Liked. The 'and with a bound, Jack was free' explanation of how he avoided death was plainly bunk - yeah, causality itself can be fooled by a robot stand in? I think not - but it was enjoyable nevertheless. Which is at the end of the day what Doctor Who is supposed to be. Plus there was some half-decent acting going on, especially from the two female leads, credit where it's due. I did like the blue head in the box's comedy turn as well. I have to be honest though, apart from the Blink-esque USP, The Silence make a rubbish main monster. They're just not scary, really, at all. Plus I assume I'm not the only one who has noticed the portentous prophecy has as much relevance to them as it does to the Doctor...

There's not really been enough great episodes this series to make me want another series NOW to be honest with you, but there has been enough for me to want another series.

Jon

I took that as causality stated he must be there, as it had become a fixed point in time. So normally him being there would of meant him being killed. So by being inside the robot hes still there but the robot gets destroyed and causality is kept from splintering time yadda yadda.

I find the silence really scary. the idea that they can do anything to you and you won't remember ...

I wonder who will be the first person on here to say Rohipnol? Oh, wait... that'd be me then! :etc:

I liked it. The “all time together” scenes of London were great. I particularly like the steam train going through the St Mary Axe building. Made me laugh.

I also liked the nod to Nicholas Courtney. I was so hoping they’d mention him in some fashion. I wonder if the Brigadier would have got an invitation to Lake Silencio. A bit of a sad series - two well-loved old school actors dying this year.

It was a bit of a repeat of last year’s finale though. The whole time in a bubble notion. Apart from that, a good romp through to the end. Ends being tied up, a Dalek cameo and some rather nice debunking of theories. I think we were all expecting the Doctor who was shot to be a Flesh variant. The Teselecta thing was the other “body double” thing, and we missed it. Lesson learned: when a big set has been built, it may be used more than once.

And the mother in law looked particularly ravishing as well.

Up until now I haven't really 'got' Gillen. Too skinny, too pastey faced.. too much of a girl, basically. I have to say though I thought she looked really good in the whole 'under the pyramid' section for some reason. Can't for the life of me see why. Haircut maybe? The fact she was wearing something a bit better than her usual scruffy togs? Whatever, I was thinking 'you know, maybe I do see why the internet has the hots for her...'.

Still not my type, mind.

Jon

Enjoyed it. Had some amazing moments this season, but overall, nothing more. But I have to wonder how many more finales I can endure without disappointment. The Tennant finales were so massive, that anything else seems a little small by comparison.

No cameos for Jack or anybody else, no major nemesis. Kinda low key. In a way, good. But an adjustment. Moffat appears less sentimental with his finales and season long riffs and yet bigger on subtle moments of poignancy. Once again loved the ditching of the companion for the flatmate. But again, the way Moffat is pointing it all, you have to wonder how much longer is left. Surely, it HAS to end? The Doctors sadness grows with each passing ep and has been since way before Matt arrived.

Chris Eccleston had energy and wonder. These last are progressively more depressing.

I love it. As always. But I'm just thinking. Anybody else?

Well, I doubt there's many TV writers in the world who would turn down the chance to write the actual final episode of a show as famous as Doctor Who. But I just can't see the BBC letting it happen any time soon.

Sorry, poor English on my part! I meant, what is anybody else thinking about THE END coming soon? I like Moffat (A LOT), it's just that he's ostensibly painting things into a corner to an extent and then there's the fact that the Doctor just plain is Yoda in Empire. He's old and the force is a powerful ally, but he ain't gonna be around forever. There's all the nerdy regeneration rules and everything.

"Well, something like that was always going to happen." x2

What do we think of the Christmas special? It was hugely sentimental, which now seems to be the norm with Moffat. However, it really was a great Christmas fairy tale.

Claire Skinner always gives a captivating performance so I was very happy to see her. The kids were great too, and a proper comedy guest performance to boot.

Holly Earl is apparently nineteen and a third so I guess it's OK for me to say she looked really beautiful, although totally convincing as a young girl. Apparently she played "Young Kochanski" so she has Sci-Fi form already. Perhaps we'll see more of her, although she seems an unlikely candidate for a companion.... although if we think back to the very first series and also to the way Amy was first introduced, who knows?

Amy looked absolutely bloody gorgeous standing in the doorway. I look forward to seeing what she goes on to do; her schedule looks pretty busy.

I liked it best xmas present i got ......

It was the first of the Christmas Specials that didn't disappoint me.
Cracking story and very well acted throughout.
Did any else think the sound mix was a little of at the beginning, though?

Mark

I felt it was overly mawkish and sentimental. I don't mind being manipulated into an emotional investment in a story - that's one I'd the points of fiction - but this was done with the subtlety and grace of a sledgehammer. This is more RTD territory than Moffat.

I was also disappointed by the escape from what in the past would have been a regeneration event. It's science fiction. The man was in the vacuum of space. Things should have happened.

Anyho, other thoughts:

Androzani? As in Caves Of?

Tripod!

What, no Ben Miller?

Is this Alexander Armstrong's last appearance in the Whoiverse? He was the voice of Mr Smith in The Sarah Jane Adventures.

That's what I inferred from it too.

Mark