# {New Dr Who Season, UK pace} \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347 "2011-04-22T12:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/101 "2011-04-26T17:36:52Z")
> [@zeldarae](#): > > I thought he said, “I know it’s you.” Only after he said that did the visor get raised. > > I, too, think it’s River. And don’t forget, Dr. Song looks [damn good in a space suit](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uhdt7UHnA3w/S8FSUc9It7I/AAAAAAAAAgQ/eNe7lKnWtqI/s1600/silence+in+the+library.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/102 "2011-04-26T17:45:50Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Well, the tunnels, which go ALL over the place, must have been made by the aliens. Presumably they have a way to keep the water out as well. Yeah, definitely a _Predator 2_ vibe going on there. ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/103 "2011-04-26T21:54:28Z")
Now that I think about it, didn’t River say something again about “her” doctor, which implies this is not her doctor. The time space continuim is giving me a headache. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/104 "2011-04-26T22:01:30Z")
> [@zeldarae](#): > > Now that I think about it, didn’t River say something again about “her” doctor, which implies this is not her doctor. > > The time space continuim is giving me a headache. Well, she recognized this one right away. She didn’t recognize Tennant. Whatever happens, I really don’t expect to see River Song beyond the Matt Smith years. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/105 "2011-04-27T00:45:57Z")
I thought she _did_ recognize Tennant. Which seems a bit strange, since she only met that Doctor the once, right? I think we _have_ to see her after Matt Smith is gone to explain her nonchalance at seeing him with a different face. But I strongly suspect that you’re right, that we won’t. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/106 "2011-04-27T00:52:57Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I thought she _did_ recognize Tennant. Which seems a bit strange, since she only met that Doctor the once, right? I think we _have_ to see her after Matt Smith is gone to explain her nonchalance at seeing him with a different face. But I strongly suspect that you’re right, that we won’t. I’m pretty sure she recognized him but _hadn’t_ seen the face before. She could simply tell who he was. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/107 "2011-04-27T01:43:08Z")
I have a lame theory that, apart from possibly being a Time Agent (hence the squareness gun and her ability to leap into whatever timeline the Doctor wants her to using her wrist strappy doodad whose name I forget, just like Captain Jack Harkness has) River Song was simply one of his companions from a future regeneration. Not his wife or girlfriend or a relative or a Time Lady. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/108 "2011-04-27T02:24:10Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I thought she _did_ recognize Tennant. Which seems a bit strange, since she only met that Doctor the once, right? In “Time of the Angels” she claims to have a “spotter’s guide” with all his faces so she can recognize him anywhere and anywhen. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > I have a lame theory that, apart from possibly being a Time Agent (hence the squareness gun and her ability to leap into whatever timeline the Doctor wants her to using her wrist strappy doodad whose name I forget, just like Captain Jack Harkness has) River Song was simply one of his companions from a future regeneration. Not his wife or girlfriend or a relative or a Time Lady. Except that in “Silence of the Library”/“Forest of the Dead” The Doctor says she knows his name, and he _never_ tells anyone his real name… which means River Song has to be unusually significant. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/109 "2011-04-27T02:54:55Z")
No, that’s just speculation. She tells him something, we don’t know what, which causes shock. It may be something other than his name, that a companion might find out in some secondary way. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/110 "2011-04-27T03:02:46Z")
No, The Doctor actually states that she spoke his name, in the episode “Forest of the Dead”. He’s quite explicit that that is what she said. I’d be happy to link to it, except there are no legal copies on line that I’m aware of. It’s slightly past 1 minute in scene #16 if you have a DVD copy to look at. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/111 "2011-04-27T03:20:48Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > In “Time of the Angels” she claims to have a “spotter’s guide” with all his faces so she can recognize him anywhere and anywhen. Yeah, I was disappointed by that. Time Lords can generally recognize each without regard to regeneration. I liked the idea that sh had somehow gotten to know him well enough that she recognized him the same way, such that a completely new body and personality didn’t faze her any more than a new shirt on your spouse–she didn’t even notice he was different. (As, indeed, she didn’t seem to!) ---
**Author:** ![Silent\_Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Silent\_Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silent_Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/112 "2011-04-27T03:41:05Z")
Found [a site with the relevant quotes](http://www.tv.com/doctor-who/forest-of-the-dead-2/episode/1200594/trivia.html?tag=cast_summary;trivia#quotes) from “Forest of the Dead.” **Professor River Song** : Doctor, one day I am going to be someone you trust completely but I can’t wait for you to find that out, so I’m going to prove it to you and I’m sorry. I’m really very sorry._(she leans over and whispers something in his ear)_. Are we good? Doctor, are we good? **The Doctor** : Yeah, we’re good. **Professor River Song** : Good. and **The Doctor** : River, you know my name. You whispered my name in my ear. There’s only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name. There’s only one time I could… **Professor River Song** : Hush now. Spoilers. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/113 "2011-04-27T05:44:56Z")
Darn. It’s been so long, I forgot. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/114 "2011-04-27T09:07:55Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Darn. It’s been so long, I forgot. That’s what _he_ said. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/115 "2011-04-27T10:16:51Z")
> [@Silent\_Kal](#): > > **The Doctor** : River, you know my name. You whispered my name in my ear. There’s only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name. **There’s only one time I could…** > **Professor River Song** : Hush now. Spoilers. So the Doctor screams his own name at climax? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/116 "2011-04-27T10:31:09Z")
The reviews for this episode are pretty bad. > **[Doctor Who risks alienating the casual viewer](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8465923/Doctor-Who-risks-alienating-the-casual-viewer.html)** > > Robert Colvile, a fan of Doctor Who, says tonight's episode, The Impossible Astronaut, was both over-complex and grim. > [@](#): > > Doctor Who risks alienating the casual viewer > Robert Colvile, a fan of Doctor Who, says tonight’s episode, The Impossible Astronaut, was both over-complex and grim. This one is even worse. > **[Who needs a plot? Dr Who, that's who...](https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/who-needs-plot-dr-who-124461)** > > SATURDAY night, BBC1. > [@](#): > > SATURDAY night, BBC1… and Doctor Who storms back with the first of a two-part adventure called The Impossible Astronaut. As in impossible to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/117 "2011-04-27T11:08:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The reviews for this episode are pretty bad. > [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8465923/Doctor-Who-risks-alienating-the-casual-viewer.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8465923/Doctor-Who-risks-alienating-the-casual-viewer.html) Except if you read the review it’s actually fairly complimentary. > [@](#): > > This one is even worse. > [Who needs a plot? Dr Who, that's who... - The Mirror](http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv-entertainment/columnists/kevin-osullivan/2011/04/24/who-needs-a-plot-dr-who-that-s-who-115875-23081954/) That one basically just says that the reviewer didn’t understand any of it, which says more about him than the show. Personally I think this is the sort of writing about time travel that should have been done long ago. Yes, it’s all wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey but when you’re hopping around time and space these things happen and it’s hard to follow in a linear fashion. I’ve always thought it would be nice to see future Doctors appearing (even as cameos) in episodes, just to keep in the spirit of the thing. Heck, it would be cool to do an “N-Doctors” episode where you see it once from one Doctor’s perspective and then, post-regeneration, get the rest of the story from the next Doctor’s viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/118 "2011-04-27T11:23:23Z")
Doctor Who defies all critics. If the kids don’t like it, then they’ll act. But I am certain the kids are overjoyed by the darkness and the timey-wimey stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/119 "2011-04-27T11:41:17Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Yeah, I was disappointed by that. Time Lords can generally recognize each without regard to regeneration. I liked the idea that sh had somehow gotten to know him well enough that she recognized him the same way, such that a completely new body and personality didn’t faze her any more than a new shirt on your spouse–she didn’t even notice he was different. (As, indeed, she didn’t seem to!) River Song is presumably human. I can see her needing a “spotter’s guide” - if she was even serious, she might have been joking after all - no matter how well she gets to know The Doctor. Gallifreyans may have some way of recognizing each other that humans simply don’t. Maybe they can smell each other, maybe it’s psychic, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347/120 "2011-04-27T12:00:19Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > River Song is presumably human. I can see her needing a “spotter’s guide” - if she was even serious, she might have been joking after all - no matter how well she gets to know The Doctor. Gallifreyans may have some way of recognizing each other that humans simply don’t. Maybe they can smell each other, maybe it’s psychic, who knows? Did River recognize him before or after she he did something distinctive, like introducing himself, showing the sonic screwdriver, or introducing Donna? -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-who-season-uk-pace-edited-title/579347.md?page=7)