Dr. Who season 4 episode 8 "Silence in the Library"
- Thread starter Felon
- Start date
horacethegrey
First Post
ARGH... Beat me to it, Felon. 
Another great one from the Moff, which laid a little worry I've had to rest. What you may ask? Well how in the world do you follow up The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, and Blink? But as I said, it was just a small worry. Time and again Stephen Moffat has proved himself able to deliver a cracking Doctor Who story. And apologies to all the other current Who writers such as Paul Cornell, Matt Jones or Russell T. Davies himself, but the Moff stands head above shoulders as the new series' best writer. The only one I think that can match up with him would have to be the late Douglas Adams, who penned some of the classic series best serials.
Look forward to next week, as well as Series 5 in 2010, when the Moff finally takes over as the new showrunner.
Another great one from the Moff, which laid a little worry I've had to rest. What you may ask? Well how in the world do you follow up The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, and Blink? But as I said, it was just a small worry. Time and again Stephen Moffat has proved himself able to deliver a cracking Doctor Who story. And apologies to all the other current Who writers such as Paul Cornell, Matt Jones or Russell T. Davies himself, but the Moff stands head above shoulders as the new series' best writer. The only one I think that can match up with him would have to be the late Douglas Adams, who penned some of the classic series best serials.
Look forward to next week, as well as Series 5 in 2010, when the Moff finally takes over as the new showrunner.
Yup, he does good work. No winking at the audience constantly. No self-referrential humor about the show's tropes. No over-the-top posturing by The Doctor or his companion.
Just a solid plot that keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat. The dialogue made all the characters reasonably interesting. Even felt bad for the red shirt. I think that "ghosting" gimmick is going to wind up being essential to the plot. Perhaps it's how all those people (and Donna) were saved.
Just a solid plot that keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat. The dialogue made all the characters reasonably interesting. Even felt bad for the red shirt. I think that "ghosting" gimmick is going to wind up being essential to the plot. Perhaps it's how all those people (and Donna) were saved.
Cthulhudrew
First Post
Very interesting episode- a much more fascinating and compelling mystery than, well, the "mystery" episode of two weeks ago.
I'm really curious as to what role the little girl is supposed to play in this. At first I thought she was a past version of Professor Song, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Now there's some kind of Matrix thing going on. Felon's probably spot on about the "ghosting" (maybe the girl, her dad, and the doctor were all people who were in the library at the time).
Guesses as to Professor Song's connection to the Doctor? Rose reincarnated? His daughter? Another Time Lord? Someone else?
I'm really curious as to what role the little girl is supposed to play in this. At first I thought she was a past version of Professor Song, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Now there's some kind of Matrix thing going on. Felon's probably spot on about the "ghosting" (maybe the girl, her dad, and the doctor were all people who were in the library at the time).
Guesses as to Professor Song's connection to the Doctor? Rose reincarnated? His daughter? Another Time Lord? Someone else?
horacethegrey
First Post
My take on it? WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!Cthulhudrew said:
She's probably the Library computer's A.I. I don't think she's one of the people who disappeared a 100 years ago. It wouldn't make sense as the episode focuses on her heavily and delivers a ton of hints as to what she is and how she can affect what happens within the Library. I.E. When she first sees the Doctor and Donna, it's through the view of a floating security cam, which has a digitized word display that reflects her thoughts. Then there's the bit when the books start flying from the shelves while she messes with the TV remote. And finally her cryptic statement about Donna being 'saved'. How would she know that unless she was part of or probably the library core network itself?
But even if this were all true, it still doesn't explain the presence of the Vasthun Nerada. Why did this all consuming darkness suddenly go berserk and eat up all the people in the library? And Professor River Song? What is her mysterious connection to the Doctor? Obviously Moffat wants you to think that she may be a future companion to the Doctor at one point, but I don't think it that simple. Obviously her presence will be essential as to how the plot resolves. But as to how, I'm completely at a loss. Damn Moffat and his mind bender of a two parter.
delericho
Legend
horacethegrey said:
My immediate thought was that they are doing a "Time Traveller's Wife". If that were to be the case, then this will be a recurring character, and in a while we'll see the 'reverse' story where the Doctor meets her again, only she doesn't have any memory of him.
Given that she hadn't met Donna before, my guess would be that this actually won't take place in this season. And since David Tennant is only confirmed for this season and next year's specials, I'm guessing she'll reappear in either the Christmas Special or one of the specials next year.
In which case, the book that the Doctor couldn't look in would be a record of all the times and places where they have met up. A way of keeping their respective timelines straight.
Of course, it could all just be a piece of misdirection.
Depends on whether she's introduced here because she's important to this episode, or if she's introduced here because she's important to the metaplot going forward, and now is as good a time as any.
horacethegrey
First Post
I just read up on the Wiki entry on this. Interesting premise, but a potential disaster if not handled right in my opinion. I'll admit it does opens up a lot of story possibilities, like the Doctor meeting up with River (ha! Guess Moffat is a Firefly fan!) in his future, and the both of them going off in adventures while he slowly gets to know this amazing woman who helped him and knew him so well back then in his past.delericho said:
I'm pretty sure David Tennant will return for season 5. After all, it'd be extra pressure for Moffat and the whole writing crew to craft stories around a new Doctor. Still, I could be wrong.delericho said:
I'd wouldn't put it past the Moff to do something that sneaky.delericho said:
As I said, if Professor River Song will become a recurring character in Doctor Who, lets hope this whole predestination paradox plotline that's associated with her character won't derail the series.delericho said:
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
If it's a known trope or book, I don't know it, but it's definitely what I thought.delericho said:
But it seems to be further into the Doctors future, since she says he looks young...
sckeener
First Post
So of course my wife and I watched this late at night by flickering candle light! argh...my wife had to whip out the computer and play Webkinz for a few hours before going to bed!
I stayed up for a little while because it was a fraking two parter! If I had known that I wouldn't have watched it until I had the 2nd part! argh!
Moffat delivers on the scripts!
Re the girl> I think she is the computer core and that the matrix world she is living in is a way for an intelligent computer to stay sane after all the people of the world are dead. She has access to all the information on the planet to craft virtual worlds for her to live in...and in this case, drift off into the mind of child...bliss of ignorance...joy of childhood.
Re Alex Kingston (aka Professor River Song/Dr Who Love interest)> for the first half hour I was trying to place her...I knew I had seen her before. I had it pegged who she was, but my mind refused to believe it...it wasn't until my wife said what I thought that I realized my guess was correct....Moll Flanders ...I had seen her in Masterpiece Theater's Moll Flanders and she was awesome! I highly recommend watching it. It was the best adaptation of Defoe's book. I certainly hope she stays around.
I stayed up for a little while because it was a fraking two parter! If I had known that I wouldn't have watched it until I had the 2nd part! argh!
Moffat delivers on the scripts!
Re the girl> I think she is the computer core and that the matrix world she is living in is a way for an intelligent computer to stay sane after all the people of the world are dead. She has access to all the information on the planet to craft virtual worlds for her to live in...and in this case, drift off into the mind of child...bliss of ignorance...joy of childhood.
Re Alex Kingston (aka Professor River Song/Dr Who Love interest)> for the first half hour I was trying to place her...I knew I had seen her before. I had it pegged who she was, but my mind refused to believe it...it wasn't until my wife said what I thought that I realized my guess was correct....Moll Flanders ...I had seen her in Masterpiece Theater's Moll Flanders and she was awesome! I highly recommend watching it. It was the best adaptation of Defoe's book. I certainly hope she stays around.
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