
Doctor: "Spoilers!"
What is it with Steven Moffat and stories which play on our childhood fears? In season two we had monsters under the bed ("The Girl in the Fireplace"), in season three we had statues coming to life ("Blink"), and now, and arguably most terrifying of all, apparently there
are things hiding in the shadows, after all -- the Vashta Nerada -- microscopic carnivorous creatures, which hide in the dark and prey on human flesh. Which isn't great news for adults, let alone children. Not that I'm complaining. This was a terrific episode.
There was a lot to like about this two-parter. I loved the concept of an empty library, on an ostensibly empty planet -- all seemingly existing inside the head of a little girl. When the Doctor and Donna first appeared, it was hard to tell whether the world they inhabited was real or not. And it was a nice change of pace to have the Doctor on the back-foot for a change. Usually, when it comes to knowing the future, he's ahead of the game. Yet, tonight he was streets behind River Song who, not only knew the future, but specifically knew his future; a situation which, understandably, bugged the crap out of him. Who is River Song? Why does she possess a souped-up sonic screwdriver and a diary with TARDIS style cover? How is it she seems to have a working knowledge of TARDIS protocol? And what is her relationship with the Doctor? Her flirty behaviour, and her calling him "pretty boy", all hint at something deeper than platonic friendship.
Song grabbing the Doctor's hand and telling him to "run" mirrored the Doctor's words back in season one episode, "Rose". Only this time it was Song in control, with the Doctor stumbling along in the dark (both literally and metaphorically). Furthermore, Song deflected his questions with consumate ease. She seemed only too aware of the dangers of knowing the future; particularly your own. Spoilers. But Song's diary must surely have been a temptation too far. Who could resist sneaking a quick peek?
But why has Song no recollection of Donna? Is Donna dead in the future; and, if so, how far in the future? Of course, it doesn't have to be that dramatic. Companions leave, too. Martha did. But Donna's determination of late to stay with the Doctor forever, seems to preclude that particular eventuality.
Equally puzzling is how Song recognised the Doctor in the first place. Since Tennant has just nine stories left, and none of them feature River Song, she can't possibly meet up with him until his next incarnation. Or did her comment about his face looking "younger" suggest that they do/did meet for the first time during Tennant's reign?
After this episode first aired, rumour was rife with regards Song's identity. Was she the Rani? Romana? The mysterious hand which picked up the Master's ring at the end of "The Last of the Time Lords?" Bernice Summerfield, a recurring 26th century archaeologist from the Doctor Who novels? There was even some speculation that she might be the Doctor's regenerated daughter -- which would explain her possessing a sonic screwdriver and travelling with him -- but not her flirtation, nor why she didn't recognise Donna.
A more likely explanation is that she's a future companion -- maybe even the Doctor's future wife. Is it possible, too, that she's a Time Lord? Hopefully, all will be revealed in the next instalment.
Bits and pieces:
-- What is it with the Doctor and gift shops?
-- Despite the Doctor's endless warnings to stay out of the shadows, if you keep an eye on the cast, they're always stood in some shadow or other. I guess it's hard to film an episode entirely without shadows.
-- The Doctor asking Song "Who are you?" was a humorous thematic reversal. The Doctor gets asked that self same question several times a season. So it was fun to hear
him asking it, for once.
-- Another "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" from the Doctor.
-- "Emergency Program One", if memory serves me correct, is the same protocol which returned Rose to earth in "The Parting of the Ways".
Billie says...
I loved this one.
This is the sort of story that
Doctor Who does best. Big, imaginative, fantastical and creepy, with sparkling dialogue as well as tantalizing tidbits about the Doctor himself thrown in. It was good enough that in the era of e-books and Google's world domination plan to replace the printed word that I could get right past the illogic of billions of printed books segregated on a planet where people can't easily get to them. I was waiting for the stereotypical little old lady librarian in a bun shushing people. Fortunately, no. Of course, there's always part two.
I particularly liked the little girl who wasn't a little girl, the pathos of the data ghosts, the skeletons in the space suits. And River Song is especially intriguing. She sounded like an important, long-term companion. She knew who the Doctor was -- but then again, she was expecting him. I think they left the idea open that she didn't know his current face ("you're younger than I've ever seen you"). This would cover the writers if we never do get to see River Song in any future adventure, right?
Quotes:
Doctor: "We're near the equator, so-- this must be biographies! I love biographies."
Donna: "Yeah, very you. Always a death at the end."
Doctor: "You need a good death. Without death, there'd only be comedies. Dying gives us size."
Doctor: "These books are from your future. If you read ahead, it will spoil all the surprises. Like peeping at the end."
Donna: "Isn't travelling with you one big spoiler?"
Doctor: "I try to keep you away from major plot developments. Which, to be honest, I seem to be very bad at."
Doctor: "Nice door skills, Donna."
Donna: "Yeah, well, you know, boyfriends. Sometimes you need the element of surprise."
Doctor: "Oh, you're not. Are you? Tell me you're not archaeologists."
River: "Got a problem with archaeologists?"
Doctor: "I'm a time traveler. I point and laugh at archaeologists."
Doctor: "Almost every species in the universe has an irrational fear of the dark, but they're wrong, because it's not irrational. It's Vashta Nerada."
Donna: "What's Vashta Nerada?"
Doctor: "It's what's in the dark. It's what's always in the dark."
Evangelista: "They don't want me. They think I'm stupid 'cause I'm pretty."
Donna: "Of course they don't. Nobody thinks that."
Evangelista: "No, they're right, though. I'm a moron, really. My dad said I had the IQ of plankton, and I was pleased."
Donna: "See? That's funny."
Evangelista: "No, I really was pleased."