below actually fell more into the category of The Ark in Space, a very strong followup (and interestingly it apparently takes place in the aftermath of the same event that resulted in Space Station Nerva being sent up).
Anyway, it's 2 for 2 for the new season. I expect a stumble along the way (there always is) but so far so good.
Alex
I think this episode proves once again that, especially with Moffat at the helm, it's hard to predict where a DW episode is going to go. One minute the episode looks like it might become a Sarah Jane story in disguise, the next it becomes a rather light-hearted romp - the barf scene had me laughing - and then the episode went about as dark as Moffat has gone. When Eleven says "I won't be the Doctor anymore", I actually got a chill up my spine.
The only concern I have is that Karen Gillan is clearly stealing the show. Mind you, that's what was said with Billie Piper, too. But just as before, the chemistry between the two leads is what makes it work. I just hope they don't overdo it because I remember how some fans became (and remained) resentful of Rose being the focus of the first two seasons. I'd hate to see Amy wear out her welcome.
I hope we see more of Liz10. I didn't realize royalty could be so sexy! (And I imagine -- without having read the review thread or the boards -- the confirmation of the whole "Virgin Queen" thing probably made a few purists choke on their jelly babies!)
And I loved having the old-school link between this episode and the next, though if I were in charge I'd have ended with the shadow of the Dalek as a cliffhanger. Still, it's got me looking forward to Victory of the Daleks.
Second episodes are always pretty tricky for new Doctors: "The End of the World" was kind of awkward at times and I recall Cassandra wasn't an instant hit (and people still chuckle about Eccleston's grooving to the music during the show!); New Earth was actually called a somewhat weak season opener, as I recall. Fortunately, Beast Below actually fell more into the category of The Ark in Space, a very strong followup (and interestingly it apparently takes place in the aftermath of the same event that resulted in Space Station Nerva being sent up).
Anyway, it's 2 for 2 for the new season. I expect a stumble along the way (there always is) but so far so good.
Alex
Well, that story really went in a different direction than I was expecting. That's part of why I love this show. It can still throw me for a loop.
I think it's also fascinating that the Doctor very nearly does the wrong thing this week, and it's up to his companion to save the day. I recall there were doubters as to whether or not Matt Smith could portray the Doctor's darker side. Well, after this week: Yeah. Yeah, he can. He actually kinda scared me when he went off on everyone.
Pretty good teaser for next week, even if I'm a bit Daleked out.
I think it's also fascinating that the Doctor very nearly does the wrong thing this week, and it's up to his companion to save the day. I recall there were doubters as to whether or not Matt Smith could portray the Doctor's darker side. Well, after this week: Yeah. Yeah, he can. He actually kinda scared me when he went off on everyone.
Pretty good teaser for next week, even if I'm a bit Daleked out.
Not wowed by this episode -- there was too much in it that just seemed like we'd seen it all before -- but I'm definitely enjoying Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. As a long time fan of Patrick Troughton's Doctor, it's clear to me that Smith really was influenced by watching his epi's, as reported in DWM. Very much your favorite and slightly daffy uncle but with a dark alienness just underneath. And the ladies in my house were worried that Amy was going to be another Rose or Martha -- romantically involved or pining for the Doctor -- but this episode took the relationship much more down the road of "best mates," which we all think is much better.
Looking forward to Sir Winston's interaction with the Doctor and the Dalek's next week -- but can we give the Daleks a rest after that?
Looking forward to Sir Winston's interaction with the Doctor and the Dalek's next week -- but can we give the Daleks a rest after that?
Another solid but not classic episode. I'm waiting for the big epic adventure. These first two felt a little small. I'm starting to feel a pattern of the stories being about weird creepy images but not really going anywhere with it (the crack in the wall, the robot fortune teller heads).
No, we don't all think alike.
Try reading my post again. "We" as in "everybody at my house."
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were still using the "we" from your first sentence.
Sorry to cause confusion. I don't generally strive for excellent writing in these posts, just quick communication. Although I do still think that spelling counts.
Egads, the guys at Television Without Pity clearly need to get someone else reviewing Doctor Who because a) he clearly misses a lot of the point and b) based on the way he ends his review of Beast Below, I'm categorizing him as a Lost Soul with regards to this series:
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/doctor_who/the_beast_below.php
You get that sometimes. Certainly with the various Star Treks that was the case, when a reviewer or a fan falls off the rails and it's clearly time for them to move on to something else. Not saying every review has to be positive, and to each their own (there are lots of people who think Blink was an abomination, too, just as I've seen lots of fan lists that include Love & Monsters among their favorite stories), but I just got a sense this reviewer isn't likely to be satisfied with anything this show has to offer. Something about referring to it as "childish retarded bulls*it" gave me that impression... and I'm even taking into account that TWP tends to have an irreverent tone.
Alex
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/doctor_who/the_beast_below.php
You get that sometimes. Certainly with the various Star Treks that was the case, when a reviewer or a fan falls off the rails and it's clearly time for them to move on to something else. Not saying every review has to be positive, and to each their own (there are lots of people who think Blink was an abomination, too, just as I've seen lots of fan lists that include Love & Monsters among their favorite stories), but I just got a sense this reviewer isn't likely to be satisfied with anything this show has to offer. Something about referring to it as "childish retarded bulls*it" gave me that impression... and I'm even taking into account that TWP tends to have an irreverent tone.
Alex
I enjoyed the episode, though I wasn't as excited by it as last week's premiere. Liz 10 was pretty cool. I liked the Doctor & Amy, and I wonder if the way they linked to the next episode was unique to this ep, or it'll continue; reminded me a little of how they did it in Quantum Leap.
Actually saw the episode a second time and liked it much better than the first. Yeah, I'm getting real close to calling Eleven my favorite Doctor after only a few episodes.
I've always been kind of neutral on the companions since the show returned in '05 (I think Romana II from the original run was the last one I liked a lot), but Amy has won me over rather quickly...
I've always been kind of neutral on the companions since the show returned in '05 (I think Romana II from the original run was the last one I liked a lot), but Amy has won me over rather quickly...
I recently got cable, and with that BBC America. So last night's episode was the second Dr. Who I've ever seen! Dr. Who n00b here
Anyway, I liked the premiere enough to make it a point to keep watching, and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed the Doctor and Amy-they do seem like they'll be best friends. I know Amy is running away from her wedding and I really want to know why... Also, I thought the fortune-teller head things were pretty scary.
I happened to catch the Dr. Who summary show that was on before the new episode and the things that really caught my eye were those creepy angels that they had to stare at or else the angels would get them! So scary! Are those things coming back this series? I might have to enlist some friends to watch with me if they do!
Anyway, I liked the premiere enough to make it a point to keep watching, and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed the Doctor and Amy-they do seem like they'll be best friends. I know Amy is running away from her wedding and I really want to know why... Also, I thought the fortune-teller head things were pretty scary.
I happened to catch the Dr. Who summary show that was on before the new episode and the things that really caught my eye were those creepy angels that they had to stare at or else the angels would get them! So scary! Are those things coming back this series? I might have to enlist some friends to watch with me if they do!
I happened to catch the Dr. Who summary show that was on before the new episode and the things that really caught my eye were those creepy angels that they had to stare at or else the angels would get them! So scary! Are those things coming back this series? I might have to enlist some friends to watch with me if they do!
I happened to catch the Dr. Who summary show that was on before the new episode and the things that really caught my eye were those creepy angels that they had to stare at or else the angels would get them! So scary! Are those things coming back this series? I might have to enlist some friends to watch with me if they do!
Oh, that's just great...now looking forward to more creepy angels. yay!
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