...well, at least in the third act. The beginning starts off rather exciting when an oversized T-Rex appears in 1800s London and spits out the TARDIS. But after that things slow way down as Moffat takes his time to flesh out Peter Capaldi's 12th Doctor. To a large degree it does help us get to know this new Doctor better but it does tend to drag a little. He does a lot of sleeping (somewhat similar to Tennant's introduction actually) while Vastra and Jenny help Clara come to terms with the Doctor's regeneration, somewhat pointedly.
The second act for the most part is the Doctor, escaped from his bedroom, unintentionally terrorizing the homeless as he investigates a series of murders reminiscent of the dinosaur's complete incineration. While there is some humor, the Doctor's aberrant behavior is a bit unnerving, but we are treated to some good scenes with Vastra and company. So while the first two acts are a bit slow they still work as a whole.
The third act is when things pick up. Clara and the Doctor reunite having received a mysterious invitation to a restaurant which is actually a front for an alien ship harvesting human (and apparently dinosaur) organs in an attempt to repair itself. So the plot is a bit rehashed from season two, but the atmosphere of this episode, along with the brilliant direction, give the episode a different tone entirely. And the confrontation with the clockwork droids is hauntingly beautiful, suspenseful, and chilling, with a bit of well directed action mixed in as well. So whether you like Capaldi's Doctor or not, it is still a strongly crafted episode and definitely sets the darker tone that inhabits Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor. 9/10
The second act for the most part is the Doctor, escaped from his bedroom, unintentionally terrorizing the homeless as he investigates a series of murders reminiscent of the dinosaur's complete incineration. While there is some humor, the Doctor's aberrant behavior is a bit unnerving, but we are treated to some good scenes with Vastra and company. So while the first two acts are a bit slow they still work as a whole.
The third act is when things pick up. Clara and the Doctor reunite having received a mysterious invitation to a restaurant which is actually a front for an alien ship harvesting human (and apparently dinosaur) organs in an attempt to repair itself. So the plot is a bit rehashed from season two, but the atmosphere of this episode, along with the brilliant direction, give the episode a different tone entirely. And the confrontation with the clockwork droids is hauntingly beautiful, suspenseful, and chilling, with a bit of well directed action mixed in as well. So whether you like Capaldi's Doctor or not, it is still a strongly crafted episode and definitely sets the darker tone that inhabits Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor. 9/10