History YMMV / DoctorWhoS35E4BeforeTheFlood

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, "The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. From there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.
* TheUntwist: Because of previous InUniverse fangirl deaths, O'Donnell's death was pretty easy to see coming. The twist is the Doctor's rationale for letting it happen.

* InternetBackdraft: Those opposed to the Doctor-Clara romantic relationship were not happy to see this episode loaded to the gills with ship tease, and were doubly not happy to see the Doctor betray his principles to try and save her (and not for the last time this season, either).

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, [[spoiler: "The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. From there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, [{spoiler: "The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. From there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, "The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. From there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: The Doctor deliberately allows O'Donnell to die simply to test a theory. He then decides to intervene after realising Clara will die next and notes that he will change time to do it. He then causes a StableTimeLoop to make sure O'Donnell and everyone else who died stays dead. Apparently they don't count since they are not Clara.

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, [[spoiler:"The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. From there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.]]

* InternetBackdraft: Those opposed to the Doctor-Clara romantic relationship were not happy to see this episode loaded to the gills with ship tease (see below), and were doubly not happy to see the Doctor betray his principles to try and save her (and not for the last time this season, either).
* ShipTease: Clara challenges the Doctor to prove he loves her by avoiding his death (using the actual word "love" in this context), after she states that he's become essential to her. This, combined with the ship-teasy moments of Part 1, and the Doctor's statement "I'm changing history to save Clara", are considered prime examples of the (WordOfGod-supported) ship between the Doctor and Clara kicking into high gear. In a more YMMV vein, the Doctor's morning breath joke, aimed at Clara, is also seen as being a somewhat intimate gag for two people who were "just friends".

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, "The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. From there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.

* AntiClimaxBoss: Despite being built up as a huge threat, the Fisher King doesn't do that much other kill O'Donnell off screen. He exchanges words with the Doctor, leaves the room and gets hit with a flood. The ghosts stay the main threat.

* InternetBackdraft: O'Donnell's death. She is the latest InUniverse fangirl of the Doctor to meet her death: after Lorna Bucket and Osgood. This is especially since the Doctor could've done a lot more to try and prevent it, and later refuses to allow someone else to prevent it.
** Those opposed to the Doctor-Clara romantic relationship were not happy to see this episode loaded to the gills with ship tease (see below), and were doubly not happy to see the Doctor betray his principles to try and save her (and not for the last time this season, either).

** Those opposed to the Doctor-Clara romantic relationship were not happy to see this episode loaded to the gills with ship tease (see below), and were doubly not happy to see the Doctor betray his principles to try and save her.

* ShipTease: Clara challenges the Doctor to prove he loves her by avoiding his death (using the actual word "love" in this context), after she states that he's become essential to her. This, combined with the ship-teasy moments of Part 1, and the Doctor's statement "I'm changing history to save Clara", are considered prime examples of the (WordOfGod-supported) ship between the Doctor and Clara kicking into high gear.

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* InternetBackdraft: O'Donnell's death. She is the latest InUniverse fangirl of the Doctor to meet her death: after Lorna Bucket and Osgood. Tis is especially since the Doctor could've done a lot more to try and prevent it, and later refuses to allow someone else to prevent it.

* AntiClimaxBoss: Despite being built up as a huge threat, the Fisher King doesn't actually do that much, with the ghosts being the main threat.

* HarsherInHindsight: The Doctor's KirkSummation to the Fisher King, accusing him of breaking the rules of life and death, becomes this after the events of the next episode, "The Girl Who Died" -- in which ''the Doctor'' isn't willing to let innocent Ashildr die and the only way he can save her involves robbing her of ''her'' death. And from there, the stage is set for a SeasonFinale in which he undergoes an out-and-out SanitySlippage upon Clara's final death, which temporarily turns him into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds who is willing to risk ''the entire universe'' to bring her back from the grave.
* InternetBackdraft: O'Donnell's death. She is the latest InUniverse fangirl of the Doctor to meet her death: after Lorna Bucket and Osgood. Especially since the Doctor could've done a lot more to try and prevent it.
* TheUntwist: Because of said previous deaths, O'Donnell's death was pretty easy to see coming. The twist is the Doctor's rationale for letting it happen.

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* RelationshipUpgrade: Fans who ship the Doctor and Clara point to this episode as the true start of the road that leads to Hell Bent, in particular Clara's unexpected outburst "If you love me in any way, you'll come back".

* ViewersAreMorons: The episode feels the need to explain to the audience in great detail what a "bootstrap paradox" is, after five years of Steven Moffat relying heavily on the trope.

* TheUntwist: Because of said previous deaths, O'Donnell's death was pretty easy to see coming.

* TheUntwist: Because of said previous deaths, O'Donnell's death was pretty easy to see coming.

** TheUntwist: Because of said previous deaths, it was pretty easy to see coming.

* InternetBackdraft: O'Donnell's death. She is the latest InUniverse fangirl of the Doctor to meet her death: after Lorna Bucket and Osgood. Especially since the Doctor could've done a lot more to try and prevent it.