Day of the Moon (TV story): Difference between revisions

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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          = [[Silent|The Silence]]<br>[[Eye Patch Lady]] (Cameo)
|doctor          = Eleventh Doctor
| setting        = <ul><li>[[Valley of the Gods (Earth)|Valley of the Gods]], [[Utah]], July 1969</li><li>[[New York City]], July 1969</li><li>[[Washington, D.C.]], July 1969</li><li>[[Area 51]], July 1969</li><li>[[Cape Kennedy]], July 1969</li><li>[[Graystark Hall Orphanage]], July 1969</li><li>New York City, January 1970</li></ul>
|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        = [[Marcus Wilson]]
|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 = 6.2
|producer        = [[Marcus Wilson]]
| previous story  = [[The Impossible Astronaut]]
|broadcast date  = 30 April 2011
| next story      = [[The Curse of the Black Spot]]
|network        = BBC One
}}
|confidential    = Breaking the Silence (CON episode)
'''''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]].
|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 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 Pond|Amy]] shot at the little girl, she is chased down in the middle of the Valley of the Gods in [[Utah]]. She has strange pen markings all over her skin. Eventually, she is cornered between two SUVs and a cliff face. [[Canton Delaware]] advises her to surrender, but finally shoots her. Her body is brought before [[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.


[[River Song]], also covered in markings, is caught in [[New York City]] after seeing more aliens, between the unfinished edge of a skyscraper and Canton's FBI unit. She jumps instead of being arrested. Finally, [[Rory Williams|Rory]] -- also covered in markings -- is shot on Hoover dam. He too is taken to the Doctor, now having a wall built around him -- blocks of dwarf star alloy 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.
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.


Once the door is closed, the pretence is dropped and the Doctor easily frees himself. Amy and Rory get out of the body bags, and Canton takes on a much friendlier tone with them. The Doctor reveals that the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] is in the prison hidden under a cloaking device. After saving River from the fall by landing the TARDIS on the side of the building and opening the doors into the swimming pool, the three clean themselves of markings, which are actually tally marks of how many aliens they had seen in the three months. The aliens are everywhere, all across the world. It is not an invasion --- they've been here all along. In private, Amy tells the Doctor she is not actually pregnant - she made a mistake.
[[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.


The Doctor implants each occupant of the TARDIS with a [[nanorecorder]]. It flashes red when a message has been left, and after Canton casually adjusts the Doctor's bow tie, the Doctor points out to him that his is already flashing. The message begins ''"How the hell did it get in here?!"'', and when Canton turns around, sure enough, there is [[Silent|an alien]] standing in the TARDIS behind him. It is not a real alien; the Doctor has extrapolated the image from Amy's phone and turned it into a hologram, now being projected behind Canton. Even though it is only an image, it is still impossible to remember it once they no longer look directly at it. The message also contains the Doctor's voice, telling Canton to turn around and straighten the Doctor's bow tie after he stops looking at the hologram. Like a post-hypnotic suggestion, it was the last thing in Canton's head when he looked away, so he did that. Even this information will eventually disappear.
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.


The Doctor sends Canton and Amy to investigate a children's home the girl in the astronaut suit may have been taken from. The only person in the building believes that it is 1967 or earlier, not 1969, and he is jumpy. Amy is exploring when a room door locks itself. She sees her hand is flashing - the message she left herself advises her to leave, as do scrawled messages on the wall. She has begun to tally on her arms again, and she is ''covered'' in marks. She looks up. The ceiling is filled with sleeping aliens. She runs from the room, quickly forgetting her encounter. However, one of the aliens has awoken at the sound of her departure.
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.


Down the hallway, she sees a mysterious woman with an eye patch looking out from a slot in a metal door. She goes to investigate, but finds the room empty and the slot on the door gone. Inside she finds a child's bed with photos of the [[File:DW_Day_of_the_Moon_Amy_Silence_Girl.png|thumb|left|198px|[[Amy Pond]] is confronted by the girl and two aliens.]]little girl. She stop at one that is colored and is shocked to see she is in it, holding the girl as a baby. Trying to make sense of this, Amy is surprised to see the girl in the astronaut suit walk into the room and lift the visor (which has a hole in it from the bullet she fired) to show her face. Amy appologies to the little girl for shooting at her and explains a bit about the astronaut in the Doctor's future that will kill him. The little girl then begs Amy to help her. Before Amy can ask her why she needs help, two aliens from the previous room enter. Amy can only scream in horror.
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.


In the delirious man's office, Canton is trying to get information gtom him, but hears Amy's screams. The man opens the door a bit and appears to be speaking to someone. When he turns to answer Canton, he forgets what he was doing. Canton leaves to search for Amy, only to come face to face with one of the aliens. Canton tries to get information out of the alien, activating his nanorecorder. Among the questions Canton asks is why the alien doesn't have a weapon. After it haughtily states that as the rulers of the planet, its people do not need to carry weapons, Canton pulls out his gun, shoots the alien, and welcomes it to America.
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, meanwhile, has been busy . He is caught breaking into the command module, ''Columbia'', atop the Saturn V rocket, and rearranging some of the electronics to add one of his own devices to the electronic equipment. After President [[Richard Nixon]] arrives with Rory and River Song disguised as office workers to order the Doctor's release, the Doctor receives a call from Canton, asking for help.
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.


Amy is missing, and her nanorecorder left on the floor of the girl's room. It has been switched from recording to live broadcast -- her current words can be heard. They also find the girl's astronaut suit, now empty on the floor, with a hole ripped in it. Unbeknownst to the Doctor, the little girl is hiding around the corner in the hall, listening to him and his companions, shuddering. Upon receiving word that Canton had captured one of the aliens, the Doctor puts aside the problem of Amy going missing and confronts the wounded alien. He asks who the creature is and is told "We are [[the Silence|Silence]], Doctor. Silence will fall!". This reminds the Doctor of [[Prisoner Zero]]'s warning about silence falling, Rosanna's mention of silence destroying [[Saturnyne]], and the silent/empty Venice.
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.


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. The alien gloats that the Silence have ruled the world since the Stone Age. It tells him that it was a mistake to treat its wounds and, when asked what the Silence would do in the humans' place, responds "you should kill us on sight". Canton reveals that he has recorded this on Amy's video phone - despite not understanding what a "video phone" is - and leaves. As Canton has been gone several days, the soldiers are naturally curious. They calm down after President Nixon walks out of the prison, having traveled there in the TARDIS, and assures the soldiers that Canton is still a trustworthy American.
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.


Elsewhere, in the Florida warehouse they found the girl in, River and the Doctor begin to dissect the astronaut suit. They find it is, in fact, a perfect life support machine -- this is how the girl could survive Amy shooting her. It is made of at least twenty different types of alien tech, and the occupant would not even have to eat while wearing it. River wonders if the suit could move without an occupant, remembering that the girl said an astronaut was coming to eat her, coming to the conclusion that is exactly what happened; the suit "swallowed" her.
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.


Meanwhile, Amy wakes up to find herself tied to a framework and surrounded by 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."
[[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 the meantime, the launch of Apollo 11 goes off without a hitch, and the Doctor tracks the signal from Amy's nanorecorder to the room where she is being held. He brings an old television with him, and River brings her gun - she claims she could take down at least seven Silents should they attack. The Doctor doesn't mind River's death threats because [[File:Confrontation.jpg|left|thumb|The Doctor confronts the Silents.]]they are a greater threat than his other foes. He asks the Silence why the little girl is so important to them. They don't answer him, prompting the Doctor to joke that they take their name seriously. The Doctor sets up the television in time for the live broadcast of the famous "One small step" speech, but hacks into the signal just as Neil Armstrong's foot touches the lunar surface. As it does, the image turns to Canton's video of the Silence saying "You should kill us all on sight" -- sealing the fate of all the Silence on the planet, since every human will see it at some point in their lives, the most famous TV broadcast in history. The post-hypnotic suggestion of the Silence's appearance will command every human who ever sees the footage to kill them on sight. They are doomed. Already people who watched the footage are acting on the order as Secret Service men in the Oval Office turn their guns on the nearby Silence without thinking. Enraged by the Doctor's victory, the Silence start to attack the Doctor, prompting River to shoot all the aliens present, while the Doctor and Rory free Amy.
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 withdraw to the TARDIS, and Canton is delivered to the Oval Office, where Nixon, whom Canton has told that the Doctor is from the future, asks him if he will be remembered. The Doctor tells him "They'll never forget you," and leaves. As the TARDIS disappears, Canton asks the President if he can rejoin the FBI. Nixon realises that, since he is asking the President for help, Canton's girlfriend must be "black", and he states he is quite liberal, and that he's sure he can help Canton. Canton corrects the President -- "she" is actually a "he". Nixon tells him that the moon landing is "far enough for now".
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.


River Song is delivered back to prison, where the Doctor offers her the chance to stay out of prison and travel with him. River declines, telling him that she made a promise to stay locked up, and that he'll understand soon enough. The Doctor prepares to leave, but River pulls him into a lingering kiss, which the Doctor seems to both enjoy and be shocked by. After the kiss, the Doctor bolts to the TARDIS. River realizes that from her perspective, she may never kiss him again.
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]].


While the Doctor and Amy talk, Rory spies on their conversation using Amy's nanorecorder. Amy had not told Rory she thought she was pregnant. She is worried that the TARDIS may have had an effect on the child, giving it abnormalities such as multiple heads or something worse. Amy knows Rory is spying on them and tells him to come over to the console, chiding him for eavesdropping and reassuring him that he is safe. The Doctor prepares to set the TARDIS on a course for a new adventure as he has the TARDIS scan Amy for pregnancy -- it flickers between a positive and a negative reading. The Doctor is disturbed by this, but sets a course to take his mind off it.
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.


[[File:Regen girl.png|thumb|162px|The little girl regenerates in New York.]]Six months later, in 1970 New York, the little girl, coughing, comes across a homeless man in an alley. He wonders if the girl is okay, she tells him that she is dying. However, she says, "but I can fix that. It's easy really... See". In his astonishment and terror, he flees from the girl as she starts to [[Regeneration|regenerate]].
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.


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


==Crew==
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 [[Archaeology|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 [[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".
 
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]], [[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 ==
* [[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]]
 
== Crew ==
{{wales crew
{{wales crew
|1stAD=Martin Curry
|1stAD=Martin Curry
Line 85: Line 115:
|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=
Line 128: Line 158:
|2ndCameraOperator=
|2ndCameraOperator=
|FocusPuller=Steve Rees
|FocusPuller=Steve Rees
|FocusPuller2=John Vidgen
|FocusPuller2=Jonathan Vidgen
|2ndUnitFocusPuller=
|2ndUnitFocusPuller=
|2ndFocusPuller=
|2ndFocusPuller=
Line 167: Line 197:
|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=
Line 197: Line 227:
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|DressingChargehand=
|DressingChargehand=
|PropsChargehand=Rhys Jones
|PropsChargehand=Rhys Jones (props)
|PropsStoreman=
|PropsStoreman=
|DressingProps=Martin Broadbent
|DressingProps=Martin Broadbent
Line 243: Line 273:
|AsstEditor=Becky Trotman
|AsstEditor=Becky Trotman
|AsstEditor2=
|AsstEditor2=
|VFXProducer=Beewan Athwal
|VFXEditor=Cat Gregory
|VFXEditor=Cat Gregory
|VFXCoOrdinator=
|VFXCoOrdinator=
Line 321: Line 352:
|RightsExecutive=
|RightsExecutive=
|FinanceManager=
|FinanceManager=
|VisualFXProducer=Beewan Athwal
|VisualFXProducer2=
|VisualFXSupervisor=
|VisualFXSupervisor2=
|Thanks=
|Thanks=
|Thanks2=
|Thanks2=
Line 378: Line 405:
|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 ===
*The Doctor asks Nixon to say "Hi" to [[David Frost]] for him, referencing the famous series of interviews between Frost and Nixon and the film ''Frost/Nixon''.
* 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.
* 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 ===
* 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]]".


===Objects===
=== Influences ===
*When the Doctor, Amy, and Rory enter the TARDIS, the Doctor asks Rory to grab some thermocouplings. ([[DW]]: ''[[Space (TV story)|Space]]'')


===Films===
* 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]].
*This story shares numerous similarities with the 1988 John Carpenter film ''They Live, ''in which the primary protagonist discovers a hidden alien race living amongst humans and using subliminal messages to influence their development.


== 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.
*Rory's cover as an aide to Nixon is blown not only by his obvious English accent but also by his use of the British Army salute, which is distinctly different from the American version.
* 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]]''.
*At a little over three months, this is one of the longest single adventures in terms of total time elapsed from the Doctor's perspective.
* During the TARDIS' momentary hover against the side of the skyscraper, there is an elder or younger self of each of the TARDIS' five occupants elsewhere at the same instant:
*Canton is able to receive a call from the Doctor on Amy's mobile phone. Since there were no mobile phone networks in 1969, Amy's phone must have been upgraded to a superphone by the Doctor, allowing it to be used anywhere in time and space.
** Canton Delaware's days- or weeks-younger self is several floors above, having just seen River Song back-flip into apparent oblivion.
*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.
** River's decades-younger self Melody Pond is somewhere between Coco Beach, Florida and Manhattan.
*This episode marks the first time a female has regenerated onscreen.
** 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]]'')
*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 occuring in one of the tapes.
** 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 ===
*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, he and River 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 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 then in his left hand. After another shot of Amy and Canton, the cloth is back in his right hand again. 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-->
*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 that 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]]'')
*[[Tenth Doctor|The 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|''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. Given the dangers of crossing time streams, it's possible they watched the television transmission from Earth on at least one of those occasions.
* 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's swimming pool again, and orders everyone to open the doors to the room that contains it, 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]]'')
*While this is the first time we see the Doctor kiss River Song, this may be the last time River kisses the Doctor from her perspective.
* 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 music cue that plays when the Doctor drops River off at [[Stormcage]] is the same cue 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 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 ==
[[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.


== [[Eleventh Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]] ==
=== Digital releases ===
'''For the Doctor, Amy and Rory'''
*This story occurs after: [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]''
*This story occurs before: [[DWA]]: ''[[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 ==
* In the United Kingdom, this story is available on [[BBC iPlayer]].
[[File:Series-6-part-1-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb]]
 
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 11th July 2011.
== 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]
* {{locguide|dayofthemoon|Day of the Moon}}
{{dwrefguide|who_tv58.htm|Day of the Moon}}


==External links==
== Footnotes ==
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110422_01/Day_of_the_Moon ''Day of the Moon'' at bbc.co.uk]
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{DWTV}}
{{DWTV}}
{{Silent stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[fr:Day of the Moon]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[ru:День Луны]]
[[Category:2011 television stories]]
[[Category:2011 television stories]]
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[[Category:Regeneration television stories]]
[[es:Day of the Moon]]
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[[ru:День Луны]]
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Latest revision as of 00:17, 22 October 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' momentary hover against the side of the skyscraper, there is an elder or younger self of each of the TARDIS' 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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