Reaction, Doctor Who, 6x10, The Girl Who Waited, Gallifrey Gals Get Wibbly Wobbly! S6 Ep10 

AMY: You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful. And then you actually talk to them, and five minutes later they're as dull as a brick? Then there's other people, and you meet them and think, not bad, they're okay. And then you get to know them, and their face just sort of becomes them, like their personality's written all over it. And they just turn into something so beautiful. BOTH AMYS: Rory's the most beautiful man I've ever met.

Can you believe the script for this started out as a back-up script but Moffat read it and was no this has to be in the show. Nobody survives this episode, Rory chose his future and it was beautiful, thank you Paula.

I'd argue this episode is less about the girl who waited and more about Rory. His feelings towards Amy and his feelings towards the Doctor. I feel like we haven't really seen him get angry at the Doctor in a while.

I've always loved that this ep was along side "God Complex", they seem like a pairing that belong together.

Re: regarding River as a romantic interest. I think it feels different simply because she pops in for an episode or two, then goes away. If she was a companion, it would be an ongoing, every-episode thing. The way her character is...she pops in, you get your romance fix, then she's gone.

Honestly I love Moffat and a majority of his complicated stories. He is very hit or miss with his episodes, but his hits are soooooo good. Much different then the safer feeling approach that RTD gave off.

I think the one thing we learn about the doctor in this episode is that he knows certain scenarios can only be fixed by his companions and he knows he can't interfear unless he really has to. Also what i like about this story is that we actually get to see karen gillans abilities as an actress and arthur darvill got to show his when rory was upset with the doctor

“Isn’t funny how something as simple as a robot hand can be so creepy?” .... you mean like statues? Or kids looking for their mummy? Or shadows? 😂🤓 this is one of the few episodes I watched if the show before I started at the beginning , it’s been a great fandom ever since

Katrina loves River as much as I do and I get all giggly when she gushes over River ❤️😝

Weirdly, this was the first full episode of Doctor Who I ever watched. I had seen bits and pieces before. But when I saw a commercial for this particular episode, I thought that the concept had so much dramatic potential, I had to watch! I loved it, and then the show consumed my life for years.

The speech about Rory is one of the best things I've ever heard. I still use it constantly.

Also, Rory chose to wait. He knew exactly what he was agreeing to going into it. He didn't have to take the long way around but he wanted to because he didn't want Amy to be alone even though she wouldn't know he was there.

When did I realise Matt Smith was going to be a magnificent mix of light & darkness? "Basically, run."

Absolutely beautiful episode. Up there with The Doctor's Wife as one of the best episodes of this series.The way the story focusses on the relationship between Amy and Rory, and how much they mean to each other, right down to Amy's advanced age not having any effect on Rory's feelings for her, makes for some incredibly compelling and gutwrenching drama. I don't think I've ever been able to watch that scene where Rory and the older Amy talk to each other through the TARDIS door without getting choked up. It's helped by the incredibly beautiful dialogue that Tom MacRae (who previously wrote the Cyberman two-parter for series 2) has written for the characters, which ranges from being tender and heartfelt ("I care that we didn't grow old together"), to incredibly harsh and brutal ("if you love me don't let me in"). Both actors give excellent performances, with Karen Gillan doing a fantastic job in the dual roles of the younger more compassionate Amy, and her colder and more bitter future self, an especially impressive job given the prosthetics she has to act through. Meanwhile, Arthur Darvill really establishes Rory as a truly fantastic companion, with his total and uncompromising devotion to Amy, and his repeated confidence and willingness to call the Doctor out for his carelessness and his persistent lies. Speaking of the Doctor, while Matt Smith doesn't get a lot to do in this episode (you could technically make the argument that this is the "Doctor-lite story" for this series), he does an excellent job with what he's given. I do really like the way this episode really shows off what a deceitful manipulative bastard this incarnation can be, and given that series 5 established him as being this whimsical imaginary friend type figure in both our eyes and Amy's, it makes sense that we see that wide-eyed hero worship get broken down over the course of this series. An absolutely heartbreaking story, exceptionally well-directed, and a very well-crafted timey-wimey narrative, The Girl Who Waited is a real highlight from this series, and one of the best Matt Smith era stories. That said, it's a very unpleasant emotionally harrowing experience, and if anyone was under the impression the next episode would be any lighter...*nervous laughter* Also, fun fact: the voice of the facility's interface was actually provided by Imelda Staunton, Professor Umbridge from the Harry Potter films

Anyhow count how many times rory has died so far cus i know he remembers that :') ? P.s I do love how rory waited 2000 years , hes double the Doctors age at this point . Hes probably seen friends and new family members age to dust. The past is also so so brutal , he lived and probably fought through all the wars in history , as much as hes been though i still love how rory looked at amy and didnt see her age and just saw her and was angry that he didnt get to grow old together the thing he fought so long for. He has Lived for ages untold ,fought and killed ,loved, lost and died again and again but instead of ending up like the Doctor , he just became Rory ..a dork and a Genuinly Good Person Like the Doctor said Good men Don't need rules , The Doctor needs rules , Rory doesn't .

11:03 Or use lipstick to mark the direction you tried in a labyrinth when you are trying to rescue your little brother.

The 'season' vs 'series' thing isn't just because it's a British show. 'Season' is pretty much always used for Classic Who. The thing with DW is that when we're talking about the show and someone says something like "oh that person started working on the show during season five" it's not always immediately clear without extra information whether they're talking about an episode starring the 2nd or 11th Doctor. But if we all agree to use 'series' to refer to New Who then when someone refers to 'season five' you'd know straight away that they're talking about Classic Who. Of course in this case we have plenty of context that you're referring to New Who just due to the nature of the video series we're watching, so personally I wouldn't worry about it too much. ^_^

"If you love me, do not open this door" So powerfull line !

I love how Older Amy is more socially-awkward and avoids making eye-contact all the time. It's such a subtle thing but so relatable as I'm Autistic and do the same thing. Also, it's so heartbreaking when Rory breaks down. at the end at the TARDIS door and says, "I don't think I can do this!" To me, it's like Arthur Darvill struggling to do the scene. Also, I don't know if anyone's mentioned it but the voice of the computer interface is Imelda Staunton, better known as Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter movies.

I agree, a beautiful episode that is very memorable

The Doctor and River: will they or won't they - even know each other!

Something that I’ve noticed in this era in particular is that the Doctor seems a lot more okay in creating paradoxes as opposed to the Ninth or Tenth Doctor. The Ninth Doctor was livid when Rose saved her father and potentially destroyed the universe. And the Tenth Doctor considered the alterations he made as Time Lord Victorious as “going to far” in Waters of Mars. I feel like Nine or Ten would’ve taken the older Amy and justifying it as: “Well we know she stays here for 30 some odd years, so when can’t bring her younger self as that will cause a contradiction” But the Eleventh Doctor seems to act like causing paradoxes isn’t a big deal. Am I misreading something or are they breaking the rules that are established? I know time CAN be rewritten without destroying the universe because wibbly-wobbly, but the odds are worth the risk right?

I’ve been binge watching and caught up about 3 episodes ago. I love Paula’s reactions. It’s so much fun watching for the first time again through someone else’s eyes. I can’t wait for the 50th anniversary episode.

Can I recommend that you consider the following Doctor Who episodes to watch which are deemed "mini-episodes" so you may miss out on if not careful? Pond Life comes in between series 6 and 7. But also the Notd (an acroynm to avoid spoilers) at the end of 7th

Thanks Gals. Always a pleasure to have your company.

Just to throw it out there again. The mini episodes Time and Space are worth reacting to as it’s just a nice Ponds moment.

I've been waiting for this episode - one of my favorites of the entire series to date. Again, I love Katrina's face journey every time she can't spoil something for later.

This is one of my absolute favorite episodes - it just hits everything perfectly for me... the plot, the dialogue, the visual look of it, the music... it just comes together in such a way, I never get tired of it, and I always, always cry. lol I feel like it doesn't get the props it deserves usually, I'm so glad you ladies love it too :)

I’m one of those people who dosen’t like series 6 much atal. But this episode is one of the best matt smith episodes ever! Rele clever story and a fantastic script! 9/10

Re: the differences between the Doctors... IMO, Ten(nant) was a very human Doctor. Possibly too human, to a dangerous degree when it came to his rage and his despair and his attachments to people. When he's driven by pain and fury, those feelings are recognisable, even if they're amplified and exaggerated - he feels what we feel, but *moreso*. 11/Smith is more alien by comparison, weirder and the way that he connects to people, even the people close to him, is not the same way that 9 or 10 did. He doesn't reason quite like they did, or process things in the same way. That difference can make him seem cruel or callous even when he's driven by compassion, because the kindness of someone who sees the turn of centuries might be different to the kindness of someone who lives only decades.

I think a lot of folk miss that under the hood this episode is actually about River, and the choice they face with her. After Good Man Amy and Rory ask the Doctor to get their baby back, something he probably could do. But if he does so then the River we and they know, adult River would cease to exist. This is the hard choice Amy and Rory must face. If you take the dialogue in the final scenes between the Doctor and Rory and just swap out young Amy for Melody and older Amy for River it becomes very clear whats happening, and the importance of Rorys line- that its not fair, the Doctor is turning Rory into him. Because this is exactly the choice the Doctor faces when they asked him to get their baby back. He is literally putting Rory in his own shoes and facing the same dilemna. RORY: What are you doing? DOCTOR: I lied to her, Rory. There can never be two Rivers in the Tardis. The paradox is too massive. RORY: You can't leave her. She'll die. DOCTOR: No, she'll never have existed. When we save Melody, this future won't have happened. RORY: But she happened. She's there. DOCTOR: No, she's not real. RORY: She is real. Let her in. DOCTOR: Look, we take Melody, we leave River. Only one River in the Tardis. Which one do you want? It's your choice. RORY: This isn't fair. You're turning me into you. DOCTOR: Your choice, Rory. It also explains that ending, when Amy asks what happened to the other Amy and we get that look to Rory from the Doctor as he turns to leave them, its because he knows Amy and Rory are going to have to have that conversation about what to do about their daughter. Rory now knows he cannot do it, he cannot kill older River, the River they have come to know, just as he could not kill older Amy, she has the right to exist. Had older Amy not sacrificed herself he would have let her in. Now he has to tell Amy that, hence the darkness in that look.

One of my favorite episodes of the entire show.

Doctor Who is one of the few shows that can get away with a layered script like this, time, cause and effect, cool fighting, love, deception, anger, frustration. Love this show, you're right Paula, beautiful and deeply sad ❤️

Why would anyone push a big red button? When there’s a green one there? *watches Father Ted* Oh, Dougal.

This is why you never forget that Rule 1 is The Doctor lies

great episode. definitely top 5 non moffat written maybe even top 1. love how it shows the complexity of 11. 11 isnt like 10. he wont stare off sadly into the distance for 2 minutes when someone says something mean about him just to make sure you know how sad he is. you can see it in his eyes he hurts but he will move on and wear a mask over it. he was there to bring amy back and he was willing to be a punching bag.

Really enjoyed your discussion on the Doctor's character and the Amy/Rory relationship. Like this episode a lot, interested to see what you make of the next one.

Rory knowingly _chose_ to escort the Pandorica through history, and from the exhibit in the museum we know most of that time was spent within human society, hidden or disguised nearby, as the Pandorica was passed along, intervening only when it threatened to get lost or damaged. Amy was left utterly isolated in constant, lethal danger, after being promised that her companions would be right along in a minute to save her. All because the Doctor can't be bothered to look up stuff in advance, because it's so much more _fun_ to jump in blind and figure things out on the fly. The two situations aren't just apples and oranges, they're apples and suspension bridges.

I suddenly feel the need to get glasses even though I've got very good vision.

Tik tok goes the clock Paula hopes for cheerful Tik Tok goes the clock Katrina can't reveal all...

One of the best parts of Doctor Who, is much the Doctor changes with each regeneration!

27:00 Actually he answered in the very first episode of this series: "Of course I'm okay. I'm always okay, I am the king of okay" :)

aw man! I wanna be a fly on the wall for the rest of your marathon

I agree with Paula - definitely one of my favourite episodes. Also, Katrina makes a good point - Amy's wait is quite different than Rory's, and I completely understand Amy's feelings about being abandoned. Yes, Rory had to wait 2000 years, but he chose to do so, and he knew his wait would come to an end, but Amy didn't know if she'd ever see Rory again, or die on this lonely planet.

Poor Amy, forever the girl who waited

I don't know why but I can't wait to see you guys react to Peter Capaldi when it's comes!!!

In my head canon, "Old Amy" was saved...by another version of the Doctor. When asked how it was possible, the Doctor replied with a knowing smile, and said, "Spoilers."

Great episode. It shows that the Doctor sometimes makes questionable choices, and sometimes there is no right answer.

The thing about the Doctor and his companions is that he is in charge. He knows a lot more than they do. He flies the Tardis, he says who can ride, he is responsible for keeping them alive. The power dynamic is uneven. So if a relationship leans into a romantic area, it doesn't feel right. With River, she often know more than he does, she knows how to fly the Tardis, and he doesn't feel responsible for her life, because he knows exactly when she is going to die. The power dynamic is much more even, so their romance is more acceptable.

Just starting this and I hope to see some tears!

27:12 Katrina's comparison of the Doctors is interesting. There's a RU-vid blogger who gives his judgement of each Doctor's Hogwarts house. He has Ecclestone as one of the few Hufflepuff Doctors.

Hearing talk about how this Doctor expresses suffering . . . . . WHEW!!! Let me walk away! LOL!!!!!

When I first saw this episode, I thought it was the best I'd seen in New Who. It still is.

I think part of the reason why River and the Doctor are a more appealing romantic pairing is that the power differential is much more equal. Instead of always being whisked away on adventures and led by the Doctor, like the companions are, River more often brings the Doctor to her and guides her own story.

Did you react to the Time and Space mini episodes? If not, what did you think of them?

I can’t wait for “the god complex” episode 😂

This episode feels a lot like Time Squared from Star Trek TNG. It has the same time travel mechanic anyway.

There’s something about Amy being so vulnerable, especially after becoming so hardened over the years, and telling Rory that she was scared of dying and she wouldn’t go peacefully if he gave her the opportunity to live by opening the door. Seeing that scene just gets me bawling everytime

I always wanted to see the “Cinema Zone”. Screw the gardens, I want an alien planet’s movies.

This show and THE FEELS!!!!

Rory isn't afraid to get real that's why he'll always be my second favorite companion, Donna being the first

When Matt departed the role, I departed modern Who. I still like and appreciate McGann, Eccleston, Tennant and Smith, and what they each brought to the role. I love Tom Baker's run, and consider him the definitive Doctor. I didn't care for Capaldi as the Doctor, or Chibnall as showrunner. It's clear that Doctor Who is no longer immune to certain "socio-political influences," that have subverted other pop-culture franchises.

Rory may well have gone through the "I hate you" stage after waiting 36 years... waiting 2000 years probably imbues you with great wisdom...

Ever since Smith begun and Paula was mad, I keept thinking: Timleord victorius. Thats just a moment before Smith started. Look at doctor Donna, forged in battle. Well Smith is also forged in a fairly dark space. A lonley space. He answers to no one else. I still love him for the love he does have for humans and for his cheerful ways... But timelord victorious is there, nontheless.

A powerful episode, due to its parallels.

Katrina: everyone has their own taste in the doctors and the seasons, and that’s ok! Katrina literally a few seasons ago: Paula: I’ve heard not many people like Season 11 or Jodies performance as the Doctor… Katrina: this is what I say to them *puts middle finger up 😂😂😂

Dammit i cried...again

Hey Katrina! That t-shirt looks like it was inspired by part of a VERY recent Doctor Who episode.....

My very favorite Karen Gillan WHO episode.

This episode is powerful

This episode is 10/10 for me

The final shot of the episode gives me the creeps.

This T-shirt looks really great.

You guys were pretty chatty through this one. Don't get me wrong, love your reactions, just noticed you missed some bits. Even by your own admition you completely talked over the glasses bit. And almost missed the robot being called Rory. Also cut out that emotional final bit, but that might be copyright problems, so can understand that. Don't want to sound totally negative, love your guys reactions

This wasn't even the first Robot Rory.

It can be good, but people still not like it. This had a Sophie's Choice element, and maybe no matter how good it is, you're just not going to have fun on that ride. Plus the Doctor commented on knowing your future and being able to change it. This is a Doctor who knows he's barreling towards his death, and not just a regeneration...

Whimsy Dark for richer flavor and a satisfying dessert.

Regarding your discussion after watching the episode, I have a comment. When faced with the decision, I choose the ninth doctor's option over the eleventh. It takes more courage to say no to mass murder than to say yes. Coward every time.

I like girls in glasses so I totally get it

hahahaha oh my sweet summer child.

The God Complex is going to hurt a lot. Lol

You are totally forgetting that the last thing David's Doctor did was to send his people away to die and dying doing right after.. So this Doctor have done it twice and everyone he cares about dies but he must go on to save everyone even though he knows that he is going to be alone.. Also 36years isn't the same as 2000 years ;-)

I always thought the season vs series thing wasn't a British difference but, because the classic who already has Season 1, 2, 3 etc, they call the New Who ones Series to differentiate them?

Steven Moffat: king of the cry EVERY EPISODE! As much as he was crapped on as writer and showrunner, he could really wring out the audience and pull you in every time.

I always felt weird about the Doctor claiming that the Tardis couldn't support the paradox. The Master made the Tardis into a Paradox Machine during the 10th Doctor's run and it was able to support much larger paradoxes.

This is not one of my favorites. It's not a bad story, but it's too heavy for me dramatically. Speaking of which, does it bother anybody else to see Katrina cry? Thinking of future episodes, I can't wait until you get to the last two of the season/series. I really enjoyed those!

I just noticed but is that a tardis door behind paula???

You might be able to avoid some of the weird editing moments by getting hold of the original BBC versions rather than the slightly edited down BBC America ones. 🙂

Given comments by all the "New Who" Doctors, none of them seem to really like any social media. :)

In Before The Block Squad reporting for duty.

I Love this episode but I Hate that it makes me cry

Amy constantly treats Rory like shit

This is a question for Katrina.. about Doctor Who.. So Paula, SPOILER AHEAD.. SPOILER!!!!. Dear Katrina, you are a big fan of Doctor Who just like i am. You are so close to a damn hard episode 7x05.. Do you think dear Paula will be get Destroyed by that ending??

Quite like "The Doctor's Wife" from earlier on in this series, I've never been as enamored with this episode as most other people seem to be. Don't get me wrong, it's very good. I love how the show the show explores the consequences of time travel and how it can affect people in deeply personal ways. The first 25/30 minutes are endless exposition however, all designed to get all the characters where they need to be for the big, emotional final 15 minutes. It's perfectly watchable, but I think it's also quite dull during that time. This also makes the resolution to the story feel rushed. As a result, the emotional dilemma just doesn't click completely with me. The final 15 minutes not hitting me as hard as I think they intended is a combination of it feeling rushed and because as soon as Rory and the Doctor take the younger Amy away, the older Amy will cease to exist, so what's the problem? The dilemma feels somewhat false and forced to me. There's also a plot hole with the way everything's resolved. It's made into a fixed point when Amy witnesses her future self refuse to help. Foreknowledge of an event is what makes something into a fixed point. We see that several times in this show. That's the entire premise of an episode like "The Waters of Mars". So basically, young Amy being on the TARDIS is a paradox in itself because she saw her future self refuse to help. The episode acknowledges the plot hole, but doesnt do anything to resolve it. Instead it justifies this with the annoying Amy is "special" line, but it's definitely a plot hole. I also don't like how this whole mess was created just because Amy pressed the wrong button. It makes the characters look a bit dumb. Having said all that, Arthur Darvill and Karen Gillan killed it! They were superb and this is arguably both of their best performances in the show. It's just a shame that these interesting concepts weren't given enough time to develop. The best thing about this episode is how the Doctor manipulates everyone. Rory's line, "You're turning me into you", is superb. I always enjoy the show exploring the Doctor's darker sides. It's a good episode, but VERY overrated imo.

I love most of season 6 but I don't understand the appeal of this episode at all. I thought it was very predictable and the emotional stakes completely fall flat to me. Why is old Amy so upset that she'll have her horrible life replaced by a happy life with Rory? Honestly one of my least favorite episodes in all of new who.

season 5-9 are my favorites, started loosing interest in season 10. the last episode is the only one i didnt like in this season.

I just don't buy Amy's sudden technical ability. An amptitude like that hasn't been established in her character and kinda feels a bit contrived just for the sake of giving her a device. I'd amend the script so that she just found it or something if I felt that it was completely necessary to have it at all.

6:10 So you like Chibnail's era? Total unsub... jk, xD - but still

your out of your mind! 2000 years and what Rory went through is worse! Amy knew he would come. Rory was secluded. Do you think he walked around the town galavanting?! He also had to move the box many times to keep it safe at the fall of all the different empires

I'm here to watch your reactions and listen to your comments, not to purchase any products that you're promoting. ☹