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|image = CAL.jpg | |image = CAL.jpg | ||
|series = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]] | |series = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]] | ||
|season number = Series 4 (Doctor Who) | |season number = Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005) | ||
|series episode number = 9 | |series episode number = 9 | ||
|story number = 195b | |story number = 195b | ||
|scripturl = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/doctor-who-4-episode-9-forest-of-the-dead-green-revisions-03022008.pdf | |||
|doctor = Tenth Doctor | |doctor = Tenth Doctor | ||
|companions = [[Donna Noble|Donna]] | |companions = [[Donna Noble|Donna]] | ||
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|clip2 = Everybody lives? - Doctor Who - BBC | |clip2 = Everybody lives? - Doctor Who - BBC | ||
|epcount=1|thwr=107}} | |epcount=1|thwr=107}} | ||
'''''Forest of the Dead''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|series 4]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | '''''Forest of the Dead''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 4]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. | ||
Its major impact on the mythos of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was its depiction of the death of [[River Song]]. This narrative end point would be respected in future series that told River Song's out-of-sequence story. | Its major impact on the mythos of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was its depiction of the death of [[River Song]]. This narrative end point would be respected in future series that told River Song's out-of-sequence story. | ||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
[[Donna Noble|Donna]] is gone, the [[Vashta Nerada]] are out for fresh meat and the [[Tenth Doctor]] is running out of options. Can he trust the mysterious [[Professor]] [[River Song]], a woman who claims to be from his future? Why would his [[Twelfth Doctor|future self]] have given her his [[sonic screwdriver]], or tell her [[ | [[Donna Noble|Donna]] is gone, the [[Vashta Nerada]] are out for fresh meat and the [[Tenth Doctor]] is running out of options. Can he trust the mysterious [[Professor]] [[River Song]], a woman who claims to be from his future? Why would his [[Twelfth Doctor|future self]] have given her his [[sonic screwdriver]], or tell her [[Aliases of the Doctor|his real name]]? Even if they do work together, can anyone stop the shadows from claiming them all as their next meal? | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
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* The Doctor uses [[River Song's sonic screwdriver|River's sonic screwdriver]] to save [[River Song]]'s neural pattern within [[Charlotte Lux|CAL]]. | * The Doctor uses [[River Song's sonic screwdriver|River's sonic screwdriver]] to save [[River Song]]'s neural pattern within [[Charlotte Lux|CAL]]. | ||
* [[Hairdryer]]s can interfere with [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver]]. | * [[Hairdryer]]s can interfere with [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver]]. | ||
=== The Doctor === | === The Doctor === | ||
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== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* On the very first take of River whispering his name into the Doctor's ear, David Tennant corpsed because Alex Kingston whispered "Shaniqua"<ref>[https://x.com/anika_mercat/status/1799872125593141348 Alex Kingston reveals what she actually whispered into the Doctor's ear]</ref> | |||
* If one pays attention to Lux's explanation, the little girl is actually his aunt; if she was his grandfather's daughter, that would mean her sibling would have been Lux's parent. | * If one pays attention to Lux's explanation, the little girl is actually his aunt; if she was his grandfather's daughter, that would mean her sibling would have been Lux's parent. | ||
* The working title for this story was ''River's Run''. When BBC Video announced the North American release of the Series 4 DVD box set, this title was used in the episode list and not ''Forest of the Dead''. The ''[[Radio Times]]'' also used this working title. According to [[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', the title was changed not long before broadcast. Other potential titles included ''The Doctor Runs'', ''Forest of the Night'' and ''Return of the Dead''. | * The working title for this story was ''River's Run''. When BBC Video announced the North American release of the Series 4 DVD box set, this title was used in the episode list and not ''Forest of the Dead''. The ''[[Radio Times]]'' also used this working title. According to [[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', the title was changed not long before broadcast. Other potential titles included ''The Doctor Runs'', ''Forest of the Night'' and ''Return of the Dead''. | ||
* CAL was also the name of the computer graphics company that created the title sequence used between 1987 and 1989 for the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s TV adventures. A result of this work was the creation of the first photo-realistic CGI TARDIS, featured in 1987's ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2V5KWWTTzNC1HsQxyDPjXR7/the-fourth-dimension BBC]</ref> | * CAL was also the name of the computer graphics company that created the title sequence used between 1987 and 1989 for the [[Seventh Doctor]]'s TV adventures. A result of this work was the creation of the first photo-realistic CGI TARDIS, featured in 1987's ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2V5KWWTTzNC1HsQxyDPjXR7/the-fourth-dimension BBC]</ref> | ||
* [[Steven Moffat]]'s recurring theme "everybody lives" returns again in this episode. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') In the BBC podcast associated with this episode, Moffat and [[Russell T Davies]] point out that so far in the four major storylines that he has contributed to the series, the only "final" deaths that have occurred have been due to old age | * [[Steven Moffat]]'s recurring theme "everybody lives" returns again in this episode. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') In the BBC podcast associated with this episode, Moffat and [[Russell T Davies]] point out that so far in the four major storylines that he has contributed to the series, the only "final" deaths that have occurred have been due to old age (as in the case of [[Billy Shipton]] and [[Kathy Nightingale]]) or illness ([[Madame de Pompadour]]). Moffat consequently promises (in the podcast) that he will kill people off in more dramatic fashion in future stories, proven to be true in ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]''/''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]''. | ||
* The concept of downloading human consciousness as data — even after physical death — and the philosophical issues surrounding this is an issue being addressed by futurists in real | * The concept of downloading human consciousness as data — even after physical death — and the philosophical issues surrounding this is an issue being addressed by futurists in real life, with scientists such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil Ray Kurzweil] speculating that technology will allow the uploading of consciousness to computers within a generation in his [[book]], ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil The Age of Spiritual Machines]''. | ||
* A recurring theme in this and the preceding episode is "spoilers". This is a term that was coined in the 1990s by science fiction fandom to address the circulation of information revealing the plots and endings of TV shows and movies. Interestingly, the fourth series of ''Doctor Who'' contains several examples of plot twists and cameos that were successfully protected from "spoilers". Other examples of successful spoiler protection include the appearance of [[Catherine Tate]] at the end of ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]''. Examples of plot twists that were not successfully protected from "spoilers" included the return of Rose in Series 4 — spoiled in part by people witnessing the filming — and the regeneration of [[Christopher Eccleston]] at the end of Series 1 — spoiled by the BBC publicity office itself. | * A recurring theme in this and the preceding episode is "spoilers". This is a term that was coined in the 1990s by science fiction fandom to address the circulation of information revealing the plots and endings of TV shows and movies. Interestingly, the fourth series of ''Doctor Who'' contains several examples of plot twists and cameos that were successfully protected from "spoilers". Other examples of successful spoiler protection include the appearance of [[Catherine Tate]] at the end of ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]''. Examples of plot twists that were not successfully protected from "spoilers" included the return of Rose in Series 4 — spoiled in part by people witnessing the filming — and the regeneration of [[Christopher Eccleston]] at the end of Series 1 — spoiled by the BBC publicity office itself. | ||
* This is the last episode not written or co-written by [[Russell T Davies]] until ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', and the last to not be written or co-written by the show's head writer until ''[[Victory of the Daleks (TV story)|Victory of the Daleks]]''. | * This is the last episode not written or co-written by [[Russell T Davies]] until ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', and the last to not be written or co-written by the show's head writer until ''[[Victory of the Daleks (TV story)|Victory of the Daleks]]''. | ||
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* [[Euros Lyn]]'s aunt and cousin, as well as his cousin's girlfriend, were amongst the missing Library patrons. | * [[Euros Lyn]]'s aunt and cousin, as well as his cousin's girlfriend, were amongst the missing Library patrons. | ||
* It was during production of this episode that it was announced that [[Phil Collinson]] would be departing as producer, as he had been appointed Head of Drama for BBC Manchester after completing season four. | * It was during production of this episode that it was announced that [[Phil Collinson]] would be departing as producer, as he had been appointed Head of Drama for BBC Manchester after completing season four. | ||
* | * The question of which incarnation of the Doctor gave River the sonic screwdriver that preserved her data ghost was left unresolved until {{cs|The Husbands of River Song (TV story)}} revealed it was the [[Twelfth Doctor]] who gave River her sonic screwdriver. | ||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
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* The Doctor has previously spoken his name to others. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Vanderdeken's Children (novel)|Vanderdeken's Children]]'', ''[[Interference - Book One (novel)|Interference - Books One]]'' and ''[[Interference - Book Two (novel)|Two]]'', ''[[Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing (short story)|Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing]]'') | * The Doctor has previously spoken his name to others. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Vanderdeken's Children (novel)|Vanderdeken's Children]]'', ''[[Interference - Book One (novel)|Interference - Books One]]'' and ''[[Interference - Book Two (novel)|Two]]'', ''[[Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing (short story)|Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing]]'') | ||
* The [[sonic blaster|squareness gun]] used by River Song to blast a hole in the wall of the Library is just like the gun used by [[Jack Harkness]] when he first met the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]''/''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') | * The [[sonic blaster|squareness gun]] used by River Song to blast a hole in the wall of the Library is just like the gun used by [[Jack Harkness]] when he first met the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]''/''[[The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances]]'') | ||
* Although the Doctor has never given away a [[sonic screwdriver]] exactly, [[Liz Shaw]] used a "door handle" device, and [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had her [[sonic lipstick]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'') | * Although the Doctor has never given away a [[sonic screwdriver]] exactly, [[Liz Shaw]] used a "door handle" device, and [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had her [[sonic lipstick]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Inferno (TV story)|Inferno]]'', ''[[Invasion of the Bane (TV story)|Invasion of the Bane]]'', et al.) | ||
* The Doctor wonders why River Song has [[handcuff]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]'') | * The Doctor wonders why River Song has [[handcuff]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Flesh and Stone (TV story)|Flesh and Stone]]'') | ||
* The Doctor maintains that he is "always | * The Doctor maintains that he is "always alright" in the wake of a great loss. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Girl in the Fireplace (TV story)|The Girl in the Fireplace]]'', ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'') | ||
* The Doctor says that having 4,022 minds talking inside one's mind (referring to CAL) is like being him. Time Lord minds were shown to be all interconnected through [[the Matrix]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'') | * The Doctor says that having 4,022 minds talking inside one's mind (referring to CAL) is like being him. Time Lord minds were shown to be all interconnected through [[the Matrix]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'') | ||
* River Song says, when talking about the Doctor, "I've seen whole armies turn and run away." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | * River Song says, when talking about the Doctor, "I've seen whole armies turn and run away." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | ||
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* Like River here, [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Harriet Jones]] have also referred to [[Ninth Doctor|another incarnation]] of the Doctor as the "proper Doctor" or "[her] Doctor". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') | * Like River here, [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Harriet Jones]] have also referred to [[Ninth Doctor|another incarnation]] of the Doctor as the "proper Doctor" or "[her] Doctor". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') | ||
* The [[data ghost]] incarnation of River Song returns in ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'' where she reveals that after her death here, "her" Doctor never visited her again. She is briefly reunited with the [[Eleventh Doctor]] on [[Trenzalore]] through a psychic "[[conference call]]" she was using to communicate with Clara Oswald. The Doctor tells her that he found it too hard to see her again due to the pain it would cause him, but after sharing a last kiss with her, gives River the goodbye she had always wanted from him. | * The [[data ghost]] incarnation of River Song returns in ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'' where she reveals that after her death here, "her" Doctor never visited her again. She is briefly reunited with the [[Eleventh Doctor]] on [[Trenzalore]] through a psychic "[[conference call]]" she was using to communicate with Clara Oswald. The Doctor tells her that he found it too hard to see her again due to the pain it would cause him, but after sharing a last kiss with her, gives River the goodbye she had always wanted from him. | ||
* The Doctor remarks that River knows his name, claiming there is only one time he could reveal it. When the [[Eleventh Doctor]] marries River, he whispers something in her ear that he claims is his real name. River later reveals that this was a lie as "the Doctor lies" so that [[Amy Pond]] and [[Rory Williams]] would not know that he was telling River he was hidden inside the ''[[Teselecta]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') River's data ghost uses his name to open the doors of the future TARDIS | * The Doctor remarks that River knows his name, claiming there is only one time he could reveal it. When the [[Eleventh Doctor]] marries River, he whispers something in her ear that he claims is his real name. River later reveals that this was a lie as "the Doctor lies" so that [[Amy Pond]] and [[Rory Williams]] would not know that he was telling River he was hidden inside the ''[[Teselecta]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'') River's data ghost uses his name to open the doors of the future TARDIS, having stated earlier that she eventually got the Doctor to tell her his name. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'') | ||
* River mentions the [[Singing Towers]] of [[Darillium]] as her last night with the Doctor's future self. The [[Twelfth Doctor]], after the [[Eleventh Doctor]] had put off this date for as long as possible, ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Last Night (home video)|Last Night]]'') takes River there after a final adventure with her. By that point, River saw signs of her adventures coming to an end as her diary was almost full and the Doctor would know how many pages she'd need and she'd heard rumours about their date at Darillium. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'') | * River mentions the [[Singing Towers]] of [[Darillium]] as her last night with the Doctor's future self. The [[Twelfth Doctor]], after the [[Eleventh Doctor]] had put off this date for as long as possible, ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Last Night (home video)|Last Night]]'') takes River there after a final adventure with her. By that point, River saw signs of her adventures coming to an end as her diary was almost full and the Doctor would know how many pages she'd need and she'd heard rumours about their date at Darillium. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'') | ||
* River would be among those remembered when [[Davros]] asked the Doctor: ''"How many have died in your name?'' ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'') | * River would be among those remembered when [[Davros]] asked the Doctor: ''"How many have died in your name?'' ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'') | ||
* River associates running with her time with the Doctor, echoing sentiments expressed by [[Donna Noble|Donna]] and [[Jenny (The Doctor's Daughter)|Jenny]]. Jenny would effectively become River's step-daughter when River married her father in his [[Eleventh Doctor|Eleventh incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song]]'') | |||
* River refers to the Doctor as an "impossible man", something previously said by [[Agatha Christie]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp (TV story)|The Unicorn and the Wasp]]'') | |||
== Home video releases == | == Home video releases == | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
* This story was released in the [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]] DVD box set in November 2008 along with the rest of the series. | * This story was released in the [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 4]] DVD box set in November 2008 along with the rest of the series. | ||
* It was released as Series 4 Volume 3 in a vanilla edition with ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' and ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]''. | * It was released as Series 4 Volume 3 in a vanilla edition with ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'' and ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]''. | ||
