The Impossible Astronaut
- Episode aired Apr 23, 2011
- TV-PG
- 44m
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
The Doctor, Amy, Rory and River Song are reunited in the Utah desert.The Doctor, Amy, Rory and River Song are reunited in the Utah desert.The Doctor, Amy, Rory and River Song are reunited in the Utah desert.
Chukwudi Iwuji
- Carl
- (as Chuk Iwuji)
Hermeilio Miguel Aquino
- Busboy
- (as Emilio Aquino)
Jamie Hill
- Silent
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOriginally Mark Sheppard was to wear old age makeup in order to play the 2011 version of his 1969 character. Instead, at Mark's suggestion, William Morgan Sheppard (Mark's father) was cast for the part. The pair had also played two versions of the same character about a year earlier in NCIS (2003).
- GoofsWhile the street names are in Cape Canaveral, all the presidential streets run parallel and do not intersect.
- Quotes
The Doctor: I am being extremely clever up here and there's no one to stand around looking impressed. What's the point in having you all?
- Crazy creditsFollowing the death of former companion Elisabeth Sladen, The Impossible Astronaut opened with a dedication in her name.
- Alternate versionsA scene which River Song appears naked and winks at an unknown man was filmed, but cut because Steven Moffat felt it was too naughty and the deleted scene can be glimpsed in the Series 6 trailer.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Breakfast: Episode dated 23 April 2011 (2011)
- SoundtracksDoctor Who Theme
(uncredited)
Written by Ron Grainer
Arranged by Murray Gold
Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Featured review
Contrast Isn't A Moffat Strong Point
Season five helmed by Steven Moffat was a massive disappointment to me and there was a feeling Moff had done nothing to change the show . Instead he produced several Russell T Davies scripts that he found in the office . Certainly I was intrigued that season six was going to open with a two part episode which indicated he was about to stamp his own signature on the show . Could Steven Moffat finally break free of RTD's shadow ? Yes is the answer but he still has a major problem that I think that he's incapable of escaping . I'll come to that in a moment
First of all it's good to see a story set in America that was actually filmed in America and director Toby Haynes makes the best of the gorgeous Utah landscape . . In fact the photography used is beautiful as the early evening shade casts shadows upon the actors bodies . The sunset actually does resemble a sunset
Matt Smith also feels like he's stepping out of Tennant's shadow . . As much as I still miss Eccleston's brooding Byronic Doctor I do conceded that Smith has firmly nailing the part to a tee . Yes he's eccentric but he's convincingly eccentric , endearingly eccentric and you can believe he's an alien from another planet . The only downside to this is he show's up the rest of the cast which means Karen Gillan comes across as being a dreadful actress
The major problem with the episode is the writing . Moffat shows that he's a one trick pony and is relying too much on a formula . A timey wimey paradox , a child with a catchphrase " Are you my mummy , er I mean astronaut " we've all seen this before and one can't help thinking a dead horse has been well and truly flagellated . The great thing about DOCTOR WHO is the flexibility of the format , a format that isn't being used to its advantage under the Moff
Of course it's difficult to judge a two part story after seeing one episode but one can't help noticing there's a lack of ideas to Moffat's writing . In fact I shouldn't be writing " ideas " because the word should be " idea " singular since he keeps rewriting The Empty Child from season one . However I'll continually watch the show and praise it where praise is deserved
First of all it's good to see a story set in America that was actually filmed in America and director Toby Haynes makes the best of the gorgeous Utah landscape . . In fact the photography used is beautiful as the early evening shade casts shadows upon the actors bodies . The sunset actually does resemble a sunset
Matt Smith also feels like he's stepping out of Tennant's shadow . . As much as I still miss Eccleston's brooding Byronic Doctor I do conceded that Smith has firmly nailing the part to a tee . Yes he's eccentric but he's convincingly eccentric , endearingly eccentric and you can believe he's an alien from another planet . The only downside to this is he show's up the rest of the cast which means Karen Gillan comes across as being a dreadful actress
The major problem with the episode is the writing . Moffat shows that he's a one trick pony and is relying too much on a formula . A timey wimey paradox , a child with a catchphrase " Are you my mummy , er I mean astronaut " we've all seen this before and one can't help thinking a dead horse has been well and truly flagellated . The great thing about DOCTOR WHO is the flexibility of the format , a format that isn't being used to its advantage under the Moff
Of course it's difficult to judge a two part story after seeing one episode but one can't help noticing there's a lack of ideas to Moffat's writing . In fact I shouldn't be writing " ideas " because the word should be " idea " singular since he keeps rewriting The Empty Child from season one . However I'll continually watch the show and praise it where praise is deserved
helpful•2074
- Theo Robertson
- Apr 23, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Monument Valley, Utah, USA(The Doctor, Amy, Rory and River reunite)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime44 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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