I will say this is definitely the weakest finale of RTD1 but I don’t hate this as much as everyone else does, maybe because I’m in love with the Jones family.  The conclusion is kinda stupid but it’s fun after the misery of the majority of the story.

Also if you’re in the US please don’t watch the cut down version (45m) on Max, the full version is 55 minutes. I watched the shorter cut for the first time today and it removes so many important and impactful scenes (plus a musical scene that I love)!!

The atmosphere this episode creates is so intense and almost suffocating, I think it perfectly capturing the depths of human depravity when fear takes over.

What really stands out to me is the moment when the wife casually accuses the Doctor of being an “immigrant” with such a vile tone, and her husband use the word “clean” to describe Sky after she’s acting normal(ish) again. It really hits home, reminding me of how I’ve read people with HIV were treated in the ’80s and ’90s, and the xenophobic attitudes that are still very much alive today. RTD cooked!!! 

Great conclusion, but I don’t know- relegating River Song to domestic bliss? It just doesn’t feel right, especially with everything we know about her now. She should be in some orgy simulation with all the doctors.

Just rewatched this for what feels like the millionth millionth time, and honestly, it’s still fantastic. I wish I could remember experiencing it as a kid-imagining all the theories about who River Song might be, what happened to Donna, and who that mysterious kid is must have made me insufferable for my parents during the week-long wait! I probably would’ve been terrified too- this episode is genuinely scary.

The writing is excellent, though I do think some of the supporting characters feel a bit underdeveloped, mostly there to be picked off (or rather, eaten). Still, it’s an outstanding episode overall.

A gripping and intense 45 minute drama set entirely in the TARDIS. Wow.

I can see RTD took much inspiration from this with the likes of Midnight and Wild Blue Yonder!

The anxiety is palpable and it creates a superbly paranoid atmosphere that kept me on edge. Definitely a must watch!

Sad and happy, timey-wimey and grounded, and beautiful and poignant all in equal measures. I just finished listening to it for the second time and even knowing what will happen I still had a tear in my eye by the end. I love this TARDIS team.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that, despite being a Doctor Who fan since the revival began when I was five, I only recently began watching the original series. I'm also sorry to say that I didn't see this until after listening to six series of Big Finish's ‘Jago & Litefoot’ (which is excellent).

As a ‘Jago & Litefoot’ fan witnessing their first meeting, I must say that this was just amazing. How thoroughly developed they were, and how prepared the infernal investigators were to assist the Doctor. And as someone with a regrettably limited attention span, I wasn't even bothered by the six episodes!

I can't bring up this story without pointing out the unfortunate and blatant anti-Chinese bigotry. It's (hopefully) obviously racist and disappointing that a White actor is wearing prosthetics to perform the role as our primary Chinese character. I've seen the argument to consider the episode in the context of the 70s, and while that might be accurate, it's difficult to support given how many of the extras are of real East Asian origin. It is brought down by that as well as the Doctor’s apparent indifference for the racist comments.

Apart from that, it's a great story. Can’t wait to listen to more ‘Jago & Litefoot’ finally knowing their origin story!