sleemanj: 2nd episode: much, much better. 

Ragnor:

sleemanj: 2nd episode: much, much better. 

Yep, agreed

JWR:

Ragnor:

sleemanj: 2nd episode: much, much better. 

Yep, agreed

Then why did Missy sharpen a short piece of stick with a metal knife? How is that a better weapon? That makes no sense.

Lizard1977: I really enjoyed last night's episode (all of season 9, in fact).  This is big praise for me, because I mostly hated all of season 8.  I was amped for the new Doctor, but Peter Capaldi really didn't resonate for me as the Doctor.  I fully accept that the Doctor changes personality when he regenerates, but it seemed like he lost all his sense of fun and whimsy.  From the writing perspective, it was like the show was sacrificed on the altar of "darkness", and in the process lost all the joy, fun, and humour that had always been part and parcel of the Doctor Who series, even when they were being "serious."  I also didn't like that Clara was given such prominence and importance, to the detriment of the Doctor's character.

However, season 9 has been a big improvement.  I still don't really like Clara's character, but Capaldi's Doctor is growing on me a lot more, and they seem to be making a concerted effort to sprinkle humour and whimsy into the story (cf. last night's "emotional cue cards").  The only thing I really don't like is the replacement for the Sonic Screwdriver.  In classic Dr Who, the Sonic wasn't a permanent feature, it was only used by a few Doctors, and even then not all the time.  I feel that they have relied too heavily on the Sonic Screwdriver as a "magic wand" in the new Dr Who, and the latest iteration is a change that didn't need to be made.  My wife suggested it may have been done to give the cosplayers something to centre their 12th Doctor costumes around, other than "eyebrows."

Paul1977: Part 1 of the under water one was quite good. However didn't they explain way back in "The Girl In The Fireplace" that he couldn't go back in time to manipulate events once he was involved (or something along those lines)?Yet that is exactly what he is doing at the end of this episode.

BurningBeard:

Paul1977: Part 1 of the under water one was quite good. However didn't they explain way back in "The Girl In The Fireplace" that he couldn't go back in time to manipulate events once he was involved (or something along those lines)?Yet that is exactly what he is doing at the end of this episode.

I'm no so sure he's actually going to get involved; rather, go back and take a peek.

Paul1977:I do get a little sick of the Daleks and Cybermen coming back again and again. I'm hoping that they manage to go the rest of the season without bringing either of them back. The better stories tend to be the ones with one-off villains (or the first appearance of a villain).