DW UK: !!! Er, so was that the universe disappearing? I thought it was just a fade to black, but now some of what you all are saying has me wondering.

So happy to see Rory again -- and so sad to realize he isn't real! Gah. Yes, the Doctor's line to Rory about being brave was a beautiful moment -- such compassion in the Doctor's voice, and the realization dawning on Rory (and me) that Amy doesn't know him. Ouch.

I am still confused as to what exactly is happening, and what the connection between Amy and the TARDIS exploding is, and what part River is playing, etc. etc. etc. I'm sure all (or at least much) will be made clear in the second part, but it's frustrating to feel like things were being explained that I couldn't understand. I suspect I'll have to go back and rewatch this ep once the second half airs.

(It's pretty funny seeing everyone watching the BBCA airings going "Noooo, Rory, I hope he comes back!" Oh, he will, but it won't be any less painful.)

No inside info ita...just a hunch. When I see him in interviews he has a very off-hand, self-effacing aspect. And, while 10 was certainly a master of the under-breath retort...I've been counting the Weeeelllls in his episodes...his delivery wasn't the same, even in Moffat episodes.

Tennant's 'weeeellls' are reminding me of Mal's "I'm a good man. (stabs the guy on the ground) Well, I'm okay," in Shindig. Love that moment.

Who UK: Kate, I'm super-confused about the big picture.

I feel like I totally get the details, like I knew the box was for the Doctor, that Rory was fake and that the Universe was blinking out of existence. But my brain is screaming, So What!

Knowing all that hasn't brought me one micron closer to figuring out how everything is connected.

Ooooh! Just now, it popped into my brain that the story could be like that creepy John Cusack movie, was it called "Identity"? Where the Dream Master (Doctor's subconscious) is creating an alternate reality where everyone and everything is a representation of the Doctor .

Very Jungian and Gestalt. I think my Freudian slip is showing!

Maaaayyybee, when the TARDIS first landed in Amy's garden, the Doctor actually drowned in the pool, in the library, and this whole season has been his near-death experience while regenerating. That would be a question answered for canon (what happens to his brain when he goes all 'splodey?) but not great storytelling.

Okay. I'm off my rocker.

3peat:

Just now, on rewatch, 11 asks Amy," doesn't ever bother you that your life doesn't make sense? "

Man! If that isn't him talking to himself. I don't know what is .

Heh, bonny, I like that idea. Well, in the sense that I'd feel cheated if that were the real explanation, but it's nifty to think about.

Yeah, I feel like I have a decent handle on the details, but no clue how it all fits together. Until next week, I guess!

Right! Can't wait to see how wrong I am.

Oooh. Just now, 11 said," Romans. I was just wishing for Romans."

More fuel for my topsy-turvy fire.

Yeah, I go back and forth on whether I think they're in someone's dream (Amy's? the Doctor's?) or whether this is all actually happening, just being influenced by Amy's mind. I'm leaning more towards the latter, but I really don't know.

UK Who thought: well, I'm just stating the obvious here (I think), but we all realize that the Doctor is a kind of Pandora's Box himself, right? All the pain and death he brings, with the basic hope of the fight in the end. But no, not seeing any big picture here, unless it was all Amy's dream. And then, I'm gonna hate that season. Watching the Stonehenge speech for the 5th time, even while knowing he was fooled - and I still want to go with him wherever he'll lead. I guess that makes him, officially, a Doctor to me.

As for Romans: I was literally 10 seconds away from sending my Ancient Rome lecturer an email, asking him who commended the legion(s) in Britain then. But I like bonny's view of things better.

Hm, yeah. Okay so listing what we know about Amy and how she's weird - her house has too many rooms; where's her aunt; why do the dates of her life not match up (missing Daleks? Date on Rory's work badge); her wedding day is the day the Tardis explodes; the crack started (?) in her bedroom and has been following (possibly) her; the doctor has already gone back in time once to talk to her (on the spaceship when he told her to remember what he'd said when she was little).

None of this really helps to tie anything togther for me right now, but hrm it's all very interesting.

Did anyone here see "The Gates" on ABC? What did you think?