Harry -
This one felt like a story of two halves. There was the half I liked, and the half I didn't like.
Great opening set up with a nod to The Shining. The pre-credits sequence shows a disoriented police constable wandering the corridors of a horror hotel. The TARDIS arrives and the team encounter a group of people on edge. Are they victims, prisoners, bait? An array of photos on the walls suggests that the place is a trap. It's a puzzling and disorienting place, the atmosphere heightened by some fantastic camera work, plenty of jarring angles and anxious close ups.
Sarah -
I had completely forgotten this story, so it felt brand new. Every room contains the biggest fear of someone at the hotel, with a minotaur feeding off their faith. The most concerning room was Amy’s, which was not the Weeping Angel, but that she was waiting for the Doctor at the door of her childhood home. Amy had so much faith in the Doctor that he had to break her down to save her. Meanwhile, Rory all his faith in the Doctor and wanted to go home.
Harry -
Oh the obligatory (and foreshadowy) Weeping Angel.
We might as well pivot to the half of the story that I didn't like. That was the minotaur. After being menaced for a few scenes, the group face the big hairy thing, a cousin of the Nimon as pointed out by the Doctor. For a creature that feeds off its victims' faith, I would expect something less earthy and more elevated. A creature of light and spirit. Something shimmery, floating in the air. The minotaur looks like it would prefer to eat people's flesh. So the divergence of the creature from its modus operandi didn't work for me.
Sarah -
As irritating as the minotaur was, Rita was brilliant! She would be a great companion, until she started saying, “Praise Him.” I quite liked her.
Harry -
We have also seen previous instances of the Doctor forcing a friend to lose their faith in him - Sarah Jane and Ace come to mind. Seeing it happen to Amy was not all that unique.
I did love the horror hotel though, right down to the ugly carpeting. It was a great set up, but the payoff was disappointing.
David Walliams' Gibbis was an amusing addition to the aliens of the Whoniverse. Meek on the outside, conniving on the inside.
Sarah -
Walliams irritates me, even when he is in costume.
Harry -
At the end, the Doctor bids an emotional goodbye to Amy. For the air of permanence they gave this scene, we know it's not really goodbye. Just another weak note to the episode overall.
Sarah -
Watching "The God Complex" the first time, we thought we were saying goodbye forever…but I’m glad we have a little more time.
Harry -
Best Line:
The Doctor: "This is a cup of tea."
Rita: "Of course, I'm British, it's how we cope with trauma. That and tutting."
Favourite Moment: entering the room with the creepy ventriloquist dummies, an all-too-brief moment
Lasting Image: the portraits on the hotel walls
5/10
Sarah -
Best Line:
RITA: Why is it up to you to save us? That's quite a God complex you have there.
Favorite Moment: The final moment when Amy telling Rory the Doctor saved them
Lasting Image: Amy at the door
7/10
Our marathon continues with Story # 223: Closing Time...
