Well considering it hasn't even aired this side of planet yet, I'd say spoilers are a no go. So while I avoided most of it, there are still a few things I glanced in your post I wish I hadn't. So Spoiler Tags please.

Given he's supposed to be like my favorite Doctor, Colin Baker, and his stories weren't that good over all, this is to be expected I'll probably go see the theater airing Monday evening, as I'll have to pay for the episode to see it anyway as I don't get BBC America.

It took forever to get going, but once they got in the restaurant I really enjoyed it. It definitely didn't need to be 80 minutes, though. Some scenes dragged on and on, and it felt like Moffat was really pleased with himself for doing a mediocre job.

This episode really was the best and worst of Moffat. Some very funny lines ("Nothing is more important than my egomania!") and at least one clever twist (the Impossible Girl newspaper thing was great) but then there were things he kept driving into the ground. How many times did Jenny and Vastra bring up that they were married? Like, we get it, it's super cool that you have a lesbian relationship on your show. Those characters can talk about other things besides being married.

I really liked Clara in this episode, more than I've liked her in the past. I thought Capaldi was terrible for a while, but he's growing on me. I honestly think that the writing is still in Eleven-mode, and Moffat & co. need to catch up to what Capaldi is doing. Once that happens I'll probably enjoy Twelve more.

I'm just amused given how positive all the early reviews were. I saw some site rating the first episode of every Doctor, and this was was the best. As for jumping the shark, remember which series this is. it has gone over and under countless sharks, yet always manages to find another motorcycle we want to see it ride.

In fact, the whole 13 regeneration thing was invented simply so they could have a story where The Master looked like an undead monster because he had used up his regenerations. Actually, thinking about it, that may have just mentioned a limit, with the number 13 coming from a 5th doctor episode where he's asked to give up all his remaining regenerations to save a group of people (one regeneration per individual).

Remember, this kind of thing is thrown in by each writer with no concern given to how it will effect the show in the future