I agree. A couple of ok episodes, probably one mediocre and some absolute tripe. Hope Moffatt moves on soon as I am not enjoying his vision of Who so far this season.

I think all of series 7 part 2 have been good. I really enjoyed this episode but it's definitely not the best for me in this half. That would go to Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS.
In fact in order it would be:
Journey
Hide
Cold War/Bells
Crimson Horror
Rings

That doesn't mean I didn't like Rings Of Akhaten much, I love it.
Series 7 part one was excellent and The Snowmen is my favourite Christmas Special. I love series 7.

My favourite episode in this current run, that's for sure. It felt like proper Doctor Who, and even the Clara stuff was nicely executed, with the callbacks to The Snowmen making sense with actual intrigue instead of me feeling *sigh* 'just tell us who she is!'

Gatiss's best episode?

I thought it was the worst of this series to be honest. Quite cringworthy at times (some very hammy acting and poor effects).

I guess we all want different things.

My sentiments exactly. Ha a touch of Ghost Ligjt about it for me and Clara reminded me of Nyssa is this to too. Was going to say it is my fave of S7 but it is in fact my fave of all NuWho so far. Really love Jenny this do too, never cared much for her before. And usually the other pair, Strax and Vastra, annoy me but they didn't in this one!! Love seeing Diana Rigg on screen too

So true, Callous. We do all want different things.
I second that comment wholeheartedly.

It's fair enough, and there are good points to this episode as there are to others in the series.
For me, personally, it didn't feel serious. But I have to acknowledge that as a Doctor Who episode I won't be complaining about it. I look forward to the mystery of the arc each week but it doesn't have to be provided in every episode. Some people hate arc and just want the Doctor to explore and interact with other cultures and times.

I will say this, however. I hate symbiotic creatures who need a host. Glad that Ada stabbed it silly at the end!

To each their own, I thought it was probably the worst episode of 7b so far...

I thought a few were poorer (Dinosaurs, Akhaten and Cold War) but when I hear people calling this the best episode of anything I start to wonder if we're watching the same show.

2 stars is a little low, but it's certainly not worth much more than 3.5 or 4 in my opinion.

It wouldn't even make my top 20 best episodes of 'new' Who, in fact it wouldn't make my top 5 of series 7, and I'm really struggling to see what it had that makes people label it as 'best ever', but each to their own of course.

I really enjoyed Dinosaurs, I thought it was thoroughly enjoyable throughout (and to be fair I did say 7b I think Mercy is worse). I don't think it's much better than Cold War tbh but I adored Rings, particularly on rewatch. I don't think this or Cold War will get any more rewatches (I've rewatched CW once or twice). People are entitled to say this is the best ep in their opinion but I agree with you I personally can't see it. For me, Asylum is lightyears ahead, but then I did LOVE the Clara twist in that one.

I don't think I have ever hated an episode of Doctor who.

Sure some are better than others, but I have always enjoyed them.

I liked Rings of Akhaten. It was completely out-there, literally. But in the context of the show it failed to deliver more than Crimson Horror did. I found Dinosaurs hard to follow and was too distracted after learning after all that time that Rory was a Weasley.

Thank you for this!

Made my day!

Snap! I suddenly went from "yay!" to "oh god no".

Definitely the best episode of this series so far.

I suppose, I have a real soft spot for both Rings and Dinosaurs, they're not spectacular episodes, but the core of them is so warm and it really appeals to me. Moffat's reign has a history of good second episodes, I also loved The Beast Below and Day of the Moon is one hell of a blockbuster.

"My opinion is very important, and deserves it's own thread"

There's an episode thread for a reason, guys....

Does it really matter that much? Is the forum going to explode?

Just a question of filing really....

If everyone opened a new thread for their opinions on the episode, there'd be no actual discussion as there'd be 100s of threads cluttering up the place....

Everyone in one thread is better for debate as its as if we're all sitting in the pub around one table, not spread out disparately around the room

I loved this episode, definitely one of the best from this series so far.

I liked this episode, but it was one of my least favourite of the series.

I agree and, as someone else said, apart from the ending.

That could have been a programme of Dr Who without a companion; the companion was superfluous. It would have been nigh on perfect with the Doctor, Strax, Madame Vastra, Jenny, Ada and Mrs Gillyflower.

Have recorded this as usual and have paused it on approx 19 mins and so far it is not very good and that's being kind.will be back with it soon.

I thought it was Very Good on first viewing but a rewatch has upgraded it to Excellent. I had missed a few references the first time around.

It was fantastic imo!

Just watched it

Yes, at last! An excellent episode. These last two weeks have been an excruciatingly long wait.