 "A Good Man Goes to War" was the seventh episode in Season Thirty Two (New Series 6) and the last episode of the spring half of this season - so bringing the first half of this season to a climax.
As described, on the BBC website, the first episode, of this two-part story, is where we finally find out who River Song is and where The Doctor faces his darkest hour. Where Sontaran, Silurian and Cyber forces - for once - are not the most dangerous threats to the Time Lord and where Amy Pond and Rory Williams must summon their courage as never before.
This episode is significant for finally revealing the identity of River Song, naming her as Melody Pond, the daughter of Amy and Rory. Before broadcast it had been rumoured that River Song was Amy’s daughter as well as The Doctor’s wife. However, even though this episode reveals that she is Amy’s daughter her martial status is still unknown.
This episode also saw the reappearances of several of The Doctor’s allies and enemies. And for the first time he is aided by Silurians, the Judoon and a Sontaran. This is not the first time that The Doctor creates an army composed of some of his old enemies (see the BBC Books’ The Past Doctors Stories novel "Warmonger").
This story features Frances Barber as Madame Kovarian (otherwise known as the Eye Patch Lady), who was briefly glimpsed in "The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon", "The Curse of the Black Spot" and "The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People".
This story also includes another appearance of Alex Kingston as River Song – her second appearance during this season.
Also making a return in the first episode, is Dorium, played by Simon Fisher-Becker. This large blue-skinned alien, who traded a vortex manipulator to River Song, in the 2010 story "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang", was last seen at the intergalactic bar The Maldovarium in the year 5145.
The first episode stars Dan Johnston (Hotel Babylon) as ‘Thin Man’ and stand-up comedian Charlie Baker as ‘Fat Man’. Before appearing on Doctor Who Charlie Baker was probably best known for winning 2011’s Let’s Dance for Comic Relief.
Other returning faces include Dan Starkey appearing as the Sontaran Commander Strax. Dan Starkey first played a Sontaran (Commander Skorr) in the 2008 Tenth Doctor story "The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky"; and Neve McIntosh (as Madame Vastra). Neve McIntosh was last seen playing Silurian sisters Alaya and Restac in the 2010 Tenth Doctor story "The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood".
Hugh Bonneville, as Captain Avery, and Oscar Lloyd as his son, Toby, appear briefly helping The Doctor secure Madame Kovarian’s spaceship (see "The Curse of the Black Spot").
The first episode also features the return of Nicholas Briggs as the Voice of the Cybermen. Nicholas has previously provided voices for many of The Doctor’s most iconic foes, including the Daleks and Judoon, as well as the Cybermen. He also appeared in the Torchwood story "Children of Earth", delivering a memorable performance as politician Rick Yates.
The first episode, of this two-part story, was directed by Peter Hoar – his first Doctor Who story. Among the many shows Peter has previously worked are Five Days, Mistresses, Spooks and Grange Hill.
The Cybermen seen in this episode were slightly re-designed. They resemble the parallel Cybermen and have warships identical to one of the unnamed ones above Stonehenge seen in the 2010 story "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang". But unlike those Cybermen, these Cybermen lack a Cybus logo on their chest, but have a bump in place of it, unlike the markings as seen on the Cybermen from the Adventure Games story "Blood of the Cybermen". It is possible that these Cybermen are Mondasian Cybermen from our universe. They are also said to control a large section of the Galaxy, something of which both this universe’s Cybermen and the parallel universe’s Cybermen are seemingly capable. They are most likely this universe’s Cybermen as the others did not possess the technology to cross the void without causing the universes to start to end.
Rory again wears his Centurion armour, previously seen in the 2010 Christmas special "A Christmas Carol", and similar to that worn in "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang".
At one point, Madame Vastra is heard to mention 'Abberline'. In real life, Frederick Abberline (1843 - 1929) was a Chief Inspector in the London Metropolitan Police and was one of the most senior officers in the force’s hunt for Jack the Ripper.
The Church make their second appearance after "The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone". Although the ranking system used seemed to be different as Manton was referred to as Colonel instead of a religious rank such as Bishop.
The Headless Monks were previously mentioned in "The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone".
The Doctor is once again referred to as a Goblin and a Trickster (see "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang").
The Doctor is heard to give a brief history of Rory’s time in the TARDIS to Vastra. Referencing facing ‘sexy, fishy, vampires’. (see the 2010 story "The Vampires of Venice") Rory dying (Ironically, at the hands of Restac, who was also played by Neve McIntosh.) and being erased from time, (see the 2010 story "The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood") then coming back. (see "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang"). In this scene The Doctor also mentions rebooting the universe (see "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang").
Fat Man is heard telling Thin Man a rumour that The Doctor once ‘chased the Atraxi off a planet’ and ‘called them back for a scolding’. This is a reference to the 2010 story "The Eleventh Hour".
The call sign ‘Danny Boy’ is called by The Doctor to the Second World War fighter pilot to destroy Demon’s Run’s communications array (see also the 2010 story "Victory of the Daleks").
During the final battle scene River Song can be heard explaining the meaning of the name of Demon's Run base:
Demons run when a good man goes to war.
Night will fall and drown the sun when a good man goes to war.
Friendship dies and true love lies,
Night will fall and the dark will rise.
When a good man goes to war.
Demons run, but count the cost,
The battle's won, but the child is lost.
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Sontaran Commander Strax is a nurse rather than a warrior. At the beginning of this story he is seen tending to human soldiers, rather than Sontaran troops. This was due to him having to work as a mercenary as a punishment. It is also revealed that Commander Strax is able to produce his own breast milk and is willing to take care of Melody Pond.
The phrase ‘The only water in the forest is the river’, that River Song uses to explain why the people of the Gamma Forest translate Pond to River, was spoken to Rory by Idris (who embodied the TARDIS) in "The Doctor's Wife".
River Song is heard saying that she and an unspecified Doctor ice skated on the frozen Thames in 1814 during ‘the last of the great frost fairs’. Because of events in the Big Finish Productions Companion Chronicles audio story "Frostfire", this means that both River Song, Steven Taylor and Vicki were on the same ice at roughly the same time.
The second episode of this two-part story has been directed by Richard Senior, and although this is his first full Doctor Who episode, Richard Senior previously directed the opening Doctor Who-flavoured scene featuring Matt Smith and Dermot O'Leary for the 2011 National Television Awards, as well as the special two-part Doctor Who mini-story, "Space/Time", written by Steven Moffat, which was part of BBC One’s 2011 Red Nose Day telethon for the charity Comic Relief.
This story contains a number of errors. Namely: The word ‘Override’ is incorrectly spelt ‘Overide’ on the label for the button which controls the door lock, which the two tied-up soldiers attempt to press before one is stung by Vastra; The end credits list Russell T Davies as creating the Ood and the Judoon. The only story in this season that features an Ood is "The Doctor’s Wife".
As well as being the seventh story of this season, the first episode of this story, is also the 777th episode of Doctor Who.
The Prequel to the first episode was shot on 27th January 2011 - the same day that the Rory’s scenes with the Cybermen were filmed. This Prequel was made available online on the 28th May 2011, immediately following the broadcast of the final episode of "The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People". This prequel has Dorium talking to two Headless Monks. He gives them the brain of a Judoon, which contains a security protocol the hooded figures need. Dorium tells them that he knows what they are up to, as he hears a lot of rumours around the area. He asks them, But all this, to imprison one child? Oh, I know what you're up to, I hear everything in this place. I even hear rumours about whose child you've taken. Are you mad? You know the stories about The Doctor? The things that man has done? God help us if you made him angry!.
Following on after this story, on BBC3, was the seventh chapter of the sixth series of Doctor Who Confidential. Titled "The Born Identity" it was presented by Russell Tovey and looked into the making of this story.
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The Firsts:
The first appearance of the Headless Monks.
Neve Mclntosh's first appearance as the sword-wielding Silurian Madame Vastra.
Dan Starkey's first appearance as the Sontaran nurse Strax.
Catrin Stewart's first appearance as Jenny.
The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Peter Hoar.
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(Position = 4 out of 13)
(Position = 88 out of 241)
