J. Hooligan
That was an amazing opening! I really love that Peter Capaldi is playing the guitar for it. Fantastic!
When I realized the alien was another one of those guys from Tivoli, I was so excited! There were so many amusing lines just from his short part on the episode, This was one of my favorites, "If you occupied us, you'd be home by now."
Then it goes back to the the doctor, being that ghost thing. Clara's on the phone with the alive doctor, and she's talking to him about him being a ghost and he's going on about how he's going to have to die. Stop trying to die, dammit! I'm done with you dying all the time. This is the second story in the season, and thus far the theme seems to be that the doctor thinks he is going to die. I think this particular Clara quote from the episode fits perfectly here, "Die with whoever comes after me. But you do not leave me!" Damn straight, Clara. I'm not ready for Peter Capaldi to leave me.
Oooh man, the roar that Cory Taylor from Slip Knot did? Whoa. I gave me chills. Listen to this:
"The chamber will open tonight"
When O'Donnell died, I was actually pissed at her because The Doctor had specifically told her to stay in the TARDIS and she didn't listen. Why don't you people ever listen when he tells you to stay?! And then Bennett is all... You didn't try to save her. You wanted to test it to save Clara. Well, daymn. Because how much of that is actually true? This incarnation of the Doctor does seem to care a lot less for the lives of people around him. If he actually wanted to prevent her from dying, he could have. Anyway, she died. Then her ghost appeared and took Clara's phone. Damn her.
Afterward, the Doctor gets locked in his time stream, showing back up right before they met Prentis, the Tivoli. And when 12 pretty much tackled Bennett when he tried to run toward the previous group of themselves, oh man. I bet that was ass for him to stop the guy from saving her. But, it reminded me of that episode with Rose and her dad... when she saved his life. I'm just saying. We can't go through that again.
Going back to the future, Clara sends Lunn to go after the phone and this makes Cass get snippy at her. Lunn translates for her and she says something pretty powerful, in my opinion, "Did traveling with the doctor change you or were you always happy to put other's lives at risk." That's some serious #RealTalk right there.
Clara and Cass ended up going after him, but they get separated. Clara pulls a stupid, which I get - because she was panicked - and starts calling for Cass. Except CASS IS DEAF. Good job there. Anyway, Cass ends up in a pretty scary situation. Thank gawd she's got ninja skills. My heart was racing during that scene.
I can't take that first ghost seriously now that I know what race he is... and I don't think he's a fancy Captain Ahab type person. Seriously, all of last episode every time I saw him I thought of Moby Dick.
While watching this episode, I was texting Bob the entire time. (The majority of our texts looked something like this, "SHIT SHIT SHIT") Anyway, there's drama going on and then this happens:
I think the end had to be my favorite part of the episode. Poor Bennett was watching through the window, staring longingly at O'Donnell. There were feels. Thankfully, Clara went over to him and told him that he's allowed to move on. It is clear how she still misses Danny Pink. And I miss him too. Poor man didn't get much of a chance last season.
The best part was when Bennett tells Lunn he can't waste time by hiding his feelings from Cass. Lunn, always translating everyone for Cass, repeats everything that's being said. Then they're getting makey outy. And that was beautiful. That was great. I applauded it with absolutely no shame.
And the end is talking about what was said at the beginning with the Bootstrap Paradox. I found this Radio Times article about it, if you'd like to see more about it. Although, I feel the need to point out that I do not agree that Capaldi's doctor needs to get rid of his guitar. I think it's great, and also I still like the sunglasses despite all the haters who have tried to make fun of me for it.
I can't wait for next week's episode! I have only seen one episode of Game of Thrones, but I've heard a lot of positive things about Maisie Williams.
Keagan Rae
I love how o'Donnell fan girls, but waits until the Doctor is out of ear shot to do it. I think she's one of my favourites from this bunch.
Times like this I'm reminded of why I liked Clara at the beginning.
First proper alien?! What's that supposed to mean dude?? Pffff the Doctor is totally a proper alien! And this alien dude is totally not.
Clinical error my butt! This incarnation is awesome. Stop putting yourself down Doctor!
Nooo stupid woman! Should have stayed in the TARDIS. But I suppose the Doctor could have caught harder to keep her there, if he didn't want to text a theory.
Haha no one to stop you Doctor, except for your own TARDIS. Tsk tsk. Uhoh over lapping time streams. Hopefully this dude listens to the Doctor more than Rose did.
Dark, scary, abandoned basement!
Oh shit... That can't be good. Those light on the stasis chamber should not be lighting up. AND LOOKING LIKE THEY'RE COUNTING DOWN.
Ew.. Fischer King, you ain't very pretty!
Clara, you said stick together! Arrrgggh.
I BET YOU THE DOCTOR IS IN THE STASIS CHAMBER NOW.
Ahh he's brilliant.
ADORABLE. At least there was a little bit of happy here. Even if my tears are both sad and happy.
Excellent end to the two parter. And YAY for next week. So glad to finally see Maisie Williams' character. I really hope all the hype is worth it.