If I had a nickel for every time a RTD run era of the show had the second episode in its second season feature the Doctor stopping the “monster of the week” by exposing it to more light and when the companion of said episode questions this plan the Doctor responds by saying “human body is made up of 70% water and you can still drown,” I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it is weird that it happened twice.

This story had such a good concept, the idea of a cartoon character coming to life and causing general havoc is a brilliant and playful idea for an episode, but the moment the fan scene happened, I was compelely lost. If I was being really cynical I'd say it was probably the first idea RTD had when coming back to Doctor Who, it's self-congratulatory and treats it as if it's revolutionary but it's just so f**king boring man. It goes on for so long as well, it's just bollocks, if Doctor Who fans ever did look like that, they don't anymore. I don't even say that as an insecure fan, it's just...slightly infantilising of your audience? I don't know, but that's what Doctor Who fans looked like in maybe 2012, and even then it was an over-exaggeration. The final scene when all the missing are freed from the cinema is rubbish too, that squeaky cafe kid just plays it so cheaply. This episode really could've been something special but it's just utterly self-absorbed and too pre-occupied with audience tag. Only works on first viewing, second viewing it's just nothing.

This episode is a return to form while also being inventive in new ways. Alan Cumming as Mr. Ring-A-Ding steals the show, the animation is great. And the fact that the Doctor’s race is addressed in a constructive way is great to see. What ultimately impedes the story for me is the meta moment with the fans. Meta commentary is sparsely done well anywhere and I don’t feel like it works here, because it feels like the work isn’t being trusted to be whimsical and outlandish without the caveat of having the characters make some post-ironic quip about how ridiculous it is. Otherwise, very solid.

Very good, got as much out of the premise as it could. I don’t think it’s possible to not have a great time watching this.

THE SILLIEST GUY TO EVER SILLY!!! mr ring a ding I love you so much you absolute icon. not only did he break the 4th wall he also made and broke a fifth wall

the diner guy's acting was so bad that it ends up being good. he was the absolute best part aside from mr ring a ding and deserved far more screen time . the halfway 1950s voice he does is absolutely awful I love it so much