The Silence are chilling antagonists first introduced in the Doctor Who two-parter, “The Impossible Astronaut” and “Day of the Moon,” which collectively function as the Season 6 premiere. These episodes establish their terrifying ability to be instantly forgotten upon looking away, making them a formidable and insidious threat to the Doctor and the universe.
The Genesis of Terror: Introducing the Silence
The Silence are a species of extraterrestrial beings who possess a unique and horrifying neurological feature: anyone who looks at them immediately forgets them once they look away. This makes them almost impossible to remember, track, or effectively combat. They can only be remembered if someone is actively looking at them, creating a constant state of fear and paranoia for those who know they exist. Their origins are deeply intertwined with the Silence Order, a religious movement dedicated to preventing the Doctor from answering the oldest question in the universe, hidden within the TARDIS’s question mark exterior.
Key Characteristics and Appearance
Visually, the Silence are tall, humanoid figures with elongated heads and sunken eyes. Their design is unsettling and deliberately alien, contributing to the overall sense of unease they evoke. This unsettling design, coupled with their forgetfulness-inducing abilities, makes them one of the most memorable and terrifying monsters in modern Doctor Who.
Tracing the Silence Through Doctor Who Episodes
While “The Impossible Astronaut” and “Day of the Moon” provide the foundation for the Silence’s story arc, they appear in several other episodes throughout Seasons 6 and 7. Understanding their appearances and roles within these episodes is crucial to grasping the full scope of their threat.
Core Episodes Featuring the Silence
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“The Impossible Astronaut” / “Day of the Moon” (Season 6, Episodes 1 & 2): This is the introduction of the Silence and their mind-altering abilities. It sets the stage for their conflict with the Doctor and reveals their plan to kill him. We see their manipulation of humanity and their use of the astronaut suit as a weapon.
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“The Wedding of River Song” (Season 6, Episode 13): This episode features the Doctor’s apparent death at the hands of River Song, orchestrated by the Silence. Their involvement is crucial to understanding the season’s overarching narrative.
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“The God Complex” (Season 6, Episode 11): Although the Silence don’t appear directly, their impact is felt as the fear created by the TARDIS’s “hotel” resonates with the pervasive sense of paranoia they instill.
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“The Time of the Doctor” (Season 7, Christmas Special): This episode marks the resolution of the Silence’s story arc. Here, we learn the true reason for their actions: to prevent the Doctor from answering the oldest question in the universe, which they believed would unleash chaos upon the cosmos. They are ultimately defeated when the Doctor answers the question truthfully, revealing his name, and unleashes a burst of regenerative energy, destroying the Silence Order’s forces.
Unraveling the Mystery: Frequently Asked Questions About the Silence
Here are some common questions regarding the Silence, providing further insight into their origins, motives, and impact on the Doctor Who universe.
FAQ 1: What exactly is the Silence Order?
The Silence Order is a religious organization dedicated to preventing the Time Lords from returning and, more specifically, preventing the Doctor from answering the oldest question in the universe, “Doctor Who?”. They believe that the Doctor’s true name, when revealed, would trigger a series of catastrophic events. The Silence are their foot soldiers, carrying out their plans and enforcing their will.
FAQ 2: Why do people forget the Silence when they look away?
This is a biological trait inherent to the Silence species. It is not a deliberate power they activate, but rather a fundamental aspect of their physiology. The exact neurological mechanism behind this ability is never fully explained in the series, but it’s what makes them so dangerous and difficult to combat.
FAQ 3: How did people know about the Silence if they were constantly forgotten?
People knew about the Silence through audio or visual recordings. Because the effect only applies to real-time observation, recordings could capture the Silence’s presence, allowing individuals to analyze and understand the threat they posed. Characters also wrote tally marks on their skin as reminders of encounters with the Silence.
FAQ 4: What was the significance of the Astronaut in “The Impossible Astronaut?”
The Astronaut was a suit controlled by River Song, under duress from Madame Kovarian and the Silence. It was programmed to kill the Doctor at Lake Silencio, preventing him from entering history and triggering the events the Silence Order feared. The suit itself was a powerful weapon, capable of absorbing and redirecting energy.
FAQ 5: How are the Silence connected to the Silence Order’s spaceship/church?
The spaceship/church is the headquarters and operating base of the Silence Order. It is equipped with advanced technology and is used to carry out their plans, including their manipulation of humanity and their attacks on the Doctor. The Silence themselves are the primary enforcers and warriors of this organization.
FAQ 6: What is the oldest question in the universe?
The oldest question in the universe is “Doctor Who?”. It’s the Doctor’s true name, and the Silence Order believed that if it were ever answered, it would unleash unimaginable horrors. The Time Lords initially concealed the Doctor’s name to protect him and the universe.
FAQ 7: Why was Canton Delaware III working with the Doctor against the Silence?
Canton Delaware III was working with the Doctor because he witnessed the Silence’s manipulative influence on humanity. As an FBI agent, he was initially investigating strange occurrences and disappearances, which led him to uncover the Silence’s existence and their sinister plans.
FAQ 8: What was the purpose of the eye-patch wearing Madame Kovarian?
Madame Kovarian was a key figure in the Silence Order. She was responsible for raising Melody Pond (River Song) and training her to kill the Doctor. Her eye patch allowed her to remember the Silence even when not looking at them, giving her a strategic advantage.
FAQ 9: Does everyone forget the Silence, or are there exceptions?
While the forgetting effect is universal, there are exceptions. Individuals with specific implants or those wearing devices like Madame Kovarian’s eye patch are able to retain memories of the Silence. Certain species, perhaps with differing neurological makeups, might also be resistant, although this isn’t explicitly shown.
FAQ 10: How were Amy and Rory connected to the Silence’s plan?
Amy and Rory’s daughter, Melody Pond (River Song), was engineered by the Silence Order as a weapon against the Doctor. Her timeline was deliberately manipulated, and she was raised to kill him. Amy’s strong will and connection to the TARDIS were also factors that made her a target for the Silence’s influence.
FAQ 11: What happened to the Silence after “The Time of the Doctor?”
Following the Doctor’s revelation of his name and the subsequent burst of regenerative energy, the Silence Order was effectively destroyed. While individual Silence creatures might still exist elsewhere in the universe, their organized threat was eliminated. Their influence, however, leaves a lasting mark on the Doctor and his companions.
FAQ 12: Were the Silence based on a real-world fear or concept?
Many believe the Silence draw inspiration from the concept of “missing time” experiences and the fear of unseen forces controlling events from the shadows. The feeling of forgetting something important or having one’s memories manipulated is a common source of anxiety, and the Silence tap into this primal fear effectively.
The Lasting Impact of the Silence
The Silence remain one of the most impactful and terrifying villains introduced in modern Doctor Who. Their unique ability to be forgotten, combined with their insidious plans and unsettling appearance, left a lasting impression on viewers and continues to be a topic of discussion and analysis within the Doctor Who fandom. They represent a chilling reminder of the unseen forces that might be shaping our world and the importance of remembering the truth, no matter how difficult it may be.