A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)

A Good Man Goes to War was the seventh episode in the sixth series of Doctor Who and the last episode of the spring half of the series. Narratively, it was significant for revealing the identity of River Song, naming her as Melody Pond, the daughter of Amy and Rory. Additionally it saw the reappearances of several of the Doctor's allies and enemies.

Synopsis
Amy Pond has been kidnapped and the Doctor is raising an army to rescue her as the drama continues. But as he and Rory race across galaxies, calling in long-held debts and solemnly given promises, his enemies are laying a carefully concealed trap. In her cell in Stormcage, River Song sadly acknowledges that the time has come at last – today will mark the Battle of Demons Run and the Doctor’s darkest hour. Both sides will make their sacrifices and River Song must finally reveal her most closely guarded secret to the Doctor.

Plot
The episode starts with a group of Cybermen and their leader raising weapons at a door which Rory wearing his centurion armour emerges. He states that the Doctor has a message but first Rory asks the Cybermen where is his wife. When the Cyberleader asks for the message the response is that all but one Cyberships are blown up by an unseen force.

TBC

Cast

 * Eleventh Doctor - Matt Smith
 * Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
 * Rory Williams - Arthur Darvill
 * River Song - Alex Kingston
 * Eye Patch Lady - Frances Barber
 * Dorium - Simon Fisher Becker
 * Henry Avery - Hugh Bonneville
 * Toby Avery - Oscar Lloyd
 * Colonel Manton - Danny Sapani
 * Madame Vastra - Neve McIntosh
 * Jenny - Catrin Stewart
 * Strax - Dan Starkey
 * Lorna Bucket - Christina Chong
 * Thin Man - Dan Johnston
 * Fat Man - Charlie Baker

Crew
to be added

Story notes

 * This episode was originally entitled Demon's Run was changed to A Good Man Goes to War, although His Darkest Hour had also been considered as a potential title.

Ratings
to be added

Myths

 * Karen Gillan is leaving the series and Amy Pond will be killed off at the climax to the spring half of the series. This was proven false.
 * River Song will die. This was proven false.
 * We will learn of the identity of River Song. True, she was revealed to be the daughter of Amy Pond and Rory Williams.
 * River Song has been recently rumored to be Amy's daughter as well as the Doctor's wife.  True she was revealed to be her daughter, but it is still unknown about her martial status.
 * We will find out who River Song killed. Steven Moffat has said "a good man will die – a good man, and a hero to many." This was proven false.
 * The Cybermen will be newly designed Cybermen. This was proven false. However it could be said that these are redesigned Mondasian Cybermen as they did not have any Cybus logos.
 * The Cybermen will be planning to trap and capture the Doctor, before freezing him. This was proven false.
 * The character named Jenny will be the Doctor's Daughter in her second incarnation. This is unknown, but unlikely.

Filming locations
to be added

Production errors
to be added

Continuity

 * Rory's Centurion armour and warrior skills, as well as his age, were first shown in "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang". The Doctor gives a brief history of Rory's time in the TARDIS to Vastra.


 * Cybermen, Silurians, Judoon and Sontarans returned in this story.
 * The Cybermen, while resembling their Cybus incarnations, may be the Mondas versions (having vast legions in outer space).
 * Henry Avery (with Toby) and Dorium both return in this story.
 * The Church make their second appearance after "Flesh and Stone"/"The Time of Angels". Although the ranking system used seemed to be different as Manton was referred to as Colonel instead of a religious rank such as Bishop.
 * A fake version of Amy and Rory's child turns out to be Flesh. (The Rebel Flesh, The Almost People)
 * River's words to the Doctor at the end are reminiscent of Davros' speech about the Doctor "taking ordinary people and fashioning them into killers." (Journey's End)

Home video releases
Part One, which will contain episodes one to seven will be released in Summer, shortly after the airing of episode seven.