Didn't X-Files have terrible ratings its first season?

yes, as did many shows that turned out to be long running, like Seinfeld and Cheers.

Fiona, I agree with you completely about Rory's speech. It DID seem too broad for his limited experience but it just pinged me at wrong in the moment. Thanks for making that concrete for me.

As for the crack references. As I say, I might have to rewatch, but it felt to me like the crack stuff was tacked on at the end, where in previous episodes, it was interwoven throughout both overtly and covertly...which is the stuff I love.

And again, someone else says it more succinctly that I have. Seska, it did seem like a filler episode. A space holder (no pun), when there seems no reason for it. Which disappoints me only because all the other are so much fun. I also agree with the not loving Rory sentiment. I want to, but just don't yet.

I've been musing about who might have made the baddies more interesting, casting-wise. Or even if that would have helped.

STILL, love the show.

I liked Doctor Who and River Song and the army of Weeping Angels.

I had hoped that whatever it is that is off with Amy would have some effect on the Angels - because it's some sort of timey-wimey thing and they are totally into that; but, I guess not.

I've been musing about who might have made the baddies more interesting, casting-wise. Or even if that would have helped.

But but... Helen McCrory was fantastic! All calm, cool menace. Mind you, thinking of her as Cherie Blair probably helps .

Poor Rory has a tough gig, though. The man is a walking inferiority complex .

And I liked all the expositionary stuff with the mirrors etc. To each their own, I guess .

Fiona: Re your comment "The man is a walking inferiority complex." Yep. Mickey II. Major deja-vu, and I'm a bit bored already.

I knew River Song was coming but I forgot it was this episode so I did gleefully squee when I recognized her. And I've watched "Blink" so many times that the angels had stopped being scary - I loved being frightened by them again. River is a bit overbearing but it's great the way The Doctor reacts to her, and to Amy's interpretations of their relationship. Also, the way The Doctor managed to convince Amy that her hand wasn't stone was priceless. I love the two-parters but it's been a long time since I couldn't just press play on the next episode. I was in agony when I realized there were only three minutes left and they couldn't possibly wrap it up in time.

I'm with Fiona! I really enjoyed the episode, especially the Doctor/Amy/Rory trio. I assumed the vampires were aliens, and the stuff with the mirror was weird and probably didn't make sense (also the girls weren't wearing perception filter machines, right? so why weren't they displaying as fish monsters?), but I liked it.

Eleven had a lot of great lines, too. Like "Tell me the whole plan! One day that'll work."

DW UK: let me add oil to your disagreements:

The thing that struck me first was how beautiful the ep looked. I was stunned by the filming alone. I didn't think Rory's speech was too broad, because I had a bigger problem than that: ahem, 'cuse me. WTF is he doing on the TARDIS to begin with?! Since when does the Doctor takes his companions to after school special journeys in time and space? Don't get me wrong - it's very 11 to do so. But it's not the Doctor I'm used to.

Unless. Unless he realized by now what Amy is (anomaly), and he's afraid he'll have to kill her, so he's giving her the best time of her life, before he'll have to end it. And I'm also glad we saw she's not in love with him after all.

And besides everything, 11 is starting to get into his own personality now. And it's totally craxy, but I have "oh, that's how 10 or 9 would have done it different" moments.

The ep did look fantastic, except for the part where I kept looking for assassins on the rooftops. Probably just me.

Shir, "Since when does the Doctor takes his companions to after school special journeys in time and space?" amuses me because, uh, isn't that how Doctor Who STARTED? It was supposed to be an educational children's program.

And I agree that Eleven is a distinct personality at this point.