The Hungry Earth. A tasty Hors d'œuvre?

Let's find out what you think..........

Kate Griffiths: I have just finished watching The Hungry Earth and for the most part enjoyed it. It's nice to have the Silurians back 40 years since their first apperance. A new upadated look too. Although to me they look too human like and not reptile enough. There was a good atmosphere to the story, the spooky church and no-one in no-one out barrier (just like the Daemons).

The Doctors attitude towards them has changed he didn't negotiate as much as he did before, but then again a lot has happened to him since the first meeting i.e loosing his entire planet and race. The idea that the humans were being taken from the graves from under the ground was a good concept, and added to the atmosphere. Also when Amy came round the first time in that glass coffin was horrible. It is a well worked return of the Silurians and I'm happy to see them back.

John Howe: I like a two parter. There's that much more time time to develop the characters, storyline and tension. The pace is slower but that's not such a bad thing because you're able to relax into the story and really take it all in.

The Hungry Earth kicked off the latest 2 parter with both ease and style. I have to say that I'm a huge fan of Chris Chibnall. I loved 42 and also thought his 2nd series Torchwood finale Fragments and Exit Wounds was sublime so I was expecting great things and was not disappointed. Here he gives us a re-invention of one of the Doctor's oldest enemies, The Silurians. Good job too! They were long overdue a return and the new warrior look is wonderful. I also liked the sinister vivisectionist Scientist complete with medical face mask. Poor Amy! Not much for Karen Gillan to do this week except get sucked into the ground and wear the smallest shorts in history. Both of which she did to perfection I might add!

It felt at times like a bit of a cross between Frontios and the Daemons. We had the Earth eating people and also the small village trapped by an invisible energy barrier. Still, what a pedigree choice to base elements of your story on. Matt Smith breezed through the script once again like he has been doing this job for years with yet another effortless performance. The supporting cast also were on great form and because there were so few characters in addition to the graveyard/church setting there was a real sense of claustrophobia to the episode leading up to the epic climax, (I love a cliffhanger) of the Silurian civilisation beneath the ground preparing for war against the Humans. Great stuff!!

Steve Murphy: For me there has been a general upswing in the episodes over the last three weeks. "The Vampires Of Venice" was okay if still a little irritating, "Amy's Choice" was, I thought, brilliantly written and an excellent pacy story, and now "The Hungry Earth" has carried that trend on. Rory is proving to be an interesting companion, and performances generally are improving, although I still find Matt Smith's diction a little off at times; that's modern acting - just something that has to be put up with!

This episode had many resonances for older fans; "Inferno" was obviously in there, as was "The Daemons" (the invisible barrier), and obviously all the other "Silurian" stories. At times it was getting uncomfortably close to the first Jon Pertwee Silurian adventure, and I found myself wondering whether The Doctor actually remembers anything after his regenerations!! Come on man - you know how efforts to broker peace deals end here!!!

All in all though a very good story, well performed and written, and with the correct amount of pace, which hasn't always been the case this season. I'm really looking forward to "Cold Blood" next week.