[Ben Dawson]

I think it resolved things very nicely, being confusing, but making sense if you pay attention. As far as pay off goes, I don't agree with RV on this one. American TV has kinda taught us to expect the pay off to be one great big moment near the end of the series finale, this is always what RTD attempted to do. What I think was clever here is that Steven Mofatt didn't do that. In my opinion, the entire episode was the pay off, without everything being resolved right at the end, the episode focussed on resolving things gradually. And too right, the episode was already as massive head fuck, for it all just to be resolved in one final blow (please note that when I say "head fuck", I mean that in the greatest and most beautiful way possible).

I really liked that the first episode of the series essentially set up a 2 season story arc (as Ronnie previously stated), now that is an idea I think is pretty original. And what's more, the series finale kinda worked to refresh my palette as well. The story goes on, but this huge threat is over, at least for now.

What I found was that I really liked the Doctor in that tuxedo, I reckon it works better on him than his usual garments. Now apparently Matt Smith is getting a costume change, so although it is unlikely, could this be the Doctors new look?

However, there is one thing I noticed. As the cracks in time no longer existed, stories which relied on the crack as a way to resolve the story (Time of the Angels/ Flesh and Stone) would have to resolve differently. Unless this whole crack in time business resulted in an alternate timeline where the crack existed, and River re-encounters the Doctor again within that time line. This is one loose thread which bugs me, and I'm trying to work out. However, the rest of the story tied up the series very nicely, so I've still got to say it was a brilliant episode. I just can't figure out how River Song fits into things now.