I really don't know how I felt about that...
I just...I mean, I didn't hate it...I don't even know.
My number one complaint is that it was all entirely too fast. Particularly Melody's redemption. The evil-to-good transition was entirely too fast and felt contrived.
Contrived is a good word for this episode.
My second complaint is that it was all incredibly silly and then tried to shift to touching during the climactic scene. I love a good bit of silliness. And I know Doctor Who is meant to be a children's show. But it's never been one that makes me think, "You're a grown man, why are you watching this children's show?" This one did that a little bit. Just a little.
I think on the Two-Tier Rating System (Copyright, Eleventh Hour Podcast) I'd definitely say I liked it. It wasn't aweful by any stretch, but it wasn't...it wasn't quite...I don't even know.
Kudos on trying to sell "Mels" as one of Amy and Rory's friends. I totally bought it. I mean, when I saw the car pull up I thought "that's got to be River". And even when Mels got out, I thought she might be an earlier regeneration. But then they carried on like Amy and Rory knew her and I was all, "Oh, so they're going to insert a friend character for Amy and Rory". And I should have caught that her attitude was still very River, but I missed it. And then she said her parents were right there and I face-palmed as I realized she was about to regenerate.
Although, I really didn't expect (or want) her to regenerate into Alex Kingston. Again, it's all going too fast. Though obviously she had to be in the "River" body for the turn-around at the end to work.
Also, they really didn't need to do the "you gave away all of your regenerations" bit. We already know she dies in the library as Alex Kingston and that it could "burn out both your hearts and don't think you'll regenerate". It was unnecessary. And you have a woman completely giving up her life for a man she barely knows. I think I disliked that as a feminist as well as a fantasy-enthusiast.
Another complaint, it really feels like they're trying to finish up the River story. Like they're closing a circle. And again, too quickly.
As for the events of the story themselves, I can't really complain too much. It wasn't the story I wanted, but it was a decent story all the same. Obviously when you have a mystery and then start to reveal it, some people are going to be disappointed. However, I don't think I really have been disappointed with the actual events of the story. Just the speed of it. That was approximately a whole season arc condensed into an episode. That's what I didn't like.
And this: Moffat, would you please just make up your mind. Is it back-to-front or is it wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey. What was the point of having her say back-to-front just to immediately undercut it? This had really better be a plot point or I think I shall become very cross.
The crop circle was nice. A good little bit of fun.
And the disco jellyfish were fantastic.
The time travelling justice squad, or whatever they're called, were just...I didn't like them. Not that I'm opposed to the idea of torturing history's greatest villains (though allowing any organization the power to decide who the villains are seems unwise...look at Melody). Mostly I just found them boring.
Amy thinking Rory was gay was an absolutely perfect moment.
"Well, I was on my way to this gay, gypsy, bar-mitzvah for the disabled..." I enjoyed that rather a lot.
Having Hitler in the episode was just weird. It also felt really superfluous. The only plotline it really helped was the unnecessary time travelling justice squad. I mean, it was funny and all, but it just seemed odd.
And the voice interface bit with the old companions was also unnecessary. That really just felt like an excuse for Moffat to comment on RTD's stuff, which is irrelevant to the story at hand.
I can tolerate and even enjoy a fair bit of cheesy in my entertainment, but the Doctor shouting fish fingers and custard was just too much for me.
And I really loved the Doctor's new coat that he had for the first half of the episode.
In summary: I liked it. There were some less enjoyable elements and some more enjoyable elements. It was all too fast. And it probably didn't I help that I rewatched 'A Good Man Goes to War' while it was downloading. It was a major shift in tone. But all told, I did like it.
ETA: I enjoyed it considerably more the second time.
So, does anyone else think the answer to the question is 42?