Been thinking about this,and I really love this episode and it showcases that 11th doctor can be dark,such a good 2nd episode,and I really love the characterization of 11 in it,what do yall tihnk about it,cause i dont see this episode getting talked at all?
I really enjoy The Beast Below. Incidentally, it’s probably one of the episodes I’ve seen the most because of how many times I’ve rewatched Series 5. It’s underrated for sure. It establishes the Doctor’s ethos in a very cool way and just reinforces the idea of kindness that persists with the Doctor and the sense of the kinship Eleven is able to find in the Star Whale. It’s a great first space adventure for Amy, it establishes her unimpeachable curiosity and her headstrong nature very solidly. Not to mention the concept of choosing to forget the cruelty of a society because of its “necessity to the greater good” and the complicity of those in power (Liz 10 is such an interesting character) is just explored so well. Lots of good stuff packed into this episode.
Agree,i think its also one of the best episode 2s of the revival.
I think finally this episode is starting to see the re-evaluation it always has deserved. For me, it’s the perfect thesis of the Moffat era - the fairytale, the discussion about the character of the Doctor, the kindness. I love it very dearly, and it’s been pleasing to me over the last few years that others are starting to see that too
Yep,completely agree,its also one of the reasons why Series 5 is so good,at least for me.
I’ll need to rewatch this sometime. I’m not one for rewatching these days especially since there’s so many EU content to get through.
It’s flawed but I enjoy it. Quite an underrated episode.
It’s excellent and easily a Highlight for me of that Series (which is probably a hot take, as I see it often around the Bottom Spots when one ranks that Series). For me it showcases even more brilliant Bits of 11, Smith’s Perfomance is just great and in general the whole Concept is great and equally greatly excuted!
I love this episode so much it has so many great moments, Amy’s misguided attempt to save the Doctor from an impossible moral dilemma, the Doctor’s condescending breakdown at feeling obligated to essentially kill the last of the star whales, or Amy drawing parallels between two ancient, lonely beings who can’t help but stop to help a crying child. Perfection.
I also love this moment:
Doctor: Look, three options. One, I let the Star Whale continue in unendurable agony for hundreds more years. Two, I kill everyone on this ship. Three, I murder a beautiful, innocent creature as painlessly as I can. And then I find a new name, because I won’t be the Doctor any more.
That last bit becomes a running theme across Moffat’s whole era, and feels like very deft foreshadowing of the 50th especially, even though that wasn’t planned at the time.
That is one sign of good writing, when you turn things that weren’t foreshadowing previously into foreshadowing retrospectively.
Don’t really care for the smilers/winders, and a few minor bits that don’t really make a lot of sense, but what’s good is really good. A decently solid episode.