The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)

The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)

left

	[[doctor::Eleventh Doctor]]
	Amy Pond Rory Williams River Song (guest)
	The Silence
	Utah, USA, 2011 White House, Washington, D.C., USA, 1969 Florida, 1969
	Steven Moffat
	Toby Haynes
	214a
	Series 6
	23rd April 2011
	1x 45 minute episode
	2.1

The Impossible Astronaut was the first episode in the sixth series of Doctor Who. It introduced the Silence as a species, building on the references of the previous series.

Synopsis

Four envelopes, numbered 2, 3 and 4, each containing a date, time and map reference, unsigned, but TARDIS blue. Who sent them? And who received the missing envelope numbered 1? This strange summons reunites the Doctor, Amy, Rory and River Song in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret the Doctor's friends must never reveal to him. Placing his life entirely in their hands, the Doctor agrees to search for the recipient of the fourth envelope and figure out just who is Canton Everett Delaware the Third? Also what is the relevance of their only other clue: 'Space 1969'? Their quest lands them—quite literally—in the Oval Office, where they are enlisted by President Nixon to assist enigmatic former-FBI agent Canton in saving a terrified little girl from a mysterious spaceman.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• Eleventh Doctor - Matt Smith
• Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
• Rory Williams - Arthur Darvill
• River Song - Alex Kingston
• Canton Delaware - Mark Sheppard
• Old Canton Delaware William - Morgan Sheppard
• President Richard Nixon - Stuart Milligan
• Carl - Chukwudi Iwuji
• Phil - Mark Griffin
• The Silent - Marnix Van Den Broeke
• Little Girl - Sydney Wade
• Joy - Nancy Baldwin
• Prison Guard - Kieran O'Connor
• Captain Simmons - Adam Napier
• Matilda - Henrietta Clemett
• Charles - Paul Critoph
• Busboy - Emilio Aquino

Crew

• Writer - Steven Moffat
• Director - Toby Haynes

References

The Doctor

• A future version of the eleventh Doctor, 200 years older than he is later in the episode is shot. He starts regenerating but is shot again and killed before the regeneration can be completed.

Individuals

• Amy Pond reveals that she is pregnant.

Story notes

• This episode had the working title Year of the Moon
• This is the first two partner opening episode of the revived series.
• A prequel for this story was released on the offcial BBC website.
• The monsters in this episode were said to be "the scariest monsters yet".
• The episode was dedicated to Elisabeth Sladen.

Ratings

to be added

Myths

• We will see River Song as a child. - This was proven false
• The second episode will air the day after the first.

Filming locations

• Valley of the Gods, Utah, United States of America.

Production errors

to be added

Continuity

• Amy mentions fish fingers and custard (DW: The Eleventh Hour)
• The Doctor requests Jammie Dodgers and a Fez. (DW: Victory of the Daleks, The Big Bang)
• The Doctor again expresses his dislike of wine, despite drinking it again. (DW: The Lodger)

Home video releases

The DVD will be released in two halves. Part One, which will contain episodes one to seven will be released in Summer, shortly after the airing of episode seven.

External links

• The Impossible Astronaut at bbc.co.uk