The Girl Who Died (TV story)

 was the fifth episode of the ninth series of Doctor Who produced by BBC Wales.

The story is notable because it reveals the reason as to why the Twelfth Doctor regenerated with the same appearance as Lobus Caecilius; to remind himself to, no matter how impossible it seemed, always save someone, as he had saved Caecilius in his tenth incarnation.

It also revisited the idea of something alien taking over a pre-historic era by impersonating an important figure. The concept was last seen in Robot of Sherwood.

Synopsis
The Doctor and Clara are forced to help protect a Viking village from the Mire, one of the deadliest warrior races in the galaxy. Are they fated to suffer death due to being outnumbered? So what is it about a simple Viking girl that interests the Time Lord?

Plot
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Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
 * Clara - Jenna Coleman
 * Ashildr - Maisie Williams
 * Odin - David Schofield
 * Nollarr - Simon Lipkin
 * Chuckles - Ian Conningham
 * Lofty - Tom Stourton
 * Limpy - Alastair Parker
 * Hasten - Murray McArthur
 * Heidi - Barnaby Kay

Popular Culture

 * The Doctor gives a bearded Viking the nickname of "ZZ Top", referencing the rock band of the same name.
 * Clara mentions adding the "Benny Hill theme" (Yakety Sax) when thinking of a way to make the footage of the Mire cowering before a puppet even more humiliating.

Story notes

 * This story features the use of footage from TV: The Fires of Pompeii and Deep Breath when the Twelfth Doctor discovers the origin of his face.

Ratings
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Filming locations
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Continuity

 * A Viking snaps the Doctor's sonic sunglasses in half, almost destroying them. (TV: The Magician's Apprentice et al)
 * Ashildr at the end of episode is, according to the Doctor, no longer able to die. This makes her situation just like Captain Jack Harkness. (TV: Everything Changes, Utopia, et al)
 * The Doctor uses his third incarnation's catchphrase, "Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow".
 * The Doctor realises he has Caecilius's face, and that it is there to remind him that he can "save people" just like he saved Caecilius and his family. (TV: ''The Fires of Pompeii)
 * The Doctor speaks Baby. (TV: Closing Time)
 * The Sixth Doctor had previously wanted to save someone because he grew to like her, though on that occasion Evelyn Smythe stopped him from changing history to do it. (AUDIO: Arrangements for War)
 * The Seventh Doctor also referred to Clarke's Law. (TV: Battlefield)
 * Upon thinking about how Ashildr's situation will play out now that she is functionally immortal, the Doctor says, "Time will tell. It always does." His seventh incarnation said this to Ace when she asked hesitantly if they did good after the tragic Shoreditch Incident. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)

DVD releases
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Blu-ray releases
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