I think this episode’s biggest flaw was also it’s greatest power with fans. The flaw being how derivative this episode was from Stephen Moffat’s other episodes and Rusty T. Davies’ run on Doctor Who. Amy is “the Girl in the Fireplace.” The villain is of the scary, silent type who hides in the dark seen in “Blink” and “the Silence in the Library.” We’ve seen the companion on her wedding day and the discarded boyfriends for the great adventure. And, of course, Matt Smith draws on David Tennant’s Doctor quirks.
In many ways, this is lazy derivative writing, and in other ways, it’s precisely why Doctor Who continues as a series and keeps its fans for 40+ years. Moffat’s easing us into the transition of the new Doctor and the new companion, which new Doctor Who has never had both transitions at the same time. Moffat comforts fans by letting them know there’s nothing wrong; it’s still the same old show we know and love.
Moffat certainly has a thing for being scared in the dark. Which is one of my triggers, so I expect to be scared a lot this season despite Moffat saying he also wants to do funny stuff. Which I didn’t find the whole trying out food thing hilarious. In fact, fish sticks hit my gag reflex in general so fish sticks dipped in custard made me look away. I also figure as this is a children’s show, someone’s going to be up in arms about the Doctor only liking junk food. Humor I did enjoy included Amy pretending not to know him while handcuffing him to the radiator and when she shut his tie in the car door.
However, I was sold on both the new show runner and Amy as the new companion as soon as she, the 7-year-old, went into her room, packed her suitcase, walked back to the garden, and sat down on the suitcase waiting for the Doctor to come back. The scene definitely hit the ‘I would’ve totally done that and wanted to’ nerve. Of course, the Doctor never could’ve kidnapped a 7-year-old these days. Just young women.
And in her essence, Amy is an out fangirl of the Raggedy Doctor, who not even her own wedding day has a bigger emotional drive than completing the fairytale of following the Doctor. I mean, I think the Doctor’s a big jerk, but I’d still hop on the TARDIS. Amy has waited her whole life.