**Spoilers** Series 6, Episode 10 - "The Girl Who Waited"

pixelburp

So tomorrow's episode is supposedly a Doctor-lite one, and is also apparently a tear-jerker in places (either that or the early reviewers are all big softies). Now the bad news - it's being written by Tom McRae, the man who wrote season 2's pretty poor Cyberman two-parter. Again, I think this is a standalone episode

Let's have some clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJu27cPS85A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUG77IEy6BA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht6wBPidk4g

Trueskill3r

Hey guys what channel and time is it on my sky box used to record it for me but it wont now anybody tell me the time and channel?

aidan_walsh

BBC1, 7.15.

Trueskill3r

Thanks man Cant wait

Yahew

looks good.

Yahew

Tour de force by Karen.

Cormic

I enjoyed the episode - thought old Amy's make up was done very well.

Penn

Really well done episode, and both Amy and Rory were fantastic

pixelburp

Another excellent episode, and incredibly bitter-sweet. Old Amy's tragic story was heart-wrenching, especially when you realised there was only ever going to be one outcome. Gillen & Darvill really deserve props for really fleshing out these characters. Too soon to suggest their the greatest companion(s) ever?

It also looked a million dollars - I dunno who directed this episode but credit where credit's due, it was really well-directed. Series 5/6 in general have been epic in their visuals, this was another step from that.

Doctor DooM

Wow... the world looked so lonely and sterile... writing was great... idea behind it was so good.

It was awful sad, I need something to cheer me up now. But some really good TV.

I am so glad the Doctor didn't find an answer. Very glad his darker side appeared again. Rule 1, the Doctor lies. I really disliked him for what he did to Rory, which is the whole point.

Dr Who is no longer for kids though, for reals.

Yahew

Don't lecture me, blue box man, flying through time on whimsy. All I've got, all I've had for 36 years is cold, hard reality

pixelburp

Doctor DooM wrote: »

[...]
I am so glad the Doctor didn't find an answer. Very glad his darker side appeared again. Rule 1, the Doctor lies. I really disliked him for what he did to Rory, which is the whole point.

Dr Who is no longer for kids though, for reals.

Yup, so once again I find myself wondering what kids (and their parents) make of this new direction. Surely they must be scared, confused... maybe a little bored by the lack of running action?

(not me btw, should point out that I love it)

Ridley

First time I've been convinced that Amy actually chose Rory over the Doctor.

Possibly the strongest episode of the series. Only mild complaint about the episode was disabling the 'droid with a painting. He must have been an awful Roman.

Amy and Rory seem altogether too fine about not being there for raising their daughter, y'know?

Manach

An excellent episode, coming directly after last week's meh effort. It tossed around some excellent concepts on love and loss, though it vaguely reminded me of the DS9 episode 'Time's Orphan'.

thought it was excellent and very touching

but

she did make some fuss about 36 years compared to him waiting, what was it, 900 years?

Cookie33

The make up on older amy was fantastic! Another chance to show the cruel side to the Doctor. Always feel so bad for Rory esp when he had to chose between his wife and his er.. wife! Wasn't fussed on the robots, bit too boring for my liking

Penn

bluewolf wrote: »

thought it was excellent and very touching

but

she did make some fuss about 36 years compared to him waiting, what was it, 900 years?

The difference was though, Rory chose to stay with the Pandorica for 2000 years. He knew he'd be alone and made that choice. Amy was waiting for them to come, not knowing when they were coming. And when they didn't, it was harder to deal with the fact she was alone.

Barrington

Barrington wrote: »

The difference was though, Rory chose to stay with the Pandorica for 2000 years. He knew he'd be alone and made that choice. Amy was waiting for them to come, not knowing when they were coming. And when they didn't, it was harder to deal with the fact she was alone.

yeah, i answered that in my head after posting and you're totally right, it's just something that struck me

Yahew

The robots were a McGuffin.

Yahew

Barrington wrote: »

The difference was though, Rory chose to stay with the Pandorica for 2000 years. He knew he'd be alone and made that choice. Amy was waiting for them to come, not knowing when they were coming. And when they didn't, it was harder to deal with the fact she was alone.

She knew they would take about 40 years, and would come as she had the conversation with her older self, except it went a bit differently.

Sarn

Great episode. Amy and Rory make a great set of companions. It was getting a little tiring having the female companion falling for the Doctor. Rory really needs to work on his combat skills though.

The Doctor also dropped a nice bit of info on how to avoid his death. As he knows when he's going to die he can work on how to avoid it.

ríomhaire

Yahew wrote: »

The robots were a McGuffin.

Not sure you know what a McGuffin means.

Yahew

ríomhaire wrote: »

Not sure you know what a McGuffin means.

I say I do.

TheIrishGrover

Yahew wrote: »

I say I do.

No, pretty sure you don't. If anything, the whole centre was, or, given that the point of the story (IMHO) was the love between Rory and Amy the the dual time nature itself was "the mcguffin". But, to be honest, given the nature of this episode it's irrelavent.

Anyway, thought it was an excellent episode. Thought it was only pretty good until Old-Amy and the doctor made eye contact. You knew what he was going to do but it still had a punch and the heart-to-heart could have been mawkish (As it would have been with RTD) but they pulled it off. And, oh yeah, I HATE aging makeup, it almost never works but it looked fantastic in this episode.

Yahew

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

No, pretty sure you don't. If anything, the whole centre was, or, given that the point of the story (IMHO) was the love between Rory and Amy the the dual time nature itself was "the mcguffin". But, to be honest, given the nature of this episode it's irrelavent.

Anyway, thought it was an excellent episode. Thought it was only pretty good until Old-Amy and the doctor made eye contact. You knew what he was going to do but it still had a punch and the heart-to-heart could have been mawkish (As it would have been with RTD) but they pulled it off. And, oh yeah, I HATE aging makeup, it almost never works but it looked fantastic in this episode.

If the story was really about the love between Rory and Amy then - you are right - all the other stuff was a McGuffin, a fairly ill defined term. The robots were harmless - there was nothing to learn about them, nor do we really have a new planet to add to the Canon, because we never saw the planet, nor do we know what happened to the people on it with regards to the plague. I was answering the comment "Wasn't fussed on the robots, bit too boring for my liking". They didnt matter.

so if we agree that the Robots ( and or the planet if you wish) were not important, my point stands.

Doctor DooM

A Mc Guffin is not ill defined, nor were the robots one, and you I'm afraid sadly do not understand what it means, it is something the main characters need to attain to resolve the plot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacGuffin

Yahew

Doctor DooM wrote: »

A Mc Guffin is not ill defined, nor were the robots one, and you I'm afraid sadly do not understand what it means, it is something the main characters need to attain to resolve the plot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacGuffin

Even by your own link you prove my case.


The MacGuffin is common in films, especially thrillers. Usually the MacGuffin is the central focus of the film in the first act, and then declines in importance as the struggles and motivations of characters play out. It may come back into play at the climax of the story, but sometimes the MacGuffin is actually forgotten by the end of the film.

If it can be forgotten the McGuffin is clearly not essential to the plot, nor - your definition - something people need to obtain.

The central focus in the first act was the problem with the robots. They, however, were not the real story - it was a Amy-Rory love story whose struggles and motivations we saw play out. The middle bit had some perfunctory "fights" with the robots, and they came back in the later part. But even that was unnecessary as the strory was not about defeating the robots. The last scene could just as easily have been the protagonists running towards the tardis because it had to leave and the Doctor shutting the door on old Amy, regardless of whether the robots were in pursuit or not.

Clearly and evidentially they were McGuffins.

BaconZombie

Duckjob

Very strong standalone episode I though. Had to give it a second watch today to get the finer details.

The bitterness Old Amy harboured towards the Doctor really packed a punch, and I thought the Rory/Old Amy had towards the end was particularly gut wrenching.

I also loved some of the humourous lines, like Rory: "I'll be alright, I've got my... wives." Also, the "Rory" robot with the silly smiley face drawn on it.

I think this is when Dr Who shines so brightly, when it manages to extract both humour and tragedy from the same events, and binds them so skillfully together.

Excellent stuff.

Just saw it there. Remarkable episode.


I'm actually a little weepy

pixelburp

I particularly loved the little moment where Amy rationalises how a girl like her could fall for a dork like Rory. It was a sweet little moment among sweet moments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUyZjfjAAPE

DeleveleD

BaconZombie wrote: »

Thank you. Whoever you are, thank you.

:pac:

Also: HIPSTER GLASSES!
Alternative caption: I was a time travelling robot disguised as a roman before it was cool.

phil1nj

Really enjoyed this episode. Thought it was one of the better ones of this season (so far anyway). The first rule, that the doctor lies, was used perfectly IMHO.
Also, as has been said before in this thread,

the Doctor now has information about his own death and so can (should he choose to) alter his own future.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

rory breaks one of the robots by hitting it over the head with a painting? really?

and that 300 style fighting was dreadful, it was a good ep until that point. then I just started cringing.

TheIrishGrover

Also: HIPSTER GLASSES!
Alternative caption: I was a time travelling robot disguised as a roman before it was cool.[/QUOTE]

No good with photoshop. (Just used Paint)

DeleveleD

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

No good with photoshop. (Just used Paint)

You Sir, deserve to be on the Internet.

Stark

Best episode of series 6.2 so far in my opinion. Could serve as a refresher to Moffet in how to leave time for the emotional impact of things to sink in between all the wibbly wobbly timey wimey.

Mahatma coat

Another Excellent episode, this season is really shaping up to be great, I hope it dosent all go to pot with contrived arcs and a Deus Ex Machina reset at the end, the robots were great, some reall clever editing too seing as there semed to be load of em but there were only 6.

as someone else said they were scary Because they werent supposed to be scary, the unrelenting pursuit and the 'This is a Kindness' bit was really freaky.

The end bit with old Amy at the door of the Tardis was also great, Rory is really saping up to be one of the better companions, he hadsome of the bst lines again.

BTW does anyoneelse watch the DW Confidential on BBC3 afterwards, I was shocked to discover that Karrengillan cant drive, and what was with Arthurs Beard:eek:

K-9

Mahatma coat wrote: »

BTW does anyoneelse watch the DW Confidential on BBC3 afterwards, I was shocked to discover that Karrengillan cant drive, and what was with Arthurs Beard:eek:

I assumed it was because he was acting in something else, though it could be for Dr. Who! The Sharks part was cool, well done. Got to see a bit of their personalities and a bit more of Karen, which is also nice.

I preferred last weeks episode though the ending weakened it. Really looking forward to next weeks.

Parts of it were very good but found it a bit cliched.

SparklersJo

I haven't seen any threads on this up to now, so I don't know what the general vibe is, but thought I'd throw in my 2cents on this anyway!

While I do really like Amy and Rory and their character developmet and relationship. And they are what makes it so watchable. I feel this all takes away from the Doctor. I enjoy watching Amy and Rory more than I do him. They are more exciting and seem more relatable. And yes, I am very David Tennant biased. But Matt Smith just isn't dong it for me in general. I'm finding DW kinda tedious since he started. I'm waiting for someting BIG to happen, like it did for David Tennant.

Good episode overall. Mostly coz it was an Amy/Rory one. Love their relationship.

allanb49

We now have a second sonic screw driver, just a reminder now

Stark

He has a drawer full of the things these days.

I was heavily biased toward tennant as well, but matt smith is doing an excellent job imo.

Doctor DooM

bluewolf wrote: »

I was heavily biased toward tennant as well, but matt smith is doing an excellent job imo.

I felt kinda sad for alot of people who'd only seen the new series when Smith started, there was alot of "why isn't he awesome like Tennant" but I think they're doing a great job of reintroducing the cosmic hobo- manipulator- accidental awkward hero thing with a modern veneer to them with the current show. The Dr Who we have now is the one I really envisioned when I heard there was going to be a reboot.

I don't want to rubbish Tennant though, I feel he did great stuff for my beloved franchise both off screen and on. I will even go so far as to defend RTD somewhat. Actually a couple of years in I think Smith's Doctor is a pretty good logical progession from Tennants, the character needs to change somewhat or become stale.

TheIrishGrover

Doctor DooM wrote: »

I felt kinda sad for alot of people who'd never seen the new series when Smith started, there was alot of "why isn't he awesome like Tennant" but I think they're doing a great job of reintroducing the cosmic hobo- manipulator- accidental awkward hero thing with a modern veneer to them with the current show. The Dr Who we have now is the one I really envisioned when I heard there was going to be a reboot.

I don't want to rubbish Tennant though, I feel he did great stuff for my beloved franchise both off screen and on. I will even go so far as to defend RTD somewhat. Actually a couple of years in I think Smith's Doctor is a pretty good logical progession from Tennants, the character needs to change somewhat or become stale.

This is VERY true. I was never a follower of Dr. Who, growing up in poverty1 and poverty 2 land. Of course I knew who he was, the daleks and the TARDIS etc. But mainly from shows referencing Dr. Who. I had seen a few episodes a friend of mine had on VHS also but that was about it. So my first real introduction was the 2005 reboot. I liked Eccleston but even then, with my limited knowledge, he seemed to be very different from that I imagined him to be. I really liked Tennant. I liked the humour and the creepier episodes too like The Empty Child and Moffet's other episodes.

I posted a thread on this forum about 3 or 4 episodes in stating that I thought Smith was only Meh. Then I watched the rest of the series. It had the epic episodes and the ones that were exactly what I imagined Dr Who to be (The one with the surilans, can't remember the names) thought to myself: Ah, THIS is what a 20XX's Dr. Who is with decent budget, writing, effects and makeup would look like. And it also had the FANTASTIC Vincent and The Lodger episodes. In my original thread I came back and begged forgiveness for my lack of faith Smith/Moffet are awesome. The playful edge one minute (In Vincent when he says he'll be right back. The look on Smith's face when he opens the door under stonehenge to the Pandorica etc). And the hard edge the next minute (When he locks the door on old-Amy). I can see that THIS is more along the lines of what original fans wanted and I think it's deadly.

Just thinking as I'm writing this though. As good as Tennant was in "Human Nature" and "Family Of Blood" can you imagine it with Smith? Oh maaaaannnn.

Sleepy

Tennant was "my doctor", luring me into the series when I was forced to watch "The Girl In The Fireplace" by an ex. My only memories of the classic series were of Super Channel showing repeats of the 7th doctor which (half afraid to admit this on the forum) I hated as a child.

Shortly after seeing that first episode I caught up from the start of the reboot and was hooked pretty quickly. So far, Smith is my favourite of the doctors and now that I've seen the odd episode of Baker's doctor, I don't know how I didn't get into the show earlier.

For me it's the moral ambiguity of this doctor, the hard choices he's having to make. Some of Tennant's better written episodes had these elements as well but the doctor's anguish was a bit over-blown for me, despite Smith looking more like an emo-doctor, Tennant's behaved more like it whilst the most associated word I've heard with Ecclestone's tenure would be "brooding", I like that 11 just gets on with things, even when it's tough. Much better role model for kids imho.

Duckjob

Sleepy wrote: »

Tennant was "my doctor", luring me into the series when I was forced to watch "The Girl In The Fireplace" by an ex. My only memories of the classic series were of Super Channel showing repeats of the 7th doctor which (half afraid to admit this on the forum) I hated as a child.

Shortly after seeing that first episode I caught up from the start of the reboot and was hooked pretty quickly. So far, Smith is my favourite of the doctors and now that I've seen the odd episode of Baker's doctor, I don't know how I didn't get into the show earlier.

For me it's the moral ambiguity of this doctor, the hard choices he's having to make. Some of Tennant's better written episodes had these elements as well but the doctor's anguish was a bit over-blown for me, despite Smith looking more like an emo-doctor, Tennant's behaved more like it whilst the most associated word I've heard with Ecclestone's tenure would be "brooding", I like that 11 just gets on with things, even when it's tough. Much better role model for kids imho.

I'm not surprised you were lured in by "The Girl in the Fireplace". IMO that was THE stand-out episode of that series by a country mile.

ríomhaire

We still haven't had the all-important question answered; where did the Doctor's new coat come from? Maybe Moffat's saving that revelation for the finale.

triseke

I really liked this episode overall. In the beginning, I wasn't too sure, felt it was gonna be "filler-y" but towards the end, when the realisation starts to seep in about Rory and his choice, and how the Doctor makes it for him, I did well up.

Damn Doctor Who and its awesome stories...

Memnoch99

One of the finest episodes by far from start to finish. Amy doing the Macerana was one of the funniest moments in a while, and even though you knew the Doctor was going to close the door on Old Amy it was still very emotional. And Rorys line of ''you are turning me in to you'' to the doctor was brilliant.

BuffyBot

Did anyone else think old Amy looked like Gillian McKeith? Frankly, I'd leave her out of the TARDIS too on that basis alone.