Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead [TV/2008.5.31 ~ 6.7]

★★★★★

  Beautiful, terrifying, electrifying... and absolutely pivotal to Doctor Who as a whole. Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead is a two-parter that defines an entire era, bridges the gap between the classic series and the new, and — most importantly — fills the mind with terror and wonder in equal measure every single time. 

  Blimey, where do I start with this monster? This really is one of the few TV adventures that registers as flawless on every single viewing; from the gripping direction from Euros Lyn to the fantastic concepts (the Vashta Nerada vying to have their forest back, a Library with a Doctor-Moon overlooking the safety and sanity of a young girl... a girl who tries to save everyone) on display, there's no aspect that isn't cranked up to eleven. Series 4 in general is a landmark in the TV timeline of Doctor Who, but the latter half has an energy all to its own; if The Unicorn and the Wasp left viewers elated and hungry for more, this two-parter provided them with everything they wanted, everything they didn't know they wanted and more besides. David Tennant and Catherine Tate are literally on fire; this and Midnight would test Tennant's acting abilities to the limit, and he masterfully rises to the challenge. The Doctor is a force to be reckoned with, a being written about in countless history books, and a character that never lets the audience go from his gripping presence. Donna Noble is hilarious, compassionate, and is brave even in the most traumatic of situations. It says something about the sheer strength of this duo when they're this strongly written and performed even when they're separated for most of the second half.

  Talking about this two-parter wouldn't be complete without going on a tangent about River Song, one of Steven Moffat's boldest moves during his time on Doctor Who. As a concept, she's immediately exciting and leaves the audience wanting an explanation. As a realised character on screen, she leaves the audience simply wanting more of her. Alex Kingston is so good at selling the 'I know you intimately, but you don't know me yet' aspect of her character that anyone unfamiliar with the show would believe you if you told them that this was shot after The Husbands of River Song. That moment when River whispers the Doctor's name to his ear — to a man already bolstered by a whirlwind of adrenaline and emotional turmoil — and he falls deadly silent... it proves to be such a powerful one, especially after having watched Moffat's development of the meaning of his name.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ  

  So many more talented people have written better (analytical) reviews about Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead; so much so, in fact, that I really don't mind writing this as emotionally driven as I am willing to. This is a brilliant two-hour slice of Doctor Who, as close to perfection as anything could be. Merging the style of the old and the new, while crafting the beginning of a crucial character to the mythos by starting from her demise. Steven Moffat proves yet again that when the conditions are just right, he is capable of becoming the best writer for Doctor Who.