Silence in the Library (1)

Season 4, Episode 8, Aired
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Episode Summary

Location: The Library
Date: 51st century
Enemies: Vashta Nerada

The Doctor and Donna land in a frightening position in the far future. While investigating a derelict library, the duo come face to face with the disembodied mind of a little girl, an archaeological team led by a woman from the Doctor's future, and swarms of flesh-eating creatures that are seen only as shadows. Surrounded by every book ever written, the Doctor takes control to keep everyone alive and in the light. But the darkness is moving too fast for him, and the key to their survival could be in the nightmares of a little girl...moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Fan Episode Reviews (29)

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  • Extremely scary!

    6.5
    "Fair"
    By Ballyorca, Apr 25, 2011 Report Abuse
    I had nightmares that night I watched it! The skeletons were so terrifying! I don't want to watch this again because it is so scary! It was cute also with Charlotte. It's next part wasn't as scary because, well, I don't know realy! It might've been because I was expecting all those skeletons. This episode was without a doubt the scariest episode of Doctor Who I have eer watched! Even scarier than Blink!! The part before Miss Evangelista is killed is one of the most scariest parts of the entire episode! Possibly the most scariest part, loads of white-knuckle, I assure you.moreless

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    0 3

  • Doctor Moffat

    8.0
    "Great"
    By OscarTorrado, Apr 25, 2011 Report Abuse
    This is the kind of episodes that makes Doctor Who one of the best science fiction tv show on TV, along with Blink, Silence in the Library proves that Steven Moffat is the writer that this shows need, he really understand what Doctor Who is, he combines a weird story with the background of time traveling all this ingredients mixed with mysteries and a lot of action and suspense scenes.

    Just like Blink, Silence in the Library is not all focused on the Doctor, he is the main character but the story shows more characters that revolves around this imposible doctor.

    I really liked the performances, and the combination of Donna, the Doctor and his misterious future companion River Song.moreless

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    2 1

  • I loved this episode and I love River Song.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By starfire2_2, Oct 03, 2010 Report Abuse
    With one of the scariest masters in the series the Vashta Nerada are living shadows and live mostly on road kill. Now out for blood these shadows are trying to eat the Doctor and co.

    When the Doctor is summed to the Library by the mysterious River Sing We find out that everyone disappeared from the library 100 years ago. After the Doctor accesses a computer system and determines they're the only two humanoid life forms on the planet. However, when he expands the scan to any other life forms, he detects a million million other creatures. As Doctor and Donna walk through the stacks the Doctor admits he got a message on his psychic paper, saying to come to the library. The Doctor says that he doesn't know who the message is from. But it's singed with a kiss. After hearing a clicking noise and see the lights start to go off the doctor and Donna start running. After trying to get through a jammed door and Donna finally knock it down. A few minutes latter the Doctor notices a shadow with nothing to cast it. More lights are going out, but the shadow they just saw has disappeared. Suddenly the door bursts open and several people enter, covered in space suites. A woman opens her visor and says "Hi sweety". She introduces herself as Professor River Song. After saying that the Doctor is doing a good job of pretending that he doesn't know her. She checks her diary to see where he's been. She notes that by the look in his eyes the Doctor is younger than she's ever seen him as he says he doesn't know who she is.

    It is latter reveled that River dose know the Doctor but not this Doctor. She knows him in his personal futcher. And that the message she sent to the Doctor arrived too early in his time stream.

    Over the corse of the Two part episode more questions about River are reveled. The question on weather or not she is his wife comes up. And in order to make the Doctor trust her she whispers his name in his ear. Than the Doctor latter says that there is only one reason why he could tell anyone his name.

    Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead are two of my favorite episodes. With plenty of plot twist and a great monster. After all, how can you fight shadows.moreless

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    0 0

  • Nerve-wrecking

    10
    "Perfect"
    By eva1307, Nov 29, 2008 Report Abuse
    Donna and the Doctor arrive at a library. But not just any library: it is the biggest library in the universe. So what is really eerie is that it is completely empty and silent. This installment is brilliant and filled with surprises. Firstly, the plot is intriguing: who hasn't been afraid of the dark in their childhood? Secondly, we are given so many clues that we cannot wait for the next one.

    There are so many scary aspects about this episode. The little girl, who sees the library in her head and meets the Doctor there. The librarian who warns the travellers of the shadows. The shadows themselves: noone knows what is casting them and why they move. The death of Miss Evangelista. And of course the teleportation of Donna back to the TARDIS.

    A really good set-up for the next episode. Let's hope the writers will not let us down!moreless

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    1 1

  • OMG this episode was so cool, just saw it for the first time last night! The Doctor and Donna are in the world's largest library and there are evil shadows...

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Choco_47, Aug 25, 2008 Report Abuse
    This is one of my fav episodes!
    All the actors are really talented, which is what really makes it scarey.
    At first I didn't know what was going on but then it all started to take shape. The episode had a whole lot of mystery to it. VERY exciting.
    The best part, of course, was the whole "ghosting" thing. oooooooooooh scarey! My heart was thumping all through that O.o
    A very, very ,very exciting episode!!!!!! I just wish I'd have taped it =(
    And who is this girl that claims she knows the docotor?? I cannot wait until next week! I'm not gonna shut up about it until I see the next episode....
    It was that good!!moreless

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    3 1
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Towards the end of the episode, River Song grabs the Doctor's hand and shouts "Run!" The camera shot of her grabbing the Doctor's hand and her shout mirror the Doctor's first meeting with Rose in Rose and fleeing the Judoon with Martha in Smith and Jones. The Doctor also silently yells "Run" to Donna during Partners In Crime. This is further proof of River Song's future close relationship with the Doctor. Edit
    • When Dr. Moon is leaving, and talks privately to the little girl; over his right shoulder is a painting of a blonde haired woman and a second painting of a dog. This could be a reference to Rose and Bad Wolf. Edit
    • The symbol on which the word "CAL" appears on the computer screen when the Doctor is trying to access the mainframe is the same symbol on the carpet in the little girl's living room floor. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Overnight UK viewing figures for this episode were 5.4 million, with the final viewing figure at 6.27 million. Edit
    • When Eve Newton (The Girl) filmed the scene where she talks to the Doctor through the television, David Tennant was on set reading her the responses. Edit
    • Regular monster performer Ruari Mears is uncredited as the Vashta-Nerada-possessed Proper Dave. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • River Song: (to the Doctor) Pretty boy, with me, I said. (the Doctor looks around) The Doctor: ... Oh, I'm pretty boy! Donna: Yes! Edit
    • (The Doctor and the archeologists appear in The Girl's television) The Doctor: Hello. The Girl: Hello. Are you in my television? The Doctor: Well… No, I'm... I'm… sort of in space. Um, I was trying to call up the data core triple-grid security processor. The Girl: Would you like to speak to my dad? The Doctor: Dad or your Mum. That'd be lovely. The Girl: I know you. You were in my library. The Doctor: Your library? The Girl: The library's never been on television before. What have you done? The Doctor: Um, well, um… I just… rerouted the interface… (The channel suddenly changes) Cartoon Face: Aaah! (The Doctor's monitor connection is broken) Edit
    • Donna: (referring to Miss Evangelista) Couldn't she help? Other Dave: Trust me, I just spent four days on a ship with that woman. She's, uh … Anita: Couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod and the bathroom. We had to go back for her. Twice. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Cartoon Just before CAL starts flipping through the television channels she is watching an episode of 'Pedro and Frankensheep', a CBBC production. Edit

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