This is one of the strangest episodes in the show to me, partially due to the suprisingly unique setting, with London shot from a ground level perspective for once, which adds to the whole idea of being watched. Another part is due to the unique use of time travel, with the TARDIS actually being used in scenarios other episodes may have forgone (think Gridlock or The Sontaran Stratagem). Admittedly, it does let go of it during the finale, though at least they give a reason for that.

The main issue I have i with this episode is the doctor, somehow. It follows th e series 7 trend of the doctor being a bit weird and boundary pushing in a way I feel is contrary to the character. He's just a bit obsessive over Clara in a way that appears more creepy than noble. On top of that there's a joke in the first 10 minutes I rolled my eyes at. This is definitely Moffat's writing at its most questionable. There's also a fe moments here it feels they're trying too hard to make him quirly and any that just come off as forced.

I do like how the villains could be a really imposing threat on a show like Torchwood or SJA, just this near omniscient entity that sees all and hears all, but becuase of their terrestrial nature, they're no match for the doctor, who takes them down in less than 24 hours. Their interactions in the cafe are interesting, both due to how they use everyday people and also due to how clearly the villains underestimate the sheer force of nature knocking on their front doorstep.

The whole organisation being a front for the Great Intelligence is a neat idea, I guess, but they needed to establish how it got there and the effects this programme caused.

Clara's doesn't have much character outside of Jenna Coleman's performace, generally going along with the doctor after the spoonheads appear. This is a consistent issue with series 7, we mainly see her through the eyes of the doctor and his obesession instead of like a normal companion.

The whole evil WiFi thing could have been handled with a lot more grace than it was. All of the effects and fake hacking look goofy and take away from the stakes. This is definitely the internet through the eyes of someone older than it. reroute it If it were handled a bit more realistically I feel the stakes and villain would benefit.

I do somewhat like the villains, the spoonheads are suprisingly effective, the way a seemingly normal human turns around to reveal the back of their head entirely missing. Its incredibly uncanny, which works in their favour. The main villainess is very much a classic mustache twirler, bu the way she consistently underestimates the doctor in a way that feels natural for someone in her position, and especially that ruthless ending elevate her slightly above the standard villain of the week.

The set pieces in this episode are interesting in how they take elements from terrestrial action films and add a doctor who twist to them, showing just how effortless it is for the doctor. Plane crashing? Use the TARDIS to board and reroute it. Need to infiltrate a building under lockdown? Anti-gravity motorcycle.

The use of the shard is cool as well. I always like it when the show uses iconic landmarks. Here's a fun fact: the shard in real life is 95% owned by the state of Qatar, an entity responible for more death and human misery than the corporation in the show. Even the Great Intelligence can out-evil human greed and ego.

Overall this is a mixed bag, but the intersting direction and set pieces elevate it above a lot of other series 7 episodes with similar issues.