Under the Lake Review with Spoilers

[Godzilla]

Well that was serviceable. Just absolutely fine. Not really tremendous, but not bad either.

Just OK.

[Gorn Captain]

I really liked this one.
It's an interesting story, for starters. Won't spoil too much just yet.
The Doctor has some terrific lines, very funny ones, and it's Capaldi's Doctor at his best (and sometimes rudest). It really lets Capaldi shine.

And yes, we have a classic Who cliffhanger. Yeah!
There are some plot holes, but all and all a good story, looking forward to next week.

[Bruce Banner]

Not a bad episode overall.
I really welcome the return of the cliffhangers and two-part stories. I much prefer that format over the standalone episodes.

[Gorn Captain]

I was hoping for it to be a two-parter. Halfway through, I thought there was enough story to make it longer.

Do you think they'll now release a deck with "Capaldi cue cards"? I'd buy a set...

[Godzilla]

The cliffhangers really remind me of old school Who. I'm enjoying that.

[emeraldknight47]

Just finished watching "Under the Lake." Definitely a very classic-feeling WHOpisode. I also loved the cue cards; guess that's part of Clara's method for making Twelve a more social animal. He did let go with several good zingers in this outing (although when he was trying to get everyone else in the room to figure out that the marks on the spaceship wall were what was an "earworm", I was halfway expecting another "pudding brain" reference).The "ghosts" (or whatever they might happen to be) were interestingly creepy and reminded me of a cross between the Gelth that Nine encountered and the Vashta Nerada that Ten ran across. Looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. And, while I dig the "sonic sunglasses," I do hope he eventually realizes that the sonic screwdriver is much more effective in most situations he finds himself in.

[palitoy]

I must admit to being somewhat uninterested in this one at the onset but it won me over, great dialogue and that sort of old school Who plot was very welcome. Capaldi was on fire with this one and it really worked.

Nice to see a deaf character on a show as well.

Also, I was happy that I was correct that the main alien is of the same race that David Wallams played in "the God Complex" so it is sort of a recurring baddie.

[Bruce Banner]

Part 2 was pretty decent, love the character design of the "Fisher King", voiced brilliantly by Peter "Darth Maul" Serafinowicz.

Capaldi continues to impress me as The Doctor.

[Gorn Captain]

I loved part one, but the conclusion was not so impressive.
Maybe my brain is getting slow, but I had a hard time piecing together the story. I'd have to rewatch it, and start analyzing it. With this first viewing, it was like "huh, what?" for me.
The Fisher King would have been more effective in the dark. With him in broad daylight, you really got a "man in clumsy suit" feeling.
This, of course, does give the story a wonderful "old school Dr. Who" vibe to it.
If someone can explain why Capaldi said he couldn't go back and fix the situation, and after Clara's insisting does it anyway, with no visible repercussions, please tell me. Maybe we'll see the effects later in the series?

I did get used to Rock'nRoll Capaldi. Loved it when his guitar solo spilled into the Who theme music.

So mixed feelings for me.

[palitoy]

Liked it a good deal, didn't struggle with the story. I worried with the intro and said "i don't need the doctor explaining concepts to me" and my wife leaned over and said "i sometimes do". She doesn't love time travel stories so much.

The Fisher King would have been more effective in the dark. With him in broad daylight, you really got a "man in clumsy suit" feeling.
This, of course, does give the story a wonderful "old school Dr. Who" vibe to it.

Same reaction, he was much better in that light but it felt so wonderfully right being able to figure out where the actor could see out of.

Next time show looks like it's straight out of Tom Baker.

[Gorn Captain]

Sometimes when Capaldi talks loudly, I can't help hearing Tom Baker. Especially in his scenes with the Fisher King.

[Godzilla]

I enjoyed it and I think the more I reflect on it, the more I like it. After 50 years, I continue to enjoy when they try something different.

[emeraldknight47]

I really like the more guitar-heavy version of the theme for "Before the Flood" and I hope they keep it; it's give the theme music a little more weight than it had previously. Also wondering if Twelve's comment regarding his particular regeneration being not quite right (or something to that effect; I, too, have trouble understanding the dialogue at times) is setting up the foundations for his departure since rumours are flying that he wants off the show or that the BBC wants him off the show because it's ratings have tumbled since the departure of Matt Smith. I'll admit, I had a bit of trouble adjusting to Twelve at first, but now I'd like to hope he does at least three seasons/series. much like his two predecessors did...

[Gorn Captain]

If those rumors are true, I find it very very sad. That means that we're at the mercy of a teenage audience and their obsession with "pretty young people".
If the ratings are down, I feel it's more due to the quality of the stories.

[Bruce Banner]

I sincerely hope that Capaldi stays in the role for a good while. He's great as The Doctor.

However, he recently was quoted as saying this:

Speaking to The Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: ‘I sort of enjoy this position I am in with a kind of deep Scottish melancholy because I know it has to end one day. I will cross that bridge when we come to it, which may be sooner rather than later.’

However, I really hope this season is Clara's last. Time for a new companion.

And with any luck, those bloody sonic sunglasses won't last long.