Silence in the Library

"If you want to live, count the shadows."

Writer: Steven Moffat\

Format: TV

Broadcast: 31 May 2008

Series: 4.08

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna, River 

Synopsis 

The Doctor takes Donna to a planet-sized library in the fifty-first century. They find it empty of human life, with countless other living beings. An information kiosk warns them to "count the shadows". An archaeologist expedition arrives, led by the mysterious Professor River Song, who brings a cryptic last message...

Verdict

Silence in the Library was an excellent episode to continue our way through the fourth series of Doctor Who! We are really getting into the nitty gritty of the series now as things begin to take shape leading to the finale, there is an ominous warning for Donna as River Song debuts in incredible fashion. It is so fun now watching this adventure for the first time in a very long time knowing all we do about River's journey with the Doctor. River's arrival is brilliant and right from the off she seems so important and owns the stage. The relationship with the Doctor even at this point is sublime and her reaction when she realises that the Doctor isn't joking about not knowing who she is. Obviously, we come to know the significance of that and what it means for her as the journey continues in the Moffat era, but right here the seeds are sewn so well. It really is extraordinary how well River's story is told over the course of a number of series. The episode in of itself is excellent and it really is Moffat at his best with the concept of the Vashta Nerada. They will be more prominent in the next episode, but the way they are slowly built to here is fantastic stuff. The Doctor has clearly met them before, albeit in smaller clusters, and it is nice that Big Finish have filled in some of those gaps, but they are introduced so well here. Taking shadows and making them deeply scary was sublime and I loved that the Doctor was differentiating between not every shadow, but any shadow. That was really important and just exciting. The Vashta Nerada were beastly in their devouring and the double shadows was a brilliant visual. The Doctor was outstanding in trying to solve the threat and keep the expedition safe, although I did think his comments about archaeologists were a little harsh! Donna was in extraordinary form here with her reaction to the Doctor's sonic screwdriver being hilarious, but the moment where she asked River how she knew the Doctor and her emotional tale was met with a brash reply was simply wonderful. An extraordinarily good moment! The mystery of Cal and Dr Moon was really good too and the way it tied in with the Library was very intriguing. It was a fun twist and the moment where the Doctor and the expedition team are on the phone staring through the television is rather disturbing! Dr Moon telling Cal that her nightmares were actually real and the real world was not as it was worked tremendously well! I thought the death of Miss Evangelista was horrifying and the struggle of Donna to help her through her final moments was very powerful. Proper Dave's death and consumption was also horrifying and really made the Vashta Nerada a threat. The cliffhanger is excellent with the chasing down by the Vashta Nerada that had taken over Dave, but the fate of Donna really makes it as the Doctor realises she never made it to the TARDIS. Cal states she had been saved, but it looks all gloomy! Overall, a quite brilliant episode! 

Rating: 10/10