A lingering question for Doctor Who enthusiasts revolves around the Silence ships featured in “The Lodger” and “Day of the Moon.” Are these vessels distinct entities, or could they possibly be one and the same? While no definitive answer exists, compelling arguments can be made for both perspectives, inviting speculation about the enigmatic Silence and their presence on Earth. Let’s delve into the evidence to Doctor The Silence surrounding this intriguing debate.
Arguments for the Ships Being the Same Entity
Several clues suggest a potential link between the abandoned Silence ship in “The Lodger” and the one encountered in “Day of the Moon.” Firstly, consider the Doctor’s own words in “Day of the Moon”: “I’ve seen one of these before. Abandoned. I wonder how that happened? Oh, well I suppose I’m about to find out.” This line carries a dual meaning. It could imply the Doctor is merely recognizing the ship type. However, it also strongly hints that he is about to witness the specific circumstances leading to this particular ship’s abandonment – the very ship we later see crashed in “The Lodger.”
Furthermore, the fate of the “Day of the Moon” timeship aligns remarkably well with the description of the “Lodger” ship. We last see the former partially exploding and its crew seemingly deceased. This directly echoes the hologram’s description in “The Lodger”: “The ship has crashed. The crew are dead.” If these are separate incidents, one must then ponder how 1960s humans could board a Silence timeship, eliminate the crew, and cause it to crash – a scenario that stretches plausibility compared to the Doctor’s direct involvement in the “Day of the Moon” ship’s demise.
Arguments for Distinct Silence Ships
Despite the compelling circumstantial evidence for a single ship, counter-arguments suggest the existence of multiple Silence vessels. Crucially, Moffat’s own comments hint at distinct entities. He refers to “those” Silence ships that arrived on Earth and “the one” the Doctor found in “The Lodger” as “an abandoned ship from the Silence occupation.” This plural usage of “ships” and the indefinite article “an” imply more than one vessel being present, or at least the possibility of multiple ships.
Adding to this, the Doctor’s phrasing in “Day of the Moon” – “I’ve seen one of these before” – also subtly suggests he recognizes a type of ship, not necessarily the same ship. Given the Silence’s extensive occupation of Earth, it seems logical to assume they would utilize a fleet of ships rather than relying on a singular vessel. The scale of their operation and influence implies a more substantial logistical presence.
The Question of Amy and the TARDIS
The article also touches upon Amy’s potential role in the TARDIS’s landing difficulties. While it’s tempting to link Amy’s past (future?) interactions with Silence timeships to the TARDIS’s uncooperative behavior, the evidence is tenuous. The TARDIS has a known history of being finicky about landing in areas saturated with time travel paradoxes or temporal anomalies, as seen in instances like “The Angels Take Manhattan” and “The Pirate Planet.” Therefore, while Amy’s involvement isn’t impossible, it’s more likely that the TARDIS’s landing issues stem from broader time-related disturbances rather than solely from Amy’s specific encounters.
Conclusion: An Unresolved Mystery
In conclusion, the question of whether the Silence ships in “The Lodger” and “Day of the Moon” are the same remains open to interpretation. While circumstantial evidence and the narrative flow lean towards the possibility of a single, ill-fated vessel, statements from Moffat and logical considerations about the Silence’s operations suggest a wider fleet. Ultimately, the ambiguity surrounding the Silence ships adds to the mystique of these formidable Doctor Who adversaries, leaving fans to ponder the deeper mysteries of their time on Earth and doctor the silence that surrounds them.
