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{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
 
{{Infobox NewTV
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{{Infobox Story
|image = [[File:Walk like you can see.png|250px]]
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|image = Walk like you can see.jpg
 
|series = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|story name = Flesh and Stone
 
 
|season number = Series 5 (Doctor Who)
|series = ''[[Doctor Who]]'' - [[List of Doctor Who television stories|Television stories]]
 
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|series episode number = 5
|number = [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|Series 5]]
 
 
|story number = 206b
 
|story number = 206b
 
|novelisation = The Time of Angels (novelisation)
|doctor = [[Eleventh Doctor]]
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|doctor = Eleventh Doctor
|companions = <ul><li>[[Amy Pond]] </li><li>[[River Song]] (guest)
 
|enemy = [[Weeping Angel]]s<br />[[Time Field]]
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|companions = [[Amy Pond|Amy]], [[River Song|River]]
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|enemy = [[Time Field]], [[Weeping Angel]]s
|setting = <ul><li>[[Alfava Metraxis]], [[51st century]] </li><li>[[Leadworth]], [[England]], [[25 June|25]]-[[26 June]] [[2010]]
 
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|setting = The ''[[Byzantium (ship)|Byzantium]]'', [[Alfava Metraxis]], [[51st century]]
 
|writer = [[Steven Moffat]]
 
|writer = [[Steven Moffat]]
 
|director = [[Adam Smith (director)|Adam Smith]]
 
|director = [[Adam Smith (director)|Adam Smith]]
 
|producer = [[Tracie Simpson]]
 
|producer = [[Tracie Simpson]]
|confidential=[[Blinded by the Light]]
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|confidential = Blinded by the Light (CON episode)
|broadcast date = [[1 May]] [[2010]]
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|broadcast date = [[1 May (releases)|1 May]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]
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|network = [[BBC One]]
|format = 1x 45 minute episode
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|format = 1x45 minute episode
|production code = 5.5
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|production code = 1.5
|previous story = [[The Time of Angels]]
 
|next story = [[The Vampires of Venice]]
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|prev = The Time of Angels (TV story)
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|next = The Vampires of Venice (TV story)
}}'''''Flesh and Stone''''' was the fifth episode of [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|the fifth series]] of [[BBC Wales]] ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the second part of a two-part story that began with ''[[The Time of Angels]]''.
 
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|made prev = The Time of Angels (TV story)
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|made next = The Beast Below (TV story)
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|clip = {{uc:Doctor Who clip}} 15
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|clip2 = Narrow escape - Doctor Who - BBC
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|clip3 = The gravity of the situation - Doctor Who - Flesh and Stone - Series 5 - BBC
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}}
 
'''''Flesh and Stone''''' was the fifth episode of [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|series 5]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
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It was the second of a two-part story that began with ''[[The Time of Angels]]''. It showed the Weeping Angels moving for the first time; when moving slowly, they give off a stone-scraping sound. It also showed the Angels' cruelty and sadism in a new light; though the Angels wish only to feast on the ''Byzantium''<nowiki/>'s power, they continuously go after the survivors fleeing them for no other reason than to kill.
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It also continued the theme of suggesting that the Eleventh Doctor is [[Crazy|mad]], which he has either claimed to be or has been called a madman.
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This story revealed more about the cracks, such as why Amy cannot remember the Daleks' attacks on Earth during ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'' or ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''. The [[Pandorica]] is mentioned again, this time by River Song, hinting it may be a serious event in [[the Doctor]]'s future. The story also contained a moment where the Doctor appeared out of place from the conflict around him and seemed more engrossed in a [[The Big Bang (TV story)|bigger crisis]] yet to ensue.
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== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
There's no way back, no way up and no way out. Trapped among an army of [[Weeping Angel]]s, The Doctor and his friends must try to escape through the wreckage of a crashed space liner. Meanwhile, in the forest vault Amy finds herself facing an even more deadly attack.
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There's no way back, no way up and no way out. Trapped by an army of [[Weeping Angel]]s and an ever-growing [[Time Field|mysterious crack]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and his friends try to escape through the wreckage of [[Byzantium (ship)|a crashed space liner]]. Meanwhile, surrounded by Angels, [[Amy Pond|Amy]] faces an even more deadly attack, as she's forced to find her way through the forest vault, eyes closed.
   
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
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Quickly picking himself up, [[Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor]] tells everyone to look up, as he begins pacing around and pointing the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] at their footing. A confused Amy asks the Doctor what she is looking at. Exasperated at Amy's inability to grasp the obvious, the Doctor reminds her that the power is still on in the crashed ship, so what else is on? The artificial gravity!
[[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]], [[Amy Pond|Amy]], [[River Song|River]], [[Father Octavian]], and the Clerics have all jumped at the Doctor's signal. Caught in an updraft of the [[Byzantium]]'s gravity field, they land upside down on the ship's hull, looking down at the [[Weeping Angel]]s that are restoring beneath them. They enter the ship, but the Angels pursue. The Doctor prepares to open the door to the secondary flight deck, but gravely announces that he will have to drain the power in the ship's corridor -- including the lights -- to achieve this. Octavian and his men line up to fire on the approaching Angels while the Doctor tells Amy how many times to turn the wheel on the door after he has cut the power; though he says four, she responds with ten before correcting herself.
 
   
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The Doctor explains that shooting the [[gravity globe]] caused an updraft, allowing them to be caught in the ''[[Byzantium (ship)|Byzantium]]''{{'}}s [[gravity]] field once they jumped. They have landed upside down on the [[Spacecraft|ship]]'s hull; even if they jumped again, they would still be in the ship's gravity field. Octavian quickly notices that the [[Weeping Angel]]s are beginning to look more like themselves; within an hour they'll be an army, the Doctor notes. The Doctor opens the door, telling everyone to get in. Amy wonders how. The Doctor tells her its just a corridor; the gravity orientates to the floor. Everyone heads inside as the Angels pop the lights outside the entrance.
Once they are safely through, Octavian magnetizes the door to keep the Angels from following; though they are still able to turn the door wheel, it buys the group some time. The Doctor and River realize that, on a ship of this size, there must be an oxygen factory on board to supply the passengers with air. The Doctor activates a panel on the back wall, which opens to reveal a giant forest set inside the ship. Amy continues counting, but denies doing so afterwards.[[File:Revealing_the_forest.png|thumb|left|The Oxygen Factory is revealed.]]
 
   
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Right as the door shuts behind them, the Doctor notes the Angels arrived within the first few seconds after the door closed they are not [[quantum lock]]ed in the dark. Making matters worse is the way to the secondary flight deck is shutting, despite the Doctor's attempts to force it back. Worse, the lights are still flickering. As the Doctor works on the lights, four Angels break off the door and enter the corridor. In the nick of time, the Doctor prevents the Angels from draining the lighting grid's power. However, he gravely announces he will have to drain the power in the corridor to get the door open — including the lights. Amy points out that they lost the torches when they jumped; this will leave them in total darkness.
While the Doctor and River try to explain the counting to her, [[Angel Bob]] calls the Doctor to find out what they are planning. The Doctor initially taunts him, but gets serious when Bob informs him that there is something in Amy's eye; the Angels are making her count to scare her, but they will take her soon. Bob gloats about gaining enough power to maste time and space; the Doctor informs him that the Byzantium doesn't have that much power. Suddenly, a horrible screeching sound is heard from outside, with Bob explaining that the Angels are laughing at him because he hasn't noticed -- echoing [[Prisoner Zero]]'s words to the Doctor in [[Leadworth]]. The Doctor wonders what he has missed and turns around to see a giant [[Time Field|crack]] forming in the wall of the ship; it is the exact same shape as the one from Amy's bedroom wall. He orders the others to flee while he investigates it; when he turns to follow after a few minutes have passed, he finds himself surrounded by the Angels. He attempts to escape, but is caught by the collar of his jacket.
 
   
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Having lost good men to these monsters, Octavian asks River if she trusts the Doctor; she does. However, when asked if the Doctor is a [[Insanity|madman]], River repeats "I absolutely trust him." Seeing that the Doctor is the only one who can get them out of this time-bomb/death trap, Octavian and his men line up to fire on the Angels while the Doctor tells Amy to turn the wheel on the door four times after he has cut the power. She responds with ten, before correcting herself.
However, they do not kill him immediately. He spots a group of Angels facing the crack, their arms open and extended towards it; he tells them that the light coming out of the crack is pure time energy -- not power, but "the fire at the end of the universe." He wriggles out of his jacket and runs off into the forest.
 
   
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They quickly enter, with the Doctor shutting the door behind them. Octavian magnetizes the door to keep the Angels out, thinking even they cannot turn the wheel now; they start doing so, but slow enough that it buys everyone time to think. Now that Octavian gets that the Angels cannot be stopped by conventional means, the Doctor begins figuring out what their resources are; River joins him in contemplating what they can do. The Doctor and River realise there must be an [[oxygen]] factory on board to supply the passengers with air. The Doctor activates a panel on the back wall, which opens to reveal a cybernetic [[forest]] within the ship. Amy continues counting down but denies doing so.
[[File:Amy Angel Eye.PNG|thumb|right|A Weeping Angel invades Amy Pond's mind.]]Meanwhile, Amy has reached number two in her countdown and lies down, cradling her head. River produces a medical scanner to check her while Octavian complains that they are exposed to the enemy; River retorts that Octavian's only job is to keep the Doctor safe, and if he's dead back on the flight deck, she won't forgive herself, but if he's alive, she won't forgive him. Smiling, River realizes that the Doctor is standing right behind her; he rushes down to Amy and deduces that because she looked into the eyes of an Angel and the image of an Angel becomes an Angel, there is a living Angel in the vision center of her brain. After some internal debate, the Doctor orders Amy to close her eyes; if she opens them for more than a second, the Angel inside of her will escape and she will die. Because she is too weak to move, she is left in the forest with the remaining Clerics while the Doctor, River, and Octavian head to the primary flight deck.
 
   
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While the Doctor and River try to explain the counting to her, [[Angel Bob]] calls to find out their plans. The Doctor taunts him but grows serious when Bob tells him that they are in Amy's eye. The Angels are making her count to scare them and will take her soon. Bob gloats over gaining mastery over [[time]] and [[space]]. The Doctor informs him the ''Byzantium'' doesn't have that much power. A screeching noise is heard from outside; "Dear God! What is that!?" Bob explains, the best as it can, that the Angels are laughing because "[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|the Doctor in the TARDIS hasn't noticed]]".
The Angels, who have been staking out the clearing, depart as the [[Time Field]] begins to project itself across the forest. Cleric [[Marco (The Time of Angels)|Marco]], the group's unofficial leader, sends Clerics [[Crispin (The Time of Angels)|Crispin]] and [[Phillip (The Time of Angels)|Phillip]] to investigate the light. Amy begs to see its source, even though she will have to open her eyes; when she sees that it is the crack from her wall, she collapses and begs to know why it is following her. Marco orders Cleric [[Pedro]] to go to the light; Amy reminds him that he sent the other two, but he appears confused, insisting that there weren't any others. After some time, Marco himself decides to go and investigate, having forgotten Pedro as well. Amy begs him to stay; as a compromise, he leaves her with his communicator and agrees to speak to her through it. However, as he reaches the crack, his voice vanishes.
 
   
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[[File:Byzantium crack.jpg|thumb|left|The crack appears...]]
Octavian tells the Doctor that River is on leave from [[Stormcage Containment Facility]] and in his custody; through this mission, she hopes to earn her pardon. While River works on opening the door to the primary flight deck, the Doctor considers the anomalies he has recently noticed: namely, the duckless duck pond in Leadworth, Amy's inability to remember [[Dalek Invasion of Earth (2009)|the Dalek invasion of Earth]], and an [[The Next Doctor|incident with the CyberKing in Victorian London]]. The Doctor uses River's computer to work out that a temporal explosion will occur on 26 June 2010, and this is what will cause the cracks in time and space. River succeeds in opening the flight deck door and steps inside while Octavian waits in the forest with the Doctor; however, the lights go out, and when they turn back on, Octavian finds himself trapped in an Angel's stranglehold. Knowing that the Doctor cannot save him, Octavian informs him that River is in prison for murdering a man and that he shouldn't trust her; as the Doctor flees, Octavian's neck is snapped by the Angel. River tries to get the teleporter working as the Doctor explains the cracks. When she challenges the Doctor's ideas, he responds with growing rage and tells her that her work with the teleporter is useless.
 
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The Doctor wonders what he has missed and turns to see [[Time Field|a huge crack]] appear on the wall of the ship; the energy the crack is giving off makes the room shake. He orders the others to run while he looks at it. Though Amy is reluctant, River pulls her away, knowing the Doctor will catch up. A scan from the sonic tells the Doctor that the crack is "extremely very not good." When the Doctor turns to follow, he is surrounded by the Angels. He quickly scans the entire room, maneuvering over the equipment to block the Angels. However, right before he can enter the forest and lose them, an Angel catches the Doctor by his jacket.
   
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The Weeping Angels do not kill him immediately, confusing the Doctor. He turns around to see them facing the crack, arms raised. Wiggling to get free of the grip of the Angel holding him by his jacket, the Doctor tells them that the light coming out of the crack is pure [[time]] energy; it is not power, but "the fire at the [[End of the Universe|end of the universe]]." As the entire group looks at the crack, the Doctor runs off into the forest without his jacket, telling them, "Another thing, never let me talk"; he got out of his coat while they were distracted.
Amy sits alone in the forest, blind and possessing nothing but the communicator. The Doctor contacts her, apologizing for leaving her alone; he informs her that she must make her way to the flight deck, as the Angels can only kill her, but the crack can erase her from time. He sends software to the communicator which will guide her using the noises from his [[sonic screwdriver]]. Terrified, she slowly makes her way across the forest, but is soon surrounded by the army of Weeping Angels, who are all fleeing from the crack; because of their terror, they do not realize that she has her eyes closed, and their natural defense mechanisms kick in. However, Amy trips over a root on the ground, alerting the Angels to their blindness; they close in to kill her, but River manages to get the teleport work her and saves her by transporting her to the flight deck.
 
   
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Meanwhile, Amy has reached "four" in her countdown and lies down, cradling her head. River produces [[River Song's scanner|a scanner]] to check her while Octavian worries they are exposed. River retorts that Octavian's only job is to keep the Doctor safe. If he's dead, she won't forgive herself, but if he's alive, she won't forgive him. She realises he is standing right behind her. They wonder how he escaped the Angels; "Found a crack in the wall and told them it was the end of the universe". When questioned what the crack really is, the Doctor repeats "the end of the universe" and rushes over to Amy.
The Angels drain all of the ship's energy, opening the flight deck doors in the process. Angel Bob demands that the Doctor throw himself into the crack to save the Angels, Amy, and River; River, as a time traveller, wants to throw herself in in place of the Doctor, but he merely laughs -- she is not even as complicated as one Angel, and it would take all of them to equal him -- and tells her to get a grip. She continues to protest, but the Doctor tells her to seriously get a grip. Realizing what he means, she calls him a genius and forces Amy to take hold of the console, warning her not to let go. The Doctor tells the Angels "night-night" and grabs the console alongside River; the ship's gravity fails and the ship flips over, sending the Angels plummeting back into the crack while the Doctor watches and laughs. The crack explodes in a burst of energy, and then closes.
 
   
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The Doctor quickly babbles over the fact Amy looked into an Angel's eyes, and an image of an Angel becomes one. He then realizes that the Angels want their victims to use the [[quantum lock]], so they'll look in the Angels eyes and create an image in their brain's visual centre. And there's a copy of Angel Bob in Amy's mind. At "zero", it will pop out of Amy's head, killing her. After internal debate, the Doctor orders Amy to close her eyes; she complies, after fighting off the fear the Angel tried using to stop her. She soon begins to normalize. If she opens them for more than a second, the Angel will escape and she will die. Unable to see, the Doctor suggests she stay in the clearing with the others while he and River proceed to the primary flight deck. Octavian insists that where River goes, he does as well. The Doctor reluctantly agrees, leaving Amy with the remaining Clerics. As they head off, Amy asks him not to leave him.
Outside the temple, a second squad of Clerics cleans up the team's makeshift camp while Amy sits nearby, complaining of aches from having to climb out of the Byzantium with her eyes closed; the Doctor tells her that she did not have to do this, since the image of the Angel in her mind never existed. Amy wonders why she remembers the Angels and the Clerics if they were truly erased from time, and the Doctor explains that because she is a time traveller now, she sees things differently.
 
   
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As she sits waiting, the Doctor suddenly reappears and tells her that it's vital she start trusting him. She asks how she can trust him, as he doesn't always tell her the truth. He says that if he always told the truth, he wouldn't need her to trust him. Amy then asks how the crack in her wall can be here, and the Doctor responds that he doesn't know yet, but he's working it out. He requests that she [[The Big Bang (TV story)|remember what he told her when she was a little girl]]. When Amy asks him what he told her, the Doctor tells her that what he said isn't the point... just as long as she remembers. Just as quickly as he arrived, the Doctor is gone again.
[[File:DR_AMY_KISS.png|thumb|Amy kisses the Doctor]]The Doctor goes to River, who has been handcuffed and is preparing to teleport back to Stormcage. The Doctor confesses that Octavian told him of River's crime prior to his death and demands to know who she murdered. River explains that he was a good man, "the best man she ever knew." When the Doctor asks if he can trust her, River responds in jest and disappears.
 
   
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As Octavian, River, and the Doctor move through the forest, Octavian tells the Doctor that River is on leave from [[Stormcage Containment Facility]] in his custody. Through this mission, she hopes to earn a pardon. While River tries to open the door to the primary flight deck, the Doctor considers the anomalies he has recently noticed: the [[Leadworth duck pond|duckless duck pond in Leadworth]]; Amy's inability to remember [[Dalek invasion of Earth (2009)|the Dalek invasion of Earth]]; and the lack of any mention of [[The Next Doctor (TV story)|the CyberKing in Victorian London]] in the history books. He uses River's scanner to analyze the scan he took from the crack; it reveals that a temporal explosion will occur on [[26 June]] [[2010]] and cause the cracks in time and space — Amy's time.
Back in the [[TARDIS]], Amy tells the Doctor that she wants to go home; initially, he believes that she means for good, but she merely insists that she has something to show him. He parks the TARDIS in Amy's bedroom five minutes after they first left, and Amy shows the Doctor her wedding dress, revealing that she is getting married to [[Rory Williams]] the following morning. She tries to seduce the Dcotor, but he rejects her, abruptly remembering the date of the temporal explosion -- 26 June 2010, which happens to be tomorrow, the date of Amy's wedding -- and realize that the cracks have something to do with her. He pushes her back into the TARDIS just as the clock turns past midnight.
 
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The Angels stake out the clearing and begin tearing apart the [[treeborg]]s to cut off the power supply to the lights. The lights flicker. When they go out, the Angels are nowhere to be seen. Light projects across the forest from the secondary flight deck. [[Marco (The Time of Angels)|Marco]], the squad leader, sends [[Crispin (The Time of Angels)|Crispin]] and [[Phillip (The Time of Angels)|Phillip]] to investigate it. Amy insists on seeing its source, though she will have to open her eyes. When she sees it is the crack from her wall, she collapses and begs to know why it is following her.
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[[File:Cleric_marco.jpg|thumb|The lead cleric, [[Marco (The Time of Angels)|Marco]].|left|200x200px]]
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Marco orders [[Pedro]] to go to the light. Amy reminds him he sent the other two, but he insists there weren't any others. After some time, Marco decides to go and investigate, having forgotten Pedro as well. Amy pleads with him to stay, but Marco foolishly wishes to investigate what the light is. As a compromise, he leaves her a spare communicator and agrees to speak to her through it. As he reaches the crack, his voice vanishes in a crackle of static. Amy is now left alone without anyone to guard her against the Angels: the one in her mind and the ones outside of it.
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River opens the door and steps inside while Octavian waits with the Doctor. The Doctor deduces to his own surprise that time can be unwritten; Octavian tells him to hurry inside because of the Angels. ''"There's more dangerous things here then Angels."'' the Doctor retorts. The lights go out. When they return, Octavian is trapped in an Angel's stranglehold. Knowing the Doctor cannot save him, Octavian tells him River is in prison for murder and he shouldn't trust her. As the Doctor flees, Octavian's neck is snapped. River tries to get a [[teleport]] working as the Doctor explains the cracks. When she challenges his ideas, he responds with growing rage and tells her the teleport is useless.
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Amy huddles alone in the forest, blind and with nothing but the communicator. The Doctor contacts her; Amy must make her way to the flight deck. The Angels can only kill her, but the crack can erase her from time. He sends software to the communicator to guide her. Terrified, she slowly makes her way across the forest, soon surrounded by the army of Weeping Angels fleeing from the crack. In their own terror, they do not realise her eyes are closed and their defence mechanisms kick in. They figure it out, though, when Amy trips over a root on the ground. They slowly remove the statue guise and move in to kill her.
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Just as an Angel reaches towards Amy, River thankfully gets the teleport working and transports her to the flight deck. The Doctor tells River he could kiss her out of happiness, but River tells him to wait until he's older. An alarm goes off, confusing River. The Doctor says its warning the ship is low on power, which means the flight deck will open.
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[[File:Angel Bob.jpg|thumb|"Bob" tries to get the Doctor to sacrifice himself to close the crack.]]The wall lifts up, revealing the Weeping Angels all snarling at them, except for Angel Bob; "Bob" explains the crack will destroy their reality if left unchecked. The Angels have calculated the crack will close if the Doctor throws himself into it. When asked why he should help the Angels, "Bob" tells him it will save River and Amy as well. River, as a time traveller, wants to take the Doctor's place, but he laughs — she is not even as complicated as one Angel and it would take all of them to equal him. He tells her to get a grip. River continues to protest, but the Doctor tells her to seriously get a grip.
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River [[deduce]]s his "genius" plan and has Amy grab onto the console, warning her not to let go. Angel Bob repeats his request for the Doctor to sacrifice himself, but the Doctor reminds them that they've been draining all of the power on the ship, including that of the artificial gravity; with the words "Night-night", the Doctor grabs onto the console and the ship's gravity fails. The planet's gravity field takes over in its place, sending the Angels plummeting into the crack while the Doctor watches in delight. The [[Time Field|crack]] glows brighter and closes.
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Later, another squad of Clerics cleans up the camp outside the temple while Amy sits nearby, complaining of aches from climbing out of the ''[[Byzantium (ship)|Byzantium]]'' with her eyes shut. The Doctor likewise did so; Amy tells him that he didn't have to do that. ''"Neither did you"'' he states. Since the Angels fell into the crack, the one in her mind never existed now. Amy wonders why she remembers them and the Clerics when they never existed at all; the Clerics all forgot each other and walked straight into the crack. The Doctor explains that, as a [[time travel]]ler, she now sees things differently.
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The Doctor goes to River, who has been handcuffed. She is prepared to [[teleport]] up to the prison ship, hoping to have done enough to earn a pardon. The Doctor admits that Octavian told him of River's crime that she [[murder]]ed a man. River confirms this. When further stating that Octavian told him the victim was a good man, she replies that he was the best man she ever knew. The Doctor asks if he can trust her. River laughs, saying he can if he wants to... "but where's the fun in that?" She also adds that [[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|they'll see her next when the Pandorica opens]]; the Doctor laughs at this, thinking the [[Pandorica]] is a fairytale, River responding with "Aren't we all?" She vanishes with the Clerics.
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Back in [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], Amy tells the Doctor she wants to go home. He thinks she means for good, but she insists she has something to show him. "You're running from River. I'm running from something, too." He parks the TARDIS in [[Amy Pond's house#Amy's bedroom|Amy's bedroom]] [[25 June|five minutes after they first left]]. Amy shows him her wedding dress and engagement ring; she is getting [[married]] in the morning to [[Rory Williams]].
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[[File:The Doctor and Amy kiss.jpg|thumb|left|Amy [[kiss]]es the Doctor.|200x200px]]
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Amy says that she needs comforting, after the recent events. She tries to explain to the Doctor "who" she wants, but the Doctor hasn't a clue as to what she is talking about. Seeing he is not going to get hints, Amy tries to [[kiss]] him, but he dodges her and stands up. She continues to allude to sexual connotations, all of which the Doctor nervously attempts to fend off. He rebuffs her advances by protesting that he is 907 years old and the kind of relationship she wants will never work out between them.
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Amy retorts that she was thinking of a one-night stand, not a relationship. She attempts to undress him and finally kisses him, but he pushes her away, citing her marriage the next morning. Amy thinks he's given in, heading to her bed. Realising that the date of the temporal explosion: [[26 June]] [[2010]] is the date of Amy's wedding. The Doctor tells her that the most important thing is that he straightens things out with her. He pulls her to the TARDIS, with Amy trying to kiss him again. He pushes her back into the TARDIS just as the [[clock]] turns past midnight to the next day.
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[[File:Date of the Universe Explosion.jpg|thumb|right|The cracks in time will be created on Amy's wedding day.]]
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A flashback returns to the conversation River Song and the Doctor were having about the origin of the cracks in time. Amy's wedding day will preclude a catastrophic event. The base code of the universe translates to "26 06 2010", the date of an explosion that caused the cracks to appear. With that, the Doctor vanishes into the TARDIS.
   
 
== Cast ==
 
== Cast ==
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* [[Amy Pond]] - [[Karen Gillan]]
 
* [[Amy Pond]] - [[Karen Gillan]]
 
* [[River Song]] - [[Alex Kingston]]
 
* [[River Song]] - [[Alex Kingston]]
* [[Octavian]] - [[Iain Glen]]
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* [[Octavian (The Time of Angels)|Octavian]] - [[Iain Glen]]
* [[Bob (The Time of Angels)|Bob]]/[[Angel Bob]] - [[David Atkins]]
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* [[Angel Bob|Bob]] - [[David Atkins]]
 
* [[Marco (The Time of Angels)|Marco]] - [[Darren Morfitt]]
 
* [[Marco (The Time of Angels)|Marco]] - [[Darren Morfitt]]
 
* [[Pedro]] - [[Mark Monero]]
 
* [[Pedro]] - [[Mark Monero]]
* [[Cleric Phillip|Phillip]] - [[George Russo]]
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* [[Phillip (The Time of Angels)|Phillip]] - [[George Russo]]
   
 
== Crew ==
 
== Crew ==
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|UnitManager=Rhys Griffiths
 
|UnitManager=Rhys Griffiths
 
|AssistantUnitManager=
 
|AssistantUnitManager=
|ProductionManager=Holly Pullinger
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|ProductionManager=
 
|ProductionCoOrdinator=Jess van Niekerk
 
|ProductionCoOrdinator=Jess van Niekerk
 
|AsstProductionCoOrdinator=
 
|AsstProductionCoOrdinator=
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|ArtDeptProdManager=
 
|ArtDeptProdManager=
 
|AssociateDesigner=James North
 
|AssociateDesigner=James North
|ProductionBuyer=Ben Morris
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|ProductionBuyer=Ben Morris (crew){{!}}Ben Morris
 
|SetDecorator=Julian Luxton
 
|SetDecorator=Julian Luxton
 
|PropsBuyer=Adrian Anscombe
 
|PropsBuyer=Adrian Anscombe
|StandbyArtDirector=Ciaran Thompson
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|StandbyArtDirector=Ciaran Thompson (crew){{!}}Ciaran Thompson
 
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
 
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
 
|SetDesigner=Ben Austin
 
|SetDesigner=Ben Austin
Line 162: Line 208:
 
|PropsStoreman=
 
|PropsStoreman=
 
|DressingProps=Martin Broadbent
 
|DressingProps=Martin Broadbent
|DressingProps2=Rhys Jones
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|Make-upDesigner=Barbara Southcott
 
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|ProductionDesigner=Edward Thomas
 
|ProductionDesigner=Edward Thomas
 
|DOP=Damian Bromley
 
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== References ==
 
== References ==
=== [[:Category:The Doctor|The Doctor]] ===
+
=== The Doctor ===
* Whilst trying to figure out the implications of [[the Cracks|the cracks in time]], the Doctor wonders to himself about the [[CyberKing]], and wonders if [[21st century]] [[Earth]]'s lack of knowledge of its presence is somehow related.
+
* Whilst trying to figure out the implications of [[the Cracks|the cracks in time]], the Doctor wonders about the [[CyberKing]], and if [[21st century]] [[Earth]]'s lack of knowledge of its presence is somehow related.
  +
* The Doctor states his age is nine hundred and seven.
* When mentioning how time can be rewritten the Doctor references Amy's lack of knowledge of the Daleks and planets in the sky ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]''/''[[Journey's End]]'').
 
 
* River Song says she and the Doctor will meet again when the [[Pandorica]] opens; the Doctor claims that the Pandorica is just a fairy tale.
* He mentions the duck pond that may not have been a duck pond from ''[[DW]]: [[The Eleventh Hour]]''
 
* [[Eleventh Doctor]] states his age is nine hundred and seven, which suggests that a year has passed since the events of ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''.
 
* River Song said that she and the Doctor will meet again when the [[Pandorica]] opens. The Doctor claims that it is just a fairytale.
 
   
=== [[:Category:Timeline|Timeline]] ===
+
=== Timeline ===
* Amy's age is established and her second encounter with the Doctor as taking place in [[2008]] (when she encountered [[Prisoner Zero]]), while her third encounter with the Doctor when she left with him took place on the night of [[25 June]] [[2010]] when Amy is twenty-one.
+
* Amy's age and her second encounter with the Doctor are established as taking place in [[2008]], when she encountered [[Prisoner Zero]], while her third encounter with the Doctor when she left with him took place on the night of [[25 June]] [[2010]] when Amy is twenty-one.
   
 
== Story notes ==
 
== Story notes ==
  +
* The final scene in which Amy attempts sexual advances on the Doctor was the subject for controversy among both audiences and critics.
* According to [[Steven Moffat]] on the [[30 March]] [[2010]] edition of the [[BBC Radio 4]] programme, ''Front Row'', the title of this episode was supplied by his son, Joshua.
+
* According to [[Steven Moffat]] on the [[30 March (production)|30 March]] 2010 edition of the [[BBC Radio 4]] programme, ''Front Row'', the title of this episode was supplied by his son, Joshua.
* The title is a play on 'flesh and bone', a common idiom referring to a creature's anatomy, since most humans and animals are composed of flesh and a skeletal structure. The title also refers to the Weeping Angels' weakness of turning to stone whenever anyone looks at them, and possibly the fact that Amy thought her hand had turned to stone in the previous episode, ''[[The Time of Angels]]''. This was a rumoured title for the episode ''[[Gridlock]]''.
+
* The title is a play on "flesh and bone", a common idiom referring to a creature's anatomy, since most humans and animals are composed of flesh and a skeletal structure. The title also refers to the Weeping Angels' weakness of turning to stone whenever anyone looks at them, and possibly the fact that Amy thought her hand had turned to stone in the previous episode, ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]''. This was a rumoured title for the episode ''[[Gridlock (TV story)|Gridlock]]''.
* In the trailer at the end of ''[[The Time of Angels]]'' it shows a [[Time Field|crack]] - continuing the theme throughout the series. The crack appears to be growing, and upon finding it, Amy Pond notes its similarity to the one on her bedroom wall from [[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]''. The Doctor says of the crack, "That is extremely very not good."
+
* There is a [[Time Field|crack]] in the ''Byzantium'' — continuing the theme throughout the series. The crack appears to be growing, and upon finding it, Amy Pond notes its similarity to the one on her bedroom wall from [[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]''. The Doctor says of the crack, "That is extremely very not good."
* A video clip on the official Doctor Who website shows that the Doctor gets the Weeping Angels to say "comfy chairs".
 
* The Doctor finds out that time can be unwritten.
+
* The Doctor says that time can be unwritten.
* The time on the scanner that The Doctor holds says that Amy's time is her wedding day.
+
* The time on the scanner that the Doctor holds says that Amy's time is her wedding day.
* The Weeping Angels are seen moving for the first time. One Angel is seen moving their hand to grab the Doctor by his jacket, and later they are seen turning their heads when they begin to realise that Amy can't see them.
+
* The Weeping Angels are seen moving for the first time. One Angel is seen moving a hand to grab the Doctor by his jacket, and later they turn their heads when they realise that Amy can't see them.
* The date shown in the episode, 26/06/2010, was the final episode date of Series 5 in Britain. In America, however, it was not aired until much later in the summer.
+
* The date shown in the episode, 26/06/2010, would be the broadcast date of the final episode of Series 5, ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', in Britain. In other countries, it was not aired until later, however.
* The method the Doctor uses to dispose of the Weeping Angels mirrors his method of vanquishing the [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] and [[Dalek]]s in [[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]''.
+
* The method the Doctor uses to dispose of the Weeping Angels mirrors his method of vanquishing the [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] and [[Dalek]]s in [[TV]]: ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]''.
* Amy continues the tradition of the female companions kissing the Doctor. However, instead of falling in love with him, Amy had ''another idea'' instead.
+
* Amy continues the tradition of female companions [[kissing]] the Doctor. However, instead of falling in love with him, Amy had [[sex|another idea]].
* This episode aired on the same day as the ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]'' episode, ''[[Alien Avatar]]'' was first broadcast on Disney XD in Britain. It also aired on the same day that ''[[Sirens of Ceres]]'' was first broadcast on Network Ten in Australia.
+
* This episode aired on the same day as the ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]'' episode ''[[Alien Avatar]]'' was first broadcast on Disney XD in Britain. It also aired on the same day that ''[[Sirens of Ceres]]'' was first broadcast on Network Ten in Australia.
  +
* The Doctor reveals that Weeping Angels have instincts that can keep them in frozen form in addition to the quantum lock.
* Because the cracks never existed, the events of this story may have changed.
 
  +
* The episode's final scene leads into ''[[Meanwhile in the TARDIS 2 (TV story)|Meanwhile in the TARDIS 2]]''.
  +
 
=== Ratings ===
 
=== Ratings ===
6.9 million
+
* 6.9 million viewers
  +
* 8.5 million viewers (UK final)<ref>[http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date Doctor Who Ratings - UK final]</ref>
   
 
=== Filming locations ===
 
=== Filming locations ===
* The beach on [[Alfava Metraxis]] were filmed at [[wikipedia:Southerndown|Southerndown]] beach, [[wikipedia:Vale of Glamorgan|Vale of Glamorgan]]. This was also where scenes in ''[[Army of Ghosts]]''/''[[Doomsday]]'' and ''[[Journey's End]]'' were filmed.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/southerndown-beach</ref>
+
* The beach scenes on [[Alfava Metraxis]] were filmed at {{w|Southerndown}} beach, {{w|Vale of Glamorgan}}. This was also where scenes in ''[[Army of Ghosts]]''/''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'' and ''[[Journey's End]]'' were filmed.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/southerndown-beach</ref>
* Scenes in the forest vault of the ''Byzantium'' were filmed in [[wikipedia:Puzzlewood|Puzzlewood]] in the [[wikipedia:Forest of Dean|Forest of Dean]].<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8635000/8635073.stm</ref>
+
* Scenes in the forest vault of the ''Byzantium'' were filmed in {{w|Puzzlewood}} in the {{w|Forest of Dean}}.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/gloucestershire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8635000/8635073.stm</ref>
   
 
=== Rumours ===
 
=== Rumours ===
* Amy and Rory will either marry each other or put it on hold at the end of the episode, and Rory will travel in the TARDIS at the end. ''This was proven false, but Rory joined Amy and the Doctor in the TARDIS in [[The Vampires of Venice|the next episode]], and he and Amy got married in the [[The Big Bang|series finale]] ''.
+
* Amy and Rory will either marry each other or put it on hold at the end of the episode, and Rory will travel in the TARDIS at the end. ''This was proven false, but Rory joined Amy and the Doctor in the TARDIS in [[The Vampires of Venice|the next episode]], and he and Amy got married in the [[The Big Bang|series finale]]''.
   
 
=== Production errors ===
 
=== Production errors ===
  +
{{discontinuity}}
* When Amy lies down on the tree stump her hair is all over her face but on the wide shot her hair is behind her head.{{discontinuity}}
 
  +
* On first entering the Byzantium, the Weeping Angels' stances change between first breaking in and just before the Doctor must turn the lights off. This is despite the lights being isolated and them always being observed by at least four Clerics.
  +
* When the Doctor is searching for a way to open the door to the forest he places his hands on it and it wobbles.
  +
* When the Doctor is grabbed by a Weeping Angel, the Angel's hand is seen moving along with the Doctor.
 
* When Amy lies down on the tree stump her hair is all over her face but on the wide shot her hair is behind her head.
 
* While the Doctor is talking to River in the forest, he has both hands behind his back as if tucking in his shirt; however in the next shot he is still in mid-sentence and is suddenly holding his hands in front.
 
* While the Doctor is talking to River in the forest, he has both hands behind his back as if tucking in his shirt; however in the next shot he is still in mid-sentence and is suddenly holding his hands in front.
 
* While the Doctor talks to River at the end of the episode the position of his right suspender strap switches places from angle to angle.
 
* While the Doctor talks to River at the end of the episode the position of his right suspender strap switches places from angle to angle.
 
* Just after the Doctor leaves with River and Octavian, his future self holds Amy's hand and talks to her. However, he does not wear his normal gold watch, which is replaced with a black one, and does not have the vortex manipulator on his right arm, which he should have had.
 
* Just after the Doctor leaves with River and Octavian, his future self holds Amy's hand and talks to her. However, he does not wear his normal gold watch, which is replaced with a black one, and does not have the vortex manipulator on his right arm, which he should have had.
* During the final scene in Amy's bedroom the Doctor looks at Amy's alarm clock. Despite the fact that the conversation was talking about Amy getting married "in the morning" the clock changes from 11:59 '''AM''' '''on 6/25 '''to 12:00 '''PM on 6/26''', a mysterious 24-hour jump.
+
* During the final scene in Amy's bedroom the Doctor looks at Amy's alarm clock. Despite the fact that the conversation was talking about Amy getting married "in the morning" the clock changes from 11:59 ''AM'' ''on 6/25 ''to 12:00 ''PM on 6/26'', a mysterious 12-hour jump.
  +
* In the scene where Amy is following the sound of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, there are points where the light on the screwdriver is off, yet the sound can still clearly be heard on both ends of the communicator.
   
 
== Continuity ==
 
== Continuity ==
* Events the Doctor thinks are erased from history by the cracks include [[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]''/''[[Journey's End]]'' and ''[[The Next Doctor]].''
+
* River says to the Doctor, "You, me, handcuffs... must it always end this way?" ([[TV]]: ''[[Forest of the Dead (TV story)|Forest of the Dead]]'')
* River says to the Doctor "You, me, handcuffs... must it always end this way?", unknowingly referencing her own death in [[DW]]: ''[[Forest of the Dead]]''.
+
* River Song mentioned the crash of the'' Byzantium'' when meeting the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Silence in the Library (TV story)|Silence in the Library]]'')
  +
* River Song says the Doctor will see her again soon, when the [[Pandorica]] opens. This refers to their later (to her, earlier) adventure where it is shown she knows to say this as Amy told her she did. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
* River Song mentioned the crash of the Byzantium to the [[Tenth Doctor]] in [[DW]]: ''[[Silence in the Library]]''.
 
 
* When mentioning how time can be rewritten the Doctor references Amy's lack of knowledge of the [[Dalek]]s and planets in the sky ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]''/''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''), and that no one on [[Earth]] remembered a [[Cyber-King]] in [[19th century]] [[London]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]'')
* River Song refers to the events of the Pandorica opening, foreshadowing the series 5 finale. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
 
* There is a flashback to [[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]''.
+
* The Doctor and Amy both recall the crack from her bedroom wall. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'')
 
* After the Doctor leaves with River and Octavian to find the primary flight deck, the Doctor quickly returns for a moment to speak with Amy and his behaviour and appearance are different (jacket, rolled-up sleeves, etc). This turned out to be the Doctor from the future. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
* Amy asks the Doctor "Do you comfort a lot of people on the night before their wedding?" The Doctor previously interrupted [[Donna Noble]]'s wedding in [[DW]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride]]''.
 
 
* The Doctor mentions the duck-pond with no ducks in [[Leadworth]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'')
* After the Doctor leaves with River and Octavian to find the primary flight deck, the Doctor returns for a moment to speak with Amy and his behavior and appearance is completely different (Jacket, rolled-up sleeves, different watch, etc). This turned out to be the Doctor from the future, though there were some inconsistencies concerning his watch. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')
 
  +
* The Doctor [[kisses]] Amy on the head before temporarily leaving her. He did the same with [[Zoe Heriot]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'') and [[Jo Grant]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Colony in Space (TV story)|Colony in Space]]'').
* The Doctor mentions the duck-pond with no ducks from [[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]''.
 
 
* [[Angel Bob]] says that "the Doctor in the TARDIS" hasn't noticed. [[Prisoner Zero]] said something similar to the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'')
* This is the second time the doctor has kissed a female companion on the forehead before he temporarily left them; the first was [[Zoe Heriot]] in [[DW]]: ''[[The War Games]]''. He similarly kissed [[Jo Grant]] on the forehead in [[DW]]: ''[[Colony in Space]]'', but that was upon meeting her (after she had been abducted).
 
  +
* River says that the man she killed is the best man she knows and is indicated to be the Doctor himself. This is confirmed in ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]'' where the crew of the ''[[Teselecta]]'' state that she killed the Doctor on [[22 April]] [[2011]] on [[Lake Silencio]] which is a [[fixed point in time]]. River's "murder" of the Doctor is later explored in ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]''.
* [[Angel Bob]] says that the Doctor in the TARDIS hasn't noticed. [[Prisoner Zero]] says something similar to the Doctor in [[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]''.
 
  +
* River states that she hopes she has done enough to get a pardon. While she apparently doesn't at this time, she is later pardoned after the Doctor erases all records of himself, meaning there is no proof she killed anyone. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
* In [[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'', the Doctor prevented the cracks from ever existing. Although most cracks were closed, anything that Amy remembered (such as her travels) would still exist following the finale, meaning a few cracks still existed, but as seen, were solved individually (such as the one on Byzantium being closed due to swallowing the angels)
 
  +
* River later visits her Amy and Rory shortly after the events of this episode for her during ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'' to reveal the Doctor's survival to them and that she had lied about not recognising Amy.
 
== [[Eleventh Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]] ==
 
'''For the present Doctor and Amy'''
 
* This story occurs after: [[DW]]: ''[[The Time of Angels]]''
 
* This story occurs before: [[DW]]: ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]''
 
'''For the future Doctor'''
 
* This story occurs during: [[DW]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]''
 
'''For River Song'''
 
* This story occurs after: [[DW]]: ''[[The Time of Angels]]''
 
* This story occurs before: [[DW]]: ''[[The Wedding of River Song]]''
 
 
== DVD/Blu-ray-exclusive scene ==
 
The 2010 DVD and Blu-ray release of the ''Complete Series 5'' included an additional scene from ''Flesh and Stone''. Contrary to many reviews and video-sharing site repostings of the scene, it is not a deleted scene, but rather a scene shot specifically for the DVD/BD release sometime during the later stages of Series 5 production.
 
 
The scene reveals what happened after Amy's failed seduction attempt and the Doctor taking her away. Inside the TARDIS, Amy continues to try to convince the Doctor to sleep with her, leading him to explain his attitude towards his companions -- that they help him "see things" that he no longer is able to see because of his age and travel experience. Her physical desires replaced by curiosity, this leads Amy to quiz the Doctor about his past companions.
 
 
She eventually tricks the Doctor into unlocking visual files of past TARDIS inhabitants, and she is treated to a slide show of various female companions ranging from [[Barbara Wright]] to [[Donna Noble]], with apparent particular emphasis on [[Leela]]. In order to distract Amy from the picture show, the Doctor suggests they pick up [[Rory Williams|Rory]] from his stag party, which leads directly into ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]''.
 
 
Other companions shown in the slide show include [[Polly Wright]], [[Leela]], [[Peri Brown]], both [[Romana]]s, and [[Josephine Grant]], as well as recent companions [[Rose Tyler]] and [[Martha Jones]]. With the exception of [[Sarah Jane Smith]] (also shown), all companions pre-dating Rose are making their first on-screen appearance in the post-2005 era (Jo Grant's appearance in [[SJA]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor]]'' had not yet been broadcast at the time of the DVD/BD release).
 
 
The context of the scene supports the recurring implication that the TARDIS is sentient, given the way the Doctor reacts to the TARDIS when the slideshow begins -- coupled with the fact the TARDIS does not show images of the Doctor's various male companions such as [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Adric]] or [[Jack Harkness]]. The fact expanded universe companions, such as [[Izzy Sinclair]] and [[Destrii]] from the comic strip and [[Evelyn Smythe]] and [[Lucie Miller]] from the audio dramas, are not visible does not necessarily disqualify them from canon as the viewscreen is not visible all the time, and several TV series companions are not shown either.
 
   
 
== Home video releases ==
 
== Home video releases ==
[[File:Dvd-series5vol21.jpg|right|thumb]]
+
[[File:Dvd-series5vol21.jpg|right|thumb|Series 5 Volume 2 DVD Cover]]
[[BBC Video]] - ''Doctor Who Series Five - Volume Two'' was released on Monday [[5 July]] [[2010]] (UK Only) on DVD and Blu-ray, featuring ''[[The Time of Angels]]'', ''Flesh and Stone'' and ''[[The Vampires of Venice]]''.<ref>DWM 421, Page 17</ref>
+
[[BBC Video]] - ''Doctor Who Series Five - Volume Two'' was released on Monday [[5 July (releases)|5 July]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]] (UK Only) on DVD and Blu-ray, featuring ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]'', ''Flesh and Stone'' and ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]''.<ref>DWM 421, Page 17</ref>
   
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
* Series 5: Episode 5 - Flesh & Stone [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s971z]
 
* Series 5: Episode 5 - Flesh & Stone [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s971z]
* {{dwrefguide|who_tv50.htm|Flesh and Stone}}
+
{{dwrefguide|who_tv50.htm|Flesh and Stone}}
   
 
== Footnotes ==
 
== Footnotes ==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{DWTV}}
 
{{DWTV}}
 
{{Weeping Angel stories}}
 
  +
{{TitleSort}}
[[fr:Flesh and Stone]]
 
   
 
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
 
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor television stories]]
 
[[Category:Cracks arc]]
 
 
[[Category:Stories set in the 51st century]]
 
[[Category:Stories set in the 51st century]]
 
[[Category:Stories set in 2010]]
 
[[Category:Stories set in 2010]]
[[Category:2010 television stories]]
+
[[Category:Weeping Angel television stories]]
[[Category:Weeping Angel stories]]
 
 
[[Category:Series 5 (Doctor Who) stories]]
 
[[Category:Series 5 (Doctor Who) stories]]
[[Category:Silence arc]]
 
 
[[Category:Stories set in Leadworth]]
 
[[Category:Stories set in Leadworth]]
  +
[[Category:Stories set in alternative timelines]]
 
  +
[[es:Flesh and Stone (historia de TV)]]
[[Category:Multi-Doctor stories]]
 
 
[[fr:Flesh and Stone]]
 
[[it:Flesh and Stone (TV)]]
  +
[[ru:Плоть и камень]]

Revision as of 02:13, 24 June 2019

RealWorld
ImagesAvailable

Flesh and Stone was the fifth episode of series 5 of Doctor Who.

It was the second of a two-part story that began with The Time of Angels. It showed the Weeping Angels moving for the first time; when moving slowly, they give off a stone-scraping sound. It also showed the Angels' cruelty and sadism in a new light; though the Angels wish only to feast on the Byzantium's power, they continuously go after the survivors fleeing them for no other reason than to kill.

It also continued the theme of suggesting that the Eleventh Doctor is mad, which he has either claimed to be or has been called a madman.

This story revealed more about the cracks, such as why Amy cannot remember the Daleks' attacks on Earth during Doomsday or The Stolen Earth / Journey's End. The Pandorica is mentioned again, this time by River Song, hinting it may be a serious event in the Doctor's future. The story also contained a moment where the Doctor appeared out of place from the conflict around him and seemed more engrossed in a bigger crisis yet to ensue.

Synopsis

There's no way back, no way up and no way out. Trapped by an army of Weeping Angels and an ever-growing mysterious crack, the Eleventh Doctor and his friends try to escape through the wreckage of a crashed space liner. Meanwhile, surrounded by Angels, Amy faces an even more deadly attack, as she's forced to find her way through the forest vault, eyes closed.

Plot

Quickly picking himself up, the Doctor tells everyone to look up, as he begins pacing around and pointing the sonic screwdriver at their footing. A confused Amy asks the Doctor what she is looking at. Exasperated at Amy's inability to grasp the obvious, the Doctor reminds her that the power is still on in the crashed ship, so what else is on? The artificial gravity!

The Doctor explains that shooting the gravity globe caused an updraft, allowing them to be caught in the Byzantium's gravity field once they jumped. They have landed upside down on the ship's hull; even if they jumped again, they would still be in the ship's gravity field. Octavian quickly notices that the Weeping Angels are beginning to look more like themselves; within an hour they'll be an army, the Doctor notes. The Doctor opens the door, telling everyone to get in. Amy wonders how. The Doctor tells her its just a corridor; the gravity orientates to the floor. Everyone heads inside as the Angels pop the lights outside the entrance.

Right as the door shuts behind them, the Doctor notes the Angels arrived within the first few seconds after the door closed they are not quantum locked in the dark. Making matters worse is the way to the secondary flight deck is shutting, despite the Doctor's attempts to force it back. Worse, the lights are still flickering. As the Doctor works on the lights, four Angels break off the door and enter the corridor. In the nick of time, the Doctor prevents the Angels from draining the lighting grid's power. However, he gravely announces he will have to drain the power in the corridor to get the door open — including the lights. Amy points out that they lost the torches when they jumped; this will leave them in total darkness.

Having lost good men to these monsters, Octavian asks River if she trusts the Doctor; she does. However, when asked if the Doctor is a madman, River repeats "I absolutely trust him." Seeing that the Doctor is the only one who can get them out of this time-bomb/death trap, Octavian and his men line up to fire on the Angels while the Doctor tells Amy to turn the wheel on the door four times after he has cut the power. She responds with ten, before correcting herself.

They quickly enter, with the Doctor shutting the door behind them. Octavian magnetizes the door to keep the Angels out, thinking even they cannot turn the wheel now; they start doing so, but slow enough that it buys everyone time to think. Now that Octavian gets that the Angels cannot be stopped by conventional means, the Doctor begins figuring out what their resources are; River joins him in contemplating what they can do. The Doctor and River realise there must be an oxygen factory on board to supply the passengers with air. The Doctor activates a panel on the back wall, which opens to reveal a cybernetic forest within the ship. Amy continues counting down but denies doing so.

While the Doctor and River try to explain the counting to her, Angel Bob calls to find out their plans. The Doctor taunts him but grows serious when Bob tells him that they are in Amy's eye. The Angels are making her count to scare them and will take her soon. Bob gloats over gaining mastery over time and space. The Doctor informs him the Byzantium doesn't have that much power. A screeching noise is heard from outside; "Dear God! What is that!?" Bob explains, the best as it can, that the Angels are laughing because "the Doctor in the TARDIS hasn't noticed".

Byzantium crack

The crack appears...

The Doctor wonders what he has missed and turns to see a huge crack appear on the wall of the ship; the energy the crack is giving off makes the room shake. He orders the others to run while he looks at it. Though Amy is reluctant, River pulls her away, knowing the Doctor will catch up. A scan from the sonic tells the Doctor that the crack is "extremely very not good." When the Doctor turns to follow, he is surrounded by the Angels. He quickly scans the entire room, maneuvering over the equipment to block the Angels. However, right before he can enter the forest and lose them, an Angel catches the Doctor by his jacket.

The Weeping Angels do not kill him immediately, confusing the Doctor. He turns around to see them facing the crack, arms raised. Wiggling to get free of the grip of the Angel holding him by his jacket, the Doctor tells them that the light coming out of the crack is pure time energy; it is not power, but "the fire at the end of the universe." As the entire group looks at the crack, the Doctor runs off into the forest without his jacket, telling them, "Another thing, never let me talk"; he got out of his coat while they were distracted.

Meanwhile, Amy has reached "four" in her countdown and lies down, cradling her head. River produces a scanner to check her while Octavian worries they are exposed. River retorts that Octavian's only job is to keep the Doctor safe. If he's dead, she won't forgive herself, but if he's alive, she won't forgive him. She realises he is standing right behind her. They wonder how he escaped the Angels; "Found a crack in the wall and told them it was the end of the universe". When questioned what the crack really is, the Doctor repeats "the end of the universe" and rushes over to Amy.

The Doctor quickly babbles over the fact Amy looked into an Angel's eyes, and an image of an Angel becomes one. He then realizes that the Angels want their victims to use the quantum lock, so they'll look in the Angels eyes and create an image in their brain's visual centre. And there's a copy of Angel Bob in Amy's mind. At "zero", it will pop out of Amy's head, killing her. After internal debate, the Doctor orders Amy to close her eyes; she complies, after fighting off the fear the Angel tried using to stop her. She soon begins to normalize. If she opens them for more than a second, the Angel will escape and she will die. Unable to see, the Doctor suggests she stay in the clearing with the others while he and River proceed to the primary flight deck. Octavian insists that where River goes, he does as well. The Doctor reluctantly agrees, leaving Amy with the remaining Clerics. As they head off, Amy asks him not to leave him.

As she sits waiting, the Doctor suddenly reappears and tells her that it's vital she start trusting him. She asks how she can trust him, as he doesn't always tell her the truth. He says that if he always told the truth, he wouldn't need her to trust him. Amy then asks how the crack in her wall can be here, and the Doctor responds that he doesn't know yet, but he's working it out. He requests that she remember what he told her when she was a little girl. When Amy asks him what he told her, the Doctor tells her that what he said isn't the point... just as long as she remembers. Just as quickly as he arrived, the Doctor is gone again.

As Octavian, River, and the Doctor move through the forest, Octavian tells the Doctor that River is on leave from Stormcage Containment Facility in his custody. Through this mission, she hopes to earn a pardon. While River tries to open the door to the primary flight deck, the Doctor considers the anomalies he has recently noticed: the duckless duck pond in Leadworth; Amy's inability to remember the Dalek invasion of Earth; and the lack of any mention of the CyberKing in Victorian London in the history books. He uses River's scanner to analyze the scan he took from the crack; it reveals that a temporal explosion will occur on 26 June 2010 and cause the cracks in time and space — Amy's time.

The Angels stake out the clearing and begin tearing apart the treeborgs to cut off the power supply to the lights. The lights flicker. When they go out, the Angels are nowhere to be seen. Light projects across the forest from the secondary flight deck. Marco, the squad leader, sends Crispin and Phillip to investigate it. Amy insists on seeing its source, though she will have to open her eyes. When she sees it is the crack from her wall, she collapses and begs to know why it is following her.

Cleric marco

The lead cleric, Marco.

Marco orders Pedro to go to the light. Amy reminds him he sent the other two, but he insists there weren't any others. After some time, Marco decides to go and investigate, having forgotten Pedro as well. Amy pleads with him to stay, but Marco foolishly wishes to investigate what the light is. As a compromise, he leaves her a spare communicator and agrees to speak to her through it. As he reaches the crack, his voice vanishes in a crackle of static. Amy is now left alone without anyone to guard her against the Angels: the one in her mind and the ones outside of it.

River opens the door and steps inside while Octavian waits with the Doctor. The Doctor deduces to his own surprise that time can be unwritten; Octavian tells him to hurry inside because of the Angels. "There's more dangerous things here then Angels." the Doctor retorts. The lights go out. When they return, Octavian is trapped in an Angel's stranglehold. Knowing the Doctor cannot save him, Octavian tells him River is in prison for murder and he shouldn't trust her. As the Doctor flees, Octavian's neck is snapped. River tries to get a teleport working as the Doctor explains the cracks. When she challenges his ideas, he responds with growing rage and tells her the teleport is useless.

Amy huddles alone in the forest, blind and with nothing but the communicator. The Doctor contacts her; Amy must make her way to the flight deck. The Angels can only kill her, but the crack can erase her from time. He sends software to the communicator to guide her. Terrified, she slowly makes her way across the forest, soon surrounded by the army of Weeping Angels fleeing from the crack. In their own terror, they do not realise her eyes are closed and their defence mechanisms kick in. They figure it out, though, when Amy trips over a root on the ground. They slowly remove the statue guise and move in to kill her.

Just as an Angel reaches towards Amy, River thankfully gets the teleport working and transports her to the flight deck. The Doctor tells River he could kiss her out of happiness, but River tells him to wait until he's older. An alarm goes off, confusing River. The Doctor says its warning the ship is low on power, which means the flight deck will open.

Angel Bob

"Bob" tries to get the Doctor to sacrifice himself to close the crack.

The wall lifts up, revealing the Weeping Angels all snarling at them, except for Angel Bob; "Bob" explains the crack will destroy their reality if left unchecked. The Angels have calculated the crack will close if the Doctor throws himself into it. When asked why he should help the Angels, "Bob" tells him it will save River and Amy as well. River, as a time traveller, wants to take the Doctor's place, but he laughs — she is not even as complicated as one Angel and it would take all of them to equal him. He tells her to get a grip. River continues to protest, but the Doctor tells her to seriously get a grip.

River deduces his "genius" plan and has Amy grab onto the console, warning her not to let go. Angel Bob repeats his request for the Doctor to sacrifice himself, but the Doctor reminds them that they've been draining all of the power on the ship, including that of the artificial gravity; with the words "Night-night", the Doctor grabs onto the console and the ship's gravity fails. The planet's gravity field takes over in its place, sending the Angels plummeting into the crack while the Doctor watches in delight. The crack glows brighter and closes.

Later, another squad of Clerics cleans up the camp outside the temple while Amy sits nearby, complaining of aches from climbing out of the Byzantium with her eyes shut. The Doctor likewise did so; Amy tells him that he didn't have to do that. "Neither did you" he states. Since the Angels fell into the crack, the one in her mind never existed now. Amy wonders why she remembers them and the Clerics when they never existed at all; the Clerics all forgot each other and walked straight into the crack. The Doctor explains that, as a time traveller, she now sees things differently.

The Doctor goes to River, who has been handcuffed. She is prepared to teleport up to the prison ship, hoping to have done enough to earn a pardon. The Doctor admits that Octavian told him of River's crime that she murdered a man. River confirms this. When further stating that Octavian told him the victim was a good man, she replies that he was the best man she ever knew. The Doctor asks if he can trust her. River laughs, saying he can if he wants to... "but where's the fun in that?" She also adds that they'll see her next when the Pandorica opens; the Doctor laughs at this, thinking the Pandorica is a fairytale, River responding with "Aren't we all?" She vanishes with the Clerics.

Back in the TARDIS, Amy tells the Doctor she wants to go home. He thinks she means for good, but she insists she has something to show him. "You're running from River. I'm running from something, too." He parks the TARDIS in Amy's bedroom five minutes after they first left. Amy shows him her wedding dress and engagement ring; she is getting married in the morning to Rory Williams.

The Doctor and Amy kiss

Amy kisses the Doctor.

Amy says that she needs comforting, after the recent events. She tries to explain to the Doctor "who" she wants, but the Doctor hasn't a clue as to what she is talking about. Seeing he is not going to get hints, Amy tries to kiss him, but he dodges her and stands up. She continues to allude to sexual connotations, all of which the Doctor nervously attempts to fend off. He rebuffs her advances by protesting that he is 907 years old and the kind of relationship she wants will never work out between them.

Amy retorts that she was thinking of a one-night stand, not a relationship. She attempts to undress him and finally kisses him, but he pushes her away, citing her marriage the next morning. Amy thinks he's given in, heading to her bed. Realising that the date of the temporal explosion: 26 June 2010 is the date of Amy's wedding. The Doctor tells her that the most important thing is that he straightens things out with her. He pulls her to the TARDIS, with Amy trying to kiss him again. He pushes her back into the TARDIS just as the clock turns past midnight to the next day.

Date of the Universe Explosion

The cracks in time will be created on Amy's wedding day.

A flashback returns to the conversation River Song and the Doctor were having about the origin of the cracks in time. Amy's wedding day will preclude a catastrophic event. The base code of the universe translates to "26 06 2010", the date of an explosion that caused the cracks to appear. With that, the Doctor vanishes into the TARDIS.

Cast

Crew

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


References

The Doctor

  • Whilst trying to figure out the implications of the cracks in time, the Doctor wonders about the CyberKing, and if 21st century Earth's lack of knowledge of its presence is somehow related.
  • The Doctor states his age is nine hundred and seven.
  • River Song says she and the Doctor will meet again when the Pandorica opens; the Doctor claims that the Pandorica is just a fairy tale.

Timeline

  • Amy's age and her second encounter with the Doctor are established as taking place in 2008, when she encountered Prisoner Zero, while her third encounter with the Doctor when she left with him took place on the night of 25 June 2010 when Amy is twenty-one.

Story notes

  • The final scene in which Amy attempts sexual advances on the Doctor was the subject for controversy among both audiences and critics.
  • According to Steven Moffat on the 30 March 2010 edition of the BBC Radio 4 programme, Front Row, the title of this episode was supplied by his son, Joshua.
  • The title is a play on "flesh and bone", a common idiom referring to a creature's anatomy, since most humans and animals are composed of flesh and a skeletal structure. The title also refers to the Weeping Angels' weakness of turning to stone whenever anyone looks at them, and possibly the fact that Amy thought her hand had turned to stone in the previous episode, The Time of Angels. This was a rumoured title for the episode Gridlock.
  • There is a crack in the Byzantium — continuing the theme throughout the series. The crack appears to be growing, and upon finding it, Amy Pond notes its similarity to the one on her bedroom wall from TV: The Eleventh Hour. The Doctor says of the crack, "That is extremely very not good."
  • The Doctor says that time can be unwritten.
  • The time on the scanner that the Doctor holds says that Amy's time is her wedding day.
  • The Weeping Angels are seen moving for the first time. One Angel is seen moving a hand to grab the Doctor by his jacket, and later they turn their heads when they realise that Amy can't see them.
  • The date shown in the episode, 26/06/2010, would be the broadcast date of the final episode of Series 5, The Big Bang, in Britain. In other countries, it was not aired until later, however.
  • The method the Doctor uses to dispose of the Weeping Angels mirrors his method of vanquishing the Cybermen and Daleks in TV: Doomsday.
  • Amy continues the tradition of female companions kissing the Doctor. However, instead of falling in love with him, Amy had another idea.
  • This episode aired on the same day as the K9 episode Alien Avatar was first broadcast on Disney XD in Britain. It also aired on the same day that Sirens of Ceres was first broadcast on Network Ten in Australia.
  • The Doctor reveals that Weeping Angels have instincts that can keep them in frozen form in addition to the quantum lock.
  • The episode's final scene leads into Meanwhile in the TARDIS 2.

Ratings

  • 6.9 million viewers
  • 8.5 million viewers (UK final)[1]

Filming locations

Rumours

  • Amy and Rory will either marry each other or put it on hold at the end of the episode, and Rory will travel in the TARDIS at the end. This was proven false, but Rory joined Amy and the Doctor in the TARDIS in the next episode, and he and Amy got married in the series finale.

Production errors

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • On first entering the Byzantium, the Weeping Angels' stances change between first breaking in and just before the Doctor must turn the lights off. This is despite the lights being isolated and them always being observed by at least four Clerics.
  • When the Doctor is searching for a way to open the door to the forest he places his hands on it and it wobbles.
  • When the Doctor is grabbed by a Weeping Angel, the Angel's hand is seen moving along with the Doctor.
  • When Amy lies down on the tree stump her hair is all over her face but on the wide shot her hair is behind her head.
  • While the Doctor is talking to River in the forest, he has both hands behind his back as if tucking in his shirt; however in the next shot he is still in mid-sentence and is suddenly holding his hands in front.
  • While the Doctor talks to River at the end of the episode the position of his right suspender strap switches places from angle to angle.
  • Just after the Doctor leaves with River and Octavian, his future self holds Amy's hand and talks to her. However, he does not wear his normal gold watch, which is replaced with a black one, and does not have the vortex manipulator on his right arm, which he should have had.
  • During the final scene in Amy's bedroom the Doctor looks at Amy's alarm clock. Despite the fact that the conversation was talking about Amy getting married "in the morning" the clock changes from 11:59 AM on 6/25 to 12:00 PM on 6/26, a mysterious 12-hour jump.
  • In the scene where Amy is following the sound of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, there are points where the light on the screwdriver is off, yet the sound can still clearly be heard on both ends of the communicator.

Continuity

Home video releases

Dvd-series5vol21

Series 5 Volume 2 DVD Cover

BBC Video - Doctor Who Series Five - Volume Two was released on Monday 5 July 2010 (UK Only) on DVD and Blu-ray, featuring The Time of Angels, Flesh and Stone and The Vampires of Venice.[4]

External links

Footnotes

Template:Weeping Angel stories