Cold Blood (Doctor Who)

209b – "Cold Blood"
Doctor Who episode
A dead Rory is erased from history by the crack in the universe, the motif of the main story arc of the series. The emotional scene was praised by critics.
Cast
Doctor Matt Smith – Eleventh Doctor
Companions Karen Gillan – Amy Pond Arthur Darvill – Rory Williams
Guest Neve McIntosh – Alaya/Restac Meera Syal – Nasreen Chaudhry Robert Pugh – Tony Mack Nia Roberts – Ambrose Richard Hope – Malohkeh Stephen Moore – Eldane Alun Raglan – Mo Samuel Davies – Elliot
Production
Directed by	Ashley Way
Written by	Chris Chibnall
Script editor	Lindsey Alford
Produced by	Peter Bennett
Executive producer(s)	Steven Moffat Piers Wenger Beth Willis
Music by	Murray Gold
Production code	1.9
Series	Series 5
Running time	2nd of 2-part story, 45 minutes
First broadcast	29 May 2010 (2010-05-29)
Chronology
← Preceded by "The Hungry Earth" Followed by → "Vincent and the Doctor"
List of episodes (2005–present)

"Cold Blood" is the ninth episode in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 29 May 2010 on BBC One. It was written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Ashley Way. It is the second episode of a two-part story, the first episode being "The Hungry Earth", which features the return of the reptilian humanoid Silurians.

In the episode, deep underground, humans Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Nasreen Chaudhry (Meera Syal) have a conference with the Silurians' leader Eldane (Stephen Moore) over sharing the Earth between the two species. Meanwhile, the Silurian warrior Alaya (Neve McIntosh) is kept hostage in Wales by locals Ambrose (Nia Roberts) and Tony (Robert Pugh) until their relatives Mo (Alun Raglan) and Elliot (Samuel Davies) are returned from underground. The negotiations collapse after Alaya is killed by Ambrose for not helping them.

Chibnall was selected by executive producers Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger to write a two-part episode about the return of the Silurians. Chibnall wanted "Cold Blood" in particular to be about the mistakes people make under pressure, and conflict that could come out of protecting a family. The episode is also connected to the series' story arc, as the crack in the universe returns at the end of the episode. "The Hungry Earth" and "Cold Blood" were filmed in October and November 2009, with scenes in "Cold Blood" shot in Llanwynno, Wales, Cardiff's Temple of Peace, Plantasia, and an array of locations and sets for parts of the Silurian city, which the production team did not want to look like a cave. The episode was watched by 7.49 million viewers in the United Kingdom and received mixed reviews from critics. Some reviewers were disappointed by the plot and characteristics of the Silurians, but the emotional ending was widely praised.