New Who Countdown: Number 7

"A Good Man Goes to War"
Seies: 6
Doctor: Matt Smith
Companion: The Ponds, River Song
Writer: Steven Moffat

The episode starts with series of wonderful shots as the Doctor calls in all his favors from across the universe to save Amy and Melody.  Silurians, Cybermen, Strax (the Sontaran nurse), Dorium Maldovar, and the Judoon are all present to run Madame Kovarian and the Anglican Clerics, along with the Headless Monks out of Demons Run. Yes, I realized that it sounds like I'm writing gibberish, and my spell check is about to throw a hissy fit, but these are all fantastic beings, people, and religious orders are show up in "A Good Man Goes to War".  I love when the cast of characters is a mishmash because it demonstrates just how ridiculous the world of Doctor Who can be.

Matt Smith is fantastic in this episode.  Matt Smith as the Doctor shows more bravado and anger in "A Good Man Goes to War" than he had in any of the previous episodes, and we really get to see the many flaws of the Doctor.  This is a true turning point for Amy, Rory, and the Doctor as their friendship is put to the test.  As River says near the beginning of the episode, "This is the Battle of Demon's Run.  The Doctor's darkest hour.  He'll rise higher than ever before and then fall so much further." Matt Smith's performance is powerful.  There's such a range of emotions - vengefulness, willfulness, tenderness, love, hate, and quite a bit of hubris. One of my favorite quotes from the entire Matt Smith run as the Doctor is here:
Madame Kovorian: The anger of a good man is not a problem.  Good men have too many rules.
The Doctor, menacingly: Good men don't need rules.  Today is not the day to find out why I have so many.

This is where we finally understand River Song's motivations and backstory, and perhaps, why she's imprisoned.  And also why she's so damed complicated.  Alex Kingston as River Song is possibly my favorite character.  She's witty, she's smart, she's badass, and she's so, so human.  (See "The Angels Take Manhattan" for a few more of River's best moments.)  And at Demon's Run, it's all about her.  Even if she doesn't turn up until the very end.

Of course, River Song's poem is fantastic.

Demons run when a good man goes to war.

Night will fall and drown the sun,

When a good man goes to war.

Friendship dies and true love lies,

Night will fall and the dark will rise,

When a good man goes to war.

Demons run, but count the cost.

The battle's won but the child is lost.