Watched Apr 19th 2025

One thing that especially surprised me this episode was that I actually loved 'The Scene.' I knew it was coming for weeks beforehand (And so did RTD most likely given that line), and while it did drag the plotting down somewhat, it was lighthearted and fun. Sometimes it just works to go all out in your self-indulgence, and if it kills the theories of the finale being about The Doctor realizing hes in a show, I'm all for it. I especially loved how defensive 15 got regarding his own episodes. Both other film segments I really enjoyed, with the limited 2D animation allowing them to gain depth through a simplified speedrun of their dynamic and the following segment showing 15 call out the clichés and continuity errors.

Outside of that, I absolutely loved the visuals of this episode somehow even more than in The Robot Revolution, especially how Lux / Mr Ring a Ding looks in the real world through his two-dimensional form. Alan Cumming really brought him to life and he manages to be both lovable and threatening without diminishing either. The diner scene was another definite highlight, both in its exploration of how The Doctor deals with segregation and racism, and in showcasing how the Tardis can be a vessel for hope to so many people both in fandom and in universe.

My one real criticism could be that Belinda was too quick to immediately trust The Doctor 100%, as there is still a lot of the series to come that could have seen them clashing regarding the adventures themselves as she wishes to go home. Still, it might change in hindsight and I'm still excited to see where their dynamic goes as the series continues.