When you write for a fanbase as dedicated and diverse as Doctor Who, you're going to get a lot of criticism. That's doubly so for showrunner Steven Moffat, who took over the reins of the show in 2010 after Russell T. Davies departed. Moffat's run of the show has been frenzied, fun, and absolutely bonkers, and his writing for the new Doctor (Matt Smith) in my opinion beats Davies' writing for David Tennant. But, as with every show, not everyone thinks the same way I do. In fact, some think much, much differently.
With the newest episode of the series, "A Good Man Goes to War," Moffat dropped the bombshell of River Song's true identity, a question he'd been setting up since 2008 when River (Alex Kingston) first appeared in the episode "Silence in the Library." Fans were divided over Moffat's reveal. Some loved it, some really, deeply despised it. Some even sent Moffat threats.
"Only one death threat, two demands for my immediate resignation, and two for my suicide," Moffat (pictured right with Matt Smith and Alex Kingston) posted on Twitter. "IT'S A HIT!!"
That number does seem pretty low by Doctor Who standards, and I've heard a lot less grumbling about this reveal than I have about other reveals on the show -- though admittedly, this could be because the episode hasn't aired in the United States yet. But, since British fans are the most dedicated and vehement members of the fanbase, the five threats that Moffat listed below, however tongue-in-cheek, is a good sign that the River Song twist has been accepted by the fan community.
Doctor Who will return to the UK in the fall with the episode "Let's Kill Hitler," while "A Good Man Goes to War," will air on BBC America next Saturday.
I suspect he was being ironic
As do I. But I think that he's made a very valid point about how the episode's been accepted.
So far I have enjoyed this half season much more than series 5. I feel 50/50 that about identity of River Song is. I would have liked if she was the daughter of a bad Time Lord like the Master. My favourite episode was the Doctor's Wife. My least favourite was Day of the Moon. There were too many unanswered questions in this episode, I suppose we will out more in the second half of the season.
i really liked that river is the baby (the overlapping timeline sees so natural since they are booth time travelers
but now it seems to me that there's a flaw in the story line
becouse they said the baby was a time lord (or had the same type of dna, and we've seen the little irm (from whom i presume it also is river) regenerate but river died in the library without reganerating..
or am i missing something?
also im wondring why on earth would anyone want to have the man that writes all thoose lovely docter who stories dead?
i think he's doing a wonderfull job :)
Here's what you're missing: River connects the wires to stop the Doctor from doing it because it would destroy both of his hearts, and keep him from regenerating.
@Dorea. I think the reason river knocked the dr out and put herself in his place in the library ep was because it was said he wudnt survive it. Thats why she wudnt hav regenerated either. Hence being her last episode/1st episode. Or watever :) hope that helps. And yh i agree why wud anyone wanna stop moffat?? He is responsible for almost all my fav eps in the Davies series and the new stuff too! (obviously)
Ha beaten to it! Better explanation too… :L touché
Yeah, the dear Doctor couldn't survive the shock of library computer. Thus River saved so he could save her late or is it early? 8-) But since River is part time lord, neither could she. I want to know , if at the Big Bang episode the Doctor was gone, how come River was there? One thing we all should remember before bitching about this story line. Like the middle of a novel it's not finish. We should wait and enjoy the ride, discussion and guess the outcome.
I liked the finale, and the reveal. It was very dark. I still think river song has an evil streak in her, and the reason I say that is because they said they stole her to use her as a weapon against the doctor. I think over time that we will find out that River Song is actually the Rani, or will become the Rani in the future.
Moffat doesn't like using other people ideas. Lots of people wish it to be Rani. That is wrong, River is who she believes she is.
I'd have to disagree that, on the whole, British viewers of Doctor Who are the more vehement. It's rather mainstream over there, so the vocal minority is more of an actual minority. Over here, the show's got little more than a cult following, and in terms of enthusiasm, cults tend to win out over the more mainstream. Given that the USA Who fan base is almost entirely cultish, and cult followings have a history of surpassing the mainstream in enthusiasm/vehemence, it can be said that the USA fanbase is more vehement, purely as a function of fractions.
Moffat is wrting for himself and to hell with everyone else. Children are not understanding some of these plt twists and turns.