# Doctor Who Season 5 US pace thread. \[No Spoilers until US Airing\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640 "2010-04-19T17:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/221 "2010-06-30T04:33:31Z")
> [@Sean\_Factotum](#): > > I hope not. That would, to me, really cheapen the losses of Rory and the Bishop-Colonel (or whatever his rank was). Amy still has this unexplained core of sadness (that Vincent saw, and the Doctor was trying to heal by being so nice to her at the beginning of “Vincent and The Doctor”) that has added a lot of depth to her. > > I think they’re gone - no, I don’t think that they’ve ever existed now. I hope I’m wrong. I guess I’m so used to TV shows pulling punches that I assume it’ll happen here as well. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/222 "2010-07-11T03:05:07Z")
“The Lodger”–more of these please. The best Who episodes of late have been Earth-based and about human interactions. We were laughing throughout. Just a really _enjoyable_ hour of TV for the family. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/223 "2010-07-11T16:25:05Z")
Fun seeing the doctor play human. I was confused initially because the Doctor was separated from Amy but suddenly had money and a Bluetooth connection with her. They weren’t explained but I later thought that he used his sonic screwdriver to fool the ATM (as happened in a Donna episode I think) and used it to augment a Bluetooth like he did a phone for Rose. Then I was okay. Now the holo knew Craig’s mind (didn’t want to travel) so it didn’t lure him in. The Doctor would have scanned as a wanderer and it should have tried to lure him. Why didn’t it? I suppose the Doctor just kept his thoughts quite terrestrial while being incognito and that happened to be just what the holo didn’t want. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/224 "2010-07-11T19:03:17Z")
Fun episode, but the Doctor playing soccer was just… wrong, somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/225 "2010-07-11T19:09:13Z")
It departed from the Doctor"s usual habit of helping people succeed at the people’s chosen task. But then he’s blending in and it’s his task too. And it’s probably been a long time since the old man has had some fun! ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/226 "2010-07-11T20:00:57Z")
It was a fun episode, although I didn’t entirely understand the final solution, and I’m not sure I can get used to a DR who is naked and plays sports. > [@Corner\_Case](#): > > I was confused initially because the Doctor was separated from Amy but suddenly had money and a Bluetooth connection with her. I was under the impression from previous episodes, that the DR’s jacket was similar to the Tardis, with infinitely deep pockets… ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/227 "2010-07-11T21:04:40Z")
The Doctor has been naked, near-naked, or implied-naked on multiple occasions before, although probably not showing _that_ much skin for such an extended time. Five had a penchant for cricket. > [@Corner\_Case](#): > > Now the holo knew Craig’s mind (didn’t want to travel) so it didn’t lure him in. The Doctor would have scanned as a wanderer and it should have tried to lure him. Why didn’t it? I suppose the Doctor just kept his thoughts quite terrestrial while being incognito and that happened to be just what the holo didn’t want. That’s an interesting point. It could also be that the others were looking to make a quick exit, while the Doctor was there until he solved the mystery. Yes, his ultimate aim was to get the Tardis back and be on his way, but his immediate goal was to stay in the apartment until he got the job done, and that’s what his mind would have been focused on. Or maybe we weren’t meant to think about it so much. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/228 "2010-07-12T06:10:21Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much at a “Doctor Who” episode before. I wasn’t sure about Matt Smith, but I am now - I think he’s incredibly charming. So many great lines from this episode - "“Six billion people. Watching you two at work I’m starting to wonder where they all come from.” ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/229 "2010-07-12T11:13:11Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Fun episode, but the Doctor playing soccer was just… wrong, somehow. Blame that on [Matt Smith](http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/mar/06/matt-smith-doctor-who-interview) > [@](#): > > Actually, Smith didn’t originally hope he could be the Doctor. He hoped – rather, assumed – he would be a footballer. He grew up in Northampton, went to a good local secondary which had formerly been a grammar school, did as much work as was necessary to see him through his exams, and played football. Every day, every evening, he played. He was good, too. Signed on at youth level with Northampton Town, then Nottingham Forest and Leicester City. His dad had been a decent centre-back, and his grandfather had played as a striker for Notts County. There was only one thing he was ever going to be: a first-class centre-back. > > Then, at 16, he got a back injury. …and on the fact the episode showed in the UK just as the World Cup was beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/230 "2010-07-12T12:18:15Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > It was a fun episode, although I didn’t entirely understand the final solution, and I’m not sure I can get used to a DR who is naked and plays sports. #3 was naked in his first story. (Interesting fact: Did you know The Doctor has a tattoo?) #5 was an avid cricket player. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/231 "2010-07-18T20:56:56Z")
No initial reactions to Part 1 of the season finale? Felt that they were trying too hard to tie everything together…can’t they just have some adventures without everything being “all about the Companion”–Bad Wolf, “Doctor Donna”, now Amy… Let’s just have some fun, can we? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/232 "2010-07-18T21:04:07Z")
Having being watching the whole series off bittorrent, I’ll say I was EXTREMELY satisfied with how they wrap things up. 😉 Lets just say the companion plays an intergral part, but not the way you think, it’s genuine (you don’t feel ripped off), and the finale is full of win. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/233 "2010-07-19T03:23:02Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Having being watching the whole series off bittorrent, I’ll say I was EXTREMELY satisfied with how they wrap things up. 😉 Lets just say the companion plays an intergral part, but not the way you think, it’s genuine (you don’t feel ripped off), and the finale is full of win. Still, people here have been complaining about stuff that no one complained about in the UK thread, so I wonder if the reaction will be the same. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/234 "2010-07-19T06:14:36Z")
I thought for sure that Amy was going to turn the Rorybot into a “real boy” through the power of her love. What I would REALLY like to see is the process by which the Doctors’ enemies put together the plan. That must have been one hell of a conference call. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/235 "2010-07-19T06:52:49Z")
> [@Quercus\_alba](#): > > No initial reactions to Part 1 of the season finale? Was decent enough, although I had been spoilered as to what was in the box so that part didn’t surprise me. The many connections back to Amy were interesting. I didn’t really know what to make of Roman Rory. Did any of the other things that were touched by the void show up again like Rory did? But my overall reaction is mostly tempered by it beinf pretty much entirely set up. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/236 "2010-07-19T10:45:40Z")
None of the other things touched by the void were connected to Amy as intimately (pardon the pun) as Rory…so there was no reason for, say, Brother Marco, or the Weeping Angels, to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/237 "2010-07-19T11:09:40Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Still, people here have been complaining about stuff that no one complained about in the UK thread, so I wonder if the reaction will be the same. Yeah, but Americans like their Sci-Fi a bit differently. I doubt an American would ever com up with ‘Well, he’s a time traveller.’ ‘You have a $16 budget.’ ‘Really? I guess we’ll use a Police Box as the space ship!’ ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/238 "2010-07-19T12:29:32Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Yeah, but Americans like their Sci-Fi a bit differently. I doubt an American would ever com up with ‘Well, he’s a time traveller.’ ‘You have a $16 budget.’ ‘Really? I guess we’ll use a Police Box as the space ship!’ I don’t think anyone at the BBC ever said, “We can’t do that; we don’t have the budget.” Two things: 1 - Rory can rock the cape. 2 - I’m in trouble with my wife for getting her to watch part one of a two parter. Now she has to think about it all week. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/239 "2010-07-19T13:29:44Z")
The alliance between the bad guys aliens was a major shocker. They normally would fight amongst themselves. They were really frightened that the Doctor’s actions would destroy the universe. I wish this had been a three part finale. I too wanted to see the alliance formed and the trap set for the Doctor. > [@Snooooopy](#): > > I thought for sure that Amy was going to turn the Rorybot into a “real boy” through the power of her love. > > What I would REALLY like to see is the process by which the Doctors’ enemies put together the plan. That must have been one hell of a conference call. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640/240 "2010-07-19T15:59:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The alliance between the bad guys aliens was a major shocker. They normally would fight amongst themselves. They were really frightened that the Doctor’s actions would destroy the universe. > > I wish this had been a three part finale. I too wanted to see the alliance formed and the trap set for the Doctor. The problem with it is that thier plan to trap the doctor set into motion the very event(s) they were trying to prevent. Episode 2 is either going to be a black screen for 45 minutes and then a button gets pushed to reset it - or - well, I don’t know what the or is - I did like how Amy was tied to all of it - and I like (sorta) River’s actions - did I hear her say “I shouldnt have let him out the first time?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-season-5-us-pace-thread-no-spoilers-until-us-airing/536640.md?page=13)