Information
Writer: Steven Moffat
Director: Euros Lyn
Script Editor: Helen Raynor
Producer: Suzie Liggat
Executive Producer(s): Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner, Phil Collinson
Originally Broadcast: 31st May 2008
Duration: 45 mins
Viewing Figures (in millions): 6.27m
Production Code: 4.8
Monsters/Villains: Vashta Nerada
Year Set: 51st Century
Location: The Library
Synopsis
One hundred years ago, the Universe's greatest library was sealed off with only a cryptic warning as explanation: "Count the shadows."
However, it now appears that the shadows are on the move again.
The Doctor and Donna must uncover the terrible truth behind the Nodes and the horrifying Data Ghost to uncover the Library's secret.
Cast
David Tennant - The Doctor
Catherine Tate - Donna Noble
Alex Kingston – Professor River Song
Colin Salmon – Dr Moon
Eve Newton – The Girl
Mark Dexter – Dad
Sarah Niles – Node 1
Joshua Dallas – Node 2
Steve Pemberton - Strackman Lux
Talulah Riley – Miss Evangelista
Jessika Williams – Anita
O-T Fagbenle – Other Dave
Harry Peacock – Proper Dave
Monster File: Vashta Nerada
Place of Origin: n/a
Life Form: Microscopic, swarming carnivores
Vashta Nerada were small, carnivorous beings. Their name meant “shadows that melt the flesh”, and that’s what they could do. The Vashta Nerada were microscopic beings that lived in swarms, thousands strong. Swarms of them lived on almost every planet, which had organisms with meat. While these swarms were not common, they inspired a fear of the dark in most species across the Universe. Vashta Nerada swarms hunted in forests because they hatched from their spores there. These swarms were able to strip a creature to its bare bones in milliseconds. The Doctor described them as "piranhas of the air". The swarms lived in the darkness, and cast shadows when they entered the light - even to the extent of stopping the reach of light from fission lamps. Vashta Nerada were capable of latching their shadows onto a victim's shadow and changing to appearance of their shadow to that of their victim's. This would cause the victim to have two shadows. If the swarms were discovered, they could enter at least through a thick spacesuit and devour the body. They could then use the suit as a vessel to attack more prey.
Preceded by: The Unicorn and the Wasp - Followed by: Forest of the Dead
