A Good Man Goes to War (Series 6, Episode 7)

Series 6, Episode 7 | 1 part | First broadcast: 4 June 2011 | Writer: Steven Moffat | Director: Peter Hoar

Cast

  • Matt Smith as the Doctor
  • Karen Gillan as Amy Pond
  • Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams
  • Alex Kingston as River Song

Summary

Calling in every favour and ally he has ever made across time and space, the Doctor assembles an army to storm the secret asteroid base Demons Run and rescue Amy, who has been held captive and forced to give birth to her and Rory’s daughter as part of a shadowy religious conspiracy. Victory proves hollow, however, as the Doctor learns the child has already been taken, and discovers to his horror exactly who she is destined to become.

Interesting Facts

  • This mid-season finale reveals that River Song is in fact Melody Pond, the daughter of Amy and Rory, raised to become a weapon aimed at the Doctor.
  • The episode introduces Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, and Strax, a trio of supporting characters who would recur frequently in future seasons.
  • The title, spoken as a warning that “a good man goes to war,” reflects a recurring meditation on the Doctor’s darker capacity for violence.
  • The cliffhanger reveal of River’s true identity recontextualises every prior appearance of the character across the series.

References

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