I’m beginning to think that the Doctor points and laughs at paradoxes.
- Who Wrote Beethoven’s 5th?: Interesting opening, I was wondering how it was going to tie in to the episode. And I did indeed end up googling it.
- What do you say to someone who’s scared?: I find it interesting that Clara suddenly finds herself on the other side of the “everything is going to be okay” conversation. I think she also realizes that the person on the side she’s on at that moment doesn’t believe a word of it.
- The War Minister: Really, Moffat? Really? We’re gonna use the “arc words” thing again to build up the mystery of the season? Get some new material dude.
- It’s Bigger on the Inside: O’Donnell is such a fangirl, and we love her for it.
- Enter the Undertaker: You really have to wonder about a race that enjoys being conquered and oppressed.
- The Fisher King: Not sure if there’s anything to the naming here, except that it’s kind of a cool name to give something, but it’s a nice little Arthurian reference all the same.
- The Doctor Can’t Change the Rules: Oh, come on Doctor! You ignore the rules of time all the time! Your relationship with the rules of time is roughly equivalent to Kirk’s relationship with the Prime Directive. You only acknowledge their existence in passing when it’s convenient for you!
- The Death of O’Donnell: You know, I’m beginning to think that Moffat has a vendetta against fangirls. First Oswald and now O’Donnell. Or maybe there’s some kind of curse on people with “O” names.
- The Doctor wouldn’t save O’Donnell: I know that Bennett is grieving here, and he’s not in the best place mentally, but he does have a point. The Doctor didn’t do all that much to save O’Donnell.
- Trapped in Time: I wonder if the Doctor being time-locked, as it were, has anything to do with the TARDIS not being happy in the last episode.
- Cass’ Question: Has traveling with the Doctor changed Clara? Of course. Traveling with the Doctor changes everyone who’s had the privilege, whether or not it’s for the better depends entirely on the person. I have a feeling Clara may realize that the changes it’s made in her are not really all for the good.
- The Courage of Lunn: Lunn is an interesting guy; I’m fairly sure that he’s just there to translate for Cass, but he turns out to be a pretty brave person.
- I Have no Mouth, But I’m Still Pretty Eloquent: Interesting that they gave the Fisher King such an erudite voice. Especially since he doesn’t have a mouth that would be capable of making those kinds of sounds.
- Where the Fisher King’s Story Ends: Another fine twelve monologue delivered with flair by Peter Capaldi.
- Bad Vibrations: Naturally that’s how Cass would be able to tell that there’s something behind her. Also, props for giving the audience her point of view for that whole sequence.
- Security Protocol Seven One Two: I bet the Doctor thought that making it sound like something an airline stewardess would say was funny.
- The End of the Fisher King: Hmm, so that’s what happened to the other power cell.
- Morning Breath: I figured it out about a minute before the reveal.
- The Doctor’s Sunglasses: Still not entirely sold on those things, but they did prove useful for getting those coordinates out of everyone’s eyes.
- Cass and Lunn: You know, I figured her protectiveness of him had to come from more than just “he’s the only way she can communicate effectively.”
- Back to the Beginning: And there’s how the Bootstrap Paradox ties in. He knew all that because he’d already done it.
Overall I think that this was a pretty satisfying conclusion to this two parter. We got to see a little development for Clara here, I think. And, of course, more arc words. Hooray.
On the other hand, next week we get some vikings and Maisie Williams!