A Town Called Mercy (TV story)

A Town Called Mercy
Doctor:	[[doctor::Eleventh Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Amy, Rory
Main enemy:	Kahler-Tek
Main setting:	Mercy, Nevada, 1870
Key crew
Writer:	Toby Whithouse
Director:	Saul Metzstein
Producer:	Marcus Wilson
Release details
Story number:	227
Premiere broadcast:	15 September 2012
Format:	1x45 minute episode
Doctor Who television stories
← Previous	Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

A Town Called Mercy was the third episode of the seventh series of Doctor Who produced by BBC Wales. It was the first televised western since 1966's The Gunfighters. Across all media, however, it was merely one of many westerns, and wasn't even Matt Smith's first western with the Eleventh Doctor, since he had read 2010's original audio, The Runaway Train.

Synopsis

A tale of war, betrayal and vengeance, converging on one small town in the Old West – a town under siege. Just crossing the boundary line summons a not-quite-human killer from the desert heat haze. The Doctor finds himself not just in the crossfire of an ancient conflict between a cyborg killer and an alien fugitive, but he is also faced with a moral dilemma: which side should he take? Who really is the victim here? This time though, the Doctor doesn’t seem to care...

Has the Time Lord been alone too long? Have the long days of travelling between his adventures with the Ponds taken their toll? Because for one of the few times in his long life, the Doctor takes a gun...

Plot

Kahler-Mas is running away from the Gunslinger and finally gets caught. There is one more person left on the Gunslinger's list: the Doctor.

The TARDIS materialises in a town on the American frontier called Mercy.

Cast

• The Doctor - Matt Smith
• Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
• Rory Williams - Arthur Darvill
• Isaac - Ben Browder
• Kahler-Jex - Adrian Scarborough
• Kahler-Mas - Dominic Kemp
• Walter - Rob Cavazos
• Sadie - Joanne McQuinn
• The Gunslinger - Andrew Brooke
• Abraham - Garrick Hagon
• The Preacher - Byrd Wilkins
• Dockery - Sean Benedict

Crew

Executive Producers   Caroline Skinner and Steven Moffat

General production staff Production Executive - Julie Scott Script Producer - Denise Paul Line Producer - Diana Barton Production Manager - Phillipa Cole Location Manager - Iwan Roberts Unit Manager - Geraint Williams Production Co-ordinator - Claire Hildred Assistant Production Co-ordinator - Gabrielle Ricci Production Assistants - Rachel Vipond, Samantha Price Production Secretary - Sandra Cosfeld A/Production Accountant - Jeff Dunn Script department Camera and lighting department 1st Assistant Director - Nick Brown 2nd Assistant Director - James DeHaviland 3rd Assistant Director - Heddi-Joy Taylor-Welch Assistant Director - Danielle Richards Script Supervisor - Lindsay Grant Camera Operator - Joe Russell Focus Pullers - Steve Rees, James Scott Grip - Gary Norman Assistant Grip - Owen Charnley Camera Assistants - Meg De Koning, Sam Smithard, Cai Thompson Gaffer - Mark Hutchings Best Boy - Stephen Slocombe Electricians - Bob Milton, Gareth Sheldon, Alan Tippetts	Art department Supervising Art Director - Paul Spriggs Art Director - Amy Pickwoad Assistant Art Director - Richard Hardy Art Department Co-ordinator - Donna Shakesheff Production Buyer - Charlie Lynam Petty Cash Buyer - Helen O'Leary Set Decorator - Adrian Anscombe Set Dresser - Jayne Davies Graphic Artist - Christina Tom Graphic Designer - Chris J. Lees Standby Props - Phill Shellard, Helen Atherton Standby Carpenter - Will Pope Prop Hand - Austin J. Curtis Standby Rigger - Bryan Griffiths Props Master - Paul Smith Props Chargehand - Bernie Davies Dressing Props - Mike Elkins, Ian Griffin, Tom Belton Props Driver - Gareth Fox Props Makers - Penny Howarth, Alan Hardy, Jamie Thomas Construction Manager - Terry Horle Construction Chargehand - Dean Tucker Graphics - Peter Anderson Studio Costume department Costume Supervisor - Carly Griffith Assistant Costume Designer - Fraser Purfit Costume Assistants - Katarina Cappellazzi, Gemma Evans	Make-up and prosthetics Make-up Artists - Sara Angharad, Vivienne Simpson, allison Sing Prosthetics - Millennium FX Movement Stunt Co-ordinator - Gordon Seed Stunt Performer - Will Willoughby Casting Casting Associate - Alice Purser General post-production staff Post-production Supervisor - Nerys Davies Assistant Editor - Becky Trotman On-line Editor - Matt Mullins Special and visual effects VFX Editor - Joel Skinner Colourist - Gareth Spensley Sound Sound Recordist - Deian LLŷr Humphreys Dubbing Mixer - Tim Ricketts Sound Maintenance Engineers - Jeff Welch, Chris Goding Dialogue Editor - Darran Clement ADR Editor - Matthew Cox Supervising Sound Editor - Paul McFadden Sound Effects Editor - Paul Jefferies Sound Editor - Doug Sinclair Foley Editor - Jamie Talbutt

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.

References

• The Doctor rides a horse named Susan.
• The Doctor attempted to take Amy and Rory to Mexico to see the 'Day of the Dead' festival.

Story notes

• Adrian Scarborough (Kahler Jex) previously played Rupert Van Thal in BFA: The Boy That Time Forgot.
• Garrick Hagon (Abraham) previously played Ky in DW: The Mutants.

Ratings

to be added

Filming locations

• Mini Hollywood, Spain
• Texas Hollywood, Spain

Production errors

to be added

Continuity

• The Doctor, in his first incarnation, has previously visited the American Old West. (DW: The Gunfighters)
• In the previous episode, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, the Doctor states he has a Christmas list. He again makes reference to one here, asking if anyone has been peeking at it.

Home video releases

DVD releases

to be added

Blu-ray releases

to be added

External links

to be added