For fellow Doctor Who fans. I'm looking for suggestions!
What do you see as the pivotal episodes in this series as far as the Amy Pond / Doctor story ark? The BluRay set is to much for my wallet right now. So I am thinking of getting the most important episodes from iTunes.
One star (*) represents the most pivotal episodes I can remember as far as the continuing story ark. Two star(s) (**) are episodes I remember enjoying quite a bit, but not necessarily important to the over all story ark. No stars, I have no memory.
Doctor Who Series 5
The Eleventh Hour * The Beast Below Victory of the Daleks ** The Time of Angels * Flesh and Stone * The Vampires of Venice ** Amy's Choice The Hungry Earth Cold Blood Vincent and the Doctor ** The Lodger The Pandorica Opens* The Big Bang *
One of my slight annoyances with The Moff era is that everything is so tightly knit and interconnected, clearly designed not only to keep the avid viewer on the lookout, but also I think to alienate the occasional fan...of course every Show Runner wants people to watch EVRY SINGLE DAMN episode of his show, but generally you can miss one here and there and catch up...not so with The Moff - even just a tiny line or scene ("Run, Run You Clever Man" or whatever it was, for example) can have major relevance later on. It's genius, but flawed genius...
I think you have the list quite nicely prioritised...you will miss other bits out (Elizabeth and the crack in The Beast Below, for example), but if you're OK with missing bits here and there for the sake of the wider Amy stuff then I think you should do well with your list.
The Beast was the one I was on the fence with actually. You are completely right. The brilliance or fault of the series is how intertwined many little plot details weave through out each episode. There are stand alone episodes for sure, but as you pointed out, there's usually an "Easter egg" somewhere in the story.
I know someone whom is a casual fan and is trying to catch up and she is lost. Especially since I don't believe BBC America replays them in any kind of chronicle order. Heck I'm a fairly new fan, (Been watching since series 3) and a lot of references from older episodes (going back 40 years) goes over my head too. It's very frustrating at times.
The Beast was the one I was on the fence with actually. You are completely right. The brilliance or fault of the series is how intertwined many little plot details weave through out each episode. There are stand alone episodes for sure, but as you pointed out, there's usually an "Easter egg" somewhere in the story.
I know someone whom is a casual fan and is trying to catch up and she is lost. Especially since I don't believe BBC America replays them in any kind of chronicle order. Heck I'm a fairly new fan, (Been watching since series 3) and a lot of references from older episodes (going back 40 years) goes over my head too. It's very frustrating at times.
I'm sure there are some that go over my head too, and I've been a fan for 30 years! ...most of the references that The Moff and RTD make though could be covered in perhaps a dozen or so "Original Series" stories...not to mention the odd episode here and there for vital plot points...
Basically you have it right, except you need to put five more stars next to Vincent and the Doctor, to denote how good it is
Yes, I agree with you there. The ending was extremely emotional too.
I just realized I missed a very important plot element. According to Wiki Rory was killed then sucked into the crack in the episode Cold Blood. Amy was of course very distraught, then if I remember correctly forgot he ever existed. When did Rory re-appear? Was it when he was a Roman soldier in The Pandorica Opens?
Good grief - yes, of course....he re-appears as an Auton, which I don't think is ever actually resolved? Or maybe I just forgot... in The Pandorica Opens...
...most of the references that The Moff and RTD make though could be covered in perhaps a dozen or so "Original Series" stories...not to mention the odd episode here and there for vital plot points... 
