The portrait of Victoria was a picture of Pauline Collins as Victoria, no?

Gatiss is almost always capable of a story that feels like a Doctor Who story, at least, going back to The Unquiet Dead (or even to his novels and audio stories from the 90s)

Well, that's where the fact that Davies was the one writing it comes in.

Curse of Peladon is great fun.

Phil Sandifer said that "Midnight" was Russell Davies writing a Moffat story (and also, a Davies story for people who don't really like Davies stories). Both of those observations seem pretty right on to me.

Man, some people just really won't forgive the "The moon is an egg" thing.

The bolded ones are all pretty great.

During the Pertwee era, I think they genuinely did try to keep track of it and make it consistent. This is not the case for any other era of the show, although occasionally the show makes reference to the established Pertwee-era future history.

Advice for those trying to keep track of the continuity of the future on Doctor Who:

I liked Knock Knock better than Smile, though neither's going to go on any "best all time" lists.

I thought "Smile" was the only one this season really like that.

I liked Robot of Sherwood! I mean, not an all time great or anything, but perfectly enjoyable silliness.

Bianca Lawson's only a year older than me! Lots of good looking 38 year-olds in Hollywood. Rudd and Anderson are nearing 50.

Confusing Donna with Rose? I think Rose is only blonde new series companion. (Even on old show blondes weren't super common - Polly, Jo, Romana II are the ones I can think of. Maybe Vicky?)

He literally has 20 years to get rid of it, though.

What kind of monstrous episode features separate guest characters named "Pavel" and "Paul"?

There's lots of mediocre stuff in the early seasons. The Idiots' Lantern? Tooth and Claw? All the Christmas Specials before "A Christmas Carol"? The End of Time?

I think, John Hurt aside, Capaldi is probably the best *actor* to play the Doctor. That doesn't mean he's necessarily the best Doctor (I still have a hard time not thinking Tom Baker is still the best Doctor, even though he's far from the best *actor* in the role). But I think he's definitely better than any of the…

There was only the one River/12 story, right? I do think the relationship makes more sense when the Doctor actor is five years older than the River actress, rather than when he's 19 years younger. (Tennant's in the middle, 8 years younger than Kingston)

This is also true. 11/Clara was not the best pairing for either of them.