The Vampires of Venice (TV story)

The Vampires of Venice was the sixth episode of Series 5. It was narratively tied to the final scene of Flesh and Stone, greatly furthered the Doctor-Rory-Amy romantic triangle subplot, and ended with Rory apparently joining the Doctor in his travels.

Synopsis
Dessicated corpses, terror in the canal and a visit to the sinister House of Calvierri – the Doctor takes Amy and Rory for a romantic mini-break, as the TARDIS touches down once again.

But 16th-century Venice is not as it should be. The city has been sealed to protect it from the Plague, although Rosanna Calvierri may have other plans...

Cast

 * The Doctor - Matt Smith
 * Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
 * Rory Williams - Arthur Darvill
 * Rosanna Calvierri - Helen McCrory
 * Francesco - Alex Price
 * Isabella - Alisha Bailey
 * Steward - Simon Gregor
 * Guido - Lucian Msamati
 * Inspector - Michael Percival
 * Vampire - Gabriela Montarez
 * Vampire - Elizabeth Croft
 * Vampire - Gabriella Wylde
 * Vampire - Sonila Vieshta
 * Vampire - Hannah Steele

The Doctor

 * The Doctor shows his Library Card to the Vampires. It has a picture of his first incarnation on it. The name on it appears to be "Dr. J. Smith."
 * Amy describes her time with the Doctor as involving "lots of running."
 * The Doctor gives Amy a boiled sweet.

Individuals

 * The Doctor compares the Vampires to Harry Houdini.
 * When Rory asks why the Psychic paper says he is Amy's eunuch, she says "I'll explain later".

Races and species

 * The relationship between Calvierri and her son and their plan to convert people to become their species is similar to that of the Family of Blood who shared a close bond and took over individuals to go unnoticed.
 * When Calvierri commits suicide she asks The Doctor if he can carry another dead race on his conscience, and to remember her, much like Davros did when he died.

Technology

 * Rosanna Calvierri uses a Perception filter. The perception filter is shown to have a self preservation loophole, making the teeth visible when the brain detects a threat.

Story Notes

 * A 90-second clip from this episode was aired during Matt Smith's appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 26 March 2010.
 * The Vampires are not real vampires, but are of alien origin. They are fish-like alien creatures using Perception Filters to hide themselves to other people.
 * There was some initial confusion over the title of this story, with some media sources (as well as Matt Smith in a TV interview ) using the title Vampires in Venice.
 * In the Series 5 preview, one of the vampires leap for Rory, without any change. In the actual episode, he changes to his alien form. Differences like this have happened many times from trailer to episode.
 * The name of the species, Saturnynians, isn't spoken in the episode, though the planet Saturnyne is mentioned twice.
 * The Saturnynian are hiding from the Cracks and the Silence.
 * The Doctor mentions meeting Casanova. David Tennant had previously played Casanova in a television series written by Russell T Davies.
 * This is the first Doctor Who episode that, instead of having the last scene cut to the closing titles, the closing titles 'merge' with the scene. In this case, the camera zooms into the TARDIS keyhole, and through it, the Time Vortex is visible.
 * This episode is notable for being filmed in Croatia, and is therefore the first episode of a Doctor Who universe show to be filmed in a formerly Communist country.
 * The Vampires of Venice contains similarities to School Reunion, also written by Toby Whithouse:
 * Pre-titles sequence involves scene of a young girl being attacked by an alien, followed by a scene in which the Doctor appears during a mundane activity and says something rather ordinary.
 * The companion's boyfriend joins in for the adventure and becomes part of the TARDIS crew for the following episodes.
 * Both episodes feature scenes where two of the main characters discuss the Doctor's effect on relationships.
 * The leader of the alien race in both episodes proposes an alliance with the Doctor.
 * A minor character disposes of most of the aliens by causing an explosion.
 * The alien's plan is thwarted by a simple flick of a switch.

Ratings
6.2 million

Filming Locations

 * Croatia was used as the primary location for the setting of this episode. It is the third episode of the revival series after DW: The Fires of Pompeii and Planet of the Dead to include major filming outside the UK.
 * Some filming took place in Caephilly Castle.
 * Scenes featuring The Doctor, Amy and Rory were filmed at Llancaiach Fawr.

Continuity

 * The Doctor tells Rory that Amy kissed him. (DW: Flesh and Stone)
 * Instead of his Psychic paper, the Doctor shows his library card, which includes a photo of his first incarnation.
 * The First Doctor's library card can read out 76 TOTTERS LANE, first seen in DW: An Unearthly Child
 * The library card lists his name as "Dr. J. Smith," presumably standing for "Dr. John Smith," a frequent alias of the Doctor's.
 * The Fourth Doctor previously encountered vampires of a different kind in DW: State of Decay
 * The Seventh Doctor encountered a kind of vampire known as "Haemovores", which also happened to reside in water, in DW: The Curse of Fenric.
 * The Eighth Doctor had previously visited 23rd Century Venice in BFA: The Stones of Venice.
 * The Doctor mentions how a life of time travel can make it difficult to readjust to a normal existence. Sarah Jane Smith told him much the same thing in DW: School Reunion.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases
BBC Video - Doctor Who Series Five - Volume Two will feature The Time of Angels, Flesh and Stone and The Vampires of Venice. It will be released on Monday 5th July 2010 (UK Only) on DVD and Blu-ray.