I thought this was a cracking episode.
Started off slow and a bot so-so, but it ramped up hugely.
I thought Liz Ten was a great character. Wouldn't you like her as Queen now, investigating what her government is up to?
Smith was better this week, despite what you naysayers upthread say. He does do anger, what you might not have picked up on that it was layered with despair. "Nobody talk to me! Nobody human has ANYTHING to say to me today!"
Some damn funny lines. Scotland getting their own ship. "I'm the bloody Queen mate! Basically, I rule!" Quite a few others, as you'd expect from a Moffatt ep.
Magpie Electricals!
The whale sound, as a sound effect, was pretty amazing, alien and in such pain at the same time.
The ethical theme at the heart of the story was very strong.
I came up with the name Starwhale for a story decades ago. Never did anything with it. Can't do it now.
Amy making a moral decision, much like Donna in Pompeii. That's why the Doctor needs a companion. Look what happened to Ten.
"Have you ever run away from something, just because you could?" "Yes. Once." What's he referring to?
And here's a question: is he tracking the Crack... or is the Crack tracking him?
I like the way they start the next episode at the end, we already know where we're going.
And though I too wish they'd give the Daleks a break, this looks like it could be a keeper.