DOCTOR WHO | 4x9 | Forest of the Dead | Series 4 Episode 9 | REACTION 

RIP river, gets harder to watch this two part the more you know her :(

This was honestly such a good 2 parter. The way they had Donna in some sort of parallel world was a sick idea. It gets better and better from here

Fun fact: Doctor moon is apparently the “45th Doctor” knowing one day that River would die in the library and that he uploaded her to it he uploaded himself into an artificial moon orbiting the library forever as he didn’t want her to be alone. It has never been officially mentioned on screen but both RTD and Moffat spoke about this during production. I think the pair are huge believers in this idea/concept and I have to agree with them. Loving the reactions btw!! I’ve been watching for a few months now and have been overjoyed watching you fall in love with the show and the spin offs. Really can’t wait for you to watch the finale and get your thoughts on it!!!

The guy who wrote this wrote episodes like Blink and The Empty Child previously and ends up being the showrunner for the next two Doctors.

Even watching the cut-down version here, the death of River brought tears to my eyes.... Stephen Moffat does write very complex plots, that sometimes leave you not sure what you know and what you've missed. I've got lot I want to comment, but probably it all count as 'spoilers', and River always warned against spoilers! So I will leave it....

if you want to know with the Doctor and River, basically as they explain it is their timelines are out of flux basically out of order, so basically events that will happen for the doctor have already happened to River but it also works the other way round.

Before this episode was transmitted, it was announced that the Writer of this one was taking over for the next season. We were incredibly excited, his era has some phenominal stories in it.

That moment, when Donna sees the playground is full of identical children. For me, one of the great "Oh fuck" moment in DW. But there are a lot of Oh Fuck moments in this two-parter.

Can we just give some child acting props where it's deserved? 😅 I think Cal was OUTSTANDING in this episode. So ashamed I haven't learned her name yet. She must be grown up by now. Would be curious to know if she ever did anything else. She made me cry in this episode.....

Great reaction. glad you liked it! As it is a Steven Moffat episode, there are a few references to the Empty Child two-parter: the fact the Library is set in the 52nd century (the time of Jack Harkness), River's Sonic Blaster used on the wall like Jack's from the Empty Child, and the line used by River at the end is the same as the Doctor's in the Empty Child "Everybody Lives", and I can't remember if it is this two-parter or 'The Girl In the Fireplace' (also by Moffat) but the Dcotor makes a reference to liking Bananas as he had in Empty Child. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series.

rivers past is the doctors future and the doctors future is rivers past

i'm crying - doctor who is the only thing that tends to make me cry

Best two-parter.

I was wondering initially if you’d be upset that “everyone lives” though it is a question whether it’s them or an echo from that neural device. The “saving” in this felt earned though, not like magically bringing someone back. Just like in the Empty Child (same writer) where the little boy (are you my mummy) came back. There were in story reasons that had been scattered through the two parter so that worked as well. Same here with that neural device and CAL being able to save people to the database. This one needs a rewatch. It did all make sense. This was the last time River met the doctor but the first time he met her. This writer really likes to play with time travel and the order of meetings being mixed up. He did it in Blink as well, where we have that loop - at the end of the episode Sally sparrow gave the doctor the script which she’s been hearing read on the videos all through the ep. Stephen Moffat Episodes tend to be very good but often better on the rewatch as they are timey wimey.

The Vashta Nerada are still a one off villain and they gave the Doctor a whole DAY to save his crew. I'm really curious to either 1) See what stuff they were able to look up. I mean, even to such dangerous creatures like the VN, the entries must have been so intimidating. I mean, I like that stuff like that is left to the imagination, I would just like to see a GLIMPSE of that. Write it cool! 😅 And 2) Of course I would like to see more of the VN. They have been the most dangerous WHO villain to this day..... imo, of course....

13:20 Honestly the most heartbreaking moment in the entire show for me, the poor guy 😭

the writers did Lee so dirty.... but this 2 parter is so damn good

I love love LOVE this story and can watch it over and over again... the only drawback is the next time you watch it, you'll realise how heartbreaking it is. I hope you have a great memory... there are so many one liners in this that will come back over the reason of the series. Please take the time to come back and watch again once you are up to date.

Yesss.

River is such a good character, believe me when you start dr who you are in adventure for life

Glad to see your thoughts on this episode! It’s one of my all time favourites and I’m glad to see you had a good time with it. In regards to all the confusion about the timeline stuff, don’t worry about it, you’ll have plenty of time to get your head around it. To say any more would be… spoilers :) Looking forward to seeing what you think about genesis, given that the classic show has a very different feel to new who. Hopefully you enjoy it though, and I look forward to the reaction!

I love this story but the next one right until the finale I could honestly just watch them all on a loop.

I’m just unable to speak because “Spoilers”. And I really don’t want to say anything that would give stuff away.

2nd half of the series doesnt have a single miss imo - tbh i wouldnt say this series has any misses but i can understand why u didnt particularly like many of the first half ones. Next episode is in my top 3 of all time, its a very love it or hate it episode amongst viewers but we'll see what you think of it Side note- this is the final set of Steven Moffat episodes from the Russel T Davies (I) era, the others being the Empty Child two parter from S1, the Girl in the Fireplace from S2, and Blink from S3 - which you seem to have enjoyed so hopefully that feeling will continue through the Steven Moffat era when he took over from S5-S10

I reckon you should put the watch order at the start of each video so we don't have to go back to where it was originally shown

River’s story has just begun…but you’ll find out in due course - Spoilers!

Steven Moffat is extremely good at setting up an intriguing and suspenseful scenario. I tend to prefer his 'part 1's more,as the plot and the mysteriousness always pull me in. Explaining everything away always seems to me to be a slight disappointment,as there usually seems to be too much going on. I've watched the first episode this story several times,for its situation and atmosphere; the second episode,only twice (and that second viewing was to make sure I properly understood it!)