 Critics ' opinions regarding the episode were generally mixed . The premise of the episode — the moral dilemma the Doctor faces , and Donna 's insistence that he save a family from Pompeii — were widely praised . However , the episode 's writing was criticised , in particular , for the characterisation of the supporting cast : The dialogue was described as " one @-@ dimensional " and Peter Capaldi and Phil Davis 's dialogue as " whimpering and scowling " . 
