h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yup. Liked that. A bit like the "Tuvix" episode of Voyager again (as was the dopplegangers one).

FB

I really liked the delving into the relationship between Amy and Rory. I often feel like I'm accepting that they're together, and yet don't really know why. This episode went some way to _explaining_ how she feels about him.

But much, much better. This is far and away the best series of NuWho when a episode of this calibre isn't the best in the series (The Doctors Wife is still winning that for me).

I've just been told that this was both the cheap episode and the Doctor-lite episode and it's impressive that I hadn't noticed either fact: it certainly didn't look like a cheap episode and I didn't really notice the absence of the Doctor because they worked it into the story so well.

The story was utterly heartbreaking. Poor Rory, he's having a tough series but he continues to show why he's my favourite Who character at the moment and possibly ever. He couldn't make the choice, he couldn't be like the Doctor and would have let older Amy in and doomed them all. Loved him attacking the Doctor for what he did and I think that'll end up being a major plot point. It helps that Darvill is far and away the best actor of the bunch.

The Doctors deceit was incredibly dark but we have been warned about it ("Rule 1: the Doctor lies" - we're really seeing that pay off now) and his hopelessness. I wonder if old Amy knew or suspected what would happen, hence her anger and refusal to let him help.

Karen Gillan put in one of her best performances, particularly as the old Amy. I didn't like her at first but she's getting better with every episode now.

I think it shows that lots of money doesn;t make a good episode. This weeks and last weeks felt 'small' episodes and were superb...harking back to when story drove episodes and not special effects (not saying that does in Dr Who).

Anyway...wow, brilliant episode...powerful performances by all and a great core idea at the centre...not wanting to die...which none of us do...but with the added twist that if you stay alive you spend 37years alone...the 37years you have JUST spent alone...but that you would lose if you helped a younger you to have a different future...it's the primal need to survive...stunning stuff.

I thought that was splendid. I can almost see this series leading to Rory and Amy leaving the Doctor because *they just don't like him any more*. I don't suppose that will happen - a bit too downbeat for BBC family drama, but it would be a logical end-point to a lot of what's happened in this series.

The Doctor has already been given a couple of get-outs for his dying: firstly, "the Doctor lies", and now in this one the stuff about somebody changing their fixed future if they knew about it, and were single-minded enough.

hygienicdispenser
< I can almost see this series leading to Rory and Amy leaving the Doctor because *they just don't like him any more*. I don't suppose that will happen - a bit too downbeat for BBC family drama, >

Not as downbeat as I think it might be if my guess is right about something...and boy...will *that* be downbeat for a family audience...but if they do it...wow...

kick ass middle aged Amy was a revelation - she can act! And very well, too. Really liked that, found that character really engaging. One of those where leaving it there is the right decision, although I secretly want a middle-aged warrior Amy spin off

Rory was very good too, he's gone from being a dopey spare wheel, to Kenny to an actual human being over this series. He is rather good.

For those who like sorta-spoilers, with an element of 'whaa?' thrown in, there is a very interesting casting noted on IMDB for episode 13. Won't say more as is spoilers, and it might be one of those wind up IMDB entries (has happened before) and it does seem a bit left field in terms of plot and arc. But if true, for old-Who fans, rather intriguing.

*Goes and looks at IMDB*

Ooooh... I can see that working actually, and might be a good way of explaining all the memes that have been plaguing nu-Who.

Yes, definitely a great ep. And not only was Gillan great (I always liked her, so pleased to see her shine), her make-up was some of the best ageing effects I've seen. To the extent I thought at one stage they might have got an older look-alike in!

Not sure I really 'got' the hand-bots, but that didn't distract from the story.

Dots, do tell what your idea is...

Gif

There's a 'Fourth Dimension' clue on the main site for this ep too.
I'll give it below cos it isn't exactly clear what it is about and it isn't a plot spoilery thing.





























The words "late friday afternoon" are italicized in the text.

That episode was devastating! Please tell me I'm not the only one who shed a tear when Rory was saying goodbye to older Amy! Have put my thoughts down here: http://wp.me/pLq5j-bn But I agree that both Arthur and Karen were superb in this episode! Properly, properly brilliant acting.

Nope, not alone Galigan. Quite a few of my facebook mates were tearing up too. Wonderfully sold by Darvill

Anyone for old Amy surviving the handbots and she being the one to kill The Doctor? She said she hated him and that was before the double-cross.

Well, she has got those temporal engines knocking about, and she (somehow) managed to build her own sonic screwdriver. Sorry, probe. Oh, I was right, its a screwdriver.

So, with a bit of work, and supposing she survives the paradox, its not outside the bounds of possibility (or at least, things that are possible in Who).

Geggs

It also occured to me that the hand-bots were very old-Who: guys dressed in something plasticky, shambling threateningly after the characters. When you add in the lack of extras, I can see why this would be a 'cheap' episode.

I liked the cheapness of it. Very old-Who as you say. The clean, white rooms. Still just enough CGI with handbots transporting in and the gardens superimposed but otherwise very simple.

I didn't think Arthur could get any better than "Would you like me to repeat the question?" (I'm sorry, but he was pretty masterful there!) in A Good Man Goes to War, but he's really blowing me away.

Agreed this episode was really sad. The scene with Rory and Amy through the Tardis door really was heartbreaking.

This series just gets better and better

Deb

A number of people praised the previous week's episode more than I agreed with because I thought it had some weak points with some weak lines for the charcters to say. This weeks show out shone it by far.

I think it was simpler and cheaper to make because the story line was character driven. Its always good to see depth added to Rory since he is the more affable but less brave of the three. We also learnt a lot about just how much Rory and Amy really love each other.

Any episode where we see the darker side of the Doctor always grabs my attention, and lying about being able to save both Amy Ponds then leaving the older one to not exist was particularly cruel. Putting Rory in the impossible position of choosing between the younger and older Amy was just as brutal.

>> Its always good to see depth added to Rory since he is the more affable but less brave of the three.<<

I disagree, I think Rory is the bravest of the trio but he's not a typical, gung-ho sort of bravery. This is a particular bugbear of mine but I think Rory is an exceptionally postive role model for kids because he's strong and brave without suffering from testosterone poisoning. He shows that it's possible to be manly and still be in touch with his emotions and to show compassion and that's quite rare.

Back in S6 I said I thought Rory might become an anti-River, only pops up occasionally when Amy needs bringing back to normality. Now I see him more as an anti-Doctor character: he's more thoughtful, he considers consequences a lot more and takes responsibility more. I think recognising what the Doctor does to people and explicitly rejecting it is going to be important. My favourite Rory moment was at the end of the Doctors Wife when the Doctor asks him if he's okay and he replies he isn't, that he just saw someone die in front of him and he couldn't do anything about it so there's no way he can be okay. It highlighted the compassionate and thoughtful side of him very well.

>>I disagree, I think Rory is the bravest of the trio but he's not a typical, gung-ho sort of bravery. This is a particular bugbear of mine but I think Rory is an exceptionally postive role model for kids because he's strong and brave without suffering from testosterone poisoning. He shows that it's possible to be manly and still be in touch with his emotions and to show compassion and that's quite rare.<<

I have to agree with this. He is brave in a less TV conventional way.