Sun-day

Prerequisites: Nothing specific, but there are references to The Impossible Girl arc which started at the beginning of Series 7.

Spoilers!
The Rings of Akhaten is a pretty controversial episode; I've seen people put it as one of their favorite Smith episodes, and I've seen people despise it (seriously, there's no way it's the worst Smith-era episode. The 2014 DWM poll was insane for thinking this is worse than stuff like Closing Time). Personally, I like this, although it's got a few notable flaws that keep it from being anything great. For starters, the music used here is truly excellent. This is some of Gold's best vocalised work, and his score in this episode is really great. I also really like the Eleventh Doctor's big speech against The Old God. Not only is it framed very nicely, but Smith himself gives a heck of a performance, and I it's a great moment. However, I think that this moment's effectiveness is brought down greatly by the subsequent ending. Apparently, Moffat gave Cross a script note that suggested that Clara save the day instead of the Doctor. I'm not opposed to that in itself, but I think the execution of this idea is kinda bad. Clara overloading the parasitic god with the power of her 'what could have been' leaf doesn't make a lick of sense; are you telling me that none of the other aliens in that crowd had offered up similar items of sentimental potential in their previous offering? It's ridiculous, and takes the drama out of the moment. Cross should've stuck to his guns and had the Doctor's speech actually work, or perhaps weaken it in some way. Overall, I think this episode has enough going for it that I enjoy it, but the ending is messy.