Seemed like a pretty decent episode. The opening 20 minutes was a bit slow and a little soapy but served it's purpose introducing Bill.
I wasn't impressed by Bill in the teaser but she was much stronger in this full episode.
She wasn't as dismissive as recent companions of stunning revelations and new planets which is nice to see. I liked that she was very inquisitive and wants to learn.

The "enemy" for this episode was very reminiscent of the Flood from "The Waters of Mars", the makeup effect was more subtle seemingly going for a drowned look.
Heather was well played, even before being taken over she was a tragic character. She seemed shy and very conscious of her eye defect. After being taken over she still retained this but there were some genuinely scary moments as she appeared, screamed or grabbed at Bill.
It was another creature defeated by love but on this occasion at least it made more sense. Heather was being driven by her burgeoning feelings for Bill.

Capaldi was good throughout the episode, switching from gravitas to levity when required. It is a real shame he will be moving on.

I continue to find Matt Lucas less annoying than I expected. He is used sparingly, so is pretty much a non factor in the stories so far.

I missed the Movellans first time I watched it (how can I miss that hair?), it's a nice moment of continuity and nice to see the Daleks not just engaged with humans or time lords.
Although just to be picky why are androids screaming? the last time we saw them they just sort of crumpled but I guess times move on.

There were some negatives.
I've never been a big fan of the new series music. It is too heavy handed for my liking, with the "cry now symphony in B minor" and the "action is occurring concerto".
This episode was particularly bad, there never seemed to be a moment without music and it was very intrusive.

The brief series trailer is always a highlight and I am looking forward to what is in store, especially the Cyber-Mondasians.

So good start gonna give it 7 puddles of undetermined origin out of 10

Okay, so I've just finished watch THE PILOT and I have to say that I've seen worse DOCTOR WHO serials in New Who... and Classic Who. However, I've also seen much, much better. At least for once they didn't try to cram too much into such a short period of time.

3/5.

I didn't like any part of it for me it was dull and boring nothing really happened its only purpose was to drive home the point that bill is gay and that it there really wasn't a good who story to set up the series so it was just filler,not the way for a pilot ep to set up the journey.

It wasn't a pilot episode. It was simply called THE PILOT.

However, it was definitely a bit on the underwhelming side.

@hardseasailor said:

I didn't like any part of it for me it was dull and boring nothing really happened its only purpose was to drive home the point that bill is gay and that it there really wasn't a good who story to set up the series so it was just filler,not the way for a pilot ep to set up the journey.

I suppose you are right in that it didn't really do much to launch a story arc, but I think the main purpose was to introduce Bill, much like in Rose.

I didn't personally think that Bill being gay was driven home that much, if Heather had been Heath would the episode be driving home the point she was straight?

I don't know how they will handle her sexuality, as far as I can remember in the new series it has always been clear what a companions preference was.
They either had a partner (Rose, Clara, Donna (well she was getting married), Amy, Rory) and/or showed interest in the Doctor (Rose, Clara, Martha, Captain Jack).

As for the classic series, I don't actually know if Polly, Ben, Nyssa or Teegan were gay, they could have been. The situation for them to express their preference never came up.
Perhaps it will never really be part of the story again.

@ant-mac wrote: At least for once they didn't try to cram too much into such a short period of time.

Yes, it didn't feel too rushed in the final 1/3 which many new episodes do.

Just some thoughts.

It was quite enjoyable, a love story with a sad ending, and maybe hope?

I liked the fact that any one who has never seen a Doctor Who episode, could watch and learn through the eyes of Bill all about the Doctor and the TARDIS.

The talk between The Doctor and Bill in the first 5 minutes was fast and witty. It described Bill's character in a concise and direct way. She is intelligent and curious, a fast and inquisitive learner. She is critical, quick on her feet, adlibs with ease, which often hides her insecurity.

I loved seeing the actress Stephany Hyam (Heather) again. She played Jane in another Moffat's TV series "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (2016)".

Nardole (Matt Lucas) is the light comic relief, his sense of humour is reminiscent of his BBC TV show "Little Britain".

Pictures and memories play an important role. the Doctor has two pictures of loved ones: River Song and his grand daughter Susan Foreman. Bill gets a box of photographs of her mom (a Christmas present from the Doctor, photos he had taken with his camera).

"But if someone is gone, do pictures really help?"

The Doctor fails with his mind swipe of Bill.

"You can keep your memories."

"Lizards in people's brains."

Was that a reference to Vastra, a Silurian, who is married to Jenny Flint?

The bathtub scene reminded me of something similar in the movie "Dark Waters (2005)".

The origin of the Movellan is still up in the air.

It's sad that Heather just wanted to leave, something so many people say, but not really mean, when they are depressed and lonely, and she died, eaten by some superintelligent, shape shifting fluid. Has Bill lost her forever?

"Will we see her again?"

"It's a big universe and maybe one day we will find them."

I really enjoyed the episode, was surprised at how good Bill was. Had my doubts about her.

@cloister56 said:

Just wondered what everyone's thoughts were on the first episode of series 10.

I really enjoyed the episode, which was a bit of a surprise because I'm one of the people who've been growing dissatisfied with the Moffat era. I won't go into the reasons why here, I'll save them for a more general discussion about the Moffat era.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed the episode is that it felt like a fresh start. A brand new companion opens up new possibilities and even though it's the same Doctor, he seemed a bit different to me.

Steven Moffat has stated that the episode was designed as a jumping on point for new viewers. I'm not a new viewer and I can't speak for how successful the episode was in that regard. Did new viewers find the episode boring and slow or did they find it far too fast paced and baffling ?

It worked well for me and I liked Bill's extended reaction to the TARDIS - "Is it a knock-through ?" "It's like a kitchen." etc. It must be a challenge for a writer to come up with a new variation of "It's bigger on the inside."

I'm liking Bill so far. She seems more like a Classic Who companion which I like. But it's early days and she may well turn out to be a typical New Who style companion who's destinied to save the Earth/Galaxy/absolutely everything in the whole of Time and Space by the end of the series.

There are some dangling story threads which I'm hopeful will be addressed later (you never know with Moffat, sometimes he's given me all the info that he's going to and I'm just too thick to put it all together.) So, dangling story threads :-

Firstly Why is the Doctor "in disguise" ?

Secondly What doesn't he do anymore ? ( I can probably make a guess on that one) And who did he make the promise to ?

Thirdly Nardole seems to be part robot now. I don't think he was before. Is there going to be further explanation on that ?

Fourthly Was the space oil creature a one-off character or will it be making a reappearance ?

Fifthly What is in the mysterious vault in the basement ? I'm not sure if the Doctor is trying to access the vault or making regular checks to ensure that it remains locked.

That's it for now. I guess I'll have more to say in the episode 2 thread.

@JollyDee wrote:
Firstly Why is the Doctor "in disguise" ?

Yes it's very similar to Professor Chronotis in "Shada", especially the reference to him being on campus for a very long time.

@JollyDee wrote:
Thirdly Nardole seems to be part robot now. I don't think he was before. Is there going to be further explanation on that ?

I think as the Doctor had to rebuild him a body he probably is mostly robotic apart from his head.

@JollyDee wrote:
Fifthly What is in the mysterious vault in the basement ? I'm not sure if the Doctor is trying to access the vault or making regular checks to ensure that it remains locked.

I got the impression he was trying to protect it and prevent it from being opened, though I could be wrong. I imagine by the end of this series it will be opened, probably Bill being to curious.