Doctor Who 4x09 Forest of the Dead Reaction | First Time Watching

[@julesreacts]

✨ Please be careful to avoid posting any spoilers! A spoiler is something that is from a future episode, or something that I wouldn't know. I know you might be excited, and River Song is a very interesting character, but... Sssh! Spoilers! It makes it hard for me to read and enjoy the comments when I am worried I might read something I'm not meant to 😔 Thank you all for understanding!

[@Jameson_Visual_Arts_Studios]

😸 @julesreacts I’m so glad that you chose to embark on this journey with us exploring the WHOniverse!🫀🫀⏱️🌌🟦Silence In The Library, and Forests Of The Dead are two fan favorites, and they’re two of mine underscoring the rich world-building of Doctor Who, what it’s been, and could be! Tales of haunted houses have been with us for ages, Jules but a library world of hungry alien ‘ghosts?’ River Song? (no)Spoilers!😉Thanks again for these reactions, and have a great week! Cheers- Jameson ❤️☠️➕🤖

[@bauwoman2]

One of my favorite episodes. River's speech at the end is so well delivered by Alex Kingston and Tennant's performance in response is riveting. Fabulous writing, fabulous performances and the whole thing leaves us wanting to know more. And that time loop in this episode of what he knows right now and figuring out what his future self would have done about what he knows right now just boggles my brain every time I watch!!! The internal logic of this episode is brilliant and insane! Must have been written by a Time Lord. 🤣

[@billc3278]

Best to avoid comments unless you can have someone screen them for you.

[@pendrew]

@@billc3278yes! Someone should screen the comments. People will spoil things (on purpose or by accident)

[@StevesFunhouse]

@@pendrew The only problem with this is they would have to do this each time she went to read them. I converse with her on MANY reactions and it's very upsetting to me, for the very same reasons as you're referring to, because I fear she'll just stop reading them and I'll lose access/touch to a dear friend.

[@alex.9398]

In honour of River Song and her anti spoiler stance I say nothing except that she's a great character.

[@sassylittleprophet]

Yep. She's a baddie.

[@julesreacts]

She's iconic for not allowing spoilers 😅

[@davidcrazyrides]

spoilers at Jules now knows where that comes from

[@Elurin]

She is a great character and it was a brilliant way to introduce a new character, too!

[@davidmichaelson1092]

They make it clear she will be important. But how? THAT is the question. At this point NO ONE can predict who she really is. As an aside, The Doctor is KNOWN to have a family. The first Doctor travelled with his granddaughter. The show is bound to touch on this again. (Not a spoiler...just a reminder than The Doctor's personal life IS a part of the show).

[@themediater]

The poor bloke with the stutter just getting teleported away before he can say "Donna" feels like such a brutal little bit for such an otherwise hopeful albeit bittersweet ending. Poor ol Donna.

[@verloser]

that response is genuine 6:00 especially because the writer asked her to think up a crazy word. she thought it was funny though at the time of the filming.

[@dalekwatcher]

Stephen Moffat did that in Press Gang. Twice! Crossed phone lines, and the Scottish girl. Then he sequaled it and she knocked on the door! Bastard!

[@zrc1514]

I hope he found as much of a loving relationship as Donna did eventually,

[@alextrill1746]

It was fate. If they met, Donna would probably stay with him, and then she wouldn't be where she was supposed to be to save ALL THE UNIVERSES.

[@AKCFTW]

We stutterers always get teleported away at the most inopportune moments.

[@AmazingChi]

Jules: "River Song, I've been thinking a lot about her" Steven Moffat: "My work here is done."

[@yavoth5850]

This ep is Moffat's magnum opus, imo, and I love almost all of the man's work

[@epicpantsryummy]

@@yavoth5850 I'd say it's a toss-up. This, Fireplace, or my personal favorite: Heaven Sent

[@debbielough7754]

There's an extra tragedy to this episode that nobody ever mentions, and I think a lot of people miss. All the people who were 'saved' and brought back... The library planet has been in lockdown for a century. So all the people have been 'saved' for a century. Everything they knew, everything they loved - that's gone.

[@amityville2006]

This is what I said too when I first watched this episode. Glad I'm not the only one who caught this.

[@bobm4378]

well you have to remember there are limits on what you can do, it has to fit a limited 'time slot' , and actors time, story runners time and funds for this.. and note it was made in 2008, lots to download and catch up on if **you** have time!! :)

[@jeroen3468]

@@bobm4378 I think you replied to the wrong comment babes

[@SpectrumAnalysis]

The fact River ended her diary, and her story, with the line "Sometimes Everybody Lives" is amazing, since that's the line The Ninth Doctor screamed when finally learning how to hope again in The Doctor Dances.

[@christianschoff2490]

Oh my god. I never thought about that! 😭

[@davidgould9431]

Also written by Steven Moffat: another great two-parter.

[@BrendamProductions]

I think the River's death scene here is one of the best and most heart wrenching scenes in the whole show just ah *chefs kiss*

[@bobm4378]

well River song is a very unusual - her 'history' seems to work in reverse!! "The Impossible Astronaut" first broadcast on 23 April 2011 has a lot in it.. she is still 'alive' and will soon feature in a special to be shown august 2024..

[@joshuaoehler5796]

@@bobm4378 Ummm . . . thanks for the spoiler

[@BruhsCookieJar]

@@bobm4378what special?

[@bobm4378]

@@BruhsCookieJar august has not finished yet.... and there is too much speculation about, so I would not trust it much!

[@paulflux5892]

"You and me! Time and space! You watch us run!" Gets me every time!😢

[@rangerzickle3350]

Apparently Alex Kingston (River Song) said Shaniqua in David Tennet's ear. And he had to play it straight the whole time. Arent they brilliant actors?

[@carlycchapman]

God I want to see Alex Kingston again so bad

[@quantamdefender]

River is definitely an ambitious and interesting character concept. Despite being a time traveller the Doctor tends to meet recurring characters in a linear order for the sake of simplicity. That means River really stands out for the fact that what from her perspective is the last of many encounters with the Doctor is the first from his and our perspective, whether we see her again or not.

[@WolfHreda]

I love Donna. "This isn't my real body. _And I've been dieting."_ 🤣 Oh, man. The coming episodes are gonna blow your mind, Jules. Good job on picking up on the memory thing on River's screwdriver. The timey-wimey stuff gets pretty wibbly-wobbly sometimes.

[@insomnaholic]

That's a quintessential Donna quote. Love her.

[@julesreacts]

OMG Donna was epic in this episode! She makes me LAUGH with glee! I adore her. She's just so human, flawed and relatable.

[@JensRiggelsen]

Coming episodes? I'd say coming seasons. Of course, there are ups and downs, but seasons 4, 5, 6 are so good.

[@channyh.221B]

The word *SPOILERS* will never be the same in your head. As it should be. Love this story oh so much.

[@Gav-mj6lx]

The Doctor - 'Look me up.' Vashta Narada - 'Oh, sh*t. Kicking arse and taking names for over 900 years.

[@thedoctor4327]

I feel like looking up and reading half a sentence about The Time War would have given the trillion Vashta Narada spores a collective heart attack

[@TheMultiForge]

The one time an enemy realises exactly what kind of trouble they are in and actually does the smart thing

[@firefly24601]

So. Bad-ass.

[@godmagnus]

Across millennia.

[@dylancole1910]

His scott accent came out a bit when he said that 😂

[@Moggetslittlesister]

The way Alex Kingston portrayed River here was amazing. She brought you to tears at her death without knowing much about her! The weight of all her implied experiences with the Doctor is very apparent.

[@ceceliagarmer5479]

@@Moggetslittlesister Alex Kingston's acting is impeccable! The fact that she did not know how River's character would unfold is incredible. She absolutely is believable!

[@UserName-vb4lg]

“You and me. Time and space. You watch us run…”

[@elvwood]

"I'm alright too." This one often makes me cry, but I think I cried even more watching your reaction. So thanks - I think. 😉

[@julesreacts]

Awww thank you 💜 this show can be so emotional. It's just beautiful.

[@l33tspaniard]

I wholeheartedly believe that was The moment she became his best friend

[@isbammoi3358]

Unforgettable. - The moment with Donna and the Doctor, "Then I'm alright too." made them my favorite duo and friendship. Donna has this level of empathy that's unmatched for me among the companions. - River, oh River. That final speech. The fact that the Doctor meets her at her death, will know so always that she'll die, and River only finds it out then. That he apparently still let himself know her anyways, the cruelty that he must or it's a paradox. Ouch. - She knows his name, she trusts him with her life, she looked at him and looking back was a stranger. - Poor Donna, that moment where he couldn't call her name because of his stutter... I was already heartbroken and then that was icing on the cake of pain! lol This 2-parter was actually the first episodes of Who I EVER saw. Sucked me RIGHT in. Alex Kingston, River, This story, will always be at the top for me because of that. I always get excited when reactors get to this point, glad you had fun!

[@phtevenj]

I cry EVERYTIME i see this episode.... River is an exceptional character though

[@hmsljj]

"Now and then, every once in a very long while, every day in a million days, when the wind stands fair and the Doctor comes to call, everybody lives".

[@wembleyford]

Yup - it's just superb isn't it - which isn't surprising since it's from Moffat who brought you previously the Empty Child two parter from season 1 and the Weeping Angels in Blink from Season 3. As for your revelation about the Doctor giving his screwdriver to River to give back to the earlier doctor - this is exactly the sort of thing that Moffat is good at and he features these sort of conundrums and paradoxes frequently in his stories - e,g, Which doctor originally came up with the idea to give River the screwdriver? Who first thought up the Doctor's part in the conversation on the DVD in Blink? Very 'timey-whimey' is definitely a Moffat speciality.

[@julesreacts]

Moffat is absolutely one to watch. He keeps giving us gold!

[@cairothetiefling_]

Alex Kingston’s performance in these two episodes is phenomenal. I don’t know anyone who didn’t cry seeing river ‘die’ in place of the doctor and we only knew her for two episodes.

[@julesreacts]

She was incredible!!

[@silverbrumbyfan]

I didn't, I was a kid with a heart of stone but I think that was because we'd just met her, I was sobbing buckets when I rewatched

[@Spiklething]

Spot the famous person. Many of the cast were also in last weeks episode and were nominated for this award then, but here’s a few I didn’t mention (thanks to last weeks comment section for most of this information) So this week the award goes to … *Tallulah Riley* as Miss Evangelista Tallulah has acted in Westworld, two St Trinians films, and was Mary Bennet in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice She is also known for marrying Elon Musk. Twice. And also for divorcing Elon Musk. Twice She is currently engaged to Thomas Brodie Sangster of Mazerunner fame but who also appeared in Dr Who as Tim Latimer, he was the boy that had Dr Whos pocket watch when the Doctor was hiding as John Smith Honourable mentions go to *Steve Pemberton* who played Strackman Lux, known for League of Gentlemen *Harry Peacock* who played Proper Dave known for Toast of London *Mark Dexter* who played the Dad, known for the Crown

[@j9lorna]

Ray bloody Purchase!!! Also was in the amazing Detectorists!!

[@Legather]

Doctor Moon was played by Colin Salmon who has been in lots, notably Arrow alongside John Barrowman.

[@WolfHreda]

​@@j9lorna Well, well, well...

[@Spiklething]

@@Legather Yes I mentioned him last week, I know him from Eastenders and the Lazarus Project

[@godmagnus]

"She is also known for marrying Elon Musk. Twice. " So she IS the type of person to open the airlock twice.

[@hivolt_inc]

I love how the lingering shot of the screwdriver and the diary plus River's monologue makes you think the episode is going to end... then the music swells and you see the Doctor running back, not yet ready to accept defeat

[@StevenJShow]

22:54 Nothing lasts forever. It is the bittersweet truism of life. Even the good times of Doctor Who, sadly, don't last forever. That just makes us cherish those moments all the more. I forget just how rich Series 4 was. There are some great episodes here and even more to come.

[@micheleduritto]

A very meta comment (for some).

[@CrankyGrandma]

I was bawling my eyes out again just watching the reaction to that scene. This was a beautiful and tragic episode.

[@TiaTruly]

same 😭😭

[@julesreacts]

They always seem to know how to make us cry 😭

[@SKIP-yj3xp]

This episode shows the new attitude of the Doctor, post "Time War". It has that "I"M THE DOCTOR" moment. It's that moment when the villain realizes they eff'd up and are about to get their butts kicked.

[@jonathan.palfrey]

Most writers for Doctor Who use time travel rather boringly: just as a way to get from one time period to another. However, as every real science-fiction writer knows, you can get all kinds of interestingly tangled plots from the creative use of time travel. One of the things I like about Steven Moffat, apart from his ability to write good stories, is that he’s aware of this and makes use of it. We already saw examples in “The Girl in the Fireplace” and “Blink”; the meeting of the Doctor and River Song in this story is another example; and there will be more examples further down the road.

[@altinaykor364]

he's good storyteller, but not much good showrunner

[@jonathan.palfrey]

@@altinaykor364 Moffat is the best writer that Doctor Who has had; as a showrunner, he’s neither the best nor the worst.

[@davidwise1302]

From at least the Ninth Doctor's first appearance in "Rose" a common catch-phrase has been "Run!" With this we got a new one: "Spoilers!" And, yes, we will learn a lot more about Dr. River Song. Story I heard was that they were going to have a member of the party being someone the Doctor knew, but then they had a stroke of genius. That person would have known the Doctor for a long time in his future but he wouldn't know her yet. Basically, their personal timelines are running in opposite directions. Timey-wimey!

[@livingandthriving]

No matter how many times I watch it, the ending of this episode always punches me in the feels. Truly some of Steven Moffat's best work.

[@cobba42]

Steven Moffat used the element of time travel and its potential for asynchronous events to great effect in his early contributions. Some of the all time best episodes had those elements, like "Blink", "The Girl in the Fireplace", and this two-parter. All of which I count towards my favourites.

[@WGL]

River is why most of us love to keep away from spoilers... Except for cheeky hints that won't make sense till later.

[@MeghanTheShade]

The future Doctor helping out a past incarnation is confusing, but it's also easy to understand. It's a wibbly wobbly timey wimey thing.

[@JoeThornhill]

18:31 You gotta admit, that's mostly down to Murray Gold. 'The greatest story never told' and 'The Doctor theme (series 4)' or 'Rivers last run' on some YT videos that have 'Unreleased' in the title.

[@iz723]

"Followed them into her dreams and kept them safe" Man.... Moffat has a beautiful poetry to his writing.

[@arch1017]

Every time I watch this fantastic two-parter, I gain a new level of appreciation for it, and all the little details within. I had a feeling that you might find the ending to be a bit of a tear-jerker. And you're right about how the stuff with the screwdriver worked. The future Doctor modified it to store River's Data Ghost so that the present Doctor could 'save' her. It's a bit like how 'Blink' played out, in that respect. Which makes sense, as both are Moffat stories.

[@julesreacts]

I now have to have a fresh tissue at the ready with all the shows I'm currently watching 😭 I adore how it can make us laugh and send us into tears in the next moment.

[@snowtigerxii]

River's story KILLS me! Uuugh!! 😭 Alex Kingston is also FABULOUS and such a sweetie in real life. ❤

[@Jon_FM]

Steven Moffitt loves to rip your heart out while making you smile while doing it. Just wonderful writing.

[@artiepavlov6022]

Kathrene Tate is on point in her acting as always.

[@bryter00]

Tennant is now effortlessly flawless as the Doctor. This series 4 Doctor of his is my all time favourite.

[@767wattsy]

I bawl my eyes out EVERY TIME I watch this episode - and watching along with you was exactly the same. Moffat is so good at writing stand-alone episodes when RTD is showrunner e.g. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, Blink and this fantastic two-parter. Speaking about what makes a good Doctor Who story, Moffat once said (to paraphrase) "every episode should be as complex as a feature film," or words to that effect - and you can really see that concept playing out here.

[@julesreacts]

This episode was so beautifully done, so emotional and just outstanding. What a genuine treat. Thank you for enjoying it with me 💜

[@Madman13K]

I do love the moment of realization in this episode "I had years to figure out how to save her and all I did was give her a screwdriver. Why?" It just suddenly makes perfect sense once you ask it.

[@insomnaholic]

Watching your Doctor Who journey has had me rediscover my love of this series. I keep seeing a new reaction and think, "Oh I love this one!" and "No wait, I love this one too!" Anyway, it's been fun watching your reaction journey through Doctor Who.

[@julesreacts]

Awww thank you 💜

[@recklessrogue9027]

"You just killed someone I like that is not a safe place to stand!" One of my favourite lines demonstrating the fear The Doctor inspires without armour or a weapon - truly one of the best episodes!

[@ZondaFRoadster]

Something else bittersweet to think about. Even though those 4022 people were restored and freed, they've been stuck in the computer for 100 years. Everyone they knew or loved is probably long dead.

[@vegtaprince]

"I met the Doctor. Yes you did and then you forgot." I just love that line.

[@The-Cosmic-Hobo]

Ah, god, Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead... SUCH an amazing story! As a fan who grew up watching Classic, having the cliffhanger endings in modern WHO really feels "right" - and the longer time to really immerse yourself into the story is great too. This remains one of the best stories of Doctor Who, ever. Another Moffatt story. Don't worry, Jules - we were crying right along with you, and when the Doctor said to the Vashta Nerada to look him up... That's one of the most iconic scenes of all time. With regard to River Song... I can remember watching this, and of course - it seems to set her up for future episodes, but it was a Moffatt character, not RTD... I remember thinking there's every chance that although RTD let the character into his show, that did not mean he'd run with her. Actually what I remember is thinking - Oh god it's Elizabeth Corday from ER!

[@jonathangmallender]

Running to the video as soon as I see you pop up on my notifications, then me crying along with you! Definitely THE BEST Dr who reaction videos ❤

[@julesreacts]

💜💜 I'm still in awe at how incredible this show is and how diverse it is! My goodness, it's wonderful.

[@VideoGameVillians]

No spoilers, just a thought from when i first watched this, but... If past River know the Doctor, then future Doctor might meet past River. Even if that really is the end of River Song, we could still see her again if the writers will it to be so.

[@tatewakinew]

Not just books actually (where cellulose is heavily processed giving less chance to hatch) - he himself had a problem just early this two-parter opening a _wooden_ door with a sonic screwdriver - and planet sized library has plenty of those, floors, shelves, railings...

[@sallyscrive]

Love this couple of episodes. Lots of actors: Other Dave is going to be in "Handsmaid's Tale" and "Loot", Evangelista is going to be in "Pride & Prejudice", there's Josh Dallas from "Once Upon a Time" and Sarah Niles from "Ted Lasso". But my favorite element is the first/last meeting of Doctor and River Song, the most beautiful character from Doctor Who.

[@timelordtreacherytech3276]

This episode is jam packed with so much, finding out who cal was, seeing how river songs demise comes in her future, whispered his name and we still dont know too much about the vashta nerada

[@Mikesupr1]

"I am the Doctor and you are in the biggest library in the universe. Look me up!" Again great speech, great episode, great reaction. I am really happy, if someone can appreciate these good episodes. I write it again...the time, when Doctor Who was fun and great written.

[@anniesharp4871]

We weren't kidding about the mastery of Series 4... :') I adore this story but you still haven't reached my favourite episode of the Donna era! More excellence to come :-D

[@fraserbain6102]

"And then you remembered." Your channel is very comfy, thanks Jules!

[@SeizeTheDay95]

4:09 Fun fact: Donna’s wedding dress from “The Runaway Bride” making a guest appearance. 😊

[@doodoo5594]

10 running back at the end remains my favourite scene in dr who

[@silverbrumbyfan]

Murray Gold's music combined with River's death, its just stunning. I honestly don't think Doctor Who would have been so successful if we didn't have Gold's scores to accompany the key moments. This is one of my favourite pieces, its called The Greatest Story Never Told I can guarantee you after this it won't be 'hey who turned out the lights' appearing randomly in your head it will be the Doctor''s threat to the Vashta Nerada, that moment he realises Anita is gone, its burned into my brain

[@Cinnamon_Shaey]

Alex Kingston (River) is one of my favourite actors in general, absolutely love her!

[@AlmightyCRJ]

These had an audio prequel in Classic Doctors, New Monsters. Night of the Vashta Nerada. Fourth Doctor appeared at the wooden theme park 'Fun World' only to find out that the builders have killed & bounty hunters attending. "You came here looking for a good time? It's not open yet!" "...that probably explains why I'm not having much fun."😂

[@twizzler31]

Doctor Who peak is here. What a two parter. From the writing, plot, acting. All of it outstanding. Brilliant reaction as usual, can’t wait for next weeks episode. Keep up the great work! 👏🏻

[@vMixMasterJayv]

What i love about the conclusion to this episode is the way everything ties in. How Donna and the People are Saved and where the idea behind it stems from and ultimately leading to toe doctor being able to save River. This two parter is based on how teleportation works which btw is a real technology and not science fiction what holds us back is energy and computing power. But teleportation works by breaking down an object or person into data creating a digital blueprint of that person at that instance to them be sent instantaneously using Quantum entaingelment to any receiver anywhere else in the universe to then have the person reconstructed on the other end. This scanning of a person to obtain this data also destroys them however that data is kept recorded on the computers hard drive before it gets sent. This is where the idea for this episode comes from because what happens if the teleporters shut down? Like for instance when the whole library went into quarantine. Well everyone trying to teleport away gets destroyed and their data saved to the harddrive. Which then brings up the question of consciousness which Moffat explores in such and interesting way because what happens if some of the data is altered in some way. When you teleport does your soul get teleported to the other side, are you still you if you are destroyed on one end and reconstructed on the other. All fascinating ideas too think about based on this technology. And then Moffat takes it that step further and wraps its all up into an emotional story that just slaps you in the face with heart break and happiness at the same time so you feel conflicted and then!! Annnd then he hints at new upgrades to the doctors tech and hints at the future stories that may be coming!! Fan Fricken Tastic!!

[@BeOurGeist]

The Library duology is one of my favorite “episodes” in the whole series.

[@anonymes2884]

Such a rollercoaster right ? Funny and light then scary then deeply sad then happy-within-the-sad by the end. So, y'know, basically, life :). Like many of the best Who episodes IMO, it gives us answers while raising questions. My favourite part of _maybe_ my favourite two-parter. And Donna's jumps in the virtual world make perfect sense _for a story_ - it's a regular occurrence in films/TV (how many times have you _really_ seen a character walk "up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire" on screen ? :) and our minds, like the Doctor Moon, kind of fill in the blanks. It's just that in the "story within a story" Donna can see the cuts, unlike her "real life" (i.e. the story _we're_ watching). Plus, the Vashta Nerada live in books, River's diary is literally the story of her life etc. Stories about stories :).

[@littlecitygirl]

This episode kills me every time. There's so much love and so much to be a nervous wreck about so by the end I'm definitely the Timelord version of 'All right'. Loving your thoughts about the Doctor in the future/Doctor in the past that's our present - it's so wibbly wobbly, timey wimey and so perfectly Doctor Who. Keep them coming, Jules. ;)

[@julesreacts]

All right 😭😭 ahhhh this was just SO sad and emotional, but I adored it so much. Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful day ahead 💜

[@jeffcarey3045]

Wow, talk about foreshadowing. Donna forgetting like that.

[@erinravenseeker413]

welcome to having a new fear of the dark! this one made me cry a lot too, especially as the second "everybody lives" episode in new who. i love donna so much, in particular the "because im alright too" line.

[@ThomasCostigan]

Doctor Moon is played by an actor called Colin Salmon. Famous is my parts as he is from Luton as am I. I went to the same Infant, Juniper and High school as him and have followed his career with great interest because we big up our own. Google him he has had some great roles including James Bond and Resident Evil. Love this episode and love your reaction. Parasocial relationship means I fall in love with your Doctor Who adorableness every episode. Love from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 x

[@Wannabe_Baby]

Very happy you like this one. It is one of the best two-parters of the show. :) I actually forgot about a lot of the great parts of it, like the Doctor snapping his fingers to open the Tardis doors. I got chills when that happened.

[@joeb918]

The spores in the books reminds me of fact that the reason why old books smell so good is because there are spores on them, from a fungus that possibly gives us a little high when we sniff the old pages. I wonder if this idea somehow influenced Moffat.

[@haydn60]

Knowledge should be smelly. - Rupert Giles

[@joeb918]

Man, Anthony is stalking me, I make one random fact about him on another Doctor Who reactor ‘s channel and I keep getting references back to him and or Giles… The fun fact: Head once screen tested to be the 8th doctor for the movie that released between the original DW series and the 2005 return.

[@wembleyford]

@@haydn60 Yup - ninja'd - Buffy's a big influence on ths show .

[@julesreacts]

I love old book smell so maybe that explains it 🤣

[@BruhsCookieJar]

One of my favorite episodes. It’s a rollercoaster to watch. I remember watching it for the first time. I was so intrigued by this woman who swooped in and threw the doctor off a bit. He didn’t seem to know what to do with her. But she was so fun And a strong woman.

[@chazo1367]

God this episode is always so depressing yet amazing. Moffat throws out another banger two parter

[@bugsby4663]

I always remember listening to commentary on this from RTD and Steven Moffat. When the crew came out all in white, one of them commented that they looked like Boney M. I loved the playgrpund scene. So wonderfully Gothic. Great reaction.

[@mel.a.bicket]

I ugly cried right along with you !! It's amazing! A character we've never met having such a huge impact and she's paired up with such a great story. I cried for Donna and CAL and then I'm sobbing for River and The Doctor. Like her talking about his future and that it will all be okay because he will see her again and she wouldn't give up all their adventures by letting him die there.

[@julesreacts]

So true!! We've barely gotten to know her and what an impact she had 💜

[@thedoctor4327]

2 of my favorite 10th Doctor moments are in this episode, making a threat back down by telling it to look him up and that epic sprint to save River.

[@tempusspiritus]

This is one of the best episodes ever if not the best. Yes, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to confirm, as it’s fairly stated in the episode(s), that the present day Doctor had never met River Song before. The green bar thing in the sonic screwdriver & suits was a technology that was used to send telepathic messages and as a byproduct created a temporary copy of a person’s mind meaning technically the River Song that was “saved” was/is an artificial copy of the real one.

[@DigiRangerScott]

My favorite thing about River is that she lived happily

[@KaleShadowWalker]

No matter how many times I see this episode, I always cry.

[@jameshawkins6201]

This is one of my favorite episodes. You will have to wait a while for the other. This is so great. We get to meet the mysterious River Song. The little girl is so cute. Everyone has to die some day but not today! And it is a tear-jerker. What else could I want?

[@Tantalus010]

I love the finger snapping trick. The Doctor learns it from River who learned it from him. It has no origin.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

She likely did *NOT* learn it from him, though... 😉

[@Tantalus010]

@@happyslapsgiving5421 She literally said she did in the last episode. It was one of the things about him that made her swoon. It would not be impressive to her if she had learned it elsewhere.

[@martinw1327]

Steven was going to write a cannon to this story that never made it. Dr moon was supposed to be a distant future version of the Dr. Fallen in battle, he transfers himself to the moon, watching over and protecting humanity and river.

[@themightythor1160]

One of the greatest episodes ever written.

[@oldmuso586]

I've been binge-watching your reactions, loving them! To watch a first time reaction is to rewatchit yourself for the first time.

[@julesreacts]

Thank you!! I'm so glad you're enjoying the episodes with me 💜

[@MavenCree]

River Song is my spirit animal. (As is Alex Kingston, the actress who plays her.)

[@j9lorna]

This two parter is frigging amazing!!

[@chefcircuit5392]

The ending of this episode is one of my absolute favorites. Seeing her in “heaven” is so bittersweet

[@aly8512]

I love the duo of the Doctor and Donna sm

[@stevesm4]

After watching episode one of this two-parter I went on about it so much at my workplace that I probably drove some people round the bend. But one colleague, who had never watched Doctor Who before, decided to watch part two to see what the fuss was all about. She told me the following day that she cried at the end of it. That's how good it was.

[@christianschoff2490]

A d once again inam bawling my eyes out. 😭😭😭 Every single time.

[@JaqueDark]

I can't wait for you to find out who River Song is. Her past is the Doctor's future.

[@anthonycaracausa9895]

Actually, that concept of saving made sense to me. Star Trek delved into the concept of suspended animation through the transporters. Some cases were just seconds long, others years long.

[@tuuli4002]

I love this episode! River is amazing ❤ Not a spoiler, I am just thinking of this episode. Yes, the Doctor saved River but she is still dead. Her mind lives in that computer thing but her body is dead. River's death is one of the sadest moments in whole Doctor Who.

[@MagikarpPoop]

Ah yes, wouldn’t be a Moffat episode without a proper bootstrap paradox

[@julesreacts]

Brain = hurting 🤣

[@mickaelsflow6774]

The last ten minutes of this episodes... Rollercoaster and feels. Oh the feels! 😭 PS. 24:46 "I'm so happy that Donna is okay" oh she was "alright" alright. Like, really not alright at all.

[@julesreacts]

"alright" 😭😭😭

[@nightshade7240]

Absolutely no spoilers, so you can freely read this comment. Alex Kingston's depiction of River might be my favourite character in all of Dr Who. There is just something so fun about the fact she's a match for the Doctor and then some. She has such incredible energy and chemistry with the Dr from the moment they meet. Also I am constantly impressed with how genuine your reactions are. There are a lot of reactors that I am skeptical of it being their first time watching but there is a genuineness to your reactions that I don't think would be easily faked. Always enjoy seeing your reactions. There is a gentle warmth that you exhibit that translates even through digital medium.

[@julesreacts]

Oh thank you so much! What a lovely thing to read, and I'm so grateful that you've taken the time to share your thoughts with me 💜😸

[@senpai_lol8171]

This episode hit my heart as a teen tbh and after this I never watched trailers or reviews synapsis etc for anything other than maybe knowing whos in a show or movie and giving it a go I don't like spoilers I never will and thats all a trailer etc is to me, also i dont understand people even more who watch trailers to sequels etc if you liked the first enough why would you not watch 2nd so why spoil it with a trailer genuinely baffles me xD but either way thats just been my stance since these episodes and the love i had for them

[@osumarko]

Great two parter. One of my absolute favorites. Also, a few years ago, I went to see a production of The Tempest here in the U.S. & the actress who played Anita was in the cast. That was a fun surprise.

[@DigiRangerScott]

These were the last episodes to be written by Steven Moffat before he ascended to a higher power.

[@TheMajinHermit]

Your point about Doctors not lasting forever in Part 1 river says "Early days judging by the face" So do with that information what you will

[@Brookecynthia44]

River and the Doctor are my Roman Empire

[@Stephen-Fox]

I enjoy these before episode chats when you do them (Especially for two parters since you don't watch the next episode previews since 'what are you expecting this episode' often provides some fun experiences for watching people react to stuff since we already know if that happens or not) Love this one. I think it's the first use of one of my favourite motifs of Moffat within Doctor Who (though not one that he's only used in Doctor who - I'm told his first use of it was in the children's drama Press Gang - and not the first use of it in any of his work) - The use of the language of television as part of the narrative. In this case, Donna experiencing the cuts within the computer that skip the intermediate points in the same way the audience does.