Doctor Who/Recap/S32/E01 The Impossible Astronaut: Difference between revisions

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Meanwhile, Amy excuses herself to go to the bathroom, because she's feeling sick. In there, she has an encounter with the shadow she saw earlier: a terrifying alien in a nice suit. The thing casually kills another woman, and warns Amy that she must tell the Doctor something. As soon as anyone looks away from these aliens, though, they forget that they have ever seen them. Amy, in a [[Genre Savvy]] mood, manages to take a photo of the creature using her phone.
Meanwhile, Amy excuses herself to go to the bathroom, because she's feeling sick. In there, she has an encounter with the shadow she saw earlier: a terrifying alien in a nice suit. The thing casually kills another woman, and warns Amy that she must tell the Doctor something. As soon as anyone looks away from these aliens, though, they forget that they have ever seen them. Amy, in a [[Genre Savvy]] mood, manages to take a photo of the creature using her phone.


Our heroes and Canton travel to the location that the Doctor deduced, finding strange alien technology there -- including an astronaut suit. The Doctor realises that when the little girl said she was scared of a space man coming to "eat me", she probably meant the suit. River and Rory investigate an underground passage, unaware that it is full of the strange aliens which they keep seeing and forgetting. River tells Rory that she lives her whole life hoping to find the Doctor again, but that each time she sees him, he's younger and he recognises her less and less. One day, she says, [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E09 Forest of the Dead|she'll look into his eyes and he won't know who she is]]. [[Tear Jerker|And her sheer grief might kill her.]]
Our heroes and Canton travel to the location that the Doctor deduced, finding strange alien technology there -- including an astronaut suit. The Doctor realises that when the little girl said she was scared of a space man coming to "eat me", she probably meant the suit. River and Rory investigate an underground passage, unaware that it is full of the strange aliens which they keep seeing and forgetting. River tells Rory that she lives her whole life hoping to find the Doctor again, but that each time she sees him, he's younger and he recognises her less and less. One day, she says, [[Doctor Who/Recap/S30/E09 Forest of the Dead|she'll look into his eyes and he won't know who she is]]. [[Tear Jerker|And her sheer grief might kill her.]]


They discover a weird, TARDIS-like vessel which [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E11 The Lodger|Amy and the Doctor might have recognised,]] but before they can discover anything about it, something unseen happens to Rory.
They discover a weird, TARDIS-like vessel which [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E11 The Lodger|Amy and the Doctor might have recognised,]] but before they can discover anything about it, something unseen happens to Rory.
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** At the end, the Doctor shouts "No!" as Amy {{spoiler|shoots at the Astronaut}}.
** At the end, the Doctor shouts "No!" as Amy {{spoiler|shoots at the Astronaut}}.
* [[Buffy-Speak]]: Rory when exiting the TARDIS in the Oval Office to aimed guns: "No shooting! Very much not in need of being shot!"
* [[Buffy-Speak]]: Rory when exiting the TARDIS in the Oval Office to aimed guns: "No shooting! Very much not in need of being shot!"
* [[Call Back]]: In the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekzglkLEJFI "prequel"] there is a tape rolling while a child is talking creepily just like in [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S1/E09 The Empty Child|"The Empty Child"]].
* [[Call Back]]: In the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekzglkLEJFI "prequel"] there is a tape rolling while a child is talking creepily just like in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S27/E09 The Empty Child|"The Empty Child"]].
** The TARDIS "decloaking" effect recalls the TARDIS being pulled into the Capitol in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S14/E03 The Deadly Assassin|"The Deadly Assassin"]].
** The TARDIS "decloaking" effect recalls the TARDIS being pulled into the Capitol in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S14/E03 The Deadly Assassin|"The Deadly Assassin"]].
** The Astronaut rises out of the lake like the Dalek rose out of the river in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S2/E02 The Dalek Invasion of Earth|"The Dalek Invasion of Earth"]].
** The Astronaut rises out of the lake like the Dalek rose out of the river in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S2/E02 The Dalek Invasion of Earth|"The Dalek Invasion of Earth"]].
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*** Right before that, the Doctor notes that "a lot more happens in '69 than anyone remembers." While ultimately, {{spoiler|it's foreshadowing of the Silence and what they are capable of,}} on the surface, it's a reference to the Doctor's many adventures in 1969, most of them as the Second Doctor.
*** Right before that, the Doctor notes that "a lot more happens in '69 than anyone remembers." While ultimately, {{spoiler|it's foreshadowing of the Silence and what they are capable of,}} on the surface, it's a reference to the Doctor's many adventures in 1969, most of them as the Second Doctor.
** The above mentioned [[Badass Boast]] recalls a similar response by the Doctor in when [[Winston Churchill]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E03 Victory of the Daleks|threatened to take the TARDIS key by force]].
** The above mentioned [[Badass Boast]] recalls a similar response by the Doctor in when [[Winston Churchill]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E03 Victory of the Daleks|threatened to take the TARDIS key by force]].
** The Doctor in the diner [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E01 Smith and Jones|even brought his own straw]].
** The Doctor in the diner [[Doctor Who/Recap/S29/E01 Smith and Jones|even brought his own straw]].
** When talking to the Secret Service, the Doctor refers to Mr. Delaware as "Canton 3." This is the same shorthand that was used in "The Beast Below" to refer to the Kings and Queens of England (Liz 2, Henry 12, Liz 10.)
** When talking to the Secret Service, the Doctor refers to Mr. Delaware as "Canton 3." This is the same shorthand that was used in "The Beast Below" to refer to the Kings and Queens of England (Liz 2, Henry 12, Liz 10.)
** [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|The last time]] a future version of 11 died it was Rory who made sure the body was respected by draping his coat over him like a shroud. This time he makes sure to give him a [[Viking Funeral]].
** [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|The last time]] a future version of 11 died it was Rory who made sure the body was respected by draping his coat over him like a shroud. This time he makes sure to give him a [[Viking Funeral]].
** Funny that the Doctor doesn't like wine now; [[Doctor Who/Recap/S17/E02 City of Death|he used to like red wine quite a bit]].
** Funny that the Doctor doesn't like wine now; [[Doctor Who/Recap/S17/E02 City of Death|he used to like red wine quite a bit]].
* [[Call Forward]]: River's talk with Rory towards the end of the episode perfectly predicts what happens when she meets the Doctor for [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E09 Forest of the Dead|the final time.]]
* [[Call Forward]]: River's talk with Rory towards the end of the episode perfectly predicts what happens when she meets the Doctor for [[Doctor Who/Recap/S30/E09 Forest of the Dead|the final time.]]
** Apart from her fearing it more than death -- and we know it's her death too. Kind of. In a reversed way. Only not really reversed.
** Apart from her fearing it more than death -- and we know it's her death too. Kind of. In a reversed way. Only not really reversed.
** River's actions in that episode [[Harsher in Hindsight|now seem]] less like a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] and more like [[Death Seeker|suicide]] - as if she cannot bear living in a world where the Doctor does not know her.
** River's actions in that episode [[Harsher in Hindsight|now seem]] less like a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] and more like [[Death Seeker|suicide]] - as if she cannot bear living in a world where the Doctor does not know her.
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* [[Cargo Envy]]: River Song blows on the muzzle of the revolver.
* [[Cargo Envy]]: River Song blows on the muzzle of the revolver.
* [[Catch Phrase]]: River and the Doctor have repeatedly said the same little bit of dialogue. The Doctor will say or do something that embarrasses River, River will say "I hate you," and he'll quickly retort, "No you don't." They also did it back in "Flesh and Stone" as well. They did it twice in this episode.
* [[Catch Phrase]]: River and the Doctor have repeatedly said the same little bit of dialogue. The Doctor will say or do something that embarrasses River, River will say "I hate you," and he'll quickly retort, "No you don't." They also did it back in "Flesh and Stone" as well. They did it twice in this episode.
** River and The (Tenth)Doctor had a similar bit of dialogue back in [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E08 Silence in the Library|Silence in The Library]]:
** River and The (Tenth)Doctor had a similar bit of dialogue back in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S30/E08 Silence in the Library|Silence in The Library]]:
{{quote|'''River''': I hate you sometimes!
{{quote|'''River''': I hate you sometimes!
'''Doctor''': [[Harsher in Hindsight|I know!]] }}
'''Doctor''': [[Harsher in Hindsight|I know!]] }}
* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Back in [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E17 E18 The End of Time|The End of Time]], the Doctor told Wilf that if he was killed before his regeneration could be completed, he would be fully dead. Over a year later (in our time), the astronaut {{spoiler|kills the Doctor before his regeneration is complete.}}
* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Back in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S30/E17 E18 The End of Time|The End of Time]], the Doctor told Wilf that if he was killed before his regeneration could be completed, he would be fully dead. Over a year later (in our time), the astronaut {{spoiler|kills the Doctor before his regeneration is complete.}}
* [[Cliff Hanger]]: Possibly even a {{spoiler|[[Bolivian Army Cliffhanger]]}}. It ''is'' a two-parter, after all.
* [[Cliff Hanger]]: Possibly even a {{spoiler|[[Bolivian Army Cliffhanger]]}}. It ''is'' a two-parter, after all.
* [[Cloaking Device]]: The Doctor uses this to briefly hide the TARDIS in the Oval Office.
* [[Cloaking Device]]: The Doctor uses this to briefly hide the TARDIS in the Oval Office.
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** [[Doctor Who/Recap/S6/E03 The Invasion|The Doctor is having trouble remembering exactly where he parked the cloaked TARDIS again...]]
** [[Doctor Who/Recap/S6/E03 The Invasion|The Doctor is having trouble remembering exactly where he parked the cloaked TARDIS again...]]
** The danger of the {{spoiler|Doctor's body}} being used as a commodity was seen in the [[Eighth Doctor Adventures|Eighth Doctor novel]] ''Alien Bodies''.
** The danger of the {{spoiler|Doctor's body}} being used as a commodity was seen in the [[Eighth Doctor Adventures|Eighth Doctor novel]] ''Alien Bodies''.
*** It also sheds light on the Doctor's decision to give the Master a funeral pyre in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E13 Last of the Time Lords|Last of the Time Lords]]".
*** It also sheds light on the Doctor's decision to give the Master a funeral pyre in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S29/E13 Last of the Time Lords|Last of the Time Lords]]".
** The [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|fez]] in the [[Laurel and Hardy]] film.
** The [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|fez]] in the [[Laurel and Hardy]] film.
** The Doctor's request for [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E03 Victory of the Daleks|"twelve Jammie Dodgers]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|and a fez"]].
** The Doctor's request for [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E03 Victory of the Daleks|"twelve Jammie Dodgers]] [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|and a fez"]].
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** Amy, in shock of witnessing the Doctor's death, tries to insist that {{spoiler|it's a clone of the Doctor that died, and not the real one.}} Oh, how right she is.
** Amy, in shock of witnessing the Doctor's death, tries to insist that {{spoiler|it's a clone of the Doctor that died, and not the real one.}} Oh, how right she is.
* [[Fridge Brilliance]]: The ship from ''The Lodger'' belongs to the Silence, which makes sense because both of them are forgotten when you aren't looking at them (or at least, its similar enough to the [[Wham! Line]] in that episode that {{spoiler|there is no upstairs}} to bear mentioning.)
* [[Fridge Brilliance]]: The ship from ''The Lodger'' belongs to the Silence, which makes sense because both of them are forgotten when you aren't looking at them (or at least, its similar enough to the [[Wham! Line]] in that episode that {{spoiler|there is no upstairs}} to bear mentioning.)
** Why did the Tenth Doctor burn the Master's body in ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E13 Last of the Time Lords|Last of the Time Lords]]''? Even dead, a Time Lord's body is a miracle...
** Why did the Tenth Doctor burn the Master's body in ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S29/E13 Last of the Time Lords|Last of the Time Lords]]''? Even dead, a Time Lord's body is a miracle...
** After River (whose marksmanship can usually be trusted) fails to shoot the titular astronaut, she mutters "No, of course not". She's saying that because {{spoiler|it's her ''younger self'' in that suit. Of course she would miss -- if she hadn't she wouldn't be standing there. [[You Already Changed the Past|She already saw herself miss.]]}}
** After River (whose marksmanship can usually be trusted) fails to shoot the titular astronaut, she mutters "No, of course not". She's saying that because {{spoiler|it's her ''younger self'' in that suit. Of course she would miss -- if she hadn't she wouldn't be standing there. [[You Already Changed the Past|She already saw herself miss.]]}}
*** Alternately, she could be [[Lampshade Hanging|pointing out how guns never work in the Who Universe.]]
*** Alternately, she could be [[Lampshade Hanging|pointing out how guns never work in the Who Universe.]]
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* [[The Immodest Orgasm]]: Alluded to by River Song.
* [[The Immodest Orgasm]]: Alluded to by River Song.
* [[In Memoriam]]: Dedicated to [[Elisabeth Sladen]]. Unlike past dedications in ''Doctor Who'', this dedication card ''opens'' the episode rather than ending it. Meanwhile, BBC America placed it at the end of the episode.
* [[In Memoriam]]: Dedicated to [[Elisabeth Sladen]]. Unlike past dedications in ''Doctor Who'', this dedication card ''opens'' the episode rather than ending it. Meanwhile, BBC America placed it at the end of the episode.
** BBC America also made one other change to their version of the [[In Memoriam]] card. Rather than just the black slate, they added a shot from "[[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S2/E03 School Reunion|School Reunion]]" of [[Elisabeth Sladen]] walking away from the camera, [[Tear Jerker|only to turn around and wave at the audience before the card faded to black.]]
** BBC America also made one other change to their version of the [[In Memoriam]] card. Rather than just the black slate, they added a shot from "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S28/E03 School Reunion|School Reunion]]" of [[Elisabeth Sladen]] walking away from the camera, [[Tear Jerker|only to turn around and wave at the audience before the card faded to black.]]
* [[In Space Everyone Can See Your Face]]: [[Averted Trope]]. The astronaut's visor is almost always shown down, and is very reflective. When it ''is'' raised, it's in broad daylight, but the camera cuts away before we can see it. {{spoiler|The second time, it's dark, and the suit seems to be one stolen and possibly altered by aliens. Most little girls can't fit in, let alone operate, spacesuits made for adult men.}}
* [[In Space Everyone Can See Your Face]]: [[Averted Trope]]. The astronaut's visor is almost always shown down, and is very reflective. When it ''is'' raised, it's in broad daylight, but the camera cuts away before we can see it. {{spoiler|The second time, it's dark, and the suit seems to be one stolen and possibly altered by aliens. Most little girls can't fit in, let alone operate, spacesuits made for adult men.}}
* [[I Thought It Meant]]: In-universe example.
* [[I Thought It Meant]]: In-universe example.
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* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: {{spoiler|Amy after she shoots at the Astronaut, who is also the little girl.}}
* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: {{spoiler|Amy after she shoots at the Astronaut, who is also the little girl.}}
* [[Mythology Gag]]: "A lot more happens in 1969 than anyone remembers" may be a reference to [[Doctor Who/Recap/S6/E07 The War Games|the 1969 episode where Jamie and Zoe get their memories wiped]].
* [[Mythology Gag]]: "A lot more happens in 1969 than anyone remembers" may be a reference to [[Doctor Who/Recap/S6/E07 The War Games|the 1969 episode where Jamie and Zoe get their memories wiped]].
** Not to mention, this isn't the only Moffat episode set in 1969. Ten and Martha got stuck in that year in [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E10 Blink|"Blink"]], and Martha mentions that they went to see the moon landings four times.
** Not to mention, this isn't the only Moffat episode set in 1969. Ten and Martha got stuck in that year in [[Doctor Who/Recap/S29/E10 Blink|"Blink"]], and Martha mentions that they went to see the moon landings four times.
*** Which presumably means {{spoiler|the Doctor and Martha have murdered four batches of the Silence, on top of any other Moon Landing videos they have watched on Earth.}}
*** Which presumably means {{spoiler|the Doctor and Martha have murdered four batches of the Silence, on top of any other Moon Landing videos they have watched on Earth.}}
** This line is also probably [[Foreshadowing]] considering {{spoiler|this is a Future!Doctor, especially because he uses the word 'remembers' possibly referring to the The Silence's forget-me effect}}
** This line is also probably [[Foreshadowing]] considering {{spoiler|this is a Future!Doctor, especially because he uses the word 'remembers' possibly referring to the The Silence's forget-me effect}}
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