This is the point of view of someone who has no experience with classic/pre-Eccleston era Doctor.

Honestly, that was one of, if not, the greatest episodes of Doctor Who I have ever seen. The most wondrous compilations of everything I love about the damn show. Every single actor was above par, all of their character in the finest form. The only thing I might criticize is Rory’s portrayal in his manic scenes, losing Amy again and again for longer and longer, as almost a bad guy, when, in reality, he wouldn’t have reacted as homicidally as he did, because of how true their love is. It could also be said that House was doing that to creep Amy and the audience out, not because it would actually happen. So, everything was wonderful. The character’s portrayed all their best traits astoundingly, and made their worst effective and powerful. The Tardis’ portrayal was as I would have loved her to, and fit in with the Doctor beautifully. The emotional, serious Doctor, the hilariously clever Doctor, the angry Doctor, the snarky Doctor, and the overconfident Doctor were all there and raring to go this episode, and his all those character traits were amazingly fluid and balanced. Matt Smith was on fire this time.The story’s one-time-ness is original and unrepeatable. The effects were strong, the cool sequences were either trippy or bursting with atmosphere or gusto, the whole episode was beautiful, and I nearly cried at the end and how much I loved the Doctor and the T.A.R.D.I.S talking and flirting, and how amazing the concept that episode was the only time something like that could happen. It was just amazing. Seriously, in my five favorite episodes of all time. Even “Blink” did not affect me as well as this one.

What a wonderful episode.