The Wedding of River Song (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{title|''{{}}''}} {{real world}} | {{title|''{{}}''}} | ||
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{{Infobox NewTV | {{Infobox NewTV | ||
|story name = The Wedding of River Song | |story name = The Wedding of River Song | ||
|image = [[File:Vlcsnap-2011-10-02-16h06m21s67.png|250 px]] | |image = [[File:Vlcsnap-2011-10-02-16h06m21s67.png|250 px]] | ||
|series =[[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]| | |series =[[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]| | ||
|number = 13 | |number = 13 | ||
|doctor = [[Eleventh Doctor]] | |doctor = [[Eleventh Doctor]] | ||
|companions = [[Amy Pond]] (guest)<br />[[Rory Williams]] (guest)<br />[[River Song]] (guest) | |companions = [[Amy Pond]] (guest)<br />[[Rory Williams]] (guest)<br />[[River Song]] (guest) | ||
|enemy = [[Silent]]s<br />[[Kovarian|Madame Kovarian]]<br />[[Supreme Dalek (New Dalek Paradigm)|Dalek]] (cameo)<br />[[Gantok]] | |enemy = [[Silent]]s<br />[[Kovarian|Madame Kovarian]]<br />[[Supreme Dalek (New Dalek Paradigm)|Dalek]] (cameo)<br />[[Gantok]] | ||
|setting = [[Lake Silencio]], [[Utah]], [[22 April|April 22]], [[2011]]<br />[[London]], 5:02pm, [[22 April|April 22]], 2011<br />[[Cairo]], 5:02pm, [[22 April|April 22]], 2011<br />Nursing Home, [[21st century]]<br />[[Calisto B]], [[52nd century]]<br />[[Vegas 12]], [[52nd century]]<br />[[Seventh Transept]], [[52nd century]]<br />[[Leadworth]], [[2011]] | |setting = [[Lake Silencio]], [[Utah]], [[22 April|April 22]], [[2011]]<br />[[London]], 5:02pm, [[22 April|April 22]], 2011<br />[[Cairo]], 5:02pm, [[22 April|April 22]], 2011<br />Nursing Home, [[21st century]]<br />[[Calisto B]], [[52nd century]]<br />[[Vegas 12]], [[52nd century]]<br />[[Seventh Transept]], [[52nd century]]<br />[[Leadworth]], [[2011]] | ||
|number = [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|Series 6]] | |number = [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|Series 6]] | ||
|story number = 223 |writer = [[Steven Moffat]] | |story number = 223 | ||
|director = [[Jeremy Webb]] | |writer = [[Steven Moffat]] | ||
|producer = [[Marcus Wilson]] | |director = [[Jeremy Webb]] | ||
|broadcast date = [[1 October]] [[2011]] | |producer = [[Marcus Wilson]] | ||
|format = 1×45 minute episode | |broadcast date = [[1 October]] [[2011]] | ||
|production code = |confidential = [[When Time Froze]] | |format = 1×45 minute episode | ||
|previous story = [[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]] | |production code = | ||
|next story = [[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]| | |confidential = [[When Time Froze]] | ||
|previous story = [[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]] | |||
|next story = [[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]| | |||
}}{{TV stub}} | }}{{TV stub}} | ||
'''''The Wedding of River Song''''' was the thirteenth and final episode of the [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|sixth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | '''''The Wedding of River Song''''' was the thirteenth and final episode of the [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|sixth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | ||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
The Doctor makes his final journey to the shores of [[Lake Silencio]] in [[Utah]], knowing only one thing can keep the universe safe — his own death. But has he reckoned without the love of a good woman?<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/episodes/series-6-2011/613-the-wedding-of-river-song</ref> The [[War of the Roses]] enters its second year even as [[London]] picnickers are warned not to feed the [[Pterodactyl]]s and [[Charles Dickens]] is interviewed about his [[A Christmas Carol|new Christmas ghost special]]. Holy Roman Emperor [[Winston Churchill]] returns to [[Buckingham Palace]] on his [[mammoth]] from a conference in [[Gaul]] with [[Cleopatra]] to wonder why it is always 5:02 PM on [[22 April]] [[2011]]. His [[Silurian]] physician, [[Malokeh]], tells him it is always so but Churchill has his doubts. He orders his [[soothsayer]] dragged from the [[Tower of London]]. It is the [[Eleventh Doctor]], who tells him why: "A woman." | The Doctor makes his final journey to the shores of [[Lake Silencio]] in [[Utah]], knowing only one thing can keep the universe safe — his own death. But has he reckoned without the love of a good woman?<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/episodes/series-6-2011/613-the-wedding-of-river-song</ref> | ||
The [[War of the Roses]] enters its second year even as [[London]] picnickers are warned not to feed the [[Pterodactyl]]s and [[Charles Dickens]] is interviewed about his [[A Christmas Carol|new Christmas ghost special]]. Holy Roman Emperor [[Winston Churchill]] returns to [[Buckingham Palace]] on his [[mammoth]] from a conference in [[Gaul]] with [[Cleopatra]] to wonder why it is always 5:02 PM on [[22 April]] [[2011]]. His [[Silurian]] physician, [[Malokeh]], tells him it is always so but Churchill has his doubts. He orders his [[soothsayer]] dragged from the [[Tower of London]]. It is the [[Eleventh Doctor]], who tells him why: "A woman." | |||
In a flashback, the Doctor wants to know ''why'' he must die. Taking the data on [[the Silence]] from a dying [[Dalek]], he finds Father [[Gideon Vandaleur]], actually the ''[[Teselecta]]'', who points him at [[Gantok]], [[the Silence]]'s agent. He is almost electrocuted in a game of [[Live Chess|live chess]] with the Doctor. To avoid checkmate or death, [[File:Seventh_transept.jpg|thumb|180px|The Doctor being guided to Dorium's head]]Gantok takes him to [[Dorium Maldovar]]'s head in the [[Seventh Transept]]. | In a flashback, the Doctor wants to know ''why'' he must die. Taking the data on [[the Silence]] from a dying [[Dalek]], he finds Father [[Gideon Vandaleur]], actually the ''[[Teselecta]]'', who points him at [[Gantok]], [[the Silence]]'s agent. He is almost electrocuted in a game of [[Live Chess|live chess]] with the Doctor. To avoid checkmate or death, [[File:Seventh_transept.jpg|thumb|180px|The Doctor being guided to Dorium's head]]Gantok takes him to [[Dorium Maldovar]]'s head in the [[Seventh Transept]]. | ||
Dorium explains that if the Doctor lives, on the fields of [[Trenzalore]], at the fall of the Eleventh, when no creature can speak falsely or fail to answer, a question that must never be answered will be asked: [[The Question|the first question]], hidden in plain sight. He asks if his visitor wants to know the question. The Doctor nervously agrees. | Dorium explains that if the Doctor lives, on the fields of [[Trenzalore]], at the fall of the Eleventh, when no creature can speak falsely or fail to answer, a question that must never be answered will be asked: [[The Question|the first question]], hidden in plain sight. He asks if his visitor wants to know the question. The Doctor nervously agrees. | ||
Taking Dorium's head with him, the Doctor determines to continue his farewell tour. However, when he learns [[File:Dorium's_Head.png|thumb|left|Dorium tells the Doctor to stop running]]his old friend [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]] is dead, his bravado crumbles. His time has come. He gives the ''Teselecta'' invitations to deliver. He goes to [[Lake Silencio]] with [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams]] and [[River Song]], where they drink a bottle of [[wine]] that [[Napoleon]] threw at him. An [[The Impossible Astronaut|impossible astronaut]] rises from the lake and he goes to meet it. It is River Song, trapped in the suit by [[Madame Kovarian]] and [[the Silence]]. She has no control over the suit as it prepares to kill the Doctor. He forgives her unconditionally, shutting his eyes as her arm rises to deliver the three deadly blows. | Taking Dorium's head with him, the Doctor determines to continue his farewell tour. However, when he learns [[File:Dorium's_Head.png|thumb|left|Dorium tells the Doctor to stop running]]his old friend [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]] is dead, his bravado crumbles. His time has come. He gives the ''Teselecta'' invitations to deliver. He goes to [[Lake Silencio]] with [[Amy Pond]], [[Rory Williams]] and [[River Song]], where they drink a bottle of [[wine]] that [[Napoleon]] threw at him. An [[The Impossible Astronaut|impossible astronaut]] rises from the lake and he goes to meet it. It is River Song, trapped in the suit by [[Madame Kovarian]] and [[the Silence]]. She has no control over the suit as it prepares to kill the Doctor. He forgives her unconditionally, shutting his eyes as her arm rises to deliver the three deadly blows. | ||
There are five bursts that make him flinch. The Doctor opens his eyes and demands to know what she has done. River smiles. She has discharged her weapons systems harmlessly and the world shatters. | There are five bursts that make him flinch. The Doctor opens his eyes and demands to know what she has done. River smiles. She has discharged her weapons systems harmlessly and the world shatters. | ||
As the Doctor and Churchill discuss these events, they see they're holding weapons. Tally marks are appearing on the Doctor's arms. They look up. The ceiling is infested with dozens of [[Silent]]s. Before they can attack, a [[grenade]] rolls into the hall and a company of soldiers under an eyepatched Amy Pond invade. She shoots the Doctor. | As the Doctor and Churchill discuss these events, they see they're holding weapons. Tally marks are appearing on the Doctor's arms. They look up. The ceiling is infested with dozens of [[Silent]]s. Before they can attack, a [[grenade]] rolls into the hall and a company of soldiers under an eyepatched Amy Pond invade. She shoots the Doctor. | ||
The Doctor wakes from the stungun in Amy's office on a train bound for [[Area 52]] inside the [[Great Pyramid of Giza|Great Pyramid at Giza]]. Amy grew up with a [[Crack]] in her wall, and so can remember both timelines.She has drawn pictures of the other timeline, but cannot recall Rory is Captain Williams, a soldier in her force. | The Doctor wakes from the stungun in Amy's office on a train bound for [[Area 52]] inside the [[Great Pyramid of Giza|Great Pyramid at Giza]]. Amy grew up with a [[Crack]] in her wall, and so can remember both timelines.She has drawn pictures of the other timeline, but cannot recall Rory is Captain Williams, a soldier in her force. | ||
In Area 52, the Doctor and Amy walk past more than a hundred capt[[File:Ihaveandalwayswillbeyourfriend.jpg|thumb|left|A Silent in a water tank]]ured Silents to the King's Chamber, where River Song awaits them. [[Madame Kovarian]] is a prisoner, tied to a chair. They have used her eyepatch to create [[Eye Drive]]s to let them remember the Silents when not looking at them. | In Area 52, the Doctor and Amy walk past more than a hundred capt[[File:Ihaveandalwayswillbeyourfriend.jpg|thumb|left|A Silent in a water tank]]ured Silents to the King's Chamber, where River Song awaits them. [[Madame Kovarian]] is a prisoner, tied to a chair. They have used her eyepatch to create [[Eye Drive]]s to let them remember the Silents when not looking at them. | ||
The Doctor goes to take River's hand, but she knows they are the poles of an explosion waiting to destroy this timeline. She has him handcuffed and tries to convince him to live. The Silents escape; it is their trap the Doctor's friends have fallen into. As the soldiers retreat to the King's Chamber, their eye drives electrify and kill them. Kovarian mocks them, until her eye drive sparks too. Rory stays to hold off the Silents, while River, Amy and the Doctor go to the apex of the Pyramid to see what River has built. The door flies open; Rory falls to his knees as the Silents enter and begin to electrocute him, but Amy, at last remembering who he is, returns to kill them with a machine gun. She cold-bloodedly kills a terrified Kovarian. | The Doctor goes to take River's hand, but she knows they are the poles of an explosion waiting to destroy this timeline. She has him handcuffed and tries to convince him to live. The Silents escape; it is their trap the Doctor's friends have fallen into. As the soldiers retreat to the King's Chamber, their eye drives electrify and kill them. Kovarian mocks them, until her eye drive sparks too. Rory stays to hold off the Silents, while River, Amy and the Doctor go to the apex of the Pyramid to see what River has built. The door flies open; Rory falls to his knees as the Silents enter and begin to electrocute him, but Amy, at last remembering who he is, returns to kill them with a machine gun. She cold-bloodedly kills a terrified Kovarian. | ||
Atop the Great Pyramid, River has built a [[Timey-wimey distress beacon|beacon]], calling the universe across all time zones: the Doctor is dying. Please help. Every reply is "yes, of course". The Doctor, however, insists that no one can help him. He must die to prevent all of time from disintegrating. | Atop the Great Pyramid, River has built a [[Timey-wimey distress beacon|beacon]], calling the universe across all time zones: the Doctor is dying. Please help. Every reply is "yes, of course". The Doctor, however, insists that no one can help him. He must die to prevent all of time from disintegrating. | ||
When River despairs and swears to suffer more than any living thing in the universe for him, the Doctor tells Amy to uncuff him. He uses his [[tie|bow tie]] to marry River in a handfasting. He whispers a secret into his bride's ear and tells her she must never tell anyone what he has just told her: his name. As she looks at him in wonder, the Doctor asks for her help. [[File:The_Wedding_of_River_Song.png|thumb|left|The Doctor and River kiss at their wedding.]] | When River despairs and swears to suffer more than any living thing in the universe for him, the Doctor tells Amy to uncuff him. He uses his [[tie|bow tie]] to marry River in a handfasting. He whispers a secret into his bride's ear and tells her she must never tell anyone what he has just told her: his name. As she looks at him in wonder, the Doctor asks for her help. [[File:The_Wedding_of_River_Song.png|thumb|left|The Doctor and River kiss at their wedding.]] | ||
They kiss and time moves again, River shoots the Doctor thrice, preventing his regeneration. The distorted timeline vanishes. | They kiss and time moves again, River shoots the Doctor thrice, preventing his regeneration. The distorted timeline vanishes. | ||
Some time later, River, fresh from the crash of the [[The Time of Angels|Byzantium]], arrives at her mother's home to split a bottle of wine. Amy wonders what the events in the aborted, frozen time line say about her, particularly her murder of Kovarian. She needs to talk with the Doctor, but he is dead. River disagrees. Amy notes that her daughter is still having adventures with him in the centuries before his death, but River tells her a secret which she probably shouldn't. As Rory joins his wife and daughter, they dance for joy until Amy realises to her horror she is the Doctor's mother-in-law. | Some time later, River, fresh from the crash of the [[The Time of Angels|Byzantium]], arrives at her mother's home to split a bottle of wine. Amy wonders what the events in the aborted, frozen time line say about her, particularly her murder of Kovarian. She needs to talk with the Doctor, but he is dead. River disagrees. Amy notes that her daughter is still having adventures with him in the centuries before his death, but River tells her a secret which she probably shouldn't. As Rory joins his wife and daughter, they dance for joy until Amy realises to her horror she is the Doctor's mother-in-law. | ||
A [[Headless monks|monk]] carries Dorium's head back to the Seventh Transept. Dorium recognises the Doctor and asks how he escaped. The Doctor explains that River actually shot the ''Teselecta'', with him safe inside, waving happily at her. Now the entire universe believes him dead and it's time for him to step back into the shadows. He leaves. | A [[Headless monks|monk]] carries Dorium's head back to the Seventh Transept. Dorium recognises the Doctor and asks how he escaped. The Doctor explains that River actually shot the ''Teselecta'', with him safe inside, waving happily at her. Now the entire universe believes him dead and it's time for him to step back into the shadows. He leaves. | ||
Dorium calls after him the question the Doctor has been running from his entire life: "[[The "Doctor Who?" running joke|Doctor who?]]" | Dorium calls after him the question the Doctor has been running from his entire life: "[[The "Doctor Who?" running joke|Doctor who?]]" | ||
* [[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] – [[Matt Smith]] | * [[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] – [[Matt Smith]] | ||
* [[Amy Pond]] – [[Karen Gillan]] | * [[Amy Pond]] – [[Karen Gillan]] | ||
| Line 57: | Line 77: | ||
* [[Canton Delaware]] - [[William Morgan Sheppard]] (footage from ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | * [[Canton Delaware]] - [[William Morgan Sheppard]] (footage from ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | ||
* Voice of the [[Dalek (The Wedding of River Song)|Dalek]]- [[Nicholas Briggs]] | * Voice of the [[Dalek (The Wedding of River Song)|Dalek]]- [[Nicholas Briggs]] | ||
{{wales crew | {{wales crew | ||
|1stAD=Nick Brown | |1stAD=Nick Brown | ||
| Line 346: | Line 367: | ||
|CoProducer= | |CoProducer= | ||
|Writer=Steven Moffat | |Writer=Steven Moffat | ||
|Writer2= |Producer=Marcus Wilson | |Writer2= | ||
|Producer=Marcus Wilson | |||
|Producer2= | |Producer2= | ||
|Director=Jeremy Webb | |Director=Jeremy Webb | ||
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|InMemoryOf= | |InMemoryOf= | ||
|Note= | |Note= | ||
<!--There are note variables from Note2 to Note20, but these are probably only necessary for the odd case of "The End of Time". This set of variables are the only ones which aren't automatically linked; it's just a freeform note field. All Notes mass together in a single paragraph at the end of the table created by this template. Thus, each individual note should be a full sentence ending with a period, and should have any links enclosed in [[brackets]]. | <!--There are note variables from Note2 to Note20, but these are probably only necessary for the odd case of "The End of Time". This set of variables are the only ones which aren't automatically linked; it's just a freeform note field. All Notes mass together in a single paragraph at the end of the table created by this template. Thus, each individual note should be a full sentence ending with a period, and should have any links enclosed in [[brackets]]. | ||
--> | --> | ||
}} | }} | ||
* [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Jack Harkness]] are mentioned. | * [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Jack Harkness]] are mentioned. | ||
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] passed away several months before the Doctor phones the institution where he was staying; he apparently talked about the Doctor all the time and insisted on having a spare glass ready in case he should show up. | * [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] passed away several months before the Doctor phones the institution where he was staying; he apparently talked about the Doctor all the time and insisted on having a spare glass ready in case he should show up. | ||
* [[Charles Dickens]] appears in the alternate timeline, being interviewed on television. | * [[Charles Dickens]] appears in the alternate timeline, being interviewed on television. | ||
* Amy has an office on a train. The Doctor has never had an office and envies both the office and the train. | * Amy has an office on a train. The Doctor has never had an office and envies both the office and the train. | ||
* A [[Timey-wimey distress beacon]] is built. | * A [[Timey-wimey distress beacon]] is built. | ||
* The Doctor wears the Stetson given to him by Craig Owens throughout his investigation, up to and including the time he is hidden aboard the ''Tesselecta''. The hat shot off his head by River in [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' was a copy made by the ''Tesselecta''. | * The Doctor wears the Stetson given to him by Craig Owens throughout his investigation, up to and including the time he is hidden aboard the ''Tesselecta''. The hat shot off his head by River in [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' was a copy made by the ''Tesselecta''. | ||
* Following his death in [[February]], this episode pays tribute to [[Nicholas Courtney]], with the Doctor discovering that his character, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]], died peacefully in his sleep, therefore fulfilling the prophecy made by the [[Seventh Doctor]] in the [[1989]] episode ''[[Battlefield]]''. | * Following his death in [[February]], this episode pays tribute to [[Nicholas Courtney]], with the Doctor discovering that his character, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]], died peacefully in his sleep, therefore fulfilling the prophecy made by the [[Seventh Doctor]] in the [[1989]] episode ''[[Battlefield]]''. | ||
* A [[Prequel (The Wedding of River Song)|prequel]] to this episode was released online.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/videos/p00kn2y6</ref> | * A [[Prequel (The Wedding of River Song)|prequel]] to this episode was released online.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/videos/p00kn2y6</ref> | ||
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* [[Meredith Vieira]], co-host of the American morning news/chat programme ''Today'', filmed her cameo during a visit to the Upper Boat Studios as part of a profile of ''Doctor Who'' produced for ''[[Wikipedia:Today (NBC program)|Today]]''. That feature, which aired on 9 May 2011, contained several minor spoilers for this episode, including revealing the cameo appearance by [[Richard Hope]] as [[Malohkeh]] and the return of [[Ian McNeice]] as [[Winston Churchill]]. However an appearance by several [[Cybermen]] served as a "false flag" spoiler suggesting they might also appear in the episode, when they did not. | * [[Meredith Vieira]], co-host of the American morning news/chat programme ''Today'', filmed her cameo during a visit to the Upper Boat Studios as part of a profile of ''Doctor Who'' produced for ''[[Wikipedia:Today (NBC program)|Today]]''. That feature, which aired on 9 May 2011, contained several minor spoilers for this episode, including revealing the cameo appearance by [[Richard Hope]] as [[Malohkeh]] and the return of [[Ian McNeice]] as [[Winston Churchill]]. However an appearance by several [[Cybermen]] served as a "false flag" spoiler suggesting they might also appear in the episode, when they did not. | ||
* This is the first series finale of the revived series not to be a multi-part episode. In fact, it is the first series finale ever to only be one episode (with the iffy exception of [[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]''). | * This is the first series finale of the revived series not to be a multi-part episode. In fact, it is the first series finale ever to only be one episode (with the iffy exception of [[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]''). | ||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
''UK Overnight: 6.1 Million'' | ''UK Overnight: 6.1 Million'' | ||
''Final: 7.67 million'' | ''Final: 7.67 million'' | ||
=== Myths === | === Myths === | ||
* The Doctor will get married.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/whos-getting-married-24283.htm</ref> ''This was proven true.'' | * The Doctor will get married.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/whos-getting-married-24283.htm</ref> ''This was proven true.'' | ||
* Part of this episode will be set in Egypt.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-comic-con-trailer-breakdown-23371.htm</ref> ''This was proven true''. | * Part of this episode will be set in Egypt.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-comic-con-trailer-breakdown-23371.htm</ref> ''This was proven true''. | ||
=== Filming locations === | === Filming locations === | ||
* Utah, USA (flashback footage from [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | * Utah, USA (flashback footage from [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | ||
=== Production errors === | === Production errors === | ||
{{Discontinuity}} | {{Discontinuity}} | ||
| Line 386: | Line 421: | ||
* When Amy and her team arrive to save the Doctor in the senate hall, the Doctor throws Winston Churchill to the floor and take a few steps forward. A second later he is shown on the floor right next to Winston. | * When Amy and her team arrive to save the Doctor in the senate hall, the Doctor throws Winston Churchill to the floor and take a few steps forward. A second later he is shown on the floor right next to Winston. | ||
* When the Doctor flashes back to the picnic on the lakeside, he fills River's wine glass about a quarter full, but when they all say "Salut" the camera changes angles and the glass looks full; when the camera returns to its starting position, it is back to a quarter. | * When the Doctor flashes back to the picnic on the lakeside, he fills River's wine glass about a quarter full, but when they all say "Salut" the camera changes angles and the glass looks full; when the camera returns to its starting position, it is back to a quarter. | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] is said to have died. This is consistent with the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s assertion in [[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]'' that the Brigadier would die in bed. As no indication is given as to when the Brigadier died, it does not contradict the post-[[2010]] continuity established for the character in the [[Virgin New Adventures]] and the Brigadier's death in the [[2050s]] established in [[PDA]]: ''[[The King of Terror]]''. | * [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] is said to have died. This is consistent with the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s assertion in [[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]'' that the Brigadier would die in bed. As no indication is given as to when the Brigadier died, it does not contradict the post-[[2010]] continuity established for the character in the [[Virgin New Adventures]] and the Brigadier's death in the [[2050s]] established in [[PDA]]: ''[[The King of Terror]]''. | ||
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* [[Dorium Maldovar]] returns as a head. He was beheaded by the [[Headless Monks]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | * [[Dorium Maldovar]] returns as a head. He was beheaded by the [[Headless Monks]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | ||
* The Doctor mentions his former companions [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Jack Harkness]]. | * The Doctor mentions his former companions [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Jack Harkness]]. | ||
* Amy's drawings include the [[Krafayis]], the [[Weeping Angels]], the [[Saturnyn]]s, the [[Silurian]]s, the [[Dalek]]s, the [[Minotaur (The God Complex)|Minotaur]], the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] and the [[Smiler]]s, a a self-portraits of herself from [[DW]]: ''[[The Curse of the Black Spot]]'' and of her emerging from the [[Pandorica]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]''). | * Amy's drawings include the [[Krafayis]], the [[Weeping Angels]], the [[Saturnyn]]s, the [[Silurian]]s, the [[Dalek]]s, the [[Minotaur (The God Complex)|Minotaur]], the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] and the [[Smiler]]s, a a self-portraits of herself from [[DW]]: ''[[The Curse of the Black Spot]]'' and of her emerging from the [[Pandorica]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]''). | ||
* The ''[[Teselecta]]'' returns, as does its [[Carter (Let's Kill Hitler)|captain]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler]]'') | * The ''[[Teselecta]]'' returns, as does its [[Carter (Let's Kill Hitler)|captain]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler]]'') | ||
* The Doctor again sports a beard. ([[DW]]: ''[[Day of the Moon]])'' | * The Doctor again sports a beard. ([[DW]]: ''[[Day of the Moon]])'' | ||
| Line 417: | Line 453: | ||
* On Amy's office wall is a drawing of a red Dalek from [[VG]]'': [[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]].'' | * On Amy's office wall is a drawing of a red Dalek from [[VG]]'': [[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]].'' | ||
* The Doctor gives River important information by whispering into her ear. ([[DW]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler]]'') | * The Doctor gives River important information by whispering into her ear. ([[DW]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler]]'') | ||
== Timeline == | == Timeline == | ||
=== For the Doctor === | === For the Doctor === | ||
| Line 422: | Line 459: | ||
* This story takes place during [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' | * This story takes place during [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' | ||
* This story occurs before: 2011 Christmas Special [[DW]]: ''[[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]'' | * This story occurs before: 2011 Christmas Special [[DW]]: ''[[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]'' | ||
=== For River === | === For River === | ||
* This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'' | * This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'' | ||
* This story takes place during [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' | * This story takes place during [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' | ||
* This story occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'' | * This story occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'' | ||
==== For River in the final scene ==== | ==== For River in the final scene ==== | ||
* This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone]]'' | * This story occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone]]'' | ||
* This story occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[Silence in the Library]]'' | * This story occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[Silence in the Library]]'' | ||
=== For Amy and Rory === | === For Amy and Rory === | ||
* This story takes place after [[DW]]: ''[[The God Complex]]'' | * This story takes place after [[DW]]: ''[[The God Complex]]'' | ||
* This story takes place during [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' | * This story takes place during [[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' | ||
== Home video releases == | == Home video releases == | ||
[[File:Series6.2DVD.jpg|thumb]]This episode will be released on DVD shortly after the airing of the episode.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-dvd-releases-15635.htm</ref> | [[File:Series6.2DVD.jpg|thumb]]This episode will be released on DVD shortly after the airing of the episode.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-dvd-releases-15635.htm</ref> | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{Reflist|2}} | {{Reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 21:31, 30 November 2011
The Wedding of River Song was the thirteenth and final episode of the sixth series of Doctor Who.
Synopsis
The Doctor makes his final journey to the shores of Lake Silencio in Utah, knowing only one thing can keep the universe safe — his own death. But has he reckoned without the love of a good woman?[1]
The War of the Roses enters its second year even as London picnickers are warned not to feed the Pterodactyls and Charles Dickens is interviewed about his new Christmas ghost special. Holy Roman Emperor Winston Churchill returns to Buckingham Palace on his mammoth from a conference in Gaul with Cleopatra to wonder why it is always 5:02 PM on 22 April 2011. His Silurian physician, Malokeh, tells him it is always so but Churchill has his doubts. He orders his soothsayer dragged from the Tower of London. It is the Eleventh Doctor, who tells him why: "A woman."
In a flashback, the Doctor wants to know why he must die. Taking the data on the Silence from a dying Dalek, he finds Father Gideon Vandaleur, actually the Teselecta, who points him at Gantok, the Silence's agent. He is almost electrocuted in a game of live chess with the Doctor. To avoid checkmate or death,
Gantok takes him to Dorium Maldovar's head in the Seventh Transept.
Dorium explains that if the Doctor lives, on the fields of Trenzalore, at the fall of the Eleventh, when no creature can speak falsely or fail to answer, a question that must never be answered will be asked: the first question, hidden in plain sight. He asks if his visitor wants to know the question. The Doctor nervously agrees.
Taking Dorium's head with him, the Doctor determines to continue his farewell tour. However, when he learns
File:Dorium's Head.png
Dorium tells the Doctor to stop running
his old friend the Brigadier is dead, his bravado crumbles. His time has come. He gives the Teselecta invitations to deliver. He goes to Lake Silencio with Amy Pond, Rory Williams and River Song, where they drink a bottle of wine that Napoleon threw at him. An impossible astronaut rises from the lake and he goes to meet it. It is River Song, trapped in the suit by Madame Kovarian and the Silence. She has no control over the suit as it prepares to kill the Doctor. He forgives her unconditionally, shutting his eyes as her arm rises to deliver the three deadly blows.
There are five bursts that make him flinch. The Doctor opens his eyes and demands to know what she has done. River smiles. She has discharged her weapons systems harmlessly and the world shatters.
As the Doctor and Churchill discuss these events, they see they're holding weapons. Tally marks are appearing on the Doctor's arms. They look up. The ceiling is infested with dozens of Silents. Before they can attack, a grenade rolls into the hall and a company of soldiers under an eyepatched Amy Pond invade. She shoots the Doctor. The Doctor wakes from the stungun in Amy's office on a train bound for Area 52 inside the Great Pyramid at Giza. Amy grew up with a Crack in her wall, and so can remember both timelines.She has drawn pictures of the other timeline, but cannot recall Rory is Captain Williams, a soldier in her force.
In Area 52, the Doctor and Amy walk past more than a hundred capt
File:Ihaveandalwayswillbeyourfriend.jpg
A Silent in a water tank
ured Silents to the King's Chamber, where River Song awaits them. Madame Kovarian is a prisoner, tied to a chair. They have used her eyepatch to create Eye Drives to let them remember the Silents when not looking at them.
The Doctor goes to take River's hand, but she knows they are the poles of an explosion waiting to destroy this timeline. She has him handcuffed and tries to convince him to live. The Silents escape; it is their trap the Doctor's friends have fallen into. As the soldiers retreat to the King's Chamber, their eye drives electrify and kill them. Kovarian mocks them, until her eye drive sparks too. Rory stays to hold off the Silents, while River, Amy and the Doctor go to the apex of the Pyramid to see what River has built. The door flies open; Rory falls to his knees as the Silents enter and begin to electrocute him, but Amy, at last remembering who he is, returns to kill them with a machine gun. She cold-bloodedly kills a terrified Kovarian.
Atop the Great Pyramid, River has built a beacon, calling the universe across all time zones: the Doctor is dying. Please help. Every reply is "yes, of course". The Doctor, however, insists that no one can help him. He must die to prevent all of time from disintegrating.
When River despairs and swears to suffer more than any living thing in the universe for him, the Doctor tells Amy to uncuff him. He uses his bow tie to marry River in a handfasting. He whispers a secret into his bride's ear and tells her she must never tell anyone what he has just told her: his name. As she looks at him in wonder, the Doctor asks for her help.
File:The Wedding of River Song.png
The Doctor and River kiss at their wedding.
They kiss and time moves again, River shoots the Doctor thrice, preventing his regeneration. The distorted timeline vanishes.
Some time later, River, fresh from the crash of the Byzantium, arrives at her mother's home to split a bottle of wine. Amy wonders what the events in the aborted, frozen time line say about her, particularly her murder of Kovarian. She needs to talk with the Doctor, but he is dead. River disagrees. Amy notes that her daughter is still having adventures with him in the centuries before his death, but River tells her a secret which she probably shouldn't. As Rory joins his wife and daughter, they dance for joy until Amy realises to her horror she is the Doctor's mother-in-law.
A monk carries Dorium's head back to the Seventh Transept. Dorium recognises the Doctor and asks how he escaped. The Doctor explains that River actually shot the Teselecta, with him safe inside, waving happily at her. Now the entire universe believes him dead and it's time for him to step back into the shadows. He leaves.
Dorium calls after him the question the Doctor has been running from his entire life: "Doctor who?"
- The Doctor – Matt Smith
- Amy Pond – Karen Gillan
- Rory Williams – Arthur Darvill
- River Song – Alex Kingston
- Madame Kovarian – Frances Barber
- Emperor Winston Churchill - Ian McNeice
- Malohkeh- Richard Hope
- Charles Dickens - Simon Callow
- Dr Kent - Emma Campbell-Jones
- Gideon Vandaleur - Niall Greig Fulton
- Gantok - Mark Gatiss (Credited as 'Rondo Haxton')
- Herself - Sian Williams
- Himself - Bill Turnbull
- News Anchor - Meredith Vieira
- Dorium Maldovar -Simon Fisher Becker
- The Silence - Marnix Van Den Broeke
- Carter - Richard Dillane
- Nurse - Katherine Burford
- Barman - Sean Buckley
- Canton Delaware - William Morgan Sheppard (footage from The Impossible Astronaut)
- Voice of the Dalek- Nicholas Briggs
| Executive Producers Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger and Beth Willis |
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| 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. |
- Rose Tyler and Jack Harkness are mentioned.
- Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart passed away several months before the Doctor phones the institution where he was staying; he apparently talked about the Doctor all the time and insisted on having a spare glass ready in case he should show up.
- Charles Dickens appears in the alternate timeline, being interviewed on television.
- Amy has an office on a train. The Doctor has never had an office and envies both the office and the train.
- A Timey-wimey distress beacon is built.
- The Doctor wears the Stetson given to him by Craig Owens throughout his investigation, up to and including the time he is hidden aboard the Tesselecta. The hat shot off his head by River in DW: The Impossible Astronaut was a copy made by the Tesselecta.
- Following his death in February, this episode pays tribute to Nicholas Courtney, with the Doctor discovering that his character, Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, died peacefully in his sleep, therefore fulfilling the prophecy made by the Seventh Doctor in the 1989 episode Battlefield.
- A prequel to this episode was released online.[2]
- This is the first time an episode of Doctor Who has aired on the same night as an episode of fellow BBC Saturday night drama, Merlin. The first episode of Merlin Series 4, The Darkest Hour, was broadcast right after The Wedding of River Song.
- Meredith Vieira, co-host of the American morning news/chat programme Today, filmed her cameo during a visit to the Upper Boat Studios as part of a profile of Doctor Who produced for Today. That feature, which aired on 9 May 2011, contained several minor spoilers for this episode, including revealing the cameo appearance by Richard Hope as Malohkeh and the return of Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill. However an appearance by several Cybermen served as a "false flag" spoiler suggesting they might also appear in the episode, when they did not.
- This is the first series finale of the revived series not to be a multi-part episode. In fact, it is the first series finale ever to only be one episode (with the iffy exception of DW: The Five Doctors).
Ratings
UK Overnight: 6.1 Million
Final: 7.67 million
Myths
- The Doctor will get married.[3] This was proven true.
- Part of this episode will be set in Egypt.[4] This was proven true.
Filming locations
- Utah, USA (flashback footage from DW: The Impossible Astronaut)
Production errors
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.
- The Doctor's reflection in River's helmet shield is not reversed, as it should be.
- When Gantok falls into the pit of skulls his hat falls off, yet it's back on right before he's devoured completely.
- When River lifts the shield on the helmet, she uses two hands, whereas in The Impossible Astronaut the astronaut only uses one hand.
- When River is about to shoot the Doctor, she begins raising her hand. In the next wide shot, it is risen fully and ready to fire. However, in the next close-up, she is still raising her hand.
- Time was frozen at 05:02:57, and progressed to around 05:03:06 the first time the Doctor and River touch, but when the Doctor and River kiss later, a clock is shown on screen, with time resuming from 05:02:00.
- When Amy and her team arrive to save the Doctor in the senate hall, the Doctor throws Winston Churchill to the floor and take a few steps forward. A second later he is shown on the floor right next to Winston.
- When the Doctor flashes back to the picnic on the lakeside, he fills River's wine glass about a quarter full, but when they all say "Salut" the camera changes angles and the glass looks full; when the camera returns to its starting position, it is back to a quarter.
Continuity
- Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart is said to have died. This is consistent with the Seventh Doctor's assertion in DW: Battlefield that the Brigadier would die in bed. As no indication is given as to when the Brigadier died, it does not contradict the post-2010 continuity established for the character in the Virgin New Adventures and the Brigadier's death in the 2050s established in PDA: The King of Terror.
- Charles Dickens appears. (DW: The Unquiet Dead)
- Winston Churchill returns, this time as the Holy Roman Emperor. (DW: Victory of the Daleks, The Pandorica Opens)
- The Silurian scientist Malokeh returns. (DW: The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood)
- Dorium Maldovar returns as a head. He was beheaded by the Headless Monks. (DW: A Good Man Goes to War)
- The Doctor mentions his former companions Rose Tyler and Jack Harkness.
- Amy's drawings include the Krafayis, the Weeping Angels, the Saturnyns, the Silurians, the Daleks, the Minotaur, the Cybermen and the Smilers, a a self-portraits of herself from DW: The Curse of the Black Spot and of her emerging from the Pandorica (DW: The Big Bang).
- The Teselecta returns, as does its captain. (DW: Let's Kill Hitler)
- The Doctor again sports a beard. (DW: Day of the Moon)
- When talking to Amy after the timeline has been restored, River mentions climbing out of the Byzantium. She is still in her combat fatigues and mentions that she has just seen Amy when she had no idea who she is. (DW: The Time of Angels / Flesh and Stone)
- Amy is partially protected from some kinds of temporal changes due to her long-term exposure to The Cracks. (DW: The Eleventh Hour, The Big Bang)
- When River says to the Doctor that time can be rewritten, he responds with "Don't you dare." This echoes what River says to the Doctor in a similar situation (DW: Forest of the Dead) and the First Doctor trying to stop Barbara Wright interfering in Aztec history (DW: The Aztecs).
- River mentions "Rule #1: the Doctor lies." (DW: The Big Bang, Let's Kill Hitler)
- A Silent calls Rory "the man who dies and dies again", referring to his deaths in DW: Amy's Choice, Cold Blood, The Curse of the Black Spot, and The Doctor's Wife.
- When the Doctor meets River in Area 52, he greets her by saying "Honey, I'm home." River replies, "And what sort of time do you call this?" They had the same exchange in DW: The Big Bang.
- The Doctor mentions Elizabeth I waiting for him in a glade to elope with her. (DW: The Shakespeare Code, DW: The End of Time, DW: The Beast Below)
- The Doctor says "Geronimo!" again. (DW: The End of Time, The Eleventh Hour, The Beast Below, The Big Bang)
- The Doctor asks River, "Why do you always have handcuffs?" (DW: Forest of the Dead, DW: Flesh and Stone)
- Dorium tells the Doctor what the "question that must never be answered" is. The question was first mentioned in DW: Let's Kill Hitler.
- The notion of "Doctor who?" being a dark secret rather than simply a question was previously explored in DW: The Girl in the Fireplace.
- The barman on Calisto B is a red humanoid. Others have appeared in DW: New Earth, Gridlock, The End of Time, The Pandorica Opens and IDW: Agent Provocateur.
- While held captive, Madame Kovarian expresses annoyance at River and the Doctor's flirting, as Amy did in Day of the Moon.
- River mentions having to pretend not to recognise a space suit in 1969. (DW: The Impossible Astronaut)
- A heavily damaged Progenitor Dalek appears. (DW : Victory of the Daleks)
- The Doctor makes marks on his arm when he sees the Silence. (DW: Day of the Moon)
- River says she is a child of the TARDIS. (DW: Let's Kill Hitler)
- The Doctor reads a knitting magazine. (DW: The Impossible Astronaut)
- River shoots the Doctor shortly after marrying him. Her father, Rory, shot Amy while they were engaged. (DW: The Pandorica Opens)
- On Amy's office wall is a drawing of a red Dalek from VG: City of the Daleks.
- The Doctor gives River important information by whispering into her ear. (DW: Let's Kill Hitler)
Timeline
For the Doctor
- This story occurs after DW: Closing Time
- This story takes place during DW: The Impossible Astronaut
- This story occurs before: 2011 Christmas Special DW: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe
For River
- This story occurs after DW: Closing Time
- This story takes place during DW: The Impossible Astronaut
- This story occurs before DW: A Good Man Goes to War
For River in the final scene
- This story occurs after DW: Flesh and Stone
- This story occurs before DW: Silence in the Library
For Amy and Rory
- This story takes place after DW: The God Complex
- This story takes place during DW: The Impossible Astronaut
Home video releases
This episode will be released on DVD shortly after the airing of the episode.[5]
External links
- ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/episodes/series-6-2011/613-the-wedding-of-river-song
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/videos/p00kn2y6
- ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/whos-getting-married-24283.htm
- ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-comic-con-trailer-breakdown-23371.htm
- ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-6-dvd-releases-15635.htm
