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A witty, engaging and very original episode that was a big improvement on last week. Not outstanding, but one of the best of the new season.

This episode begins with one of the longest introductions before the title credits I can recall. The Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves switching between two realities each time they nod off at the sound of birdsong. The Doctor warns them that this looks like it could be a tricky one and them smiles as if he relishes the challenge.

Eventually the Doctor figures out that someone is controlling what's happening. The Dream Lord appears and explains that they are switching between reality and a dream and they have to figure out which is which. Further, they will face a deadly danger in each one. Die in the dream and they'll wake in reality. Die in reality and they'll die. But which is which?

The pace of the episode is good as the Doctor eventually saves the day (of course). Along the way the Doctor's character is examined and Amy has to choose between the Doctor and Rory. It all ends well as Amy realises how much she loves Rory.

There's some superb jokes throughout. The running joke (pun intended) about all the running. Elizabeth I, vegetarianism, ...

Some great questions arise from this episode. One: what is the point of this episode? At one level, it's about Amy's Choice between the Doctor and Rory. But this ignores the insight into and criticism of the Doctor's character and way of life. In the first dream sequence, the Doctor says he's dropped in to see them and that he never abandons his friends. This is not true of course, eg. Sarah's complaints in School Reunion. Amy says he's arrived by mistake and the Doctor concurs.

Rory complains: "This is so you. 14 minutes left, something we've never seen before and only one man who can save us." The Doctor's life is always like this and not everyone enjoys it. The Doctor says, “I know who you are. There’s only one person in the universe who hates me as much as you do.” You're tempted to think "The Master", but when the Doctor reveals at the end that the Dream Lord is himself, then you realise the Doctor is saying this of himself. A bit too much self-loathing, even for Freud. And finally Amy questions his very existence, "What's the point of you?", when he can't save Rory.

Question Two: who is the Dream Lord? Was he really the dark side of the Doctor (a-la the Valeyard)? It's true at face value and that's what the Doctor says, but for mine, there's some doubt. It's a bit too neat. And why did the Doctor see the Dream Lord in place of his own reflection on the TARDIS console at the very end?

One final note: no mention that I could see of the series motif: the cracks.