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| name      = Day of the Moon
{{Infobox Story SMW
| image          = Tonight on BBC One.jpg
|image          = Tonight on BBC One.jpg
| series          =[[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]|
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
| season number         = [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|Series 6]]
|season number   = Series 6 (Doctor Who 2005)
| story number    = 214b
|series episode number = 2
| doctor          = [[Eleventh Doctor]]
|story number    = 214b
| companions      = {{il|[[Amy Pond|Amy]]|[[Rory Williams|Rory]]|[[River Song|River]]}}
|doctor          = Eleventh Doctor
| enemy          = [[Silent]]s
|companions      = [[Amy Pond|Amy]], [[River Song|River]], [[Rory Williams|Rory]], [[Canton Everett Delaware III|Canton]]
| setting        = [[Florida]], [[1969]]
|featuring      = Richard Nixon
| writer          = [[Steven Moffat]]
|featuring2      = Melody Pond (Prequel to The Impossible Astronaut)
| director        = [[Toby Haynes]]  
|featuring3      = Kovarian
| producer        = [[Marcus Wilson]]
|enemy          = [[Silent]]s
| broadcast date  = [[30 April]] [[2011]]
|setting        = [[Florida]], [[July]] [[1969]]
|network=[[BBC One]]|
|writer          = Steven Moffat
| confidential    = [[Breaking the Silence]]
|director        = [[Toby Haynes]]  
| format          = 1x 45 minute episode
|producer        = [[Marcus Wilson]]
| production code = 6.2
|broadcast date  = 30 April 2011
| prev = The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)
|network         = BBC One
| next     = The Curse of the Black Spot (TV story)
|confidential    = Breaking the Silence (CON episode)
| made prev      = The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)
|format          = 1x45 minute episode
| made next      = The Rebel Flesh (TV story)
|production code = 2.2
}}
|prev           = The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)
'''''Day of the Moon''''' was the second episode in the [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|sixth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It heavily featured location filming across [[Utah]]. Some scenes, such as River's plunge from a skyscraper, were filmed back in [[Cardiff]].
|next           = The Curse of the Black Spot (TV story)
|made prev      = The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)
|made next      = The Rebel Flesh (TV story)
|trailer        = Doctor Who Day of the Moon - Series 6, Episode 2 Trailer - BBC One
|clip            = The Doctor Defeats The Silence - Day Of The Moon - Doctor Who - BBC
|clip2          = First & last kiss with River Song - Doctor Who - Day of the Moon - Series 6 - BBC
|bts            = Day of the Moon Finale, Film to Storyboard Comparison - Doctor Who - BBC One
}}{{you may|The Impossible Astronaut & Day of the Moon (reference book)|n1=the reference book of the same name}}
'''''Day of the Moon''''' was the second episode of [[Series 6 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 6]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
 
It heavily featured location filming across [[Utah]]. The episode revealed more of the Doctor's relationship with River, and how accustomed he's become to her mannerisms; they seem to be romantically involved. The question of Amy's pregnancy is still unresolved, while another arose with the unexplained appearance of an [[Madame Kovarian|eye patch-wearing lady]] who could somehow make herself visible to only Amy through wall slots that manifested out of nowhere. The episode also ended with something of a cliffhanger, with the little girl beginning a [[regeneration]]. This was the first on-screen [[regeneration]] of a female since [[TV]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]''.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
As [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams]] and [[River Song]] are pursued across [[America]] by [[Canton Everett Delaware III]] and the [[FBI]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] is locked in the perfect prison.


The Doctor is locked in the perfect prison. Amy, Rory and River Song are hunted across America by the FBI. With the help of new friend and FBI-insider, Canton Everett Delaware III, they reunite to share their discoveries, if not their memories. The world is occupied by an alien force who control humanity with post-hypnotic suggestion and no one can be trusted. Aided by President Nixon and Neil Armstrong's foot, the Doctor must mount a revolution to drive out the enemy and rescue the missing little girl. No one knows why they took her or why they have kidnapped Amy Pond.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110405_01/The_Revolution_Begins</ref>
Against the backdrop of the first [[The Moon|moon]] landing, the Doctor and his [[companion]]s must solve the mystery of the [[Silent|aliens]] and the little girl.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Three months after the events of the warehouse, [[Amy Pond|Amy]] is chased down the Valley of Gods in Utah. She has strange pen markings all over her skin and arms. She is cornered between two SUVs and a cliff-face. [[Canton Delaware]] advises her to surrender,. When she wonders if he remembers what happened at the warehouse, he responds by shooting her down. Her body is brought to the [[Eleventh Doctor|Doctor]], a strait-jacketed prisoner at [[Area 51]].
Three months after the events of the warehouse, [[Amy Pond|Amy]] is chased down the Valley of Gods in [[Utah]]. She has strange pen markings all over her [[skin]] and [[arm]]s. She is cornered between two SUVs and a cliff-face. [[Canton Everett Delaware III]] advises her to surrender. When she wonders if he remembers what happened at the warehouse, he responds by shooting her down.
 
In [[Area 51]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]], is held as a prisoner in a straitjacket and under heavy security. Canton tosses a file of pictures taken of the markings on Amy to the Doctor, questioning him about their meaning. The Doctor suggests Canton ask Amy himself, getting no response, implying her death.
 
[[River Song]], also covered in markings, explores an unfinished skyscraper in [[New York City]] filled with the [[Silent|mysterious aliens]]. [[FBI]] agents corner her at the edge of the building. Again, Canton advises her to surrender, but she warns them of the alien occupation and smiles sadly before falling off the side of the building.
 
Back at Area 51, Canton informs the Doctor that they found River. The Doctor notes that the employees are placing blocks of [[dwarf star alloy]] in a square around him, knowing that nothing can get past it, not light, radio waves or sound. He then asks Canton what happened to River, learning she jumped off the 50th floor.
 
Finally, [[Rory Williams|Rory]] is at the [[Glen Canyon Dam]], [[Arizona]]. He runs from Canton and the FBI until they corner him. Willing to give up, Rory asks why he isn't shooting him; Canton believes it would look better if he shot Rory while he was running, shooting him after finishing his sentence.


[[River Song]], also covered in markings, explores an unfinished skyscraper in [[New York City]] filled with the [[The Silence (species)|mysterious aliens]]. FBI agents corner her at the edge of the building. Again, Canton advises her to surrender, but she warns them of the alien occupation and smiles sadly before falling off the side of the building.
Back in Area 51, Canton enters the completed cell with body bags containing Amy and Rory. The Doctor questions Canton, wondering if he knows why he is doing this. Canton jokes he wants to let the Doctor know where he stands; in a cell. Sealing the door, Canton explains the cell's material will keep anything from escaping. He then says no one can hear them now. The Doctor congratulates Canton and asks if the door's sealed properly. Once confirmed, the Doctor frees himself easily and Amy and Rory emerge from the body bags. Rory complains about the lack of air holes; Canton jokes that no one's complained before. Amy points out a tiny flaw with the cell; they can't get out without the guards noticing them. The Doctor says she is right; no matter what the guards think they are doing in there, they know they can't leave. He then falls against the [[invisibility|invisible]] [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]], opening it for his [[companion]]s.


Finally, [[Rory Williams|Rory]] -- also covered in markings -- is shot at the [[Glen Canyon Dam]]. His corpse is also brought to the Doctor. FBI agents have spent the past three months building a perfect prison around the [[Time Lord]]: blocks of [[dwarf star alloy]] that seal together perfectly, constructing a solid block that is soundproof and impregnable. With it finished, Canton seals himself inside with the Doctor and the two body bags.
Canton then questions the Doctor about River as she jumped off a rooftop. The Doctor explains, "She does that", ordering Amy and Rory to open all the doors to the [[swimming pool]]. He parks the TARDIS sideways on the skyscraper right after River falls, catching her. As everyone cleans themselves up, the Doctor tells his companions not to worry as he's got a secret weapon; the TARDIS lands a short distance away from [[Cape Kennedy]], where ''[[Apollo 11]]'' is being prepared for launch. River questions the Doctor about his plan; Apollo 11 is his secret weapon? The Doctor tells her it's not because that would be "silly", saying it's [[Neil Armstrong]]'s foot.


Once the door is closed, the Doctor, Amy and Rory easily free themselves from their constraints and Canton takes on a much friendlier tone. The Doctor reveals the parked, invisible [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]], into which they all climb. When Canton expresses concern for River, the Doctor parks the TARDIS alongside the building so she can fall into its swimming pool. The trio clean themselves of the markings, tallies of aliens they've seen in the past three months, proving this is not an alien invasion. They've been here all along. Privately, Amy informs the Doctor she made a mistake and she is not pregnant. The Doctor knows how to defeat the aliens. Landing the TARDIS, they rush outside to find they are a short distance away from [[Cape Kennedy]], where [[Apollo 11]] is being prepared for launch. The key to the aliens' defeat, the Doctor explains, is Neil Armstrong's foot.
The Doctor implants a [[nano-recorder]] in each of his companions' palms, explaining they are to activate it and leave themselves a message each time they have an encounter with the mysterious aliens. When it flashes red, they'll know they've seen one of the creatures. Canton looks towards the doors for a moment and then casually adjusts the Doctor's bowtie, but is horrified to find his nano-recorder is flashing. The message, "How the hell did it get here?" makes them realise there is an alien near the TARDIS doors. It is not real; the Doctor has extrapolated the image from Amy's [[Mobile phone|phone]] and projected it into the TARDIS as a [[hologram]], yet the effect is the same. The message also contains the Doctor's voice ordering Canton to straighten his bowtie upon turning around.


The Doctor implants a [[nanorecorder]] in each of his companions' palms, explaining they are to activate it and leave themselves a message each time they have an encounter. When it flashes red, they'll know they've seen one of the creatures. Canton casually adjusts the Doctor's bowtie, but is horrified to find his nanorecorder is flashing. The message, "How the hell did it get here?" makes them realise there is an alien near the TARDIS doors.
Turning off the image, the Doctor orders Canton to tell him what the alien looked like. However, neither Canton nor he can describe it. The Doctor then explains that Canton straightened his bowtie because he planted the idea in his head while looking at the image of the creature. Amy and Rory ask the Doctor if the creatures use post-[[hypnosis|hypnotic]] suggestion to rule the world. Knowing that the creatures got the spacesuit from [[NASA]], the Doctor decides that they must have taken the girl from a nearby children's home. Ordering his companions to look into it themselves, the Doctor explains that he's off to NASA to do the prep work on his secret weapon.


It is not real. The Doctor has extrapolated the image from Amy's phone and projected it into the TARDIS as a [[hologram]], yet the effect is the same. The message also contains the Doctor's voice ordering Canton to straighten his bowtie upon turning around. That he did so confirms the Doctor's suspicions that the aliens possess the power of post-hypnotic suggestion.
Canton and Amy head for [[Graystark Hall Orphanage|Graystark Hall]], despite it being closed two years ago. They meet Dr [[Renfrew (Day of the Moon)|Renfrew]], who is quite erratic. He leads them inside, explaining that the [[orphanage]] will close in [[1967]]. However, Canton corrects him, explaining that it's [[1969]]. Amy goes off on her own to investigate, calling the Doctor to inform him they found the place; with Renfrew like he is and the messages on the walls, there is no doubt. The Doctor, in the meantime, has been busy messing around with the electronics in ''[[Apollo 11]]'', adding one of his own devices. After telling Amy that repeated memory wipes can fry one's mind, he hangs up because security has caught him.


The Doctor sends Canton and Amy to [[Graystark Hall Orphanage|Graystark Hall]], a children's home a few [[File:Eye-patch-lady-1.jpg|thumb|left|Amy sees the Eye Patch Lady]]miles from Cape Kennedy. The [[Renfrew (Day of the Moon)|warden]] is clearly mad, believing the year to be 1967. Orders to leave are scrawled all over the walls. Amy goes off on her own to investigate, finding a nest of hibernating aliens on the ceiling of a room. Her nanorecorder flashes red; she has left a message warning herself to leave and there are tally marks all over her arms and face. Eventually, she departs, forgetting, but one of the aliens wakes as the door slams behind her. Down the hall, Amy spots [[Madame Kovarian|a woman with an eyepatch]] looking at her through a slot in one of the doors. When she steps inside, the room is empty and the slot is gone. It is a child's bedroom, scattered with toys and pictures of the little girl. Amy discovers one picture of herself with the girl as a baby. While trying to make sense of it, the little girl, still in the astronaut suit, enters behind her, begging for help. Amy apologises for shooting her and tries to explain that she will kill the Doctor in the future. The girl continues to beg for help, confusing Amy further. Two of the aliens enter. Amy screams.
Amy continues searching the orphanage, finding a nest of hibernating aliens on the ceiling of a room. Her nano-recorder flashes red; she has left a message warning herself to leave and there are tally marks all over her arms and face. Eventually, she departs, forgetting, but one of the aliens wakes as the door slams behind her.


In the warden's office, Canton hears Amy's screams, but before he can go to help her, one of the aliens enters. Activating his nanorecorder, Canton asks why the alien doesn't have a weapon. After haughtily stating that, as the owners of the planet, they don't need weapons, Canton pulls out his gun, shoots the creature and welcomes it to America before running out of the room.
[[File:Eye-patch-lady-1.jpg|thumb|left|Amy sees the Eye Patch Lady.]]
Down the hall, Amy spots [[Madame Kovarian|a woman with an eyepatch]] looking at her through a slot in one of the doors. When she steps inside, the room is empty and the slot is gone. It is a child's bedroom, scattered with toys and pictures of the little girl. Amy discovers one picture of herself with the girl as a baby. While trying to make sense of it, the little girl, still in the astronaut suit, enters behind her, begging for help. Amy apologises for shooting her and tries to explain that she will kill the Doctor in the future. The girl continues to beg for help, confusing Amy further. Two of the aliens enter. Amy screams.


The Doctor, meanwhile, has been busy. He is caught breaking into the Apollo 11 command module, where he has rearranged the electronics and added his own device. [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] arrives in the TARDIS with River and Rory and orders the Doctor's release. As they depart, the Doctor receives a call from Canton, who is asks for help.
In Renfrew's office, Canton questions what the man has been doing there since the closing of Graystark, learning that Dr Renfrew was told the child must be cared for. A knocking at the door has Renfrew answer to someone and explains that he's being questioned. Once Renfrew returns to Canton, he is questioned as to who was on the other side of the door. However, once Dr Renfrew asks him what he means, the door opens and an alien enters. Canton activates his nano-recorder, asking the alien if it's armed as he hears Amy screaming for help. The alien gloats that its kind has ruled the Earth since the [[Stone Age]], having no need of weapons. Canton shoots the alien thrice, sarcastically saying, "Well, welcome to America."


They rendezvous at the orphanage, where Canton is trying to break into the child's room. Amy can be heard inside, crying for help. The Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to open the door, but they are horrified to find Amy missing. All that's left of her is her nanorecorder on the floor, broadcasting her words, and the abandoned astronaut suit; unbeknownst to them, the little girl lurks around the corner, listening to them. On learning Canton has shot one of the aliens, the Doctor rushes to the warden's office to confront the creature. He asks what it is and the alien replies that it [[File:Nanorecorder_removed.png|thumb|left|Amy's nanorecorder, left behind]]is the Silence and silence will fall. This echoes warnings the Doctor has received from [[Prisoner Zero]] and [[Rosanna Calvierri]].
In the meantime, the Doctor has been caught by NASA security and is being questioned. Despite telling them the truth about being on a secret mission for the president, the Doctor is met with doubt; he tells them that he sent Nixon a message for help. As they laugh at the idea, [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] arrives in the TARDIS with River and Rory and orders the Doctor's release. As they depart, the Doctor receives a call from Canton, who is asking for help.


Rory, River, and the Doctor set about finding Amy, returning the empty astronaut suit to the warehouse. Canton brings the wounded alien to the Doctor's prison at Area 51, where it is fixed up by a military doctor. The alien gloats the Silence have ruled the world since the Stone Age, and that it was a mistake for Canton to treat its wounds. When Canton asks what he should have done, it replies the humans should kill them all "on sight." Canton smugly reveals that he has recorded this on Amy's video phone.
They rendezvous at the orphanage, where Canton is trying to break into the child's room. Amy can be heard inside, crying for help. The Doctor uses the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] to open the door, but they are horrified to find Amy missing. All that's left of her is her nano-recorder on the floor, broadcasting her words, and the abandoned astronaut suit; unbeknownst to them, the little girl lurks around the corner, listening to them. On learning Canton has shot one of the aliens, the Doctor rushes to the warden's office to confront the creature. He asks what it is and the alien replies that it is [[the Silence]] and silence will fall. This echoes warnings the Doctor has received from [[Prisoner Zero]] and [[Rosanna Calvierri]].


In the Florida warehouse, River and the Doctor dissect the space suit, learning it is the perfect life support machine. This explains how the little girl was able to survive Amy shooting her. It is fitted with at least twenty types of alien tech, meaning the little girl must be very strong to have fought her way out of it. River wonders if the suit could move without an occupant, remembering the little girl's original phone call claimed the space man was coming to eat her. Rory, meanwhile, is devastated by Amy's disappearance, keeping her nanorecorder with him at all times. In one instance, Amy tells the listener that her life was so boring before he "dropped out of the sky" and that he needs to get his "stupid face" where she can see it. Rory believes she is referring to the Doctor, who tries to reassure him of Amy's love for him by reminding him of [[The Big Bang (TV story)|the two thousand years he spent protecting her]].
Rory, River, and the Doctor set about finding Amy, returning the empty astronaut suit to the warehouse. Canton brings the wounded alien to the Doctor's prison at Area 51, where he is met with hostility as it has been days since he sealed the prison. When they refuse to bring a military doctor on Canton's orders, President Nixon emerges from the prison, having been brought by the TARDIS, and calms the soldiers with a speech. When the military doctor comes and Nixon departs, Canton treats the alien's wounds, which the creature threateningly warns is a mistake. When Canton asks what he should have done, it replies that the humans should "kill [them] all on sight". Canton smugly reveals that he has recorded this on Amy's video phone.


Amy wakes to find herself tied to a standing framework, surrounded by the Silence, in their console room. The Silence inform her that she has been with them for several days and that she will help "bring the silence."
In the Florida warehouse, River and the Doctor dissect the space suit, learning it is the perfect life support machine. This explains how the little girl was able to survive Amy shooting her. It is fitted with at least twenty types of alien tech, meaning the little girl must be very strong to have fought her way out of it. River wonders if the suit could move without an occupant, remembering that the little girl's original phone call claimed the space man was coming to eat her. Rory, meanwhile, is devastated by Amy's disappearance, keeping her nano-recorder with him at all times. In one instance, Amy tells the listener that her life was so boring before he "dropped out of the sky" and that he needs to get his "stupid face" where she can see it. Rory believes she is referring to the Doctor, who tries to reassure him of Amy's love for him by reminding him of [[The Big Bang (TV story)|the two thousand years he spent protecting her]]. Rory then wonders why the life support suit looks like something an astronaut would wear. The Doctor explains that the Silence never make anything themselves, being "super parasites", going on to explain that the reason [[human]]ity wanted to go to the moon was because the Silence were in need of a spacesuit.


The launch of Apollo 11 goes off without a hitch. On the day of the moon landing, the Doctor tracks the signal from Amy's nanorecorder to her location and lands the TARDIS there. He brings a television with him and sets it on the console. He tells the Silence he is not violent, but River will not hesitate to shoot any of them. He asks the Silence why the little girl is so important to them. They do not answer. He gets the television set working for the live broadcast of the moon landing and uses the device he put in the command module to hack the broadcast signal just as Neil Armstrong's foot touches the lunar surface. The image is replaced with the video Canton took on Amy's phone: the Silence saying that humans should kill them all on sight.
Amy wakes to find herself tied to a standing framework, surrounded by the Silence, in their console room. The Silence inform her that she has been with them for several days and that she will help "bring the silence". They order her to sleep repeatedly, but she fights it off just as the sound of the TARDIS materialisation occurs; the Doctor tracked the signal from Amy's nano-recorder to her location. He emerges from the TARDIS and is met with surprise at the appearance of the Silence's lair — "Very Aickman Road. [[The Lodger (TV story)|Saw one of these before; abandoned, wonder how that happened]]. Well, guess I'm about to find out."


This seals the fate of the Silence. Every human in history will see this famous broadcast. Through their power of post-hypnotic suggestion, the Silence have just ordered their own execution. People who watch the live broadcast obey this order, shooting the Silence without thinking. Enraged by the Doctor's victory, the Silence attack. Rory goes to free Amy, but she orders him to get his "stupid face" to safety. With the Doctor's assistance, he gets her to the TARDIS, where they wait as River kills every alien in the room and calmly joins them in the TARDIS.
He sets a [[television]] on the console, telling the Silence that he is not violent, but River will not hesitate to shoot any of them. He asks the Silence why the little girl is so important to them but they do not answer. He gets the television set working for the live broadcast of the moon landing and uses the device he put in the command module to hack the broadcast signal just as [[Neil Armstrong]]'s foot touches the lunar surface. The image is replaced with the video Canton took on Amy's phone: the Silence saying that humans should kill them all on sight.


They return Canton to the Oval Office and the Doctor tells Nixon to record everything that goes on in the office (a reference to the Watergate Scandal). Nixon, who has been told that the Doctor is from the future, wonders if the American people will remember him. The Doctor replies that he will never be forgotten. He informs Nixon that all Canton wants to do is get married and insists that Nixon should give his permission and allow Canton to return to the FBI as a parting favour. As the TARDIS disappears, Nixon says that Canton's girlfriend must be black and he's sure he can help; he is really more liberal than most people think. Canton corrects him. "She" is "he." Nixon tells him the moon is far enough for now.
This seals the fate of the Silence. Every human in future history will see this famous broadcast. Through their power of post-hypnotic suggestion, the Silence have just ordered their own execution. People who watch the live broadcast obey this order, shooting the Silence without thinking. Enraged by the Doctor's victory, the Silence attack. Rory goes to free Amy, but she orders him to get his "stupid face" to safety. With the Doctor's assistance, he gets her to the TARDIS, where they wait as River kills every alien in the room. Rory, perplexed, asks what kind of doctor she is. River replies that she's an [[Archaeology|archaeologist]], and shoots a remaining member of the Silence without even looking before calmly joining the others in the TARDIS.


River is returned to prison. The Doctor offers her a chance to travel with him. She declines, saying she has made a promise and he'll soon understand. As the Doctor turns to leave, River pulls him into a lingering kiss. When he is confused, she realises that, from the Doctor's perspective, this is their first kiss -- meaning that, from her perspective, it will be their last.
They return Canton to the [[Oval Office]] and the Doctor tells Nixon to [[Nixon tapes|record everything that goes on in the office]]. Nixon, who has been told that the Doctor is from the future, wonders if the American people will remember him. The Doctor replies that he will never be forgotten. He informs Nixon that all Canton wants to do is get married and insists that Nixon should give his permission and allow Canton to return to the FBI as a parting favour. As the TARDIS disappears, Nixon confirms with Canton that his fiance is black, considering allowing the marriage as he is perhaps "more liberal" than people think. Canton then explains that his fiance is a man, prompting Nixon to remark that "the moon is far enough for now".


The Doctor sends Rory on an errand in the TARDIS, giving him and Amy time to talk about her pregnancy. She admits she didn't tell Rory about it because she was afraid that her time spent in the TARDIS would give the baby some deformity. Unbeknownst to her, Rory is listening to their conversation via her nanorecorder, which is still broadcasting. She catches him and reassures him he is safe and she is not pregnant. The Doctor, however, is less certain. While he sets the TARDIS on course for a new destination, he has the console scan Amy for pregnancy. The readings flicker back and forth between a positive and negative reading.
River is returned to prison. The Doctor offers her a chance to travel with him but she declines, saying she has made a promise and he'll soon understand. As the Doctor turns to leave, River pulls him into a lingering kiss. When he is confused, she realises that, from the Doctor's perspective, this is their first kiss — meaning that, from her perspective, it may be their last.


Six months later, in New York City, [[Tramp (Day of the Moon)|a homeless man]] comes across the little girl in an alley. She is coughing and reveals that she is dying -- but that it'll be okay, because she can fix it. He flees in terror as she begins to [[regenerate]].
The Doctor sends Rory on an errand in the TARDIS, giving him and Amy time to talk about her [[pregnancy]]. She admits that she didn't tell Rory about it because she was afraid that her time spent in the TARDIS would give the baby some deformity. Unbeknownst to her, Rory is listening to their conversation via her nano-recorder, which is still broadcasting. She catches him and reassures him she is safe and she is not pregnant. The Doctor, however, is less certain. While he sets the TARDIS on course for a new destination, he secretly has the console scan Amy for pregnancy. He is disturbed to find the results state that Amy is both pregnant and not pregnant.
 
Six months later, in [[New York City]], [[Tramp (Day of the Moon)|a homeless man]] comes across the little girl in an alley near [[44th Street (Manhattan)|44th Street]]. Coughing, the little girl explains that she is dying, but it is okay because she can easily fix it. Telling him to watch, she begins glowing and initiates a [[regeneration]], causing the man to flee in terror.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Matt Smith]]
* [[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Matt Smith]]
* [[Amy Pond]] - [[Karen Gillan]]
* [[Amy Pond]] - [[Karen Gillan]]
* [[Rory Williams]] - [[Arthur Darvill]]
* [[Rory Williams|Rory]] - [[Arthur Darvill]]
* [[River Song]] - [[Alex Kingston]]
* [[River Song]] - [[Alex Kingston]]
* [[Melody Pond|Little Girl]] - [[Sydney Wade]]
* [[Canton Everett Delaware III|Canton Delaware]] - [[Mark Sheppard]]
* [[Canton Delaware]] - [[Mark Sheppard]]
* [[Silent|The Silent]] - [[Marnix Van Den Broeke]]
* President [[Richard Nixon]] - [[Stuart Milligan]]
* [[Richard Nixon|President Richard Nixon]] - [[Stuart Milligan]]
* [[Carl (The Impossible Astronaut)|Carl]] - [[Chukwudi Iwuji]]
* [[Renfrew (Day of the Moon)|Doctor Renfrew]] - [[Kerry Shale]]
* [[Phil (The Impossible Astronaut)|Phil]] - [[Mark Griffin]]
* The [[The Silence|Silent]] - [[Marnix Van Den Broeke]]
* Doctor [[Renfrew (Day of the Moon)|Renfrew]] - [[Kerry Shale]]
* [[Gardner]] - [[Glenn Wrage]]
* [[Gardner]] - [[Glenn Wrage]]
* Doctor [[Shepherd]] - [[Peter Banks]]
* [[Grant (Day of the Moon)|Grant]] - [[Jeff Mash]]
* [[Melody Pond (Prequel to The Impossible Astronaut)|Little girl]] - [[Sydney Wade]]
* [[Ishem|Sergeant]] - [[Tommy Campbell]]
* [[Shepherd (Day of the Moon)|Doctor Shepherd]] - [[Peter Banks]]
* [[Kovarian|Eye patch lady]] - [[Frances Barber]]
* [[Tramp (Day of the Moon)|Tramp]] - [[Ricky Fearon]]
* [[Tramp (Day of the Moon)|Tramp]] - [[Ricky Fearon]]
* [[Eye Patch Lady]] - [[Frances Barber]]
* [[Carl Peterson|Carl]] - [[Chuk Iwuji]]
* [[Grant]] - [[Jeff Mash]]
* [[Phil (The Impossible Astronaut)|Phil]] - [[Mark Griffin]]
* [[Ishem|Sergeant]] - [[Tommy Campbell]]


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
Line 94: Line 116:
|3rdAD=Heddi-Joy Taylor-Welch
|3rdAD=Heddi-Joy Taylor-Welch
|AD=Michael Curtis
|AD=Michael Curtis
|AD2=Janine H Jones
|AD2=Jay Harley{{!}}Janine H Jones <nowiki>[Jay Harley]</nowiki>
|Runner=
|Runner=
|Runner2=
|Runner2=
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|2ndCameraOperator=
|2ndCameraOperator=
|FocusPuller=Steve Rees
|FocusPuller=Steve Rees
|FocusPuller2=John Vidgen
|FocusPuller2=Jonathan Vidgen
|2ndUnitFocusPuller=
|2ndUnitFocusPuller=
|2ndFocusPuller=
|2ndFocusPuller=
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|ArtDeptProdManager=
|ArtDeptProdManager=
|AssociateDesigner=
|AssociateDesigner=
|ProductionBuyer=Ben Morris
|ProductionBuyer=Ben Morris (crew){{!}}Ben Morris
|SetDecorator=Julian Luxton
|SetDecorator=Julian Luxton
|PropsBuyer=Catherine Samuel
|PropsBuyer=Catherine Samuel
|PettyCashBuyer=Kate Wilson
|PettyCashBuyer=Kate Wilson (crew)
|StandbyArtDirector=Amy Pickwoad
|StandbyArtDirector=Amy Pickwoad
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
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|AssistantPropsMaster=
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|DressingChargehand=
|DressingChargehand=
|PropsChargehand=Rhys Jones
|PropsChargehand=Rhys Jones (props)
|PropsStoreman=
|PropsStoreman=
|DressingProps=Martin Broadbent
|DressingProps=Martin Broadbent
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|AsstEditor=Becky Trotman
|AsstEditor=Becky Trotman
|AsstEditor2=
|AsstEditor2=
|VFXProducer=Beewan Athwal
|VFXEditor=Cat Gregory
|VFXEditor=Cat Gregory
|VFXCoOrdinator=
|VFXCoOrdinator=
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|RightsExecutive=
|RightsExecutive=
|FinanceManager=
|FinanceManager=
|VisualFXProducer=Beewan Athwal
|VisualFXProducer2=
|VisualFXSupervisor=
|VisualFXSupervisor2=
|Thanks=
|Thanks=
|Thanks2=
|Thanks2=
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|DedicatedTo=<!--This exact credit never actually used as of April 2010; left for future use-->
|DedicatedTo=<!--This exact credit never actually used as of April 2010; left for future use-->
|InMemoryOf=
|InMemoryOf=
|Note=[[Rhys Jones]] is credited as a "Prop Chargehand" rather than a "Props Chargehand".  
|Note=[[Rhys Jones (props)|Rhys Jones]] is credited as a "Prop Chargehand" rather than a "Props Chargehand".
|Note2=[[Jay Harley]] was credited under their [[T:ACTOR#Crediting trans people|deadname]] as [[assistant director]].
}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== [[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]] ===
=== Anatomy and physiology ===
* Amy explains her fear that travelling in [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] while pregnant would have some sort of effect on the baby, suggesting it could have three [[head]]s or a "[[timehead]]".
 
=== Individuals ===
* The Doctor asks Nixon to say "Hi" to [[David Frost]] for him.
* The Doctor asks Nixon to say "Hi" to [[David Frost]] for him.
* Rory reveals he remembers the two thousand years he spent as an [[Auton]] guarding the [[Pandorica]] with Amy inside, but that he doesn't always have those memories.
* The Doctor and River [[kiss]] - for a first time in his timeline and what she thinks is their last.


=== Objects ===
=== Technology ===
* When the Doctor, Amy and Rory enter the TARDIS, the Doctor asks Rory to grab some thermocouplings. ([[DW]]: ''[[Space (TV story)|Space]]'')
* When the Doctor, Amy and Rory enter the TARDIS, the Doctor asks Rory to grab some [[thermocoupling]]s.
* River's scanner is branded [[Magpie Electricals]].
* The Silents claim they have been on [[Earth]] since the "[[wheel]] and the [[fire]]".


=== Films ===
=== Influences ===
* This story shares similarities with the 1988 John Carpenter film ''They Live'', in which the protagonist discovers a hidden alien race living amongst humans, using subliminal messages to influence their development. The Doctor's method for defeating the Silence, broadcasting the aliens' voice and subliminal control via television to command humanity to kill its secret rulers, closely resembles Ray Nelson's 1963 short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning"&nbsp;&ndash; the basis for ''They Live''.
 
* Dr. Renfrew was based on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfield Renfield] from ''[[Dracula (book)|Dracula]].'' [[Steven Moffat]] would later co-create a [[2020]] [[Dracula (TV series)|adaptation]] with [[Mark Gatiss]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
<!---Do not add anything about the little girl being a Time Lord, Time Lady etc.--->
<!---Do not add anything about the little girl being a Time Lord, Time Lady etc.--->
* This episode had the working title ''Look Behind You''.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-titles-and-date-16375.htm</ref>
* This episode had the working title ''Look Behind You''.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-titles-and-date-16375.htm</ref>
* This is the first two-part opening episode of the revived series.
* This is the first two-part opening since ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]'' as well as the first multi-part opener of the post-2005 series.
* The Doctor mentions David Frost, referencing the famous interviews by Frost of Nixon and the film ''Frost/Nixon''. [[Michael Sheen]], who played Frost in the film, appeared as the voice of [[House]] two episodes later in ''[[The Doctor's Wife]]''.
* The Doctor mentions [[David Frost]], referencing the famous interviews by Frost of Nixon and the film ''[[Frost-Nixon|Frost/Nixon]]''. [[Michael Sheen]], who played Frost in the film, appeared as the voice of [[House (The Doctor's Wife)|House]] two episodes later in ''[[The Doctor's Wife (TV story)|The Doctor's Wife]]''.
* The Doctor calls for help after he is captured breaking into Apollo 11. Rory, River and President Nixon arrive in the TARDIS to help him. This is one of the very rare moments in the series where someone other than the Doctor (in this case River) pilots the TARDIS without the Doctor on board.
* During the TARDIS's momentary hover against the side of the skyscraper, there is an elder or younger self of each of the TARDIS's five occupants elsewhere at the same instant:
* The Doctor tells Nixon that he has to tape everything that he says in his office or else he won't know if the Silent has affected him. This is a reference to the Nixon tapes, with the famous eighteen and a half minute gap in one of the tapes.
** Canton Delaware's days- or weeks-younger self is several floors above, having just seen River Song back-flip into apparent oblivion.
** River's decades-younger self Melody Pond is somewhere between Coco Beach, Florida and Manhattan.
** The Doctor's centuries-younger self, the [[Third Doctor]], is in Great Britain, working with [[Liz Shaw]] for [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] and attempting to repair his disabled TARDIS. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'')
** Rory Williams' and Amy Pond's decades-older selves are presumably within a few miles away, living their post-companionship lives. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'') In the case of Amy, however, her elder self is the ''only'' Amy Pond existing at that moment, as the apparent Amy aboard the TARDIS is a [[Ganger]] avatar linked to Amy in the [[52nd century]] at [[Demon's Run]]'s infirmary. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Almost People (TV story)|The Almost People]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')
* During the Doctor's three-month-long imprisonment at Area 51, his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]] was stranded with [[Martha Jones]] in London for several weeks without the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'') Their [[Second Doctor|second]]-[[Third Doctor|third]] incarnations are in Great Britain, as an adjunct to, and then employee of, UNIT. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'', ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'', ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians (TV story)|Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'', ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'')
* While the Eleventh Doctor and his colleagues are defeating the Silence late at night on 19 July (early morning 20 July in the UK and on Moon), several successive loops of the Doctor's [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]], [[Martha Jones]], and the Doctor's TARDIS are off-camera with [[Neil Armstrong]] and Buzz Aldrin to witness history. At the same time, the Doctor's [[Third Doctor|third incarnation]] is either in the UK or in Earth orbit. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)|The Ambassadors of Death]]'')
* The Doctor tells Nixon that he has to tape everything that he says in his office or else he won't know if the Silent has affected him. This is a reference to the [[Nixon tapes]], with the famous eighteen and a half minute gap in one of the tapes.
* The opening narration by Amy, while standard for broadcasts in the United States, Australia, and Canada, is absent in the Canadian broadcast.
* The opening narration by Amy, while standard for broadcasts in the United States, Australia, and Canada, is absent in the Canadian broadcast.
* This marks the first time that a female regenerates onscreen in a canonical ''Doctor Who'' production, discounting the [[Minyan]]s in [[DW]]: ''[[Underworld (TV story)|Underworld]]'' and [[Romana]]'s partly-onscreen regeneration in [[DW]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]''.
* This marks the first time that a female regenerates onscreen in a ''Doctor Who'' production, discounting the [[Minyan]]s in [[TV]]: ''[[Underworld (TV story)|Underworld]]'', [[Romana]]'s partly-onscreen regeneration in [[TV]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]'', and [[Jenny (The Doctor's Daughter)|Jenny]]'s revival in [[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Daughter (TV story)|The Doctor's Daughter]]''.
* This story shares similarities with the 1988 John Carpenter film {{wi|They Live}}, in which the protagonist discovers a hidden alien race living amongst humans, using subliminal messages to influence their development. The Doctor's method for defeating the Silence, broadcasting the aliens' voice and subliminal control via television to command humanity to kill its secret rulers, closely resembles {{w|Ray Nelson}}'s 1963 short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" – the basis for ''They Live''.
* Though she never uses it, River is seen wearing a [[River Song's vortex manipulator|vortex manipulator]] following Amy's abduction. When the Doctor takes River back to the [[Stormcage Containment Facility]], she has removed it again.
* Delaware was written to be deceptively antagonistic towards the protagonists, which was based on [[Mark Sheppard]]'s past as villains for his work in American television.
* Incorporating [[Richard Nixon]] into the plot was accidental. [[Steven Moffat]] wanted to set the story during the moon landing and looked up the United States president during the time. He was initially disappointed that it was such a "rubbish one" and briefly considered using a generic, unnamed president, such as the one seen in ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]''. However, he thought it "didn't feel right for a story partly about real events" and realized it could be fun to use Nixon. He believed there was something "comically awkward" about him, and it would be interesting for the Doctor to have to work with someone he did not like.
* There were originally two running gags - the Doctor insisting on keeping his beard, and River refusing to remove his handcuffs. These eventually dovetailed when River advanced upon the restrained Doctor with a shaving razor in hand.
* The control room set used from ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'' was used again for this episode. [[Steven Moffat]] wanted the set to be used again, feeling it would be a suitable Silence base. The set was adapted to give it a darker, evil feel. Because of this, fans have been theorising that it's the same ship.
* [[Matt Smith]] wore a glued-on beard, which was difficult to peel off.
* The scene in which Amy confronts Canton was originally watched by three Silence in the script.
* The sequence where Delaware chases Amy was shot in the Valley of the Gods in Utah. [[Karen Gillan]] found it difficult to run because of the altitude.
* The "young girl" was originally going to regenerate in [[Chicago]].
* Rory's capture by Canton was conceived as taking place at docklands near [[Golden Gate Bridge|the Golden Gate Bridge]].
* This two-parter formed Block Two of season six.
* [[Steven Moffat]] said before broadcast that this would be one of the darkest openers to a series ever done for ''Doctor Who''. [[Toby Haynes]] believed that the darker episodes would allow the series to get into "more dangerous territory."
* The Florida orphanage was filmed at the abandoned Troy House in Monmouthshire. To add the effect that a storm is outside the building, the production crew placed rain machines outdoors and flashing lights to simulate lightning.
* The Silence were portrayed by [[Marnix Van Den Broeke|Marnix van den Broeke]] and other performers. The masks caused vision difficulties for the performers, who had to be guided by two people when they had to walk. Van den Broeke did not provide the voices of the Silence, as it was replaced during post-production.
* [[Arthur Darvill]] would later infiltrate a moon launch in ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legends_of_Tomorrow Legends of Tomorrow].''


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
* 7.30 million (36.7% market share)
* 7.30 million (36.7% market share; UK final)<ref>[http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date Doctor Who Ratings - UK final]</ref>


=== Myths ===
=== Myths ===
* We will see [[River Song]] as a child. ''This has been proven true in ''[[Let's Kill Hitler]]''.''
* We will see [[River Song]] as a child. ''This was to be proven true in [[TV]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]''.''
* This episode will air the day after ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]''<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/new-series-6-trailer-air-date-rumours-15879.htm</ref><ref>http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2011/03/talk-of-air-dates.html</ref><ref>http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2011/03/double-who.html</ref>''This has been proven false''
* This episode will air the day after ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]''<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/new-series-6-trailer-air-date-rumours-15879.htm</ref><ref>http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2011/03/talk-of-air-dates.html</ref><ref>http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2011/03/double-who.html</ref> ''This has been proven false.''


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
* The Prequel to ''The Impossible Astronaut'' was shot on 11 November, 2010. Other scenes shot that day included the scene in the 'perfect prison'. These sequences were shot metres from each other as the Oval Office stood about half a dozen paces from the Doctor's cell.
* The [[Prequel (The Impossible Astronaut)|prequel to ''The Impossible Astronaut'']] was shot on [[11 November (production)|11 November]] [[2010 (production)|2010]]. Other scenes shot that day included the scene in the 'perfect prison'. These sequences were shot metres from each other as the Oval Office stood about half a dozen paces from the Doctor's cell.
* [[Large Shandon Lecture Theatre]], Main Building, [[Cardiff University]], Park Place, Cardiff (scenes set in NASA)


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{discontinuity}}
{{discontinuity}}
* When River backs toward the edge of the building, she's still a few inches from the edge before she falls back.
* When River backs toward the edge of the building, she's still a few inches from the edge before she falls back.
* When President Nixon arrives to bail out the Doctor, River and he follow the Doctor back into the TARDIS. When the camera focuses on Rory, you hear the TARDIS doors close, but when it shows Rory again, they're still partially open.
* In the scene when President Nixon arrives to bail out the Doctor, he and River follow the Doctor back into the TARDIS. Then when the camera focuses on Rory, you hear the TARDIS doors close, but when it shows Rory again, they're still partially open.
* Close examination of the television sets shows they only have one tuning dial, clearly marked "UHF". American television receivers of that era would have had two mechanical tuning dials, one for VHF and one for UHF. Sets from the UK would presumably only have the UHF dial if it was a 625-line PAL set, as VHF had only been used for the 405-line System A transmission that was the original BBC signal standard.
* Close examination of the television sets shows they only have one tuning dial, clearly marked "UHF". American television receivers of that era would have had two mechanical tuning dials, one for VHF and one for UHF. Sets from the UK would presumably only have the UHF dial if it was a 625-line PAL set, as VHF had only been used for the 405-line System A transmission that was the original BBC signal standard.
* [[Dwarf star alloy]] would be far too heavy for two men to lift. ''The Doctor calls this "Zero-Balance dwarf star alloy. "Zero-Balance" may explain the comparative lightness.''
* The audio of the moon landing playing in the final confrontation between the Doctor and the Silents is incorrect. You can clearly hear Armstrong say "engines stopped", identifying the audio clip as from the landing of the Eagle Lunar Module, which occurred several hours before Armstrong stepped on the moon. When the Doctor finally points to the screen, the audio and video are of Armstrong's historic first step.
* The audio of the moon landing playing in the final confrontation between the Doctor and the Silents is incorrect. You can clearly hear Armstrong say "engines stopped", identifying the audio clip as from the landing of the Eagle Lunar Module, which occurred several hours before Armstrong stepped on the moon. When the Doctor finally points to the screen, the audio and video are of Armstrong's historic first step.
* In the orphanage, Doctor Renfrew is holding a cloth in his right hand, then there is a shot of Amy and Canton, and then when the camera cuts back to Doctor Renfrew, the cloth is in his left hand. After another shot of Amy and Canton, the cloth is back in his right hand. ''This is either a production error or he passed it to each hand between shots.''
* In the orphanage, Doctor Renfrew is holding a cloth in his right hand, then there is a shot of Amy and Canton, and then when the camera cuts back to Doctor Renfrew, the cloth is in his left hand. After another shot of Amy and Canton, the cloth is back in his right hand. ''This is either a production error or he passed it to each hand between shots.''
* Nixon appears not to recognize the name ''David Frost''.  In reality, Frost interviewed Nixon in 1968 and Nixon was so pleased with the outcome he met with the journalist to discuss future projects.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* <!---Do not add anything about the little girl being a Time Lord, Time Lady etc-->During the events of [[DW]]: ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'', the Doctor enters a TARDIS-like console room, which contains the deceased body of an alien, which distinctly has the same number of fingers as the Silence. It's possible that the events of this story are the reason behind the ship crashing at ''Aickman Road''.   
<!---Do not add anything about the little girl being a Time Lord, Time Lady etc-->
* River Song mocks the Doctor for brandishing his sonic screwdriver in a gunfight and tells him to go "build a cabinet", similar to a conversation [[Captain Jack]] had with the [[Ninth Doctor]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Doctor Dances]]'')
* River Song mocks the Doctor for brandishing his sonic screwdriver in a gunfight and tells him to go "build a [[cabinet]]", similar to a conversation [[Captain Jack]] had with the [[Ninth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'')
* The Doctor tastes the "TARDIS blue"-coloured envelope in an attempt to gather information. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Hungry Earth]]'', ''[[The Idiot's Lantern]]'', ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'', ''[[Tooth and Claw (TV story)|Tooth and Claw]]'')
** The [[War Doctor]] later mocks the [[Tenth Doctor]] and the [[Eleventh Doctor]] by asking if they were going to "assemble a cabinet at" [[Queen Elizabeth I]]'s soldiers. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* River's scanner is branded [[Magpie Electricals]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Idiot's Lantern]]'')
** Ironically River herself would brandish her [[sonic trowel]] at King [[Hydroflax]]'s guards in such a manner. While she is able to stun the guards, she has no effect on Hydroflax himself and states that the trowel, like the screwdriver is not a weapon. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'')
* The Doctor recalls [[Prisoner Zero]], a silent [[Venice]] and the voice claiming "silence will fall". ([[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'', ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]'', ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
* River's stunt off the side of a building mirrors a successful escape strategy employed by the [[Eighth Doctor]] during his chess match with General Tschike following/prior to the events in the East Indies ReVit Zone. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alien Bodies (novel)|Alien Bodies]]'')
* Rory reveals he remembers the two thousand years he spent as an [[Auton]] guarding the [[Pandorica]] with Amy inside, but that he doesn't always have those memories. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')
* The Doctor tastes the "TARDIS blue"-coloured envelope in an attempt to gather information as he does with other things. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', ''[[The Hungry Earth (TV story)|The Hungry Earth]]'') a practice his [[Tenth Doctor|predecessor]] did. ([[TV]]: ''[[Tooth and Claw (TV story)|Tooth and Claw]]'', ''[[The Idiot's Lantern (TV story)|The Idiot's Lantern]]'')
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] has previously been held prisoner in [[Area 51]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]]'').
* Rory mentions that he was there when [[Rome]] fell. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
* The Doctor opens the TARDIS with a snap of his fingers. ([[DW]]: ''[[Forest of the Dead]]'', ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]])
* The Doctor recalls [[Prisoner Zero]], a silent [[Venice]], and a voice claiming "silence will fall". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]'', ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Martha Jones]] watched the Apollo 11 moon landing four times. ([[DW]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'')
* Despite having previously stated his dislike of guns ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'', ''[[The Doctor's Daughter (TV story)|The Doctor's Daughter]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'') the Eleventh Doctor notes, much to his regret, he likes that River uses a gun.
* [[Dwarf star alloy]] previously featured in [[DW]]: ''[[Warriors' Gate]]'' and briefly in [[DW]]: ''[[The Family of Blood]]''.
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] was previously held as a prisoner in [[Area 51]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]]'')
* When the Doctor discovers the Silence' underground lair, which is nearly identical to the interior of the [[79B Aickman Road]] timeship, he makes the comparison, describing it as being "very Aickman Road." ([[DW]]: ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'')
* The Doctor opens the TARDIS with a snap of his fingers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Forest of the Dead (TV story)|Forest of the Dead]]'', ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'')
* When Canton tells the Doctor that River jumped off a skyscraper, he replies, "It's okay, she does that", referencing her leap out of an airlock in ''[[The Time of Angels]]''. The Doctor once again positions the TARDIS to catch her after she makes the seemingly fatal leap.
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Martha Jones]] watched the Apollo 11 moon landing four times. ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'')
* The Doctor has apparently found (or recreated) the TARDIS' swimming pool. He orders everyone to open the doors to its room, referencing [[DW]]:''[[The Eleventh Hour]]''.
* [[Dwarf star alloy]] is again used for its dense, impenetrable qualities. ([[TV]]: ''[[Warriors' Gate (TV story)|Warriors' Gate]]'', ''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'')
* The music cue that plays when the Doctor drops River off at [[Stormcage]] is used later in [[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'' when River reveals her identity to Amy and Rory. It also plays when the future Doctor's body is burned and when the little girl regenerates.
* When the Doctor discovers the Silence's underground lair, which is nearly identical to the interior of the [[79B Aickman Road]] timeship, he makes the comparison, describing it as being "very Aickman Road". That ship also contained the deceased body of an alien, which distinctly had the same number of fingers as the Silence. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'')
* The Doctor says that the dwarf star alloy is being used to build the "perfect prison". This was used to describe the Pandorica in ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'' and ''[[The Big Bang]].''
* When Canton tells the Doctor that River jumped off a skyscraper, he replies, "It's okay, she does that", referencing her leap out of an airlock. The Doctor once again positions the TARDIS to catch her after she makes the seemingly fatal leap. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]'')
* The Doctor catches River by having Rory and Amy open all the doors to the swimming pool and then positioning the TARDIS to catch her. Given the layout of the console room and the fact that the splash from the pool is visible on screen, it is likely the Doctor rearranged the interior of the TARDIS so the pool room's doors became the entry doors, allowing River to fall directly into the pool, rather than letting her fall through the console room (and likely hitting the console itself) and into the pool room.
* The Doctor orders the doors to the swimming pool to be opened. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'', ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'')
* The [[Fourth Doctor]] previously displayed admiration (albeit reluctant) for [[Leela]]'s killing skills in [[PDA]]: ''[[Match of the Day]]''.
* The Doctor says that the dwarf star alloy is being used to build the "perfect prison", a term also used to describe the Pandorica. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
* The [[Fourth Doctor]] previously displayed admiration (albeit reluctant) for [[Leela]]'s killing skills in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Match of the Day (novel)|Match of the Day]]''.
* The FBI forced Canton to resign because they disapproved of his same-sex orientation, reflecting the attitudes toward [[homosexuality]] at the time. Likewise, [[Ianto Jones]] angrily responded at [[Clement McDonald]], who grew up in the sixties, for calling him "queer" concerning his relationship with [[Jack Harkness]], though he used [[1965]] as a reference date. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)|Children of Earth: Day Three]]'')
* [[River Song]] is seen wearing a [[River Song's vortex manipulator|vortex manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
 
== Home video releases ==
[[File:Series-6-part-1-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb|Series 6, part 1 DVD cover]]
 
=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===


== Timeline ==
* ''Day of the Moon'' was released in Series 6 Part One on DVD and Blu-Ray in region 1/A on [[19 July (releases)|19 July]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]], in region 2/B on [[11 July (releases)|11 July]] 2011 and in region 4/B on [[4 August (releases)|4 August]] 2011. It is a collection of the first seven episodes.
For the Doctor, Amy and Rory:
* The episode was later released in the Complete Sixth Series boxset on both DVD and Blu-ray, in region 1/A on [[22 November (releases)|22 November]] 2011, in region 2/B on [[21 November (releases)|21 November]] 2011 and in region 4/B on [[1 December (releases)|1 December]] 2011.
* This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]''.
* This story occurs before [[DWAN]]: ''[[Extinction Event]]''.
For adult River Song:
* This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]''.
* This story occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]''.
For young Melody:
* This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]''.
* This story occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler]]''.


== Home video releases ==
=== Digital releases ===
[[File:Series-6-part-1-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb]]
 
This story was released as Series 6 Part 1 with ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'', ''[[The Curse of the Black Spot]]'', ''[[The Doctor's Wife]]'', ''[[The Rebel Flesh]]'', ''[[The Almost People]]'' and ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'' on 11 July 2011.
* In the United Kingdom, this story is available on [[BBC iPlayer]].


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110422_01/Day_of_the_Moon ''Day of the Moon'' at bbc.co.uk]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110422_01/Day_of_the_Moon ''Day of the Moon'' at bbc.co.uk]
* {{locguide|dayofthemoon|Day of the Moon}}
{{dwrefguide|who_tv58.htm|Day of the Moon}}
== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{DWTV}}
{{DWTV}}
{{Silent stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
 
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[[fr:Day of the Moon]]
[[ru:День Луны]]
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Latest revision as of 14:16, 21 November 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for the reference book of the same name.

Day of the Moon was the second episode of series 6 of Doctor Who.

It heavily featured location filming across Utah. The episode revealed more of the Doctor's relationship with River, and how accustomed he's become to her mannerisms; they seem to be romantically involved. The question of Amy's pregnancy is still unresolved, while another arose with the unexplained appearance of an eye patch-wearing lady who could somehow make herself visible to only Amy through wall slots that manifested out of nowhere. The episode also ended with something of a cliffhanger, with the little girl beginning a regeneration. This was the first on-screen regeneration of a female since TV: Destiny of the Daleks.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

As Amy Pond, Rory Williams and River Song are pursued across America by Canton Everett Delaware III and the FBI, the Eleventh Doctor is locked in the perfect prison.

Against the backdrop of the first moon landing, the Doctor and his companions must solve the mystery of the aliens and the little girl.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Three months after the events of the warehouse, Amy is chased down the Valley of Gods in Utah. She has strange pen markings all over her skin and arms. She is cornered between two SUVs and a cliff-face. Canton Everett Delaware III advises her to surrender. When she wonders if he remembers what happened at the warehouse, he responds by shooting her down.

In Area 51, the Eleventh Doctor, is held as a prisoner in a straitjacket and under heavy security. Canton tosses a file of pictures taken of the markings on Amy to the Doctor, questioning him about their meaning. The Doctor suggests Canton ask Amy himself, getting no response, implying her death.

River Song, also covered in markings, explores an unfinished skyscraper in New York City filled with the mysterious aliens. FBI agents corner her at the edge of the building. Again, Canton advises her to surrender, but she warns them of the alien occupation and smiles sadly before falling off the side of the building.

Back at Area 51, Canton informs the Doctor that they found River. The Doctor notes that the employees are placing blocks of dwarf star alloy in a square around him, knowing that nothing can get past it, not light, radio waves or sound. He then asks Canton what happened to River, learning she jumped off the 50th floor.

Finally, Rory is at the Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona. He runs from Canton and the FBI until they corner him. Willing to give up, Rory asks why he isn't shooting him; Canton believes it would look better if he shot Rory while he was running, shooting him after finishing his sentence.

Back in Area 51, Canton enters the completed cell with body bags containing Amy and Rory. The Doctor questions Canton, wondering if he knows why he is doing this. Canton jokes he wants to let the Doctor know where he stands; in a cell. Sealing the door, Canton explains the cell's material will keep anything from escaping. He then says no one can hear them now. The Doctor congratulates Canton and asks if the door's sealed properly. Once confirmed, the Doctor frees himself easily and Amy and Rory emerge from the body bags. Rory complains about the lack of air holes; Canton jokes that no one's complained before. Amy points out a tiny flaw with the cell; they can't get out without the guards noticing them. The Doctor says she is right; no matter what the guards think they are doing in there, they know they can't leave. He then falls against the invisible TARDIS, opening it for his companions.

Canton then questions the Doctor about River as she jumped off a rooftop. The Doctor explains, "She does that", ordering Amy and Rory to open all the doors to the swimming pool. He parks the TARDIS sideways on the skyscraper right after River falls, catching her. As everyone cleans themselves up, the Doctor tells his companions not to worry as he's got a secret weapon; the TARDIS lands a short distance away from Cape Kennedy, where Apollo 11 is being prepared for launch. River questions the Doctor about his plan; Apollo 11 is his secret weapon? The Doctor tells her it's not because that would be "silly", saying it's Neil Armstrong's foot.

The Doctor implants a nano-recorder in each of his companions' palms, explaining they are to activate it and leave themselves a message each time they have an encounter with the mysterious aliens. When it flashes red, they'll know they've seen one of the creatures. Canton looks towards the doors for a moment and then casually adjusts the Doctor's bowtie, but is horrified to find his nano-recorder is flashing. The message, "How the hell did it get here?" makes them realise there is an alien near the TARDIS doors. It is not real; the Doctor has extrapolated the image from Amy's phone and projected it into the TARDIS as a hologram, yet the effect is the same. The message also contains the Doctor's voice ordering Canton to straighten his bowtie upon turning around.

Turning off the image, the Doctor orders Canton to tell him what the alien looked like. However, neither Canton nor he can describe it. The Doctor then explains that Canton straightened his bowtie because he planted the idea in his head while looking at the image of the creature. Amy and Rory ask the Doctor if the creatures use post-hypnotic suggestion to rule the world. Knowing that the creatures got the spacesuit from NASA, the Doctor decides that they must have taken the girl from a nearby children's home. Ordering his companions to look into it themselves, the Doctor explains that he's off to NASA to do the prep work on his secret weapon.

Canton and Amy head for Graystark Hall, despite it being closed two years ago. They meet Dr Renfrew, who is quite erratic. He leads them inside, explaining that the orphanage will close in 1967. However, Canton corrects him, explaining that it's 1969. Amy goes off on her own to investigate, calling the Doctor to inform him they found the place; with Renfrew like he is and the messages on the walls, there is no doubt. The Doctor, in the meantime, has been busy messing around with the electronics in Apollo 11, adding one of his own devices. After telling Amy that repeated memory wipes can fry one's mind, he hangs up because security has caught him.

Amy continues searching the orphanage, finding a nest of hibernating aliens on the ceiling of a room. Her nano-recorder flashes red; she has left a message warning herself to leave and there are tally marks all over her arms and face. Eventually, she departs, forgetting, but one of the aliens wakes as the door slams behind her.

Amy sees the Eye Patch Lady.

Down the hall, Amy spots a woman with an eyepatch looking at her through a slot in one of the doors. When she steps inside, the room is empty and the slot is gone. It is a child's bedroom, scattered with toys and pictures of the little girl. Amy discovers one picture of herself with the girl as a baby. While trying to make sense of it, the little girl, still in the astronaut suit, enters behind her, begging for help. Amy apologises for shooting her and tries to explain that she will kill the Doctor in the future. The girl continues to beg for help, confusing Amy further. Two of the aliens enter. Amy screams.

In Renfrew's office, Canton questions what the man has been doing there since the closing of Graystark, learning that Dr Renfrew was told the child must be cared for. A knocking at the door has Renfrew answer to someone and explains that he's being questioned. Once Renfrew returns to Canton, he is questioned as to who was on the other side of the door. However, once Dr Renfrew asks him what he means, the door opens and an alien enters. Canton activates his nano-recorder, asking the alien if it's armed as he hears Amy screaming for help. The alien gloats that its kind has ruled the Earth since the Stone Age, having no need of weapons. Canton shoots the alien thrice, sarcastically saying, "Well, welcome to America."

In the meantime, the Doctor has been caught by NASA security and is being questioned. Despite telling them the truth about being on a secret mission for the president, the Doctor is met with doubt; he tells them that he sent Nixon a message for help. As they laugh at the idea, President Nixon arrives in the TARDIS with River and Rory and orders the Doctor's release. As they depart, the Doctor receives a call from Canton, who is asking for help.

They rendezvous at the orphanage, where Canton is trying to break into the child's room. Amy can be heard inside, crying for help. The Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to open the door, but they are horrified to find Amy missing. All that's left of her is her nano-recorder on the floor, broadcasting her words, and the abandoned astronaut suit; unbeknownst to them, the little girl lurks around the corner, listening to them. On learning Canton has shot one of the aliens, the Doctor rushes to the warden's office to confront the creature. He asks what it is and the alien replies that it is the Silence and silence will fall. This echoes warnings the Doctor has received from Prisoner Zero and Rosanna Calvierri.

Rory, River, and the Doctor set about finding Amy, returning the empty astronaut suit to the warehouse. Canton brings the wounded alien to the Doctor's prison at Area 51, where he is met with hostility as it has been days since he sealed the prison. When they refuse to bring a military doctor on Canton's orders, President Nixon emerges from the prison, having been brought by the TARDIS, and calms the soldiers with a speech. When the military doctor comes and Nixon departs, Canton treats the alien's wounds, which the creature threateningly warns is a mistake. When Canton asks what he should have done, it replies that the humans should "kill [them] all on sight". Canton smugly reveals that he has recorded this on Amy's video phone.

In the Florida warehouse, River and the Doctor dissect the space suit, learning it is the perfect life support machine. This explains how the little girl was able to survive Amy shooting her. It is fitted with at least twenty types of alien tech, meaning the little girl must be very strong to have fought her way out of it. River wonders if the suit could move without an occupant, remembering that the little girl's original phone call claimed the space man was coming to eat her. Rory, meanwhile, is devastated by Amy's disappearance, keeping her nano-recorder with him at all times. In one instance, Amy tells the listener that her life was so boring before he "dropped out of the sky" and that he needs to get his "stupid face" where she can see it. Rory believes she is referring to the Doctor, who tries to reassure him of Amy's love for him by reminding him of the two thousand years he spent protecting her. Rory then wonders why the life support suit looks like something an astronaut would wear. The Doctor explains that the Silence never make anything themselves, being "super parasites", going on to explain that the reason humanity wanted to go to the moon was because the Silence were in need of a spacesuit.

Amy wakes to find herself tied to a standing framework, surrounded by the Silence, in their console room. The Silence inform her that she has been with them for several days and that she will help "bring the silence". They order her to sleep repeatedly, but she fights it off just as the sound of the TARDIS materialisation occurs; the Doctor tracked the signal from Amy's nano-recorder to her location. He emerges from the TARDIS and is met with surprise at the appearance of the Silence's lair — "Very Aickman Road. Saw one of these before; abandoned, wonder how that happened. Well, guess I'm about to find out."

He sets a television on the console, telling the Silence that he is not violent, but River will not hesitate to shoot any of them. He asks the Silence why the little girl is so important to them but they do not answer. He gets the television set working for the live broadcast of the moon landing and uses the device he put in the command module to hack the broadcast signal just as Neil Armstrong's foot touches the lunar surface. The image is replaced with the video Canton took on Amy's phone: the Silence saying that humans should kill them all on sight.

This seals the fate of the Silence. Every human in future history will see this famous broadcast. Through their power of post-hypnotic suggestion, the Silence have just ordered their own execution. People who watch the live broadcast obey this order, shooting the Silence without thinking. Enraged by the Doctor's victory, the Silence attack. Rory goes to free Amy, but she orders him to get his "stupid face" to safety. With the Doctor's assistance, he gets her to the TARDIS, where they wait as River kills every alien in the room. Rory, perplexed, asks what kind of doctor she is. River replies that she's an archaeologist, and shoots a remaining member of the Silence without even looking before calmly joining the others in the TARDIS.

They return Canton to the Oval Office and the Doctor tells Nixon to record everything that goes on in the office. Nixon, who has been told that the Doctor is from the future, wonders if the American people will remember him. The Doctor replies that he will never be forgotten. He informs Nixon that all Canton wants to do is get married and insists that Nixon should give his permission and allow Canton to return to the FBI as a parting favour. As the TARDIS disappears, Nixon confirms with Canton that his fiance is black, considering allowing the marriage as he is perhaps "more liberal" than people think. Canton then explains that his fiance is a man, prompting Nixon to remark that "the moon is far enough for now".

River is returned to prison. The Doctor offers her a chance to travel with him but she declines, saying she has made a promise and he'll soon understand. As the Doctor turns to leave, River pulls him into a lingering kiss. When he is confused, she realises that, from the Doctor's perspective, this is their first kiss — meaning that, from her perspective, it may be their last.

The Doctor sends Rory on an errand in the TARDIS, giving him and Amy time to talk about her pregnancy. She admits that she didn't tell Rory about it because she was afraid that her time spent in the TARDIS would give the baby some deformity. Unbeknownst to her, Rory is listening to their conversation via her nano-recorder, which is still broadcasting. She catches him and reassures him she is safe and she is not pregnant. The Doctor, however, is less certain. While he sets the TARDIS on course for a new destination, he secretly has the console scan Amy for pregnancy. He is disturbed to find the results state that Amy is both pregnant and not pregnant.

Six months later, in New York City, a homeless man comes across the little girl in an alley near 44th Street. Coughing, the little girl explains that she is dying, but it is okay because she can easily fix it. Telling him to watch, she begins glowing and initiates a regeneration, causing the man to flee in terror.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.
          

Rhys Jones is credited as a "Prop Chargehand" rather than a "Props Chargehand".  Jay Harley was credited under their deadname as assistant director.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Anatomy and physiology[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Amy explains her fear that travelling in the TARDIS while pregnant would have some sort of effect on the baby, suggesting it could have three heads or a "timehead".

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor asks Nixon to say "Hi" to David Frost for him.
  • Rory reveals he remembers the two thousand years he spent as an Auton guarding the Pandorica with Amy inside, but that he doesn't always have those memories.
  • The Doctor and River kiss - for a first time in his timeline and what she thinks is their last.

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Influences[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This episode had the working title Look Behind You.[1]
  • This is the first two-part opening since Attack of the Cybermen as well as the first multi-part opener of the post-2005 series.
  • The Doctor mentions David Frost, referencing the famous interviews by Frost of Nixon and the film Frost/Nixon. Michael Sheen, who played Frost in the film, appeared as the voice of House two episodes later in The Doctor's Wife.
  • During the TARDIS's momentary hover against the side of the skyscraper, there is an elder or younger self of each of the TARDIS's five occupants elsewhere at the same instant:
    • Canton Delaware's days- or weeks-younger self is several floors above, having just seen River Song back-flip into apparent oblivion.
    • River's decades-younger self Melody Pond is somewhere between Coco Beach, Florida and Manhattan.
    • The Doctor's centuries-younger self, the Third Doctor, is in Great Britain, working with Liz Shaw for Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and attempting to repair his disabled TARDIS. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death)
    • Rory Williams' and Amy Pond's decades-older selves are presumably within a few miles away, living their post-companionship lives. (TV: The Angels Take Manhattan) In the case of Amy, however, her elder self is the only Amy Pond existing at that moment, as the apparent Amy aboard the TARDIS is a Ganger avatar linked to Amy in the 52nd century at Demon's Run's infirmary. (TV: The Almost People, A Good Man Goes to War)
  • During the Doctor's three-month-long imprisonment at Area 51, his tenth incarnation was stranded with Martha Jones in London for several weeks without the TARDIS. (TV: Blink) Their second-third incarnations are in Great Britain, as an adjunct to, and then employee of, UNIT. (TV: The Invasion, Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death)
  • While the Eleventh Doctor and his colleagues are defeating the Silence late at night on 19 July (early morning 20 July in the UK and on Moon), several successive loops of the Doctor's tenth incarnation, Martha Jones, and the Doctor's TARDIS are off-camera with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to witness history. At the same time, the Doctor's third incarnation is either in the UK or in Earth orbit. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death)
  • The Doctor tells Nixon that he has to tape everything that he says in his office or else he won't know if the Silent has affected him. This is a reference to the Nixon tapes, with the famous eighteen and a half minute gap in one of the tapes.
  • The opening narration by Amy, while standard for broadcasts in the United States, Australia, and Canada, is absent in the Canadian broadcast.
  • This marks the first time that a female regenerates onscreen in a Doctor Who production, discounting the Minyans in TV: Underworld, Romana's partly-onscreen regeneration in TV: Destiny of the Daleks, and Jenny's revival in TV: The Doctor's Daughter.
  • This story shares similarities with the 1988 John Carpenter film They Live, in which the protagonist discovers a hidden alien race living amongst humans, using subliminal messages to influence their development. The Doctor's method for defeating the Silence, broadcasting the aliens' voice and subliminal control via television to command humanity to kill its secret rulers, closely resembles Ray Nelson's 1963 short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" – the basis for They Live.
  • Though she never uses it, River is seen wearing a vortex manipulator following Amy's abduction. When the Doctor takes River back to the Stormcage Containment Facility, she has removed it again.
  • Delaware was written to be deceptively antagonistic towards the protagonists, which was based on Mark Sheppard's past as villains for his work in American television.
  • Incorporating Richard Nixon into the plot was accidental. Steven Moffat wanted to set the story during the moon landing and looked up the United States president during the time. He was initially disappointed that it was such a "rubbish one" and briefly considered using a generic, unnamed president, such as the one seen in The Sound of Drums. However, he thought it "didn't feel right for a story partly about real events" and realized it could be fun to use Nixon. He believed there was something "comically awkward" about him, and it would be interesting for the Doctor to have to work with someone he did not like.
  • There were originally two running gags - the Doctor insisting on keeping his beard, and River refusing to remove his handcuffs. These eventually dovetailed when River advanced upon the restrained Doctor with a shaving razor in hand.
  • The control room set used from The Lodger was used again for this episode. Steven Moffat wanted the set to be used again, feeling it would be a suitable Silence base. The set was adapted to give it a darker, evil feel. Because of this, fans have been theorising that it's the same ship.
  • Matt Smith wore a glued-on beard, which was difficult to peel off.
  • The scene in which Amy confronts Canton was originally watched by three Silence in the script.
  • The sequence where Delaware chases Amy was shot in the Valley of the Gods in Utah. Karen Gillan found it difficult to run because of the altitude.
  • The "young girl" was originally going to regenerate in Chicago.
  • Rory's capture by Canton was conceived as taking place at docklands near the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • This two-parter formed Block Two of season six.
  • Steven Moffat said before broadcast that this would be one of the darkest openers to a series ever done for Doctor Who. Toby Haynes believed that the darker episodes would allow the series to get into "more dangerous territory."
  • The Florida orphanage was filmed at the abandoned Troy House in Monmouthshire. To add the effect that a storm is outside the building, the production crew placed rain machines outdoors and flashing lights to simulate lightning.
  • The Silence were portrayed by Marnix van den Broeke and other performers. The masks caused vision difficulties for the performers, who had to be guided by two people when they had to walk. Van den Broeke did not provide the voices of the Silence, as it was replaced during post-production.
  • Arthur Darvill would later infiltrate a moon launch in Legends of Tomorrow.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • 7.30 million (36.7% market share; UK final)[2]

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • When River backs toward the edge of the building, she's still a few inches from the edge before she falls back.
  • In the scene when President Nixon arrives to bail out the Doctor, he and River follow the Doctor back into the TARDIS. Then when the camera focuses on Rory, you hear the TARDIS doors close, but when it shows Rory again, they're still partially open.
  • Close examination of the television sets shows they only have one tuning dial, clearly marked "UHF". American television receivers of that era would have had two mechanical tuning dials, one for VHF and one for UHF. Sets from the UK would presumably only have the UHF dial if it was a 625-line PAL set, as VHF had only been used for the 405-line System A transmission that was the original BBC signal standard.
  • The audio of the moon landing playing in the final confrontation between the Doctor and the Silents is incorrect. You can clearly hear Armstrong say "engines stopped", identifying the audio clip as from the landing of the Eagle Lunar Module, which occurred several hours before Armstrong stepped on the moon. When the Doctor finally points to the screen, the audio and video are of Armstrong's historic first step.
  • In the orphanage, Doctor Renfrew is holding a cloth in his right hand, then there is a shot of Amy and Canton, and then when the camera cuts back to Doctor Renfrew, the cloth is in his left hand. After another shot of Amy and Canton, the cloth is back in his right hand. This is either a production error or he passed it to each hand between shots.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 6, part 1 DVD cover

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Day of the Moon was released in Series 6 Part One on DVD and Blu-Ray in region 1/A on 19 July 2011, in region 2/B on 11 July 2011 and in region 4/B on 4 August 2011. It is a collection of the first seven episodes.
  • The episode was later released in the Complete Sixth Series boxset on both DVD and Blu-ray, in region 1/A on 22 November 2011, in region 2/B on 21 November 2011 and in region 4/B on 1 December 2011.

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In the United Kingdom, this story is available on BBC iPlayer.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-titles-and-date-16375.htm
  2. ↑ Doctor Who Ratings - UK final
  3. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/new-series-6-trailer-air-date-rumours-15879.htm
  4. ↑ http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2011/03/talk-of-air-dates.html
  5. ↑ http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2011/03/double-who.html
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