I don't understand your definition of "deep"…. ;)

God knows LISTEN was definitely filler….

"Now, if we're defining "plot episode" to mean "an episode that takes on a weighty subject and deals with it with intelligence and maturity," then maybe you're right that past seasons did 10-12 of those per year."

….where do you get that from? I've never heard that at all….

Hammerhead. Me too.

Robbing a bank isn't unethical for The Doctor. It's just materialistic wealth. Killing something would be unethical.

…or he's not in the UK? I'm not and have never heard of her.

Which is a shame, since it used to have about 10-12 out of 13 a year…

Hmmm. I was cringing for the first five minutes. If they want to push that this Doctor is more "alien" then stop having him hang out in Clara's apartment. This Doctor does NOT fit the "domestic" thing like the previous two. So, it never works for me. It makes the show seem bottled into this one girls life, instead of…

LMAO!!!! I just did a literal spit-take at that….

….bad everything, but the story is usually great? What season are you watching? The current run has decent sets, suitable CGI, and wardrobe. But the stories are TERRIBLE. I feel like you are talking about some old Peter Davison rerun from the 80's. What's the last one you watched?

….Slip-and-Slide?

Oh dude, I agree with you on that one. It's definitely the second best compared to the finest, Xmas Carol. But it definitely had serious weakness in the script and tone. That being said, WIDOW still hurts, it was so bad.

I thought he was great in the episode, even if I find him a very over-hyped actor. And despite the limited budget and inclusion of Adam, I thought THE LONG GAME actually had something relevant to say about corporate journalism, versus the empty spectacle the show has become.

Cheesy is in Doctor Who's DNA. I'm just ready for a new voice to write the show.

I noticed. And it didn't seem to help the script, did it? Shame, as he's an amazing actor. Too bad they couldn't afford to actually have him IN the episode. Still I like Richard E Grant, as well.

You could throw Robert Redford and Sir Ian McKellan in there if you wanted, but if the script is anything like the last couple have been, it's going to be a waste of casting. Fingers-crossed because I love Nick Frost….

Well I groaned exactly the same for both…. ;)

Re-watching this episode has not served to make it better in my opinion. In fact, I have even more questions now:

Couldn't agree more. It's the battle-cry of a tired, empty writer. If you have nothing new to say, then start going for the shock/taboo/forbidden angles. Like the whole "Doctor's name" thing last season, or overwriting the Time War because he was bored I guess, Steven Moffat is treading water while still crying for…