new for DW. I mean, maybe other people can name a director of note from the RTD era - I can't (since this sprang from a comment about Moffat's overall value as a showrunner). Moffat has gotten Neil Gaiman to write and apparently is getting Peter Jackson to direct. RTD did neither of those. Whatever Moffat's…

Huh. That's an interesting way to look at it. Was this explicitly stated and I just missed it? Is it precedent set by another episode? "Journey's End" would seem to point in the opposite direction.

That doesn't make sense to me.

Why? What are the consequences if it doesn't? Why should I believe those consequences are real? None of the other ones were.

Sure, so stipulated.

Oh, I don't expect to ever see her again. I just don't expect her to die. Which is unfortunate, since her death drove a lot of really great character development.

52 years of dudes.

Doesn't mean she had to go back any time soon. Or ever, really.

I wouldn't even say that. I've enjoyed his run more than RTD. I think he's fine a great job of bringing in new talent like Peter harness and Rachel Talalay. But his finales are dumpster fires.

I've come to the conclusion that he writes wonderful stand alone episodes and horrible finales. Heaven sent and listen are stone cold classics. He's great at opening things up but terrible at tying up loose ends.

Not holding my breath on that.

I just don't buy it. The minute they left Gallifrey and the universe didn't break it was pretty clear that it wasn't just the doctor breaking his own rules in this episode.

I don't buy that.

Again, no stakes. I'm generally pro-Moffat but that is easily my biggest complaint with his stories, particularly the "epic" ones. Not enough stakes, too many reset buttons. The contrast between the best and worst of Moffat as a writer couldn't be more clearly emphasized between "heaven sent" and "hell bent".

Make the foundation of your society a man who never would.

Exactly. Remember how proud we were of her for maturely accepting the consequences of her actions? Remember how nice it was to see the the doctor properly devastated and having to come to terms with grief? Remember how relatable that was and how it made us identify strongly with the characters?

Clara's dignified end in FTR is now reduced to a "psyche!" moment on the level of WoRS. She chose a path of action and accepted the consequences,, like an adult. What happened here was a retcon, and an insulting and infantilizing one to the character. Such a waste.

Which, honestly, I expected to happen.

Right. And don't forget, her cheating her own death will destroy the universe. Unless it doesn't. Smh

And was hammered home in last Christmas, driving Santa's sleigh and grinning ear to ear