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{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}{{real world}}
{{title dab away}}
{{Infobox NewTV
{{real world}}
| story name      = Day of the Moon
{{ImageLinkTV}}
| image          = [[file:Tonight on BBC One.jpg|250px]]
{{Infobox Story SMW
| series          =  
|image          = Tonight on BBC One.jpg
| number         = [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|Series 6]]
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
| story number    = 214b
|season number   = Series 6 (Doctor Who 2005)
| doctor          = [[Eleventh Doctor]]
|series episode number = 2
| companions      = [[Amy Pond]]<br>[[Rory Williams]]<br>[[River Song]] (guest)
|story number    = 214b
| enemy          = [[The Silence]]
|doctor          = Eleventh Doctor
| setting        =  
|companions      = [[Amy Pond|Amy]], [[River Song|River]], [[Rory Williams|Rory]], [[Canton Everett Delaware III|Canton]]
| writer          = [[Steven Moffat]]
|featuring      = Richard Nixon
| director        = [[Toby Haynes]]  
|featuring2      = Melody Pond (Prequel to The Impossible Astronaut)
| producer        =  
|enemy          = [[Silent]]s
| broadcast date  = [[30th April]] [[2011]]
|setting        = [[Florida]], [[July]] [[1969]]
| confidential    = [[Breaking the Silence]]
|writer          = Steven Moffat
| format          = 1x 45 minute episode
|director        = [[Toby Haynes]]  
| production code = 2.2
|producer        = [[Marcus Wilson]]
| previous story  = [[The Impossible Astronaut]]
|broadcast date  = 30 April 2011
| next story      = [[The Curse of the Black Spot]]
|network        = BBC One
}}{{TV stub}}{{protect}}
|confidential    = Breaking the Silence (CON episode)
'''''Day of the Moon''''' was the second episode of the [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|sixth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
|format          = 1x45 minute episode
|production code = 2.2
|prev            = The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)
|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 ==
The Doctor is locked in the perfect prison. Amy, Rory and River Song are being hunted down across America by the FBI. With the help of new friend and FBI-insider, Canton Everett Delaware the Third, our heroes are reunited to share their discoveries, if not their memories. For the world is occupied by an alien force who control humanity through 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>
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 [[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 [[Amy]] shot at the little girl, she is chased down in the middle of the Valey of the Gods in [[Utah]]. She has strange pen markings and tally marks all over her skin. Eventually, she is cornered between two SUVs and a cliff face. [[Canton Delaware]] advises her to surrender, but eventually shoots her. Her body is brought before [[The Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor]], who is being kept prisoner at [[Area 51]] in chains and a straitjacket.
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.
 
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.
 
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 [[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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
[[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.
 
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, [[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.
 
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]].


[[River Song]], also covered in markings, is caught in [[New York]], between the unfinished edge of a skyscraper and Canton's FBI unit. She decides to jump instead of be arrested. Finally, [[Rory Williams|Rory]] -- also covered in markings -- is shot on a dam. He is also taken to the Doctor, who is now having a wall built around him -- blocks that seal together perfectly to make one solid box. It is soundproof and impregnable -- the perfect prison. As it is finished, Canton steps inside and seals the door from the inside.
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.


Once the door is closed, the pretence is dropped and the Doctor easily frees himself. Amy and Rory free themselves from the body bags, and Canton takes on a much friendlier approach to the three. After saving River from the fall by landing the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] on the side of the building and opening the doors into the swimming pool, the three begin to clean themselves of markings, actually tally charts of how many aliens they had seen in the three months. The "[[The Silence|Silence]]" have been found to be everywhere -- across the world. It is not an invasion, but a revolution. In private, Amy tells the Doctor she is not actually pregnant - she made a mistake.
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.


Canton straightens the Doctor's bow tie after the Doctor implants all the occupants of the TARDIS with a small voice recording device. It flashes red when a message has been left, and Canton -- despite him not remembering -- has a flashing hand. The Doctor has extrapolated the image of the Silent from Amy's phone and turned it into a hologram, which is now being projected behind Canton. The message told Canton to turn around and straighten the Doctor's bow tie -- like post-hypnotic suggestion, it was the last thing in Canton's head, so he did that. Even the information would eventually disappear.
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."


Canton and Amy investigate a children's home, where the girl in the astronaut suit was believed to have been taken from. The only person in the building believes that it is 1967, not 1969, and he is delerious. Amy begins to explore, when a room door locks itself. She notices her hand is flashing - the message advises her to leave, as do markings on the wall. She then realises that she has begun to tally her arm again. She looks up - the ceiling is infested with Silent. She runs to another room, where she finds a photo of herself with the girl in the astronaut suit -- which now lies emptty on the floor. Before she can react, she finds that yet another Silent is waiting. Canton hears her scream and arrives at the room -- the Silent reveals he is unarmed, and Canton shoots it.
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.


The Doctor, meanwhile, has been busy -- he is apprehended at NASA after breaking into the Command module, ''Columbia'', atop the Saturn V rocket, and rearranged some of the electronics. After [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] arrives and orders the Doctor's release, he recieves a call from Canton, asking for help.
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.


Amy has gone missing, and her recorder device is left on the floor. It is still recording -- Amy's voice can be heard. While Rory, River and the Doctor set about finding Amy, Canton returns to the cell at Area 51 with the Silent in tow, and talks with it. It tells him that it was a mistake to bandage him and that, as a general rule, "you should kill us all on sight". Canton reveals that he recorded this on Amy's cameraphone and leaves. Having been gone several days, the soldiers are naturally curious -- they calm down after President Nixon puts in another appearence.
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".


[[File:Flanked by Silence.jpg|left|200px|thumb|[[Amy Pond|Amy]] encounters the Silence and the girl while at the orphanage.]]
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 and River begin to dissect the astronaut suit, wherupon they find it is in fact a perfect life support machine -- hence how the girl could survive Amy shooting her. It is comprised of at least 20 different types of alien tech, and the occupant would not even have to eat to survive while wearing it.


The Apollo 11 launch goes without a hitch, and the Doctor tracks the signal from Amy's voice recorder to a room at an unknown location. He brings an old television with him, and River brings her gun - she claims she could take down at least seven should they choose to attack. The Doctor doesn't seem to mind, unusually. He sets up the television, and Neil Armstrong's foot touches the lunar surface. As it does, the image turns to Canton's video of the Silent saying "You should kill us all on sight" -- in short, sealing the fate of all the unarmed Silent on the planet, since half a billion people were watching the program. The Doctor's transmitter in the ''Columbia'' beams the transmission back to Earth repeatedly, so that people would see, and the worldwide culling of the Silent begins.
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.


One of the Silent with the Doctor warns him that silence will fall -- echoing the words of [[Prisoner Zero]]. River begins to shoot all the Silent present, while the Doctor and Rory free Amy. The five withdraw to the TARDIS, and Canton is delieverd to the Oval Office, where Nixon asks the Doctor if he will be remembered. The Doctor replies "Forever," without going into detail. As the TARDIS disappears, Canton asks the President if he can leave the FBI for personal reasons - he wishes to be married. Nixon realises that, since he is asking the President, the partner must be "black", and he states he is quite liberal, and that Canton can marry her. Canton corrects the President -- "she" is actually a "he". Nixon promptly changes his mind.
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.


River is delivered back to jail, where she and the Doctor finally (at least, finally from the Doctor's perspective) kiss each other. The Doctor is shaken and does not know how to react, and ends up bolting.
== Cast ==
* [[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Matt Smith]]
* [[Amy Pond]] - [[Karen Gillan]]
* [[Rory Williams|Rory]] - [[Arthur Darvill]]
* [[River Song]] - [[Alex Kingston]]
* [[Canton Everett Delaware III|Canton Delaware]] - [[Mark Sheppard]]
* [[Silent|The Silent]] - [[Marnix Van Den Broeke]]
* [[Richard Nixon|President Richard Nixon]] - [[Stuart Milligan]]
* [[Renfrew (Day of the Moon)|Doctor Renfrew]] - [[Kerry Shale]]
* [[Gardner]] - [[Glenn Wrage]]
* [[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]]
* [[Carl Peterson|Carl]] - [[Chuk Iwuji]]
* [[Phil (The Impossible Astronaut)|Phil]] - [[Mark Griffin]]


Rory continues to listen to Amy and the Doctor over the communicator. Amy had not told him she thought she was pregnant since she is worried that the TARDIS may have had an effect on the child, giving it abnormalities such as multiple time heads. After Amy reassures Rory that he is safe, the Doctor prepares to leave on an adventure, while having the TARDIS computer scan Amy for pregnancy -- it flickers between a positive and a negative reading, leaving the actual reading unclear.
== Crew ==
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Six months later, in New York, the girl comes across a homeless man in the street, while coughing. She tells the man that she is dying, "but that's OK". To the man's astonishment -- and fear, resulting in him fleeing -- the girl begins to [[Regeneration|regenerate]].
== Worldbuilding ==
=== 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]]".


==Cast==
=== Individuals ===
*[[Eleventh Doctor]] - [[Matt Smith]]
* The Doctor asks Nixon to say "Hi" to [[David Frost]] for him.
*[[Amy Pond]] - [[Karen Gillan]]
* 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.
*[[Rory Williams]] - [[Arthur Darvill]]
* The Doctor and River [[kiss]] - for a first time in his timeline and what she thinks is their last.
*[[River Song]] - [[Alex Kingston]]
*[[Canton Delaware]] - [[Mark Sheppard]]
*President [[Richard Nixon]] - [[Stuart Milligan]]
*[[Carl (The Impossible Astronaut)|Carl]] - [[Chukwudi Iwuji]]
*[[Phil (The Impossible Astronaut)|Phil]] - [[Mark Griffin]]
*[[The Silence|The Silent]] - [[Marnix Van Den Broeke]]
*[[Little Girl (The Impossible Astronaut)|Little Girl]] - [[Sydney Wade]]
*Doctor [[Renfrew]] - [[Kerry Shale]]
*[[Gardner]] - [[Glenn Wrage]]
*Doctor [[Shepherd]] - [[Peter Banks]]
*[[Tramp]] - [[Ricky Fearon]]
*[[Eye Patch Lady]] - [[Frances Barber]]
*[[Grant]] - [[Jeff Mash]]
*[[Sergeant (Day of the Moon|Sergeant]] - [[Tommy Campbell]]


==Crew==
=== Technology ===
*[[Writer]] - [[Steven Moffat]]
* When the Doctor, Amy and Rory enter the TARDIS, the Doctor asks Rory to grab some [[thermocoupling]]s.
*[[Director]] - [[Toby Haynes]]
* River's scanner is branded [[Magpie Electricals]].
* The Silents claim they have been on [[Earth]] since the "[[wheel]] and the [[fire]]".


== References ==
=== Influences ===
===[[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]]===
 
*The Doctor asks Nixon to say hi to [[David Frost]] for him.
* 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]].
*The Little girl regenerates.


== 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, and the first since ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]''.
* 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|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]]''.
* 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 (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.
* 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 ===
''to be added''
* 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.<ref>http://tardisspoilers.blogspot.com/2010/10/will-we-see-river-as-child.html</ref>
* 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 ===
*As the densest material in the universe, the Dwarf Star Alloy would have been too heavy for two people to lift on their own.
{{discontinuity}}
* 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 ==
== Continuity ==
<!---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-->
''to be added''
* 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 [[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]]'')
** 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]]'')
* 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]]'')
* 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]]'')
* Rory mentions that he was there when [[Rome]] fell. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
* 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]]'')
* 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.
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] was previously held as a prisoner in [[Area 51]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]]'')
* 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]]'')
* The [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Martha Jones]] watched the Apollo 11 moon landing four times. ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'')
* [[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]]'')
* 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]]'')
* 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 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 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 ==
== Home video releases ==
The DVD will be released in two halves. Part One, which will contain episodes one to seven, will be released in Summer, shortly after the airing of episode seven.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-dvd-releases-15635.htm</ref>
[[File:Series-6-part-1-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb|Series 6, part 1 DVD cover]]
 
=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===
 
* ''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.
* 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.
 
=== Digital releases ===
 
* 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]
==Footnotes==
* {{locguide|dayofthemoon|Day of the Moon}}
{{dwrefguide|who_tv58.htm|Day of the Moon}}
 
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{series 6}}
{{DWTV}}
{{Silent stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[es:Day of the Moon]]
[[fr:Day of the Moon]]
[[ru:День Луны]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[Category:2011 television stories]]
[[Category:2011 television stories]]
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the United States]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1969]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1969]]
[[Category:Silence arc]]
[[Category:Regeneration television stories]]
[[Category:Regeneration television stories]]
[[Category:Series 6 (Doctor Who) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in Utah]]
[[Category:Stories set in Washington DC]]
[[Category:Stories set in Florida]]
[[Category:Stories set in New York City]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1970]]
[[Category:Stories set in Nevada]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 52nd century]]
[[Category:Silent television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in Arizona]]

Latest revision as of 19:23, 3 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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