I'm absolutely a sucker for fun romp episodes, and this is one heck of a fun romp episode. The chemistry between Gatwa and Groff is great, the period costuming and setting is so much fun. Villains based around cosplay? The Kylie Minogue dancing is an all-time funny moment in show history. Bring back Rogue!

Rogue was alright.  There's parts I enjoyed quite a bit, such as the sets, scenery, costumes, and setting.  I wasn't a huge fan of the classical music covers of pop songs until I learned this was a Bridgerton thing, at which point I could appreciate it a bit more for fully evoking that show here.  Unfortunately, I don't know or care anything about that show.  It kind of still works though.  I feel aware of Ruby's love for the show and can appreciate it as an outsider.

The politicking around the ball and the plotting with the aliens felt really shallow though.  The bird aliens came across as kind of dumb and very boring but they might be one of the cooler looking aliens we've ever seen, at least.  That make-up felt very impressive. I like how their motivation was that they were just messing around for fun.  That chaotic energy was interesting but it feels like the story doesn't really use it for anything - the aliens just sort of fade out of this story and production doesn't really go anywhere with them.

The character of Rogue was intriguing and I like his relationship with the Doctor, but pushing him out of the story at the ending felt shallow and quite frankly, since we haven't seen him since, feels like incredibly weak pay-off to everything this episode was building up to. It's a memorable episode, it is cool how RTD is embracing the "all Doctors are canon" mentality by showing the Shalka Doctor, but that doesn't make for a good story on its own.

SMASHING

I enjoyed the episode a lot and thought Rouge and the Doctor were adorable. I didn’t love the villains of this one I think it was just the word cosplay it was a little goofy

The first time I saw this it I felt is was quite possbily the worst episode of Doctor Who I'd ever seen, so I wasn't looking forward to it second time around.

The Doctor and Ruby arrive in the early 1800's and attend a dance, not that they know the duchess. All is not well as, not only is a bounty hunter at the scene so are body changing aliens.

Brigerton is mentioned a few times - not something Ive seen, I can only assume its on the same level as Sense And Sensibility, not that know anthing of that either. So as you may guess this isn't an epsiode set at a time and place that excites me.

One of the main plot points is the Doctor falling for the bounty hunter, Rogue. The Doctor and romance is not a new thing. The first Doctor inadvertanly got engaged in the Aztecs, but given its something the character has always shyed away from, even as recently as the Thirteenth Doctor who couldn't commit to a relationship with Yaz. Its really out of place (and character) to for to be here. Personally I don't care for the companions and relationships. Its not what I watch the program for, and there are plenty of other places/series to enjoy it.

We see the Doctor crying once again, and it undermines the value and point of doing it. I said in response on a forum, that if he'd been in the Three Doctors it would have been 'Scarecrow' 'Fancypants' 'Cry Baby". The aliens themselves are slightly comical, not necessarily a bad thing but they are one dimentional and forgettable. Though Indira Varma plays the main one who you may remember from Torchwood.

The redeeming aspects of this story are when the Doctor corrects Rogue when he calls him 'Doc'. It always annoyed me with Graham calling the 13th 'Doc' when its something The Doctor has never liked. Also there is a moment where we see the faces of most of the other Doctors, including the Fugitive Doctor and the Richard E Grant 'Shalka' Doctor its a nice surprise, and it raises some questions.

This series does remind me of the first series of Torchwood, very contrasting episodes that almost don't feel part of the same body of work. So maybe the next series will settle down, and as I've said before, that might be without me, sadly.

I spent a lot of story being bored and clock watching, its not for me, held little interest and not the show I've enjoyed all these years. It wasn't as bad as I remembered, but I suspect it'll be one I seldom view.