Throughout the episode, I was focussing more on the three regular leads and Oswin, whom were the more interesting facets of the story.
I couldn't really square the exisitence of the Ayslum, but then the Daleks logic is a bit..odd. They let Dalek Caan live in his 'interesting' state, but destroyed the Ironsides and Bronze Proginator in 'Victory' for being inferior. Perhaps the new Paradigm returned home and found themselves outnumbered by the earlier Daleks and they're going through a process of upgrading...there were a number of red drones seen in the Parliament. BUT! Weren't the Daleks supposed to be all largely defeated at the end of 'Journey's End' - and I thought that the use of other species as Dalek material was pretty abhorrant to a race allied to 'racial purity'. I didn't mind the puppets thing, as there's a precedent for that (although I found the eyestalk and egg wisk deeply silly). On the surface of it, something to pick holes in, but has actually made me more curious about the 'rules' the Daleks live by and made them a more interesting monster for me again , which I liked. Before the episode aired, I was cringing at the thought of their return.
Watching Pondlife helped the 'sell' of where Rory and Amy were at in their relationship, but the problem with their staying behind is you can never be sure how much time has passed unless you're constantly introducing them through the Doctor. I'd also say that the Ponds relationship could have used the touch of RTD to fully flesh out. I like them, and understand where they've come from and what they are about, but I don't feel I've got to know them in the same way as Rose. That's probably a concsious decision from Moffat whose focus has been on the Docotr and the story, rather than assistants , but it just means the harrowing stuff they've been through has felt a bit hollow. Maybe because of Doctor Who's audience reach, they've not wanted to delve too deeply into some of those issues, but I am surprised they've not borrowed a leaf out of teatime soaps Neighbours and Home & Away in how to tackle such mature themes without being too graphic.
I liked Oswin very much, and i didn't see the twist coming (although on second viewing I did pick up on more of the visual clues) and thought that was very well done.
SPOILER! (select to read)Although I do think its a shame that because of press releases, we know Jenna-Louise Coleman will be turning up later in the series. it would have been more dramatic for her to be introduced in the Christmas Special and to go 'ooh its her!'. The other nagging doubt I came away with was that her story arc is, in some way, going to mirror River Song's, in so much that we know her final fate which is a shame to see repeated.
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yes!