Episode 8 - The Hungry Earth

[Tegan]

I liked it, but it was marking time in many ways. Another brick in the wall.

It's the second in a row with a bucolic opening scene, there was enough in it to keep one interested, and nothing to really annoy.

The one thing that may have been more important than you think at first was the 'future' Amy and Rory showing up and waving. It could either be an important clue to future episodes, or more likely just a little joke. Either way it was totally unexpected.

The episode took a little time to get going, and the introduction of the Silurians was a bit... predictable. But then I was never a big fan of the scaly hissers myself.

[Ian]

The future selves thing did yield to a discussion (as they saw in confidential) about whether that meant they'd be safe, and the doctor explained it was more complicated. He ended by saying he liked Rory, a lot.

This was cut for time reasons.... so why leave the thing that prompted the discussion in?

I think there must be a reason. My attention is drawn to the preview bit where the doctor was talking about things not being a fixed point in time, so it maybe suggests there is a changing time theme to be explored. I just hope we dont get the cheesy 'they are fading away' Marty McFly trope as they try to control events.

[captainkirk66]

one person told me it was good one person told me it was bad.
but i really enjoyed this episode.i was losing interest in series five with amy's choice and the vampire one but this has restored my faith that the rest of the series will be good!
i didnt like the future amy and rory i dont think it needed to be there at all.
i liked the bit where the doctor talks to the silurian as well.

[Nick Whitfield]

An interesting story, that appears to be slightly modelled on old who.  An interesting point about a future amy and rory waving at themselves (we may find out in a future episode).  The main thread of the story seems to be the accidental meeting with with the new silurian race (those holes are pretty threatening) and the experiment on amy.  The mind boggles what will happen next (maybe the doctor is tied down). 

At first sight not my favourte episode, but that might change after next week.  I like the slow burn tension of the episode

[Murk]

Original Post is here

I wasn’t too sure about this episode. I enjoyed it, but I’m not sure why. Nothing struck me as ‘great’, but at the same time, nothing beat me about the head as ‘awful’.

There was an odd scene with future Rory and Amy waving at the Tardis. I’m not at all sure why that was in there. According to ‘confidential’ it led to a later conversation saying ’so we’re okay in the end’, and the Doctor talking about time being flexible – but that was cut. Why didn’t it lead to the future Rory and Amy being cut as well? Does it serve some other purpose (e.g. returning to the Tardis at the end of episode nine and seeing future Rory/Amy, who had been having a picnic on the hillside, fade in a Marty McFly way?)

I don’t think so – personally, I think it will just be left ‘hanging’.

The episode made a point of highlighting a character with dyslexia – the Doctor saying ‘That’s okay, I can’t make meringue’. It was a bit heavy handed, but that bit was aimed squarely at the kiddy audience, so I’ll forgive that.

The ‘Earth Attacking’ was all a bit mumbo-jumbo for my tastes – forgivable. I’d rather have had the silurians grabbing people’s legs!

The silurians themselves were substantially different from those met in Pertwee’s era. They can’t really use the dodge that they’ve evolved – not enough time has elapsed on Earth. Perhaps there’ll be a throwaway line that they’ve been using genetic selection. Perhaps it is just that the lady silurians are more human-like than the gentlemen silurians?

I’m not at all sure about the cliffhanger at the end. The reveal of the big city seemed rather obvious. I’d have reversed the order of the edit, and had the city reveal before the scene with Amy being strapped down. Finish on the advancing scalpel, cut to credits. Boom, baby!

Overall, it was a solid episode, but there was little which stood out (but I did like the classic feel of that advancing scalpel!)

[catbhoy]

Once that was taken off they were a bit generic alien (I was strongly reminded of the cactus thing at Christmas).

I had the exact same thought.

[wallybee1]

ok, i've calmed down. I'm cheerful after my shopping trip (head over to my thread in the general discussion to find out more )

so, here goes.

I think the dragging into a hole thing was underused. Most of it was spent trying to barricade themselves but tht was totally pointless as the silurians just turned off the power. hasn't the doctor met them before? so shouldn't he know their capabilities?

the time running out thing was a good move. I liked it.

however, the hiding in a church thing was rubbish, the stiff door felt fake, can't believe they left the little boy outside, and it was a bit of a let down tbh. I say a bit, i mean a LOT!

Just below average for me. not great but not bad enough to be abysmal.

[George Harrison]

In the words of Staggering Stories: "I really liked it".

Don't see what everyone's issues are, it was great. Only bad things:
1. The boy being left alone - nice one Doctor! Stupid thing for him to do,
2. Silurian running across the camera - A bit rubbish

[The Brigadier]

I missed the BBC One Transmission because I was camping! So I wached it on BBC 3!
It was werid having the BBC 3 logo in the corner but that didn't distract me from the episode!

Wasn't Meera Syal fantastic! Doctor Nasreen would make a brilliant conpanion! The Doctor and her worked very well together and  All the other supporting cast were brilliant! I think also this episode teaches kids aswell.
The Silurians were great and that effects shot at the end was amazing!
The cliffhanger was brilliant aswell! And On the Offical BBC Website in the news and features section there's a article called "Find Out More About Dyslexia", so this episode teaches people kids.

And know it's time for my big rant on the story arc.
Amy and Rory appearing in the distance...
Is this similar to when The Doctor appeared in Flesh and Stone with his jacket on when he had it stolen earlier in the story.
I reckon in the finale or in the future, The Doctor, Amy and Rory will try to warm The Doctor and his conpanions about the silence or the pandorica.

Anyway, good story. Not the best in the season but still a good one.
3/5

[Murk]

2. Silurian running across the camera - A bit rubbish

Yep, I thought the same: "Why is it monsters alway run across camera, never directly toward their victim?"

[BreathingMeat]

It was perhaps the most classic-like new series episode yet.

• Return of several classic season elements - especially the seventh series: Drilling through the Earth's crust; Silurians; weighty ethical concerns, and a scientist companion
• The Doctor and companions are split up immediately
• Another rubber-suit monster - The Silurian warrior looked quite classic-series-esque when she was wearing her mask
• Shaky-cam and running about to represent the TARDIS out of control
• A big digital countdown to build up the reveal of the monster
• A small cast and remote location
• A cave that looks like a TV studio

But that's good. I like Classic Who.  

[Ian]

The silurians themselves were substantially different from those met in Pertwee’s era. They can’t really use the dodge that they’ve evolved – not enough time has elapsed on Earth. Perhaps there’ll be a throwaway line that they’ve been using genetic selection. Perhaps it is just that the lady silurians are more human-like than the gentlemen silurians?

It was already explained with a throwaway line, the Doctor said they were a 'different branch of the family', i.e. a related species.

[Darkglasses]

What was with the Dr. Silurian wearing a white coat and face mask? That's just absurd.

[Henry Gordon Jago]

I really, really liked this one.  A great pastiche of the Pertwee era in the same way that The Impossible Planet was for the Tom Baker era.  Picked up nods to Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, The Green Death, and The Daemons.  The cliffhanger was a bit Planet of the Daleks, too.

My niggles with the episode:
1. OK, the Doctor let the kid run off to get his headphones, whatever.  He's the Doctor, he's got stuff to worry about.  How did the boy's mother take so long to realise that he was not in the room with them?  In reality, she would have been looking for him as soon as the scene started.
2. Wanted more interaction between the Doctor and Rory throughout the episode.  There was a lot of scope for either bonding or conflict between the two of them after Amy's abduction, which seems like a wasted opportunity.

Without a doubt, the future Amy and Rory will be important later, possibly at the end of the season.

[George Harrison]

...in the same way that The Impossible Planet was for the Tom Baker era.  

Was it?