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{{ImageLinkTV}} | {{ImageLinkTV}} | ||
{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = CAL.jpg | |image = CAL.jpg | ||
|series = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]] | |series = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]] | ||
|season number = Series 4 (Doctor Who) | |season number = Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005) | ||
|series episode number = 9 | |series episode number = 9 | ||
|story number = 195b | |story number = 195b | ||
|scripturl = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/doctor-who-4-episode-9-forest-of-the-dead-green-revisions-03022008.pdf | |||
|doctor = Tenth Doctor | |doctor = Tenth Doctor | ||
|companions = [[Donna Noble|Donna]] | |companions = [[Donna Noble|Donna]] | ||
|featuring = | |featuring = River Song{{!}}River | ||
|featuring2 = Charlotte Lux | |||
|enemy = [[Vashta Nerada]] | |enemy = [[Vashta Nerada]] | ||
|setting = [[The Library]], [[51st century]] | |setting = [[The Library]], [[51st century]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = Steven Moffat | ||
|director = [[Euros Lyn]] | |director = [[Euros Lyn]] | ||
|producer = [[Phil Collinson]] | |producer = [[Phil Collinson]] | ||
|confidential = River Runs Deep (CON episode) | |confidential = River Runs Deep (CON episode) | ||
|broadcast date = | |broadcast date = 7 June 2008 | ||
|network = | |network = BBC One | ||
|format = 1x45 minute episode | |format = 1x45 minute episode;<br/>Part 2 of 2 | ||
|production code = 4.10 | |production code = 4.10 | ||
|prev = Silence in the Library (TV story) | |prev = Silence in the Library (TV story) | ||
| Line 27: | Line 29: | ||
|clip = "River, You Know My Name..." Forest of the Dead Doctor Who | |clip = "River, You Know My Name..." Forest of the Dead Doctor Who | ||
|clip2 = Everybody lives? - Doctor Who - BBC | |clip2 = Everybody lives? - Doctor Who - BBC | ||
}} | |epcount=1|thwr=107}} | ||
'''''Forest of the Dead''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|series 4]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | '''''Forest of the Dead''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 4]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | ||
Its major impact on the mythos of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was its depiction of the death of [[River Song]]. This narrative end point would be respected in future series that told River Song's out-of-sequence story. | Its major impact on the mythos of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was its depiction of the death of [[River Song]]. This narrative end point would be respected in future series that told River Song's out-of-sequence story. | ||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
[[Donna Noble|Donna]] is gone, the [[Vashta Nerada]] are out for fresh meat and the [[Tenth Doctor]] is running out of options. Can he trust the mysterious [[Professor]] [[River Song]], a woman who claims to be from his future? Why would his [[Twelfth Doctor|future self]] have given her his [[sonic screwdriver]], or tell her [[ | [[Donna Noble|Donna]] is gone, the [[Vashta Nerada]] are out for fresh meat and the [[Tenth Doctor]] is running out of options. Can he trust the mysterious [[Professor]] [[River Song]], a woman who claims to be from his future? Why would his [[Twelfth Doctor|future self]] have given her his [[sonic screwdriver]], or tell her [[Aliases of the Doctor|his real name]]? Even if they do work together, can anyone stop the shadows from claiming them all as their next meal? | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
[[River Song]] uses her [[sonic blaster]] to create a hole in the wall. The [[Tenth Doctor]] and the others escape the [[Vashta Nerada]]-possessed [[Proper Dave]] down a corridor. | [[River Song]] uses her [[sonic blaster]] to create a hole in the wall. The [[Tenth Doctor]] and the others escape the [[Vashta Nerada]]-possessed [[Proper Dave]] down a corridor. | ||
These events are watched on [[television]] by the [[Charlotte Lux|girl]]. She switches channels to one showing [[Donna Noble|Donna]] being taken out of the [[ambulance]] on a stretcher. Donna wakes up in a facility being treated by [[Doctor Moon]]. When she tries to remember reality, Doctor Moon quietly tells her that she has been in this facility being treated by him for years. She accepts the reality he presents to her. The way time progresses in her virtual world seems to be led by her thoughts; Doctor Moon suggests she walks by the river and she suddenly appears at the river. She occasionally finds this odd but is reassured by Doctor Moon. He introduces her to another resident named [[Lee McAvoy|Lee]], who has a stammer. Before she knows it, she is married to her ideal man, and they have two children. | These events are watched on [[television]] by the [[Charlotte Lux|girl]]. She switches channels to one showing [[Donna Noble|Donna]] being taken out of the [[ambulance]] on a stretcher. Donna wakes up in a facility being treated by [[Doctor Moon]]. When she tries to remember reality, Doctor Moon quietly tells her that she has been in this facility being treated by him for years. She accepts the reality he presents to her. The way time progresses in her virtual world seems to be led by her thoughts; Doctor Moon suggests she walks by the river and she suddenly appears at the river. She occasionally finds this odd but is reassured by Doctor Moon. He introduces her to another resident named [[Lee McAvoy|Lee]], who has a stammer. Before she knows it, she is married to her ideal man, and they have two children, twins [[Joshua (Forest of the Dead)|Joshua]] and [[Ella (Forest of the Dead)|Ella]]. | ||
She is contacted by a hooded figure, who tells her the world is not real. They arrange to meet in a playground. The figure reveals herself to be [[Miss Evangelista]], whose [[consciousness]] was copied when she was killed. In this reality, however, she has become much more intelligent. She again warns Donna that the world is not real. Donna is stubborn and sceptical, but to her horror, she sees that all the children in the playground – including hers – are identical. | Meanwhile, the others in the Library have been on the run from the Vashta Nerada. The Doctor and River Song argue as he demands to know who she is and where she got her [[River Song's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] from. He isn't sure he can trust her, but she assures him that someday she'll be someone he trusts completely. However as she can't wait for him to learn that, she says she can prove it now and apologises before whispering something in his [[ear]]. He is stunned, and when she asks him if they're OK now, he nods in response, seeming to now trust that she's telling the truth. Unfortunately, [[Anita (Silence in the Library)|Anita]] now has two shadows. She remains brave in the face of her impending death, as the Doctor darkens her visor in the hopes that it might trick the Vashta Nerada into thinking they have already infiltrated it. They then realise that "Proper Dave" has caught up with them again, and they flee. The Doctor stops to try to reason with the Vashta Nerada. River tells [[Other Dave]] to stay behind to help the Doctor, who teaches the Vashta Nerada to use the suit's communicator to speak to him. In doing so, he learns that the Vashta Nerada didn't travel to the Library but were brought there; they lived in the forests that were pulped to create all the [[book]]s, and then hatched after arriving. Other Dave, in the meantime, has also been killed by the Vashta Nerada, leaving the Doctor trapped between the two Daves. He escapes through a trap door hatch and sets off after the other three. | ||
Elsewhere, River Song tells Anita about the Doctor she knows. She has seen whole armies turn and run away from him in the future, and he can open [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] by snapping his fingers. The Doctor arrives and says that is impossible. As he returns his attention to the present, Anita asks him what River whispered in his ear earlier. She reminds him that she's about to die, and so his secret is "safe" with her. This prompts him to finally realise the significance of the oddly-worded "4022 saved" message. He figures out that the Library's [[computer]] hard drive – CAL – had detected the people in the Library were in danger from the Vashta Nerada and teleported them out, however it had nowhere to teleport them to. Instead, the computer stored the patterns on its hard drive... it literally "saved" all of the four thousand twenty-two people in the Library to its memory, and has done the same with Donna. | |||
In her virtual home, Donna is contacted by a hooded figure, who tells her the world is not real. They arrange to meet in a playground. The figure reveals herself to be [[Miss Evangelista]], whose [[consciousness]] was copied when she was killed. In this reality, however, her appearance is deformed but as a side effect she has become much more intelligent. She again warns Donna that the world is not real. Donna is stubborn and sceptical, but to her horror, she sees that all the children in the playground – including hers – are identical. | |||
This revelation drives the little girl into hysterics, making her [[Dad (Silence in the Library)|father]] and Doctor Moon disappear with her TV remote. [[The Library]] starts to enter a meltdown, and is set to explode. | This revelation drives the little girl into hysterics, making her [[Dad (Silence in the Library)|father]] and Doctor Moon disappear with her TV remote. [[The Library]] starts to enter a meltdown, and is set to explode. | ||
Later, when Donna takes her children home, the virtual world is bathed in red light, signifying the Library's incoming destruction. Donna cradles her two children together in fear, and orders them not to get out of her sight. Later, at bedtime, Ella asks if she and Joshua are real, and Donna tells her that they both are, even if they stop as soon as she closes her eyes. Donna promises to never closes her eyes again, but as soon as she goes to kiss Ella goodnight, both children are gone! | |||
Donna, shocked after witnessing her children vanishing, goes into hysterics and breaks down emotionally, sobbing at her children's empty beds. | |||
Back in the Library, the team travel to the core of the planet to the computer. The little girl is, in fact, the hard drive. She was [[Strackman Lux]]'s grandfather's youngest daughter, Charlotte Abigail Lux aka "CAL". She was dying of an incurable disease, so he made an imaginary world for her to live in and every [[book]] ever written for her to enjoy. He also gave her a "Doctor Moon" to watch over her, but the stress of having so many minds integrated into her own is causing her to overload. She has initiated the self-destruct and is about to destroy the planet. | |||
[[File:DOCTORWHOx409x2538.jpg|thumb|River meets her fate.]] | [[File:DOCTORWHOx409x2538.jpg|thumb|River meets her fate.]] | ||
| Line 57: | Line 63: | ||
River returns to find Anita dead, then knocks the Doctor unconscious. He wakes up, finding himself [[handcuffs|handcuffed]] to the wall. River has hooked her own mind up to the computer, planning to carry out the plan in his place. He tries desperately to persuade River to let him do this. He reminds her that she whispered his real name into his ear, which he could only tell someone for one reason... She refuses and sadly notes that during all the time they shared and will share together, he always knew this is where and when she dies. While he insists that the future can be changed, she tells him not to change one moment of what happens between them even though it leads to this and he will see her again. She links in when the countdown reaches zero and dies, as the Doctor looks on. | River returns to find Anita dead, then knocks the Doctor unconscious. He wakes up, finding himself [[handcuffs|handcuffed]] to the wall. River has hooked her own mind up to the computer, planning to carry out the plan in his place. He tries desperately to persuade River to let him do this. He reminds her that she whispered his real name into his ear, which he could only tell someone for one reason... She refuses and sadly notes that during all the time they shared and will share together, he always knew this is where and when she dies. While he insists that the future can be changed, she tells him not to change one moment of what happens between them even though it leads to this and he will see her again. She links in when the countdown reaches zero and dies, as the Doctor looks on. | ||
Donna and | Donna's virtual world is overtaken by a bright light, as Lee arrives and asks if he is real or was just created for her. Donna promises to find him in reality, as the light consumes them both. In the Library, the 4,022 people and Donna are all restored much to Lux's joy. However, at the core, the Doctor looks sadly at River's dead body only too aware of how much she will mean to him one day. | ||
Suddenly, the Doctor comes running back. He realises that since he knew River's fate all along, his future self would have had years to think of a way to save her. He knows that he wouldn't just give her a sonic screwdriver without a good reason. Opening it, he finds that it contains a hidden [[neural relay]]. As with the [[data ghost]]s, her consciousness has been saved there. However, it is fading. The Doctor takes River for "one last run", as he sprints back to the core. He uploads River's data ghost into the Library's computer, as the face of Charlotte looks on and smiles. River appears in a virtual reality created by Charlotte and is reunited with all of her team members for all eternity. The Doctor also fixes the data core so that Charlotte is no longer unstable and it's a good place for them to live. Laughing in surprise, River only says, "He just can't do it, can he? That man. That impossible man. He just can't give | The evacuation of the Library begins. Donna cannot find Lee, and she and the Doctor conclude that perhaps he never really existed at all. The real Lee sees Donna as he steps onto a teleport, but his stammer prevents him from calling out to her before he is teleported away. The Doctor and Donna briefly muse over River Song's diary, and Donna recalls how shocked River was when she mentioned her name and asks why she wasn't travelling with him when he sees her again. The Doctor holds up River's diary asking her if they should take a look, as it contains details of her life and their future. Ultimately, they decide not to look in it and leave it behind on a shelf along with the [[River Song's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] his future self gave her. | ||
Suddenly, the Doctor comes running back. He realises that since he knew River's fate all along, his future self would never have just let her die and has had years to think of a way to save her. He knows that he wouldn't just give her a sonic screwdriver without a good reason. Opening it, he finds that it contains a hidden [[neural relay]]. As with the [[data ghost]]s, her consciousness has been saved there. However, it is fading. The Doctor takes River for "one last run", as he sprints back to the core. He uploads River's data ghost into the Library's computer, as the face of Charlotte looks on and smiles. River appears in a virtual reality created by Charlotte and is reunited with all of her team members for all eternity. The Doctor also fixes the data core so that Charlotte is no longer unstable and it's a good place for them to live. Laughing in surprise, River only says, "He just can't do it, can he? That man. That impossible man. He just can't give in." | |||
In the real world, the Doctor returns to the TARDIS. Standing before it and concentrating, he tries opening the TARDIS doors with a snap of his fingers and is able to do so. He goes inside to join Donna and turns to look back outside with her. As he snaps his fingers to close the door of the TARDIS, River closes the blue TARDIS-shaped diary. River is sitting in the kids' bedroom of Donna's house in the virtual realm, and has been telling the story of the Doctor to Donna's two children, and Charlotte, who has moved to live with them, concluding that on very special days when "the Doctor comes to call, everybody lives." Charlotte has a real family now, human consciousnesses to keep her company in her "Dream". Smiling, River turns out the lights, saying "Sweet dreams everyone." | In the real world, the Doctor returns to the TARDIS. Standing before it and concentrating, he tries opening the TARDIS doors with a snap of his fingers and is able to do so. He goes inside to join Donna and turns to look back outside with her. As he snaps his fingers to close the door of the TARDIS, River closes the blue TARDIS-shaped diary. River is sitting in the kids' bedroom of Donna's house in the virtual realm, and has been telling the story of the Doctor to Donna's two children, and Charlotte, who has moved to live with them, concluding that on very special days when "the Doctor comes to call, everybody lives." Charlotte has a real family now, human consciousnesses to keep her company in her "Dream". Smiling, River turns out the lights, saying "Sweet dreams everyone." | ||
| Line 357: | Line 365: | ||
}} | }} | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* The Doctor uses [[River Song's sonic screwdriver|River's sonic screwdriver]] to save [[River Song]]'s neural pattern within [[Charlotte Lux|CAL]]. | * The Doctor uses [[River Song's sonic screwdriver|River's sonic screwdriver]] to save [[River Song]]'s neural pattern within [[Charlotte Lux|CAL]]. | ||
* [[Hairdryer]]s can interfere with [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver]]. | * [[Hairdryer]]s can interfere with [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver]]. | ||
=== The Doctor === | === The Doctor === | ||
* The Doctor says, "Who are you?", to [[River Song]], a line which is often asked of him. | * The Doctor says, "Who are you?", to [[River Song|River]], a line which is often asked of him. | ||
* The Doctor learns the fate of River Song and retains this memory through to their "first" meeting in the future. The future Doctor will adjust his [[sonic screwdriver]] in order to preserve Song's consciousness so his younger self will be able to preserve her within CAL. | * The Doctor learns the fate of River Song and retains this memory through to their "first" meeting in the future. The future Doctor will adjust his [[sonic screwdriver]] in order to preserve Song's consciousness so his younger self will be able to preserve her within CAL. | ||
* Song appears to have knowledge of Time Lord anatomy, including knowledge of [[regeneration]]. She also indicates that destruction of both of the Doctor's [[Binary cardiovascular system|hearts]] in this instance is a circumstance after which he will likely not be able to regenerate. | * Song appears to have knowledge of Time Lord anatomy, including knowledge of [[regeneration]]. She also indicates that destruction of both of the Doctor's [[Binary cardiovascular system|hearts]] in this instance is a circumstance after which he will likely not be able to regenerate. | ||
== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* On the very first take of River whispering his name into the Doctor's ear, David Tennant corpsed because Alex Kingston whispered "Shaniqua"<ref>[https://x.com/anika_mercat/status/1799872125593141348 Alex Kingston reveals what she actually whispered into the Doctor's ear]</ref> | |||
* If one pays attention to Lux's explanation, the little girl is actually his aunt; if she was his grandfather's daughter, that would mean her sibling would have been Lux's parent. | * If one pays attention to Lux's explanation, the little girl is actually his aunt; if she was his grandfather's daughter, that would mean her sibling would have been Lux's parent. | ||
* The working title for this story was ''River's Run''. When BBC Video announced the North American release of the Series 4 DVD box set, this title was used in the episode list and not ''Forest of the Dead''. The ''[[Radio Times]]'' also used this working title. According to [[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', the title was changed not long before broadcast. | * The working title for this story was ''River's Run''. When BBC Video announced the North American release of the Series 4 DVD box set, this title was used in the episode list and not ''Forest of the Dead''. The ''[[Radio Times]]'' also used this working title. According to [[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', the title was changed not long before broadcast. Other potential titles included ''The Doctor Runs'', ''Forest of the Night'' and ''Return of the Dead''. | ||
* CAL was also the name of the computer graphics company that created the title sequence used between 1987 and 1989 for the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s TV adventures. A result of this work was the creation of the first photo-realistic CGI TARDIS, featured in 1987's ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2V5KWWTTzNC1HsQxyDPjXR7/the-fourth-dimension BBC]</ref> | * CAL was also the name of the computer graphics company that created the title sequence used between 1987 and 1989 for the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s TV adventures. A result of this work was the creation of the first photo-realistic CGI TARDIS, featured in 1987's ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2V5KWWTTzNC1HsQxyDPjXR7/the-fourth-dimension BBC]</ref> | ||
* Moffat's recurring theme "everybody lives" returns again in this episode. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') In the BBC podcast associated with this episode, Moffat and Davies point out that so far in the four major storylines that he has contributed to the series, the only "final" deaths that have occurred have been due to old age | * [[Steven Moffat]]'s recurring theme "everybody lives" returns again in this episode. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') In the BBC podcast associated with this episode, Moffat and [[Russell T Davies]] point out that so far in the four major storylines that he has contributed to the series, the only "final" deaths that have occurred have been due to old age (as in the case of [[Billy Shipton]] and [[Kathy Nightingale]]) or illness ([[Madame de Pompadour]]). Moffat consequently promises (in the podcast) that he will kill people off in more dramatic fashion in future stories, proven to be true in ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]''/''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]''. | ||
* The concept of downloading human consciousness as data — even after physical death — and the philosophical issues surrounding this is an issue being addressed by futurists in real | * The concept of downloading human consciousness as data — even after physical death — and the philosophical issues surrounding this is an issue being addressed by futurists in real life, with scientists such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil Ray Kurzweil] speculating that technology will allow the uploading of consciousness to computers within a generation in his [[book]], ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil The Age of Spiritual Machines]''. | ||
* A recurring theme in this and the preceding episode is "spoilers". This is a term that was coined in the 1990s by science fiction fandom to address the circulation of information revealing the plots and endings of TV shows and movies. Interestingly, the fourth series of ''Doctor Who'' contains several examples of plot twists and cameos that were successfully protected from "spoilers". Other examples of successful spoiler protection include the appearance of [[Catherine Tate]] at the end of ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]''. Examples of plot twists that were not successfully protected from "spoilers" included the return of Rose in Series 4 — spoiled in part by people witnessing the filming — and the regeneration of [[Christopher Eccleston]] at the end of Series 1 — spoiled by the BBC publicity office itself. | * A recurring theme in this and the preceding episode is "spoilers". This is a term that was coined in the 1990s by science fiction fandom to address the circulation of information revealing the plots and endings of TV shows and movies. Interestingly, the fourth series of ''Doctor Who'' contains several examples of plot twists and cameos that were successfully protected from "spoilers". Other examples of successful spoiler protection include the appearance of [[Catherine Tate]] at the end of ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]''. Examples of plot twists that were not successfully protected from "spoilers" included the return of Rose in Series 4 — spoiled in part by people witnessing the filming — and the regeneration of [[Christopher Eccleston]] at the end of Series 1 — spoiled by the BBC publicity office itself. | ||
* This is the last episode not written or co-written by [[Russell T Davies]] until ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', and the last to not be written or co-written by the show's head writer until ''[[Victory of the Daleks (TV story)|Victory of the Daleks]]''. | * This is the last episode not written or co-written by [[Russell T Davies]] until ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', and the last to not be written or co-written by the show's head writer until ''[[Victory of the Daleks (TV story)|Victory of the Daleks]]''. | ||
* The frantic music from | * The frantic music from ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]'' is heard during a scene where Donna Noble freaks out, having seen her "children", whom she had tucked in bed, disappear without a trace, while she was in the data core. | ||
* Excerpts of the | * Excerpts of the ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]'' theme (a remixed version of the Doctor's theme with echoing vocals) are heard when dialogue about the Doctor's future is brought up by River, foreshadowing events to come. | ||
* The phrase, "Time can be rewritten", is first uttered by the Doctor in this story and is a recurring phrase throughout Series 5 and 6. | * The phrase, "Time can be rewritten", is first uttered by the Doctor in this story and is a recurring phrase throughout Series 5 and 6. | ||
* The Doctor states to River, "Nobody can open a TARDIS by snapping their fingers." However, River tells him (and he finds out) that he can, and also closes the door by snapping his fingers. [[Clara Oswald]] is also later shown displaying this ability in episodes like ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' and ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]''. | * The Doctor states to River, "Nobody can open a TARDIS by snapping their fingers." However, River tells him (and he finds out) that he can, and also closes the door by snapping his fingers. [[Clara Oswald]] is also later shown displaying this ability in episodes like ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' and ''[[The Caretaker (TV story)|The Caretaker]]''. | ||
* Donna's children Joshua and Ella were named after [[Steven Moffat]]'s son Joshua and his best friend Ella. The accompanying [[Doctor Who Confidential]] episode shows Moffat visiting the set with Joshua and Ella to watch part of the episode being filmed. | * Donna's children, Joshua and Ella, were named after [[Steven Moffat]]'s son Joshua and his best friend Ella. The accompanying [[Doctor Who Confidential|''Doctor Who Confidential'']] episode shows Moffat visiting the set with Joshua and Ella to watch part of the episode being filmed. | ||
* During the audio commentary, David Tennant mentions that Donna's [[wedding dress]] is the same one she wore in [[TV]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]''. | * During the audio commentary, [[David Tennant]] mentions that Donna's [[wedding dress]] is the same one she wore in [[TV]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]''. | ||
* The question of the Doctor's real name dates back to the earliest days of the series, though more recent episodes have implied that his name is a terrible secret. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'', ''[[Silver Nemesis (TV story)|Silver Nemesis]]'', ''[[The Girl in the Fireplace (TV story)|The Girl in the Fireplace]]'', ''[[The Shakespeare Code (TV story)|The Shakespeare Code]]'', ''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]'', ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') | * The question of the Doctor's real name dates back to the earliest days of the series, though more recent episodes have implied that his name is a terrible secret. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'', ''[[Silver Nemesis (TV story)|Silver Nemesis]]'', ''[[The Girl in the Fireplace (TV story)|The Girl in the Fireplace]]'', ''[[The Shakespeare Code (TV story)|The Shakespeare Code]]'', ''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]'', ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') | ||
* This episode and ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' are the only TV stories featuring River Song not to have been shot in high-definition. | * This episode and ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' are the only TV stories featuring River Song not to have been shot in high-definition. | ||
* [[Julie Gardner]] suggested to [[Steven Moffat]] that at the end only Charlotte be present with River, not the other two children. He has since stated he regrets the decision otherwise.<ref>[https://www.tvcream.co.uk/podcasts/tv-cream-stays-indoors/tv-cream-stays-indoors-with-steven-moffat/ TV Cream Stays Indoors With Steven Moffat]</ref> | |||
* According to [[Steven Moffat]], the squareness gun is the sonic blaster used by [[Jack Harkness]] in season one. After Jack leaves it in the TARDIS, River Song will take the gun in the Doctor's future. | |||
* A twist revelation in which Donna's artificial-reality husband, Lee, turned out to be an overweight woman in the real world was excised for fear of being too confusing. | |||
* Heavy rains forced the postponement of much of the recording of the outdoor scenes in Victoria Park, Cardiff. | |||
* Donna's illusory children were initially called Alan and Tracy. | |||
* The girl discovering the concealed buttons in the television remote control was based on [[Steven Moffat]]'s son Joshua doing the same thing. | |||
* This two-parter formed Block Eight of season four. | |||
* This two-parter was originally scheduled as the ninth and tenth episodes of season four. During the autumn, however, it was realised that both this episode and the one intended to follow it, ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]'', featured Donna living in an imaginary world. Consequently, the two-parter was brought forward one spot, with ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]'' now separating the two narratives. | |||
* [[Euros Lyn]]'s aunt and cousin, as well as his cousin's girlfriend, were amongst the missing Library patrons. | |||
* It was during production of this episode that it was announced that [[Phil Collinson]] would be departing as producer, as he had been appointed Head of Drama for BBC Manchester after completing season four. | |||
* The question of which incarnation of the Doctor gave River the sonic screwdriver that preserved her data ghost was left unresolved until {{cs|The Husbands of River Song (TV story)}} revealed it was the [[Twelfth Doctor]] who gave River her sonic screwdriver. | |||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
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=== Myths === | === Myths === | ||
* Following the broadcast of ''[[Silence in the Library]]'' there was much discussion in the ''Doctor Who'' fan community of the identity of River Song, with rampant speculation on various characters who she might "really" be. ''The episode ultimately leaves her origin ambiguous, although it does establish several times that this was the first time the Doctor met River, meaning she could not be a past character. [[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]] conclusively proves that she is a new character, a human with Time Lord DNA, and the daughter of [[Amy Pond]] and [[Rory Williams]]''. | * Following the broadcast of ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' there was much discussion in the ''Doctor Who'' fan community of the identity of River Song, with rampant speculation on various characters who she might "really" be. ''The episode ultimately leaves her origin ambiguous, although it does establish several times that this was the first time the Doctor met River, meaning she could not be a past character. [[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]] conclusively proves that she is a new character, a human with Time Lord DNA, and the daughter of [[Amy Pond]] and [[Rory Williams]]''. | ||
* In ''[[Planet of the Ood]]'', the Doctor was told his "song may end soon", leading to speculation the "death" of River Song is what was being referred to. ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' shows that this prediction centred on the end of this incarnation of the Doctor. | * In ''[[Planet of the Ood (TV story)|Planet of the Ood]]'', the Doctor was told his "song may end soon", leading to speculation the "death" of River Song is what was being referred to. ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' shows that this prediction centred on the end of this incarnation of the Doctor. | ||
* It had been rumoured that [[River Song]] was the Doctor's future wife. ''This was shown to be true in [[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]].'' | * It had been rumoured that [[River Song]] was the Doctor's future wife. ''This was shown to be true in [[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]].'' | ||
* Before the official title was revealed to be ''Forest of the Dead'', it was rumoured that the episode's title was ''Saved from the Books''. | * Before the official title was revealed to be ''Forest of the Dead'', it was rumoured that the episode's title was ''Saved from the Books''. | ||
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* River Song says she trusts the Doctor to "the end of the universe", where she also states that they've been. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') | * River Song says she trusts the Doctor to "the end of the universe", where she also states that they've been. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') | ||
* The Doctor says to River Song, "time can be rewritten", to which River replies, "not one line", mirroring a statement by the Doctor himself in his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') | * The Doctor says to River Song, "time can be rewritten", to which River replies, "not one line", mirroring a statement by the Doctor himself in his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') | ||
* The Doctor has previously spoken his name to others. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Vanderdeken's Children (novel)|Vanderdeken's Children]]'', ''[[Interference - Book One|Interference - Books One]]'' and ''[[Interference - Book Two|Two]]'', ''[[Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing (short story)|Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing]]'') | * The Doctor has previously spoken his name to others. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Vanderdeken's Children (novel)|Vanderdeken's Children]]'', ''[[Interference - Book One (novel)|Interference - Books One]]'' and ''[[Interference - Book Two (novel)|Two]]'', ''[[Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing (short story)|Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing]]'') | ||
* The [[sonic blaster|squareness gun]] used by River Song to blast a hole in the wall of the Library is just like the gun used by [[Jack Harkness]] when he first met the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]''/''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') | * The [[sonic blaster|squareness gun]] used by River Song to blast a hole in the wall of the Library is just like the gun used by [[Jack Harkness]] when he first met the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]''/''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') | ||
* Although the Doctor has never given away a [[sonic screwdriver]] exactly, [[Liz Shaw]] used a "door handle" device, and [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had her [[sonic lipstick]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'') | * Although the Doctor has never given away a [[sonic screwdriver]] exactly, [[Liz Shaw]] used a "door handle" device, and [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had her [[sonic lipstick]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'', ''[[Invasion of the Bane (TV story)|Invasion of the Bane]]'', et al.) | ||
* The Doctor wonders why River Song has [[handcuff]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]'') | * The Doctor wonders why River Song has [[handcuff]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]'') | ||
* The Doctor maintains that he is "always | * The Doctor maintains that he is "always alright" in the wake of a great loss. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Girl in the Fireplace (TV story)|The Girl in the Fireplace]]'', ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'') | ||
* The Doctor says that having 4,022 minds talking inside one's mind (referring to CAL) is like being him. Time Lord minds were shown to be all interconnected through [[the Matrix]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'') | * The Doctor says that having 4,022 minds talking inside one's mind (referring to CAL) is like being him. Time Lord minds were shown to be all interconnected through [[the Matrix]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'') | ||
* River Song says, when talking about the Doctor, "I've seen whole armies turn and run away." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | * River Song says, when talking about the Doctor, "I've seen whole armies turn and run away." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | ||
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* Like River here, [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Harriet Jones]] have also referred to [[Ninth Doctor|another incarnation]] of the Doctor as the "proper Doctor" or "[her] Doctor". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') | * Like River here, [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Harriet Jones]] have also referred to [[Ninth Doctor|another incarnation]] of the Doctor as the "proper Doctor" or "[her] Doctor". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') | ||
* The [[data ghost]] incarnation of River Song returns in ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'' where she reveals that after her death here, "her" Doctor never visited her again. She is briefly reunited with the [[Eleventh Doctor]] on [[Trenzalore]] through a psychic "[[conference call]]" she was using to communicate with Clara Oswald. The Doctor tells her that he found it too hard to see her again due to the pain it would cause him, but after sharing a last kiss with her, gives River the goodbye she had always wanted from him. | * The [[data ghost]] incarnation of River Song returns in ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'' where she reveals that after her death here, "her" Doctor never visited her again. She is briefly reunited with the [[Eleventh Doctor]] on [[Trenzalore]] through a psychic "[[conference call]]" she was using to communicate with Clara Oswald. The Doctor tells her that he found it too hard to see her again due to the pain it would cause him, but after sharing a last kiss with her, gives River the goodbye she had always wanted from him. | ||
* The Doctor remarks that River knows his name, claiming there is only one time he could reveal it. When the [[Eleventh Doctor]] marries River, he whispers something in her ear that he claims is his real name. River later reveals that this was a lie as "the Doctor lies" so that [[Amy Pond]] and [[Rory Williams]] would not know that he was telling River he was hidden inside the ''[[Teselecta]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') River's data ghost uses his name to open the doors of the future TARDIS | * The Doctor remarks that River knows his name, claiming there is only one time he could reveal it. When the [[Eleventh Doctor]] marries River, he whispers something in her ear that he claims is his real name. River later reveals that this was a lie as "the Doctor lies" so that [[Amy Pond]] and [[Rory Williams]] would not know that he was telling River he was hidden inside the ''[[Teselecta]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') River's data ghost uses his name to open the doors of the future TARDIS, having stated earlier that she eventually got the Doctor to tell her his name. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'') | ||
* River mentions the [[Singing Towers]] of [[Darillium]] as her last night with the Doctor's future self. The [[Twelfth Doctor]], after the [[Eleventh Doctor]] had put off this date for as long as possible ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Last Night (home video)|Last Night]]'') | * River mentions the [[Singing Towers]] of [[Darillium]] as her last night with the Doctor's future self. The [[Twelfth Doctor]], after the [[Eleventh Doctor]] had put off this date for as long as possible, ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Last Night (home video)|Last Night]]'') takes River there after a final adventure with her. By that point, River saw signs of her adventures coming to an end as her diary was almost full and the Doctor would know how many pages she'd need and she'd heard rumours about their date at Darillium. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'') | ||
* River would be among those remembered when [[Davros]] asked the Doctor: ''"How many have died in your name?'' ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'') | * River would be among those remembered when [[Davros]] asked the Doctor: ''"How many have died in your name?'' ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'') | ||
* River associates running with her time with the Doctor, echoing sentiments expressed by [[Donna Noble|Donna]] and [[Jenny (The Doctor's Daughter)|Jenny]]. Jenny would effectively become River's step-daughter when River married her father in his [[Eleventh Doctor|Eleventh incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song]]'') | |||
* River refers to the Doctor as an "impossible man", something previously said by [[Agatha Christie]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp (TV story)|The Unicorn and the Wasp]]'') | |||
== Home video releases == | == Home video releases == | ||
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"> | |||
* This story was released in the [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]] DVD box set in November 2008 along with the rest of the series. | File:The Complete David Tennant Years Region 1 US DVD cover.jpg|The Complete David Tennant Years DVD<br />Region 1 US cover | ||
File:Bbcdvd-s4-v3.jpg|thumb|Series 4 Volume 3 DVD Cover | |||
File:Series-4-boxset.jpg|thumb|''Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series'' DVD cover | |||
File:Bbcdvd-series1234.jpg|thumb|''Doctor Who: The Complete Series One to Four'' DVD box-set | |||
</gallery> | |||
* This story was released in the [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 4]] DVD box set in November 2008 along with the rest of the series. | |||
* It was released as Series 4 Volume 3 in a vanilla edition with ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' and ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]''. | * It was released as Series 4 Volume 3 in a vanilla edition with ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' and ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]''. | ||
== Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_09 BBC Website - Episode Guide: '''Forest of the Dead'''] | * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/S4_09 BBC Website - Episode Guide: '''Forest of the Dead'''] | ||
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[[Category:Vashta Nerada stories]] | [[Category:Vashta Nerada stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in virtual realities]] | [[Category:Stories set in virtual realities]] | ||
[[Category:An Introduction To The Tenth Doctor television stories]] | |||
[[fr:Forest of the Dead]] | [[fr:Forest of the Dead]] | ||