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'''''The Curse of the Black Spot''''' was the third episode of [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|series 6]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was written by [[Steve Thompson]], directed by [[Jeremy Webb]] and featured [[Matt Smith]] as the [[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Karen Gillan]] as [[Amy Pond]] and [[Arthur Darvill]] as [[Rory Williams]]. | '''''The Curse of the Black Spot''''' was the third episode of [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|series 6]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was written by [[Steve Thompson]], directed by [[Jeremy Webb]] and featured [[Matt Smith]] as the [[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Karen Gillan]] as [[Amy Pond]] and [[Arthur Darvill]] as [[Rory Williams]]. | ||
It featured the long forgotten character [[Henry Avery]], mentioned in the [[First Doctor]] episode ''[[The Smugglers (TV story)|The Smugglers]]'', and gave an explanation as to what happened to him and his crew. The "[[Eye Patch Lady]]" also appeared again, in the second of what would become a series of brief, foreboding check-ups on Amy Pond as she travelled with the Doctor. | It featured the long-forgotten character [[Henry Avery]], mentioned in the [[First Doctor]] episode ''[[The Smugglers (TV story)|The Smugglers]]'', and gave an explanation as to what happened to him and his crew. The "[[Eye Patch Lady]]" also appeared again, in the second of what would become a series of brief, foreboding check-ups on Amy Pond as she travelled with the Doctor. | ||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
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The trio is brought to Avery's cabin, where the Doctor reveals that they picked up the ship's distress calls; the crew, however, insists that they made no such calls. When the Doctor compares the [[time travel]]lers to "sailors," they are held at gunpoint by Avery and accused of being stowaways. The captain, knowing there is too little [[water]] to sustain all of them until the wind picks up, orders the Doctor and Rory to walk the plank while commanding Amy to the scullery. She is shoved below deck, where she discovers trunks of pirate garb and weaponry. As the Doctor is prepared to jump into the water, Amy reappears, brandishing a sword, frightening the crew, who do not wish to be injured. One crew member advances on her to get the sword away from her, but she puts up a fight, accidentally cutting his hand. He explains that she has killed him, prompting her to call him a "baby" for overreacting. A second fight ensues and Amy drops the sword, accidentally cutting Rory as well. Black spots appear on both of the men's palms, prompting Rory to ask the Doctor what's happening. | The trio is brought to Avery's cabin, where the Doctor reveals that they picked up the ship's distress calls; the crew, however, insists that they made no such calls. When the Doctor compares the [[time travel]]lers to "sailors," they are held at gunpoint by Avery and accused of being stowaways. The captain, knowing there is too little [[water]] to sustain all of them until the wind picks up, orders the Doctor and Rory to walk the plank while commanding Amy to the scullery. She is shoved below deck, where she discovers trunks of pirate garb and weaponry. As the Doctor is prepared to jump into the water, Amy reappears, brandishing a sword, frightening the crew, who do not wish to be injured. One crew member advances on her to get the sword away from her, but she puts up a fight, accidentally cutting his hand. He explains that she has killed him, prompting her to call him a "baby" for overreacting. A second fight ensues and Amy drops the sword, accidentally cutting Rory as well. Black spots appear on both of the men's palms, prompting Rory to ask the Doctor what's happening. | ||
The woman's voice is heard yet again, charming Rory and the wounded pirate and turning them into babbling fools. A ghostly woman bubbles up from the becalmed water and slowly advances on the crew, extending her hand to Rory and the pirate. The pirate steps forward and is instantly vaporised upon touching her. Rory also approaches her, but Amy steps between them, threatening the woman — who turns an angry red, hisses, and throws Amy across the deck. The crew hurries below deck, followed by the time travellers. Avery refers to the woman as a [[Siren]] | The woman's voice is heard yet again, charming Rory and the wounded pirate and turning them into babbling fools. A ghostly woman bubbles up from the becalmed water and slowly advances on the crew, extending her hand to Rory and the pirate. The pirate steps forward and is instantly vaporised upon touching her. Rory also approaches her, but Amy steps between them, threatening the woman — who turns an angry red, hisses, and throws Amy across the deck. The crew hurries below deck, followed by the time travellers. Avery refers to the woman as a [[Siren]] and says she has been taking every injured crew member, whether the wound is large or small. They all believe that the ship is cursed, which the Doctor responds to with some derision. | ||
Avery does not believe that [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] is truly the Doctor's "ship," and levels his pistol at him, demanding that he make it "sail". The Doctor, however, feels that they're merely fighting over who's in charge. Another crewmember realises that a [[leech]] has bitten him on the leg, and they all scramble to remove themselves from the still water as the black spot appears on the man's hand. All of a sudden, the Siren appears and takes the man, allowing the Doctor to [[deduce]] that she is using water as a portal; therefore, they must make for the driest room on the ship — the armoury. Arriving there, they discover [[Toby Avery|Toby]], a young boy who is revealed to be Avery's son. The boy stowed away on his father's ship, wanting to meet the man his mother described as an "honourable Navy captain" before she died the previous year. However, he is very ill, and soon reveals a black spot on the palm of his hand. Because he possesses no injuries, the Doctor realises that the Siren is coming for the sick as well as the wounded. | |||
[[File:The_TARDIS_gets_"towed".jpg|thumb|200px|The TARDIS gets "towed".]] | [[File:The_TARDIS_gets_"towed".jpg|thumb|200px|The TARDIS gets "towed".]] | ||
Avery and the Doctor go to the TARDIS, where Avery quickly adapts to the machine's extraterrestrial equipment by comparing them to the functions of his own ship. Meanwhile, the [[boatswain (The Curse of the Black Spot)|boatswain]] and [[Mulligan (The Curse of the Black Spot)|Mulligan]] — the only remaining crew members — reveal their plan to leave the ship with Avery's treasure, thus informing Toby that his father is a pirate. Still loyal, Toby grabs a sword and cuts the boatswain's hand, stranding him in the armoury with the others. Mulligan, however, leaves anyway. Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor realises that the TARDIS cannot leave because it can't sense the plane it's supposed to be flying on. Abruptly, it begins to dematerialise, and with no clue as to its destination, the Doctor and Avery are forced to flee. | Avery and the Doctor go to the TARDIS, where Avery quickly adapts to the machine's extraterrestrial equipment by comparing them to the functions of his own ship. Meanwhile, the [[boatswain (The Curse of the Black Spot)|boatswain]] and [[Mulligan (The Curse of the Black Spot)|Mulligan]] — the only remaining crew members — reveal their plan to leave the ship with Avery's treasure, thus informing Toby that his father is a pirate. Still loyal, Toby grabs a sword and cuts the boatswain's hand, stranding him in the armoury with the others. Mulligan, however, leaves anyway. Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor realises that the TARDIS cannot leave because it can't sense the plane it's supposed to be flying on. Abruptly, it begins to dematerialise, and with no clue as to its destination, the Doctor and Avery are forced to flee. | ||
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[[File:Eyepatch4.jpg|thumb|left|The Patch Lady looks at Amy through the hatch.]] | [[File:Eyepatch4.jpg|thumb|left|The Patch Lady looks at Amy through the hatch.]] | ||
As everyone sleeps, Amy sees the [[Madame Kovarian|woman with the eyepatch]] staring at her through a hatch in the side of the ship, however, the hatch disappears. She goes to Avery's cabin, where the Doctor stands staring out the window | As everyone sleeps, Amy sees the [[Madame Kovarian|woman with the eyepatch]] staring at her through a hatch in the side of the ship, however, the hatch disappears. She goes to Avery's cabin, where the Doctor stands staring out the window and is prepared to tell him of the woman when he interrupts her, questioning whether or not she feels as though she is being watched. Suddenly, a storm breaks, and all head to the deck to lift the sail. In the chaos, a crown falls out of Avery's jacket, even though the Doctor had previously ordered Avery to rid the ship of all the treasure so that they might limit the Siren's means of reaching them. The Siren appears, taking Toby, but the Doctor is able to throw the crown overboard before she can go after Rory. Nevertheless, Rory is knocked overboard and begins to drown. Though Amy prepares to jump in after him, the Doctor explains that Rory will die unless they let the Siren take him. He pulls the lid off a bucket of still water and orders the woman to go save him. The Doctor realises that their only means of reuniting with their loved ones is to prick their fingers and let the Siren take them as well. She appears, and they all touch her hand, instantly blacking out. | ||
They wake on the floor of an invisible [[Alien ship (The Curse of the Black Spot)|alien spaceship]], which the Doctor quickly [[deduce]]s is taking up the same space as the ''Fancy'', lending credence to his previous belief that they were all being watched; every window on the spaceship is a portal that leads to the ''Fancy''. Amy realises that the distress signal they answered was coming from the spaceship, not the ''Fancy''. As they explore, they discover the skeletons of the ship's crew members, with the Doctor ascertaining that they all died years ago from an [[Earth]] disease. | They wake on the floor of an invisible [[Alien ship (The Curse of the Black Spot)|alien spaceship]], which the Doctor quickly [[deduce]]s is taking up the same space as the ''Fancy'', lending credence to his previous belief that they were all being watched; every window on the spaceship is a portal that leads to the ''Fancy''. Amy realises that the distress signal they answered was coming from the spaceship, not the ''Fancy''. As they explore, they discover the skeletons of the ship's crew members, with the Doctor ascertaining that they all died years ago from an [[Earth]] disease. | ||
[[File:Siren-angry.jpg|thumb|The Siren prepares to "sterilize" germs]] | [[File:Siren-angry.jpg|thumb|The Siren prepares to "sterilize" germs]] | ||
Eventually, they discover the | Eventually, they discover the sickbay, where Avery's crew — plus Rory, Toby, and the TARDIS — are being kept, hooked up to life support machines. When Amy tries to unhook Rory, the Siren appears and puts him back to sleep. The Doctor realises that the Siren is not a demon, but a virtual [[doctor]] who has been caring for the injured crew. However, she has no means of treating them and can only put them on life support to save them. Amy again tries to help Rory, but the Siren won't let her near him; it is not until Amy proclaims that he is her husband that the Siren extends her hand, with a glowing yellow ring forming around it. The Doctor orders Amy to take her hand, thus signing the contract and accepting all responsibility for Rory's further well-being. She does so, but they quickly realise that Rory cannot be taken off life support. In doing so, he will drown. | ||
Rory is sure that Amy can save him and instructs her on how to perform [[CPR]]. Meanwhile, the Doctor reveals to Avery that Toby has typhoid fever, and if he were to be removed from the ship, he would only have a few months left to live. Remembering that the alien spaceship needs a captain, Avery volunteers for the position so that he may continue to look after his son. Bidding Avery goodbye, the Doctor and Amy bring a choking Rory back to the TARDIS, where Amy begins to perform CPR. Though it appears futile at first, Rory eventually recovers and lovingly embraces his wife. | Rory is sure that Amy can save him and instructs her on how to perform [[CPR]]. Meanwhile, the Doctor reveals to Avery that Toby has typhoid fever, and if he were to be removed from the ship, he would only have a few months left to live. Remembering that the alien spaceship needs a captain, Avery volunteers for the position so that he may continue to look after his son. Bidding Avery goodbye, the Doctor and Amy bring a choking Rory back to the TARDIS, where Amy begins to perform CPR. Though it appears futile at first, Rory eventually recovers and lovingly embraces his wife. | ||
[[File:Avery_and_his_crew_acquire_the_spaceship.jpg|thumb|200px|Captain Avery and his crew in their newly acquired ship.]] | [[File:Avery_and_his_crew_acquire_the_spaceship.jpg|thumb|200px|Captain Avery and his crew in their newly acquired ship.]] | ||
The alien spaceship soars off into space, with Avery in the captain's seat and Toby and his crew at his side headed for the Dog Star. | The alien spaceship soars off into space, with Avery in the captain's seat and Toby and his crew at his side headed for the Dog Star. | ||
In the TARDIS, Amy and Rory say | In the TARDIS, Amy and Rory say goodnight to the Doctor, who responds by referring to Amy as "Amelia." Amy notes that he only does this when he's worried about her. The Doctor retorts that he always worries about her, leading Amy to remember his impending death and admit that the feeling is mutual. As they depart the console room, Rory reminds her that she cannot tell the Doctor about what happens at the lakeside in the future. The Doctor scans Amy for pregnancy again, with the readings still flickering between positive and negative. | ||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
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== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* This episode was supposed to air in the autumn half of the series, but was swapped around, along with [[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Wife]]'' being fourth instead of third and [[Mark Gatiss]]' episode being ninth instead of fourth. This was because [[Steven Moffat]] felt Gatiss' episode was too dark.<ref>[http://doctorwhospoilers.com/2011/summaries/s6ep4/]</ref> | * This episode was supposed to air in the autumn half of the series, but was swapped around, along with [[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Wife (TV story)|The Doctor's Wife]]'' being fourth instead of third and [[Mark Gatiss]]' episode being ninth instead of fourth. This was because [[Steven Moffat]] felt Gatiss' episode was too dark.<ref>[http://doctorwhospoilers.com/2011/summaries/s6ep4/]</ref> | ||
* This episode's original title was ''Siren'' and was the ninth episode of series six. In the first draft, the story was set on dry land ([[Cornwall]]) in case the show couldn't get a boat. ([[REF]]: ''[[The Brilliant Book 2012]]'')<ref>[[DWMSE 29]]</ref> | * This episode's original title was ''Siren'' and was the ninth episode of series six. In the first draft, the story was set on dry land ([[Cornwall]]) in case the show couldn't get a boat. ([[REF]]: ''[[The Brilliant Book 2012]]'')<ref>[[DWMSE 29]]</ref> | ||
* Writer [[Steve Thompson]] was unaware of Avery's mention in ''[[The Smugglers]]''. He'd simply looked through his sons' book about pirates and picked Avery because of his mysterious disappearance. ([[REF]]: ''[[The Brilliant Book 2012]]'') | * Writer [[Steve Thompson]] was unaware of Avery's mention in ''[[The Smugglers]]''. He'd simply looked through his sons' book about pirates and picked Avery because of his mysterious disappearance. ([[REF]]: ''[[The Brilliant Book 2012]]'') | ||
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* A [[Prequel (The Curse of the Black Spot)|prequel]] for this story was released online. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/videos/p00gmybn</ref> | * A [[Prequel (The Curse of the Black Spot)|prequel]] for this story was released online. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/videos/p00gmybn</ref> | ||
* Lily Cole is credited as "The Siren" on-screen, and as "Sea Siren" in ''Radio Times''. | * Lily Cole is credited as "The Siren" on-screen, and as "Sea Siren" in ''Radio Times''. | ||
* This episode is notable both in that none of the guest cast die and there is no villain of the piece. Excluding minisodes, Comic Relief specials, etc., the only other episode of the revived series to have both these feats is ''[[Hide (TV story)|Hide]]'' and ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' which, like ''The Curse of the Black Spot'', had a supposed villain turn out to be a harmless misunderstanding. | * This episode is notable both in that none of the guest cast die and there is no villain of the piece. Excluding minisodes, Comic Relief specials, etc., the only other episode of the revived series to have both these feats is ''[[Hide (TV story)|Hide]]'' and ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' which, like ''The Curse of the Black Spot'', had a supposed villain, turn out to be a harmless misunderstanding. | ||
* As with this story, Earth-born diseases were the bane of the aliens in ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''. | * As with this story, Earth-born diseases were the bane of the aliens in ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''. | ||
* The unique [[incidental music]] for this episode, "Deadly Siren" is reused thrice after this episode; the adventurous swashbuckling-themed section of the track plays when Captain Avery and his son Toby make a brief cameo in ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'', and the part of the track where the Siren vocally sings is played during [[WC]]: ''[[The Making of the Gunslinger]] | * The unique [[incidental music]] for this episode, "Deadly Siren" is reused thrice after this episode; the adventurous swashbuckling-themed section of the track plays when Captain Avery and his son Toby make a brief cameo in ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'', and the part of the track where the Siren vocally sings is played during [[WC]]: ''[[The Making of the Gunslinger (webcast)|The Making of the Gunslinger]]''as well as in [[TV]]: ''[[The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|The Night of the Doctor]]''. | ||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
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== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* Amy references the Doctor's death that she, Rory and River witnessed in [[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]''. | * Amy references the Doctor's death that she, Rory and River witnessed in [[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]''. | ||
* The [[Eye Patch Lady]] reappears for the second time to Amy. She first appeared to Amy in [[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Moon]]''. | * The [[Eye Patch Lady]] reappears for the second time to Amy. She first appeared to Amy in [[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Moon (TV story)|Day of the Moon]]''. | ||
* The marking of the hand is akin to the green mark individuals experienced before [[mutation|mutating]] into a [[Primord]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'') | * The marking of the hand is akin to the green mark individuals experienced before [[mutation|mutating]] into a [[Primord]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'') | ||
* Prior to this occasion, the TARDIS had landed in the hold of another sailing vessel: the ''[[Shadow (spaceship)|Shadow]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'') | * Prior to this occasion, the TARDIS had landed in the hold of another sailing vessel: the ''[[Shadow (spaceship)|Shadow]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[Enlightenment (TV story)|Enlightenment]]'') | ||
* A [[Henry Avery|Captain Avery]] was previously mentioned in [[TV]]: ''[[The Smugglers]]''. | * A [[Henry Avery|Captain Avery]] was previously mentioned in [[TV]]: ''[[The Smugglers (TV story)|The Smugglers]]''. | ||
* The TARDIS again seems confused as to whether [[Amy Pond]] is pregnant or not. ([[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Moon]]'') | * The TARDIS again seems confused as to whether [[Amy Pond]] is pregnant or not. ([[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Moon (TV story)|Day of the Moon]]'') | ||
* The Doctor was previously forced to walk the plank in [[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet]]''. | * The Doctor was previously forced to walk the plank in [[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]''. | ||
* The idea that two objects can inhabit the same location, but not have direct travel between them happened during the [[Fourth Doctor]]'s quest for the [[Key to Time]], where a judicial | * The idea that two objects can inhabit the same location, but not have direct travel between them happened during the [[Fourth Doctor]]'s quest for the [[Key to Time]], where a judicial spaceship containing [[Cessair of Diplos]] ran aground on top of the [[Nine Travellers]] in [[Cornwall]]. The Stones were in our [[N-Space|space]] but the ship was located in [[hyperspace]], with travel being available via use of the [[Great Seal of Diplos]] or a machine made by the Doctor and [[K9 Mark II|K9]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stones of Blood (TV story)|The Stones of Blood]]'') | ||
== Home video releases == | == Home video releases == | ||
[[File:Series-6-part-1-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb|Series 6, part 1 DVD cover]] | [[File:Series-6-part-1-dvd-cover.jpg|thumb|Series 6, part 1 DVD cover]] | ||
This story was released as Series 6 Part 1 with ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'', ''[[ | This story was released as Series 6 Part 1 with ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'', ''[[The Curse of the Black Spot (TV story)|The Curse of the Black Spot]]'', ''[[The Doctor's Wife (TV story)|The Doctor's Wife]]'', ''[[The Rebel Flesh (TV story)|The Rebel Flesh]]'', ''[[The Almost People (TV story)|The Almost People]]'' and ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'' on 11 July 2011. | ||
The episode was later released in the complete series 6, which included the first and second half of the series, was released on DVD and Blu Ray on the [[21 November (releases)|21 November]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. | The episode was later released in the complete series 6, which included the first and second half of the series, was released on DVD and Blu Ray on the [[21 November (releases)|21 November]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. | ||
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