rings rings seventh episode seventh series british science fiction drama doctor broadcast bbc april written directed episode alien time traveller doctor takes new companion jenna rings planets revolve larger attend religious festival young queen years sacrificed determined save merry doctor come face face parasite requires memories stories items sentimental value cross asked write episode success scripting shooting hide later episode rings trip alien world intended wonders universe instead doctor getting new companion trapped glamorous trend observed history programme episode explores backstory filmed entirely studio late october pre utilised different aliens save money rings watched million viewers received mixed reception emotion plot plot synopsis following events bells saint john encountered version doctor decides learn new companion travels past observe finds parents met chance encounter caused gust wind blowing leaf father face discovers mother died teenager doctor goes present collects takes rings observe series planet shining pyramid doctor takes giant alien marketplace introduces aliens including merchant named attempts rent space bike market use hard currency trades items sentimental value believes sentimental items given away separated doctor encounters little girl appears running hiding catches explains queen years merry tells hiding supposed sing song ceremony afraid wrong telling mother said merry heads ceremony doctor attend ceremony doctor explains rings settled constant song sung angry god asleep people fear god grandfather consume entire universe song interrupted merry begins singing joined pyramid song glass case pyramid begins merry believing got song wrong beam light pyramid pulled pyramid doctor find rent space bike mother ring payment ride bike pyramid find struggling escape case consume merry soul doctor promises merry sacrifice stop grandfather attempt leave group creatures called arrive attempt force merry sacrifice doctor holds bay long let merry escape throne room case breaks free ray light strikes planet revealing grandfather planet sized parasitic creature merry flee ceremony doctor faces creature realising feeds memories stories feelings tries offering sum total time lord memories merry leads citizens song hope confusing disappears doctor memories creature reappears returns help offers leaf blew father face day met mother contains infinite potential mother saw died early overwhelmed infinite potential consumed rings saved doctor returns home day left gives mother ring telling creatures saved wanted suddenly remembers seeing doctor mother funeral asks tells reminds died replacement assures replacement leaves moment gone doctor expression grim closes tardis door left continuity bells saint john doctor finds preserved leaf pressed pages book places refers page opening scene rings explains statement showing involving leaf led parents meeting doctor mentions visited long ago granddaughter reference doctor granddaughter companion travelled doctor production writer doctor fan time write episode executive producer new seventh series knew offered work schedule writing episode willing executive producer lead writer pleased cross join showrunner right cross written ninth episode series hide liked producers cross asked write rings hide completed filming jenna named rings favourites second half seventh series adventure allowed audience watch story begin concept having episode based alien planet occurred skinner producer realising big location pieces half series town called mercy angels manhattan second half decided story set world created studios feel having doctor promise wonders companions trapped underground tunnel episode designed allow doctor actually new companion wonders promised production team aimed best alien planet doctor episode originally different pre credits sequence consisted long scene kitchen informs doctor come travel doctor responsibilities job boy takes care asks doctor boyfriend cross intent mundane scene vast scale planet thought time series doctor investigating parents cross revised include leaf idea approved originally resolution doctor defeating planet speech cross likened facing old gods alien alien practically supernatural pointed doctor given similar speeches interested saving day thinking cross realised incorporate leaf solution read rings held october filming beginning week october director previously worked programme christmas special doctor widow wardrobe according prosthetic aliens scene set alien market doctor features act smith busy filming pick ups nightmare silver remarked wanted scene like star wars worked different spare time case future making thirty different aliens time budget episode constructed talks created limited resources example cross recalled producer called asked wanted bike like return know story cross felt bike ended having common songs written composer help establish year beginning episode ghost town specials heard doctor seen reading copy issue reprinted included special doctor themed edition broadcast reception rings broadcast united_kingdom bbc april overnight ratings showed watched million viewers live audience share time shifted viewers final rating rose million making sixth watched programme week bbc addition rings received million requests online april coming month service episode received appreciation index critical reception episode received mixed reviews independent called heart warming felt episode child adds praised aesthetics caring nature character zap2it shared similar sentiments praised performance likened storytelling era guardian reviewer described story slight straightforward told broad effective strokes gorgeous visuals particularly praised emotional effectiveness ending felt visually impressive little bit build ign gave rings rating wrote felt like fully formed world criticised resolution appearance daily_telegraph gave episode half stars called mixed bag elements demonstrate years like doctor television wrote religion singing realised felt mind parasite similar featured previous week thought aliens gave hint trying hard things best starts digital_spy reviewer praised monsters felt good build episode fell apart climax felt far sfx reviewer negative giving episode stars felt story lot interesting ideas standard criticised use sonic doctor monologue felt recently said episode saved radio_times disappointed saying amounts little series events premise usual questioned physics noted ending surprisingly found smith usual performance doctor magazine reviewer reacted negatively writing wasn wet eye house run claimed stretch awesome doctor encountered long time claimed like cross hadn seen episode 1980s mention time war feels come quick consult additionally felt complained turning aliens freak truly met cross acknowledged rings received mixed reception originally bothered criticisms said children ages experienced bullying wrote saying inspired episode girl told changed mind suicide
The Rings of Akhaten