Have the bullets finished flying yet? Looking back on Episode 3 of the Steven Moffat era of Doctor Who (Spoilers, obviously)

You kinda knew from a very specific point in the episode that this would be one that would draw out the nay-sayers. That the forums would be full of raging Doctor Who fans grinding their teeth. Their under-10 year old children, mind, would probably be looking forward to their next shopping trip.

Yes, this was Moffat rescinds his statements about merchandising big style.

This was the Doctor and his amazing technicolour Daleks. They come in red and yellow and orange and white and blue and...

Ya see what I mean?

Anyway. Much ink in press and online has already been expended on this, probably missing the point that quite a lot of people seemed to enjoy it. Yes, I'd have liked both the Doctor and Amy to have had more to do; yes, Churchill reminded me of the dog than the PM; yes, the shoe-horning of personal distress amongst the war-room staff was pointless. BUT...

I did like the Doctor getting cross even if it went on too long mind with the attack on the servile Daleks (though "would you like some tea?" was very amusing). I also really like this rip-in-time arc (reset button: fine by me). The technicolour dreamcoat Daleks felt like a roll-the-eyes advert but they do look shiny. And you have to love a stand-off using a Jammy Dodger biscuit.

The issue for me was that it all felt far too forgettable, or rather unmemorable. I enjoyed but rather like a take-away meal its impact had dissipated by the time it was over. If this was originally a 2-part story, it felt butchered - stretched in parts, rushed in others. But I'd happily watch it again, mostly because I didn't even want to kill the production team after the Manhattan affair. Smith still works as a professorial crotchety doctor, but this was the first time I really missed pretty Mr Tennant.

Reviews:
MediumRob with the great line about 'Collectibles of the Daleks'
Marie - and some interesting comments too (Chris Wild almost exemplifying the stance of the fan who would give up watching the series they love for being 'rubbish')
Frank Collins at Behind the Sofa - complete with bemoaning the big bottomed new Daleks...
... as does Neil Perryman also at BTS
... and Stuart Ian Burns adds his thoughts and excitement from BTS
Rev/Views delights in the episode, proving that as I say, this was no the utter disaster some have attributed it as being