THE SHADOWS?! | Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 8 "Silence in the Library" Reaction!

[@firedoc5]

Alex Kingston as River Song is brilliant. This is pretty much the start of "spoilers" becoming a catch phrase, not just on the show but also in pop culture, especially among Dr. Who fans. And when it comes to the character of River Song, it is very difficult to not give away any spoilers.

[@TheMarcHicks]

100% perfect comment, no notes 🙂.

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

The phrase ‘spoilers’ in that context was already in common use. Possibly the earliest use was in an issue of National Lampoon I. 1971. ‘Spoiler Alerts’ were mentioned in postings for Star Trek 2. The word ‘spoiler’ was already being used with a certain level of frequency by the time Doctor Who returned to our screens and by the time River Song entered the show it already had a certain resurgence in popularity. I can remember watching River Song first deliver that phrase and thinking it mildly amusing that popular,ar culture was being referenced in that way on the show. Of course,, in Doctor Who fandom, the phrase ‘spoilers’ became much more of a buzz-word. And, because fans of Doctor Who are often fans of other sci-fi and fantasy franchises, it started to get used more broadly by the sci-fi community as a whole. So River Song played a part in the widespread usage of the term. But it was definitely already there and in use.

[@jeanine6328]

I actually got to see her in London in a production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest along with Christian Slater.

[@uweburger]

​@@jeanine6328 Sounds great

[@Jonno92100]

"Hello Sweetie" We truly are entering the best era of Doctor Who in my opinion. This two-parter might be my favorite of all time!

[@adamcarlson2192]

Of ANY show!

[@andrecanis4894]

Oh yes I envy her, because to quote River, "You'll see me again. You've got all of that to come. You and me, time and space. You watch us run!"

[@zonen6887]

Yea the start of the end, spoilers ;)

[@BaileyCalderan]

21:04 “How did you guys watch this show as kids” BEHIND THE SOFA!!!

[@DeusLucifer]

TRUE this episode scared the crap out of me as a kid

[@pabloc8808]

Bro this and Blink still give me the creeps as an adult, even though I know them by heart

[@maxhax367]

After being traumatized by Darkness falls at 10yo. This episode did not help with my fear of the dark

[@LadyDoomsinger]

Honestly, between the Weeping Angels and the Silence, the Library never really got to me all that much.

[@brendanoconnor1550]

The Doctor and Donna immediately tearing up the NDA completely encapsulates their dynamic for me

[@zarabada6125]

3:26 "No, I never land on Sundays; Sundays are boring." This is a joke about Doctor Who being aired in the UK on Saturdays.

[@TheYoungDoctor]

Also pointed out in Survival. ACE: You had to pick a Sunday, didn't you? You bring me back to the boredom capitol of the universe, you pick the one day of the week you can't even get a decent television programme.

[@AmazingChi]

Until sadly, it did, but we won't talk about that yet.

[@WolfHreda]

One of my favorite bits of trivia about two of my favorite franchises: In Fallout: New Vegas, specifically the Old World Blues DLC, there is a type of enemy called the Y-17 Trauma Response Harness. It basically looks like a spacesuit with a skeleton inside. You can look up its lore if you want to dig a bit deeper, but if you have the Wild Wasteland trait active, a specific Y-17 walks around saying "Hey, who turned out the lights?!" in loving reference to this episode. Which isn't the first time Fallout has had a Doctor Who reference. There was a random encounter in Fallout 2 where you would load into the map just in time to see the TARDIS dematerializing.

[@maurer3d]

This episode is a master class in how to introduce a character.

[@quintuscrinis]

O, I think Utopia was the master class. 😅 This is certainly good though, and there is one more to come if I remember correctly. 😢

[@quantummidget]

I'm somewhat lukewarm on future River Song appearances, but I think she's absolutely fantastic in this two-parter. Such an interesting character idea, and Alex Kingston plays her brilliantly

[@jennifermorris6848]

This is an episode that gets better with every rewatch. You will come back to it several times, I hope, on your own journey, as different things happen. It is on its own brilliant and becomes even more brilliant upon rewatch.

[@over50gamer]

((Sees the title... Rubs hands together, giggling with glee)) Ohhhhh yes, now we're getting into the REALLLLY good stuff! 😉😈 Edit: automatic upvote for this vid

[@zachariousmccool5768]

lol true. It all starts with Family honestly and just gets better and better and better as it goes on

[@stephensheridan1279]

Hello Sweetie! 😘😘😘

[@jamesgorman7417]

Both Classic and New Doctor Who have always been scary. “SILENCE IN THE LIBRARY/FOREST OF THE DEAD” two parter is one of my favourite stories in Doctor Who Series 4.

[@willchristopher1899]

Perhaps the reason for the Weeping Angel vibes is that this two-part episode and Blink were both written by Steven Moffat. I believe of all the writers, he was the one who understood time travel the most.

[@memoryfoam2285]

From here to honestly the end of the Tennant era is a hell of a run

[@Louisa.Bowman23]

The Male statue 6:49 is Josh Dallas who played "Prince Charming" In Once Upon A Time and was also "Fandral" in the first Marvel Thor movie.

[@nimblehealer199]

The Doctor: Oh, don't tell me you're archeologists. River: you have a problem with archeologists? The Doctor: I'm a Time traveler, I laugh at archeologists. River: Professor River Song, archeologist. She sent her message to the wrong incarnation.

[@day_thewoodelf]

Oh my god, we're already here!!!!!! We got to my giiiirrrrrlllll!!!!

[@nathandts3401]

"Kinda giving weeping angels vibes." I'm assuming you know by now, but same writer.

[@SoTOreo]

i imagine at this point she does but apparently doesnt pay attention to the written by in the intro lol

[@doorofnight87]

Really enjoyed your reaction and engagement. This is a great episode (another by Stephen Moffatt, who previous wrote The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances in Season 1, The Girl in the Fireplace in season 2, and Blink in Season 3) and River Song is an amazing character.

[@docksider]

Location report: Filmed in Swansea Guild Hall, the City Council Chamber is where Miss Evangelista died. The round room in the library is actually a disused library in Swansea.

[@AlmightyCRJ]

Only just disused - they moved out a few weeks before filming. University art wing now. The Brangwyn art panels are in darkness.😂

[@docksider]

@@AlmightyCRJ The Brangwyn Panels are spectacular, but a bit of a give away. Originally destined for the House of Lords but fortunately now in Swansea.

[@SorchaSublime]

I feel like watching this show as kids is a defining experience in the UK. The show has been known for scaring kids behind the couch since the 60s when they first introduced the Daleks. The scariest episodes always produced the best games (like themed variants of tig) on the playground.

[@ThePonderer]

I think this episode might have one of the show’s best cold opens.

[@mircohentsch1980]

Thank you for your amzing reaction again. So happy that we are now at the beginning of the really great episodes and storys. Now I'm really looking forward to see your reaction for the second part of this amazing story, and curious about the Professor.

[@CalDeanOffical]

1:47 this guy who’s counselling the child is also currently in Eastenders (a soap opera in the uk)

[@kemmdog4444]

He was also in Punisher : War Zone.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Colin Salmon

[@Kostyurik]

He's also stepfather of Oliver Queen in Arrow. And in this episode of "Doctor Who" he is Dr Moon, but when writing this episode Steven Moffat thought about a very distant future incarnation of the Doctor (like 42nd or 51st) being Dr Moon. It was never made canon, but it's still interesting

[@quintuscrinis]

Wait, who is doctor Moon on Eastenders? How did I miss that?

[@morgan79737]

@@quintuscrinis George.

[@Macdelaven]

This 2-parter is when Donna became my favorite companion. She is such a good person as first seen with her interaction with the Ood.

[@Legendary3Dgamer]

17:11 btw that painting of the wolf and girl is a reference to rose becoming bad wolf

[@TheAppeyes]

6:10 16 years and I've never understood why the girl floats until Emme said it.

[@Jaycsee66]

Doctor Who has been my favourite show for over 50 years. Being scared as a child is half the fun. BTW, in classic Doctor Who each story was four episodes long, and the last story in each season was usually six episodes long. Every episode in a story, except the last episode, ended in a cliff hanger.

[@AcornRiot]

And so it begins

[@TheYoungDoctor]

The Doctor: "I'm a Time traveller, I laugh at archaeologists." I bet he wouldn't say that to Bernice Summerfield.

[@stukay2803]

I can't say anything cos ... spoilers, but this is one of the great moments where Doctor Who continuity shines.

[@dylanburton4955]

This two parter is one of my faves, such a solid two episodes and still such a joy to watch

[@AmazingChi]

Gas Masks, Monsters under the Bed, Statues and now Shadows, welcome to part 4 of Steven Moffat's lovely "Have a New Fear" series.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

Yes, River made it perfectly clear that the Doctor is the youngest that she's ever seen him. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's the first time he sees her. She was hoping there were other times in the Doctor's past that she didn't know about yet.

[@j.diamond6014]

maybe, because it's christmas or i'm feeling slightly ill - but these reactions have been making me tear up.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Christmas and feeling ill too I’m teary. Achoo 🤧

[@petermoody6147]

If it has not yet been mentioned, in the 'Classic' series there was a story titled Terror of the Autons which was the introduction to the Nestene Consciousness. At the time, in the UK there was a 'National Viewer's and Listeners Association' which was formed to 'uphold standards in the Media'. It's chairperson was a Mary Whitehouse who on a few occassions felt compelled to criticise and even litigate against the series because of its violence and frightening scenes. I remember some 'innocent' items, such as plastic daffodils and childrens plastic baby dolls being imbued with 'murderous intent'.

[@Rick-Rarick]

At the time, I was not into this episode... looking back it is amazing! No SPOILERS everyone!

[@nathandts3401]

She has finished the season you're good to talk about a few episodes in advance.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Love this double episode.

[@thepandorica1660]

​@@nathandts3401that's true, but there might be people watching the show for the first along with her reactions

[@nathandts3401]

@@thepandorica1660 Fair point, but I'm pretty sure most people watch reaction channels to see how others react to stuff that the viewer already likes. Not that I am going to spoil anything explicitly.

[@undeadjams]

the actress who played miss evangelista was married to elon musk, twice. take from that what you will. she's now very happy with Thomas Brodie-Sangster (wee blonde boy in Human nature/family of blood. also love actually, game of thrones, maze runner, nanny mcphee, etc)

[@gerstelb]

Don’t forget she was also in St. Trinian’s and Pride and Prejudice even before she was in this.

[@j9lorna]

​@gerstelb St Trinians is prob where Musk got the hots for her! Also, the Syren nurse from the pirate ship during 11's run was in St Trinians too. Coming in at about 6 foot 3!

[@gerstelb]

@ SPOILERS!

[@justinclloyd]

She also had a bit part in Thor: The Dark World. But Musk?! TWICE?!

[@JoshSweetvale]

_Really?_ Ha!

[@Masq1980]

This is one of my absolute favorite two-parters. I love the character of River Song!

[@hades4134]

RIVER

[@miller-joel]

River is in the building. Must be a leak or something. Hope it doesn't turn into a pond or something.

[@hades4134]

@miller-joel I could sing quite the Melody about that.

[@miller-joel]

@@hades4134 A song full of spoilers.

[@hades4134]

@@miller-joel Like some sort of singing tower

[@fayesouthall6604]

Love her

[@spencernaugle]

I'm not even a Doctor Who fan, and even I know this is the beginning of something amazing.

[@rebeccalambert3240]

Was looking for a reaction to this episode since I started watching a season of Doctor Who I haven't seen last night and here was yours, super recently! Loved your reaction and super excited to see more

[@ihateunicorns867]

This episode marks the starts of a run absolute stellar episodes.

[@JustB3NJI]

This is that rarest of two parters for any show....part 2 outshines the first and not a second is wasted in either.

[@LondonCelt]

This 2 parter is Steven Moffat at his best👏🏻

[@Billygrundmeyer]

So glad you finally reached this. The River Song arc is my favorite part of new Who.

[@Ljrobison]

You are getting so close to what I would consider the golden age of Doctor Who. I have been loving these reactions.

[@Benussy]

I remember being a kid in school walking about going "donna noble has left the library, donna noble has been saved"

[@chrisbamber2762]

Interesting you mentioned weeping angels in the original script they were going to be introduced in this episode until plans were changed and they were moved to blink

[@freeportkid]

Oh, this is such a great start to a long, running set of episodes

[@rikmoran3963]

Just realised that the person playing the first Node, the one that says "Count the shadows", is the same actress that played the therapist (Dr. Sharon Fieldstone) in Ted Lasso. First time i have ever noticed it!

[@AmazingChi]

The other is Josh Dallas who went onto Once Upon a Time, Thor and Manifest.

[@JoshSweetvale]

"What's CAL?" And the rich owner guy's head snaps to the Doctor.

[@TheLukecottle]

So the library (the main area where all the books fly off the shelves) was a real library. I grew up going here every weekend to get a new book for the week. It was gorgeous. Sad that they closed it down to move the library. But it's now an art school so that's awesome :3 💛

[@nathandts3401]

@@TheLukecottle I maintain that libraries are the most underappreciated public service in the country. The internet dilutes its utility a little bit, but having a place in every local authority that has knowledge and entertainment available to working class children and adults is how we better ourselves. Just gotta encourage people to use them.

[@biguy617]

I love River Song. She is such a great character. One of my favorite modern companions. River’s catch phrase is “spoilers.”

[@SarahH-ns6ly]

Steven Moffat does it again! Making everyone afraid of shadows and the phrase “ Hey! Who turned out the lights?” Also introducing one of the best and most fun characters in DW. Looking forward to the second part. Oh, and Merry Christmas!

[@mickledapickle97]

THIS TWO PARTER IS THE ONE THAT GOT ME INTO WATCHING DOCTOR WHO IN THE FIRST PLACE! I LOVE IT SO MUCH! THE MYSTERY! THE SCI-FI! RIVER SONG! IT'S AWESOME

[@pendragon2012]

Ooh, very cool, Emme! Hope you're having a great Christmas Eve so far!

[@Jamienomore]

What scares you in the Dark is your Imagination. Emma, have a Great Christmas and an even Better New Year.🎄🎅

[@Jimmy_Jones]

My sister is still traumatised from "Hey! Who turned out the lights?". Along with a specific public toilet look (appears later on in the show).

[@kemmdog4444]

“Spoilers.”🤣🤣🤣

[@dcaslick]

Steven Moffat who wrote this 2 parter had been named Russell T. Davies successor as showrunner for Doctor Who shortly before this came out. It had been in the works for a while before that though, so River Song and her connection to the Doctor seemed like it may have been a hint of things to come. Was it? You’ll find out eventually.🤷🏻‍♂️

[@King_Zangetsu12820]

No , it has mentioned before. It can't do wood

[@tdog790]

and thus begins the start of the greatest dr who arc that will last a couple of seasons

[@jennifermorris6848]

Oh and always mention the music. . . Murray Gold creates such tension . . . Wonder . . . He’s genius.

[@Jim_The_Fish]

Moffat gave us some of the BEST things. River, Weeping Angels, 11 & 12…

[@granadosvm]

River Song is my favorite side character of all New Who. I'm happy to see she is already here as part of your Doctor Who journey.

[@biguy617]

Sarah Jane has her own Sonic device, Sonic Lipstick

[@greenpeasuit]

"It would be nice to have a kid around for an adventure"? How quickly she forgot "Are you my mommy?"!

[@kinokind293]

True. Another very scary two-parter. But with fewer fatalities.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

Welcome to the Riverlands.

[@Victthequick]

idk if you play and videogames, but in one of fallout new vegas dlc, there is a easter egg to the "hey who turned out the lights" with skeletons being controlled by suits can apear and say that phrase

[@ninjahaz0180]

I don't remember a lot of doctor who I watched with my family, but this is definitely one of them.

[@hallyhop]

I watched these as a teenager and when I saw this episode for the first time I was in my room at night with the lights off 🤣😭 Still one of my favorite stories in the show

[@kryptoniandavid]

Hey who turned out the lights.

[@quintuscrinis]

The similarity to blink in this episode comes from the fact that it is he same writer and era of the show - arguably the best combination of all new Who so far. 😅

[@tatewakinew]

Fun fact about Ms. Evangelista becoming smart (since you've already done S4e9) outside the show: her actress was studying for natural science degree around the same time. Then stopped due to marrying and moving to US with husband... Elon Musk. And after divorcing him later (twice actually) went for degree again. Takes a smart girl to play a stupid one. About Vashta Nerada sounding scary - not sure whether the writer heard the phrase and liked it, or it's just a coincidence - it's very close to Bulgarian words ("вашта нерада" in Cyrillic writing) approximately meaning "not happy for you".

[@qa1327]

7:37 oh, it’s only the best character in the series… 8:55 sure will 20:49 I like how creeped out you got here lol 21:19 the two episode arc is amazing and is definitely a favorite I’m so excited you are finally here. River is my absolute favorite character in the series. Can’t wait to see more.

[@mitchkelshaw2631]

I watched this show as a Kid by being terrified of the dark for a year after these episodes 😂😂

[@apatternedhorizon]

Here we go. Now it really gets good.

[@jonbolton3376]

This is one of several in the second half of Season 4 i've looked forward to seeing you react to.

[@donaldb1]

Weeping Angel vibes? Same writer.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Emme! ⏳ I love that you're finally meeting 'River Song'.

[@kenmercer8112]

love these episodes! not every shadow, but any shadow.

[@hi00118]

Donna Noble had left the library. Donna Noble has been saved.

[@alycat2804]

I come for the reactions but stay for the cute makeup and hairstyles!

[@kerraii2008]

One of the Iconic Episodes, this and part 2

[@DaveF.]

Like all of Steven Moffat's stories from the first four years of DW, it's another masterpiece. Glad you loved it.

[@childoftheonetruekingorand3503]

This is my favorite two episodes and I've been enjoying your reactions to Doctor who and I can't you get to the finale

[@thomashobbes8786]

OMG this episode is sooo much better after knowing the full arc. (Sorry, that full arc is going to take a LONG time to get through.) Tears.

[@peteprime]

I didn't see it as a kid but it still freaked me.

[@TheMarcHicks]

So, not content with making us scared of Statues, now he goes and makes us all scared of shadows too.

[@HayleyClaire]

“Oh my god , is she spoiling us?” Girllllllll lemme tell you

[@lukektt3797]

Now begins the best stretch of DW stories from here until S6 E2. What a ride.

[@beatricemcgarvey1198]

This is my favourite two parter of the whole show 🤩

[@jarettrivera1369]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@shrekisheck2856]

as someone who watched doctor who as a kid i had alot of fears XD

[@MikeWood]

No spoilers...But this episode is one of The Best Tennant era Doctor Who episodes for lots of reasons. Also, Talulah Riley, the woman who played Miss Evangelista, was married for a couple of years to ...Musk. And just this year she married actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster who played schoolboy Tim Latimer in the The Family of Blood that you watched a couple of months ago.

[@PaulH7791]

I'll gladly watch this on Xmas eve! Fantastic Who!

[@fayesouthall6604]

Lovely ! Merry Christmas to you all

[@LangGuessr]

"If Donna's journey ends..."

[@EmanueleCorsi]

So welcome to one of the best 2-episodes story in the Whoniverse. And welcome to River Song's timeline 😍

[@koletoday]

Finally! The lady I’ve been waiting for. River is absolutely wonderful

[@StephenDavies-d6o]

Merry Christmas emme

[@elijahgemmill2000]

I watched this season when I was 8 and it was a little scary but wait til you get to The Waters of Mars. That was one of the most horrifying episodes I've ever seen.