View source for Let's Kill Hitler

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox Doctor Who episode
| number             = 219
| serial_name        = Let's Kill Hitler
| show               = DW
| type               = episode
| image              = 
| caption            = 
| doctor             = [[Matt Smith]] – [[Eleventh Doctor]]
| companions         = 
* [[Karen Gillan]] – [[Amy Pond]]
* [[Arthur Darvill]] – [[Rory Williams]]
* [[Alex Kingston]] – [[River Song (Doctor Who)|River Song]]
| guests             = 
* [[Nina Toussaint-White]] – Mels
* [[Caitlin Blackwood]] – Amelia Pond
* Maya Glace-Green – Young Mels
* Ezekiel Wigglesworth – Young Rory
* Philip Rham – Zimmerman
* [[Richard Dillane]] – Carter
* Amy Cudden – Anita
* [[Davood Ghadami]] – Jim
* [[Ella Kenion]] – Harriet
* [[Albert Welling]] – [[Adolf Hitler]]
* [[Mark Killeen]] – German Officer
* Paul Bentley – Professor Candy
* [[Eva Alexander]] – Nurse
* Tor Clark – Female Teacher
| director           = Richard Senior<ref name="director">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0146h0q|title=Let's Kill Hitler, Series 6, Doctor Who - BBC One|website=BBC|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=31 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231163825/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0146h0q|url-status=live}}</ref>
| writer             = [[Steven Moffat]]
| script_editor      = Caroline Henry
| producer           = Marcus Wilson<ref name="director"/>
| executive_producer = {{Unbulleted list| Steven Moffat | [[Piers Wenger]] |  [[Beth Willis (producer)|Beth Willis]] }}
| composer           = [[Murray Gold]]
| production_code    = 2.8
| series             = [[Doctor Who (series 6)|Series 6]]
| length             = 50 minutes
| date               = {{Start date|2011|8|27|df=y}}
| preceding          = "[[A Good Man Goes to War]]"
| following          = "[[Night Terrors (Doctor Who)|Night Terrors]]"
}}
"'''Let's Kill Hitler'''" is the eighth episode of the [[Doctor Who (series 6)|sixth series]] of the British [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', and was first broadcast on [[BBC One]], [[Space (Canadian TV channel)|Space]] and [[BBC America]] on 27 August 2011. It was written by [[Steven Moffat]] and directed by Richard Senior.<ref name="director"/>

In the episode, alien time traveller [[Eleventh Doctor|the Doctor]] ([[Matt Smith]]) and his companions [[Amy Pond]] ([[Karen Gillan]]) and her husband [[Rory Williams]] ([[Arthur Darvill]]) crash land in 1938 Berlin when the [[TARDIS]] is hijacked by Amy and Rory's childhood friend, Mels ([[Nina Toussaint-White]]). They accidentally save [[Adolf Hitler]] ([[Albert Welling]]) who was scheduled for torture by the [[List of Doctor Who robots#Teselecta|Teselecta]], a time-travelling justice department. When shot by Hitler, Mels unexpectedly [[Regeneration (Doctor Who)|regenerates]] into [[River Song (Doctor Who)|River Song]], the grown version of Amy and Rory's child who had been taken away from them. As River is a criminal herself due to her [[The Impossible Astronaut|future execution of the Doctor]], the Teselecta pursue her instead, whilst the Doctor faces death from her poisoned lipstick.

Moffat intended for "Let's Kill Hitler" to be more lighthearted than the series opener, and he intended to make fun of Hitler. The episode concludes many elements of River Song's arc. The episode was filmed around March and April 2011, although the opening sequence, set in a cornfield, was filmed much later in the final scenes shot for the series as the production crew had to wait for the corn to grow. Much of Berlin was filmed in Swansea, while the [[Temple of Peace, Cardiff|Temple of Peace]] in Cardiff was also used as a location. In the UK, the episode attracted 8.10 million viewers, the second most-watched episode of the series. Critical reception was mostly positive, though some were critical of the Teselecta and various aspects of the setting and characters.

==Plot==

===Prequel===
On 15 August 2011, the BBC released a short "prequel" to "Let's Kill Hitler", written by [[Steven Moffat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/08/lets-kill-hitler-new-doctor-who-prequel-minisode|title=Let's Kill Hitler! New Doctor Who Prequel Minisode|publisher=[[Tor.com]]|date=15 August 2011|access-date=26 March 2013|archive-date=9 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409124925/http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/08/lets-kill-hitler-new-doctor-who-prequel-minisode|url-status=live}}</ref> In the prequel, [[Amy Pond|Amy]] calls the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and leaves a message for the Doctor on the [[TARDIS]]'s [[answering machine|answer phone]], begging him to find her child, Melody. Though Amy knows Melody will grow up to be [[River Song (Doctor Who)|River Song]], she does not want to miss seeing her grow up. As she ends her message, it is revealed that a very upset Doctor was listening but did not pick up the phone, even though Amy had pleaded for him to.<ref>{{cite web|first=Rick|last=Marshall|url=https://news.yahoo.com/lets-kill-hitler-prequel-teases-doctor-midseason-premiere-154607644.html|title=Let's Kill Hitler prequel teases Doctor Who midseason premiere|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=15 August 2011|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105170139/http://news.yahoo.com/lets-kill-hitler-prequel-teases-doctor-midseason-premiere-154607644.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Edwards|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/15/lets-kill-hitler-prequel-online/|title=Let's Kill Hitler Prequel Online|work=[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]|date=15 August 2011|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-date=2 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202013106/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/15/lets-kill-hitler-prequel-online/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00jthfd|title=Prequel to Let's Kill Hitler|date=22 August 2011 |publisher=BBC|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921050005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00jthfd|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Synopsis===
In modern-day Leadworth, Amy and [[Rory Williams|Rory]] create a [[crop circle]] to gain the Doctor's attention via its newspaper coverage. He arrives with his [[TARDIS]], but Amy and Rory's childhood friend Mels coerces them to travel back in time to "kill [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]". Inside the TARDIS, Mels fires a gun, damaging the TARDIS and sending it out of control.

Back in 1938 Berlin, the [[List of Doctor Who robots#Teselecta|Teselecta]], a shape-changing, human-looking robot manned by a human crew from the future miniaturised inside it, is seeking to deliver justice on major criminals from the past by torturing them. The TARDIS crashes into Hitler's office as the Teselecta tortures Hitler and knocks over the Teselecta. Hitler shoots at the Teselecta, but accidentally hits Mels instead. As Rory locks Hitler in a cupboard, Mels [[Regeneration (Doctor Who)|regenerates]], becoming the woman the Doctor knows as River Song. River, having been trained by her captors to kill the Doctor, kisses him with a poisonous lipstick which will kill the Doctor within the hour. The Doctor orders Amy and Rory to follow River, while he returns to the TARDIS. The Teselecta, aware that the Doctor's death in 2011 is a "fixed point in time", follows River, having identified her as a war criminal who is responsible for the Doctor's death.

[[File:Doctor Who Experience (14896895098).jpg|thumb|left|The Teselecta's antibodies, as shown at the Doctor Who Experience]]
The dying Doctor, having become aware of the Teselecta's nature, stops the Teselecta from punishing River at the [[Hotel Adlon]]. The captain, Carter, speaks to the Doctor, informing him that River has been trained to kill him by the [[Silence (Doctor Who)|Silence]], a religious order that believes that silence will fall when "the oldest question in the universe" is asked. Amy forces the crew to abandon the Teselecta. Amy, Rory, and River find the Doctor near death; the Doctor asks River to find "River Song" and give her a message, then whispers something in her ear before he dies. River, who at this point still only knows herself as Melody Pond, asks Amy who River Song is. Amy uses the Teselecta records to show her who she will become. With this, River sacrifices her remaining regenerations to bring the Doctor back to life, and passes out. The Doctor, Amy, and Rory take her to a hospital in the far future, leaving a diary as a gift by her bedside, and depart. Aboard the TARDIS, the Doctor has discovered the date of his death from the records aboard the Teselecta.

===Continuity===
This episode reveals the origins to several facets of the River Song character. Before transforming into River, Mels states that she was the young girl seen regenerating at the end of "[[Day of the Moon]]", becoming "a toddler" who presumably grew up to become Mels.<ref name="Brilliant Book"/> River's worn TARDIS-coloured diary, which the Doctor and his companions have seen in her relative future, is given to her brand-new by the Doctor.<ref name="confidential"/> The Doctor introduces her to the concept of "spoilers", seen originally in the [[Tenth Doctor]] story "[[Silence in the Library]]"/"[[Forest of the Dead]]", and becoming a virtual [[catchphrase]] for River. River's aptitude for flying the TARDIS—having been taught how by the machine itself—is demonstrated in "[[The Time of Angels]]"; River explains she "had lessons from the very best" (which the Doctor assumes refers to himself) and that the Doctor was "busy that day".<ref name="witd"/><ref>{{cite episode|title=[[The Time of Angels]]|series=[[Doctor Who]]|credits=[[Steven Moffat]] (writer), Adam Smith (director)|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC One]]|airdate=24 April 2010|number=4|series-no=5}}</ref> The Teselecta crew consider River a wanted, dangerous criminal; River is shown being in prison in her personal future in "The Time of Angels" for killing "the best man I ever knew".<ref name="AVClub"/> In this episode's epilogue, River joins the Luna University to become an archaeologist, in order to find the Doctor. Her previous appearances (events which take place later in River's personal timeline) show that she will/has acquired her degrees.<ref name="confidential"/> When River wakes up in hospital, the Doctor says "Rule One: The Doctor lies". This rule is 'repeated' by River herself in "[[The Big Bang (Doctor Who)|The Big Bang]]", a future event in her own personal timeline.<ref name="witd">{{Cite book|last1=Burk|first1=Graeme|last2=Smith?|first2=Robert|title=Who Is the Doctor: The Unofficial Guide to Doctor Who-The New Series|chapter=Series 6|edition=1st|date=6 March 2012|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/whoisdoctorunoff0000burk/page/373 373-174]|isbn=978-1550229844|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/whoisdoctorunoff0000burk/page/373}}</ref>

While activating the voice interface aboard the TARDIS, the Doctor is shown holograms of his former companions [[Rose Tyler]] ([[Billie Piper]]), [[Martha Jones]] ([[Freema Agyeman]]) and [[Donna Noble]] ([[Catherine Tate]]).<ref name="guardian" /> He rejects these, as they all cause him guilt. He eventually settles on the young Amelia (Caitlin Blackwood), who also appears (in flashback scenes of Amy's past) interacting with a younger Mels and Rory.<ref name="witd"/> The young Amelia voice interface brings up "fish fingers and custard", an allusion to the Doctor's meal with the real Amelia in "The Eleventh Hour". The concept of "fixed points in time" has been explored before, such as in "[[The Fires of Pompeii]]".<ref name="witd"/> The supposed "state of temporal grace" within the TARDIS was previously asserted by the [[Fourth Doctor]] during ''[[The Hand of Fear]]'' (1976).<ref name="Brilliant Book"/><ref name="witd"/>

==Production==

===Writing and casting===
[[File:Adolf Hitler Berghof-1936.jpg|thumb|right|Showrunner Steven Moffat wanted to "take the mickey out of" Hitler in the episode.]]
Serving as the mid-series premiere, it is the opposite of the tone of the opening story "[[The Impossible Astronaut]]" / "[[Day of the Moon]]", which was "grim and dark".<ref name="Brilliant Book">{{cite book|last=Hickman|first=Clayton|title=The Brilliant Book 2012|year=2011|publisher=[[BBC Books]]|isbn=978-1849902304|pages=100–101}}</ref> Writer Steven Moffat wanted to show Hitler in a comedic light and "take the mickey out of him" instead of making him "an icon of evil".<ref name="mercury"/> He compared it to a scene in an ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' film which made fun of Hitler.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/08/doctor-whos-day-roundup-steven-moffat-says-taking-the-mickey-out-of-hitler-was-the-plan/|title=Doctor Who's Day Roundup: Steven Moffat says 'taking the mickey out of Hitler' was the plan|publisher=[[BBC America]]|date=16 August 2011|access-date=5 June 2012|archive-date=27 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427031050/http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/08/doctor-whos-day-roundup-steven-moffat-says-taking-the-mickey-out-of-hitler-was-the-plan/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Moffat enjoyed writing Mels' regeneration scene, finding comedy in her checking out her new body.<ref name="confidential"/> He asserts that the episode is the beginning of River's story and shows how she became the woman the Doctor met in previous episodes.<ref name="confidential"/> During the moments after her regeneration, River reenacts the iconic scene between Mrs Robinson ([[Anne Bancroft]]) and Benjamin ([[Dustin Hoffman]]) from the movie ''[[The Graduate]]'', calling out to the Doctor "Hello, Benjamin".<ref name="telegraph"/> The camera angle is also a tribute to the film.<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Duncan|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/blog/2011-08-27/doctor-who-alex-kingston-interviewed|title=Doctor Who: Alex Kingston interview|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=5 June 2012|archive-date=9 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009094331/http://www.radiotimes.com/blog/2011-08-27/doctor-who-alex-kingston-interviewed|url-status=live}}</ref> The Doctor previously likened River to Mrs Robinson in "[[The Impossible Astronaut]]".<ref name=eppage>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0103y2x/features/lets-kill-hitler-the-fourth-dimension|title=Let's Kill Hitler&nbsp;– The Fourth Dimension|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706073316/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0103y2x/features/lets-kill-hitler-the-fourth-dimension|url-status=live}}</ref>

The cast and crew felt that the costume and make-up artists did a good job with [[Albert Welling]], as he looked so much like Hitler it was a "surreal" experience.<ref name="confidential"/> [[Ella Kenion]], who plays Harriet in this episode, later appeared in the [[Fourth Doctor]] audio drama ''[[The Wrath of the Iceni]]'' where she played [[Boudica]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-wrath-of-the-iceni-656|title=1.03. The Wrath of the Iceni|publisher=[[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]]|date=26 November 2011|access-date=29 January 2012|archive-date=3 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503195702/http://bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-wrath-of-the-iceni-656|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Arthur Darvill]] was pleased that his character, Rory, was more of an "action hero" in the episode.<ref name="mercury">{{cite web|first=Roz|last=Laws|url=http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/tv-news/2011/08/19/hitler-crop-circles-school-uniforms-and-moles-it-s-just-what-the-doctor-ordered-66331-29269160/|title=Hitler, crop circles, school uniforms and moles&nbsp;– it's just what the Doctor ordered|work=[[Sunday Mercury]]|date=19 August 2011|access-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> Before broadcast, actor [[Matt Smith]] stated that it was "maybe [his] favorite episode to date...it just rockets along".<ref>{{cite web|first=Morgan|last=Jeffery|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a333132/doctor-who-matt-smith-lets-kill-hitler-is-best-episode-yet.html|title='Doctor Who' Matt Smith: 'Let's Kill Hitler is best episode yet'|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|date=3 August 2011|access-date=31 July 2012|archive-date=20 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420154320/http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a333132/doctor-who-matt-smith-lets-kill-hitler-is-best-episode-yet.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith's Doctor debuted his secondary jacket, a long dark-green military overcoat<!--accurate?-->, for the first time in this episode.<ref name="telegraph"/> In an interview for the [[Doctor Who (series 5)|previous series]] concerning the Eleventh Doctor's costume, executive producer [[Piers Wenger]] said, "I think he'd really like to evolve it next series. He's really keen to have a coat."<ref name="dressing">{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Setchfield|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/03/28/doctor-who-the-new-costume/|title=Dressing Doctor Who|work=SFX|date=28 March 2010|access-date=3 August 2012|archive-date=18 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118015054/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/03/28/doctor-who-the-new-costume/|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith explained that he wanted a coat because of the cold weather.<ref name="dressing"/>

===Filming and effects===
The [[read-through]] for "Let's Kill Hitler" took place on 21 March 2011.<ref name="eppage" /> The opening shots in the cornfield were the last ones filmed of the series on 11 July 2011.<ref name="eppage" /> The scene was filmed last because the crew had to wait for the corn to grow; Moffat had written the scene in February.<ref name="confidential"/> Much of Berlin was filmed in [[Swansea]].<ref name="confidential"/> Vintage vehicles from the period were used; Darvill loved the motorbike, although he was not allowed to ride it as it was the job of the stuntman.<ref name="confidential"/> The [[Temple of Peace, Cardiff|Temple of Peace]] in Cardiff used in the episode for the German dinner party was also used for [[Karen Gillan]]'s first ''Doctor Who'' appearance, when she played a Soothsayer in "[[The Fires of Pompeii]]".<ref name="confidential">{{cite episode|title=River Runs Wild|series=[[Doctor Who Confidential]]|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC Three]]|airdate=27 August 2011|series-no=6|number=8}}</ref> Smith, Gillan and Darvill had previously filmed in the Temple of Peace for "[[Cold Blood (Doctor Who)|Cold Blood]]" in the [[Doctor Who (series 5)|previous series]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=What Goes on Tour...|series=[[Doctor Who Confidential]]|airdate=29 May 2010|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC Three]]|series-no=5|number=9}}</ref> Hitler's office was one of the biggest sets that had been built for the show. Typically it would have been filmed in a real building, but the TARDIS had to crash through the wall and thus the set had to be destroyed with an air cannon.<ref name="confidential"/> The [[Large Hadron Collider]] in [[Switzerland]] was the inspiration for the design of the Teselecta corridors.<ref name="confidential"/>

One scene involving the Teselecta (disguised as a German soldier) chasing Amy and Rory on motorcycles through Berlin was cut from filming due to budget issues. [[AT&T]], who wanted to advertise in the United States broadcast of the episode on [[BBC America]] as a tie-in to their "Rethink possible" slogan, brought the idea of using a [[motion comic]] to create a bridging scene within the advertising break where this scene would have been placed. AT&T and BBC America worked with Moffat and Senior to create the 60 second scene, which was animated by Double Barrel Motion Labs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/t-story-doctor/229500/ | title = AT&T to Help Tell the Story of 'Doctor Who' | first = Andrew | last = Hampp | date = 26 August 2011 | access-date = 29 October 2011 | work = [[Ad Age]] | archive-date = 8 July 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120708052204/http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/t-story-doctor/229500/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Broadcast and reception==
"Let's Kill Hitler" was first broadcast on 27 August 2011 on [[BBC One]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2011/wk35/sat.shtml#sat_doc|title=Network TV BBC Week 35: Saturday 27 August 2011|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111224547/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2011/wk35/sat.shtml#sat_doc|url-status=live}}</ref> Internationally, it was broadcast in America on [[sister station]] [[BBC America]] on 27 August<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://press.bbcamerica.com/press-release.jsp?id=42026|title=BBC America's Doctor Who Returns Saturday With Let's Kill Hitler|publisher=[[BBC America]]|date=24 August 2012|access-date=22 April 2013|archive-date=20 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920215648/http://press.bbcamerica.com/press-release.jsp?id=42026|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as on [[Space (Canadian TV channel)|Space]] in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacecast.com/article/Doctor-Who-Midseason-Premiere-Announced! |title=Doctor Who Midseason Premiere Announced! |publisher=[[Space (Canadian TV channel)|Space]] |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325111233/http://www.spacecast.com/article/Doctor-Who-Midseason-Premiere-Announced%21 |archive-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref> Overnight ratings showed that the episode was watched by 6.2 million viewers on BBC One, the second most viewed show of the day behind ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]''.<ref name="overnight"/> The episode also came in at number one on the [[BBC iPlayer]] service the day after it aired<ref name="overnight">{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Golder|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/28/doctor-who-%e2%80%9clet%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-overnight-ratings/|title=Doctor Who "Let's Kill Hitler" Overnight Ratings|work=SFX|date=28 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406092541/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/28/doctor-who-%e2%80%9clet%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-overnight-ratings/|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as topping the requests on the service for the month of August with 0.99 million views.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Golder|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/09/02/doctor-who-let%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-tops-august-iplayer-chart/|title=Doctor Who "Let's Kill Hitler" Tops August iPlayer Charts|work=SFX|date=2 September 2011|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-date=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406092646/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/09/02/doctor-who-let%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-tops-august-iplayer-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref> The episode also received an [[Appreciation Index]] of 85, considered "excellent".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2011/08/dwn290811100012-lets-kill-hitler.html|title=Let's Kill Hitler: Appreciation Index|publisher=The Doctor Who News Page|date=29 August 2011|access-date=30 August 2011|archive-date=1 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401023945/http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2011/08/dwn290811100012-lets-kill-hitler.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Final viewing figures came in at 8.10 million, the eleventh most watched programme of the week.<ref name="BARB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10?_s=4|date=7 September 2011|access-date=7 September 2011|publisher=[[BARB]]|title=Weekly Viewing Summary w/e 01/06/2008|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628203009/http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Golder|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/09/04/doctor-who-let%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-final-ratings/|title=Doctor Who "Let's Kll Hitler" Final Ratings|work=SFX|date=4 September 2011|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-date=27 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127052706/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/09/04/doctor-who-let%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-final-ratings/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the second most-watched episode of the sixth series, behind "[[The Impossible Astronaut]]".<ref name="BARB"/>

Some viewers complained to the BBC believing they heard a German guard say the profanity "where the fuck is he?" However, the BBC stated he said, "Halt, was machen Sie?", which means "Stop, what are you doing?" in German.<ref>{{cite web|first=Christopher|last=Hooton|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/873882-doctor-who-fans-up-in-arms-after-f-word-in-lets-kill-hitler-episode|title=Doctor Who fans up in arms after 'F-word in Let's Kill Hitler episode'|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|date=30 August 2011|access-date=5 June 2012|archive-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907161539/http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/873882-doctor-who-fans-up-in-arms-after-f-word-in-lets-kill-hitler-episode|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
[[File:Arthur Darvill.png|thumb|left|At least one critic and Arthur Darvill himself were pleased that Rory had become more of an action hero in the episode.]]
The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics. Dan Martin, writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', was more pleased with "Let's Kill Hitler" as an opener than "A Good Man Goes to War" as a finale, and said it was "an energetic, timey-wimey tour de force with gags and flourishes like the car and the crop circles that still maintained a strong sense of what it was about". He also commended [[Alex Kingston]]'s performance, saying that "she got to steal her every scene even more completely than usual, masterfully swerving the episode into a properly emotional final act".<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Martin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/aug/27/doctor-who-television|title=Doctor Who: Let's Kill Hitler&nbsp;– series 32, episode 8|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=20 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820143656/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/aug/27/doctor-who-television|url-status=live}}</ref> Martin later rated it the sixth best episode of the series, though [[The Wedding of River Song|the finale]] was not included in the list. He commented that it may be "divisive" amongst fans as it was criticised for not making sense to casual viewers of the programme, but Martin said he "loved it".<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Martin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/sep/30/best-episode-13th-doctor-who|title=Doctor Who: which is the best episode of this series?|work=The Guardian|date=30 September 2011|access-date=20 November 2011|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921111039/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/sep/30/best-episode-13th-doctor-who|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Hogan of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the episode four out of five stars, praising it for being "jam-packed full of ideas, twists, turns and wibbly-wobbly time-bending stuff" and "giddily thrilling entertainment, albeit rather exhausting". He also praised the way it allowed Rory to "finally find his niche".<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Hogan|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/8725946/Doctor-Who-Lets-Kill-Hitler-BBC-One-review.html|title=Doctor Who, Let's Kill Hitler, BBC One, review|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=28 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828101925/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/8725946/Doctor-Who-Lets-Kill-Hitler-BBC-One-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Independent]]'', Neela Debnath praised the lighter mood and "great slapstick moments". Though she thought the identity of Mels was "obvious to everyone but the characters", she said that [[Nina Toussaint-White]] was "excellent" and that "it was shame that she regenerated so early on because she brought a different energy to the character".<ref name="independent">{{cite web|first=Neela|last=Debnath|url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/08/27/review-of-doctor-who-%e2%80%98let%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%99/|title=Review of Doctor Who 'Let's Kill Hitler'|work=[[The Independent]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311193719/http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/08/27/review-of-doctor-who-%e2%80%98let%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%99/|archive-date=11 March 2013}}</ref> ''[[Radio Times]]'' reviewer Patrick Mulkern, unlike Debnath, admitted that Mels' true identity "took [him] completely by surprise". He thought that a plot hole was generated in terms of what Melody did in between regenerating in 1969 and joining Amy and Rory, still as a child, 20 years later, but said that "the episode moves too fast for such quibbles to stick, and it is hilarious".<ref name="radiotimes">{{cite web |first=Patrick |last=Mulkern |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/lets-kill-hitler/ |title=Doctor Who: Let's Kill Hitler |work=[[Radio Times]] |date=21 October 2013 |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512222203/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/lets-kill-hitler/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ken Tucker of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called it "a marvelously energetic, funny, clever, noble mid-season start" and praised the acting of Smith, Gillan, Darvill, and particularly Kingston, as well as the emotion that developed in the episode.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|first=Ken|last=Tucker|url=http://watching-tv.ew.com/2011/08/28/doctor-who-lets-kill-hitler/|title='Doctor Who' mid-season premiere review: 'Let's Kill Hitler' was a great lark through time and space|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=28 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=2 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202190546/http://watching-tv.ew.com/2011/08/28/doctor-who-lets-kill-hitler/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[IGN]]'s Matt Risley gave the episode a score of 9 out of 10, saying that it was "arguably Moffat's most unashamedly fun Time Lord romp yet". While he praised the humour, plot and character development, he was critical of the Teselecta; though they "score[d] high on the sci-fi kitsch factor" they were "anything but memorable".<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Risley|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1190871p1.html|title=Doctor Who: "Let's Kill Hitler" Review|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115152011/http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1190871p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX magazine]]'' critic Richard Edwards gave "Let's Kill Hitler" five out of five stars, thinking it "has to rank among the cleverest ''Who'' episodes Moffat has ever written". While he praised Kingston's performance, he wrote that "it's Matt Smith who steals the show, in one of his finest performances as the Doctor...he's utterly magnificent, whether acting the joker, or living out 32 minutes (ish) of death scene. The mix of optimism...and sadness is a tricky thing to pull off, yet Smith does it in a quintessentially Doctor way".<ref name="SFX">{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Edwards|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/27/doctor-who-6-08-%E2%80%9Clet%E2%80%99s-kill-hitler%E2%80%9D-review/|title=Doctor Who 6.08 "Let's Kill Hitler" Review|work=SFX|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=2 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202005618/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/27/doctor-who-6-08-%e2%80%9clet%e2%80%99s-kill-hitler%e2%80%9d-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> Keith Phipps of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' graded the episode as a B+, saying that he was "a bit divided". He praised Moffat's River Song arc, which made "the mind [reel]...in a good way", as well as the dialogue and "big concepts". On the other hand, he did not think the Teselecta's mission was developed and "as characters they seem kind of bland". What "really trouble[d]" him was that it did not have the "impact" of some previous episodes and he thought it unlikely that Amy and Rory were willing to quickly accept that they were meant to raise their daughter as a school friend.<ref name="AVClub">{{cite web|first=Keith|last=Phipps|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/lets-kill-hitler,60806/|title=Let's Kill Hitler|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=10 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910130017/http://www.avclub.com/articles/lets-kill-hitler,60806/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jim Shelley of ''[[The Daily Mirror]]'' was also negative about the episode, especially towards Alex Kingston, who appeared to be acting while "the rest of the cast play their parts perfectly naturally".<ref>{{cite web|first=Jim|last=Shelley|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/columnists/jim-shelley/2011/08/29/doctor-who-s-plots-are-getting-lost-in-space-115875-23379683/|title=Doctor Who's plots are getting lost in space...|work=[[The Daily Mirror]]|date=29 August 2011|access-date=30 August 2011|archive-date=29 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829081305/http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/columnists/jim-shelley/2011/08/29/doctor-who-s-plots-are-getting-lost-in-space-115875-23379683/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Daily Telegraph'' reviewer Gavin Fuller said that Moffat "delivered a pacy romp" and praised the concept of the Teselecta, but was disappointed with the "wasted opportunity" of the setting. He thought that the setting offered "great dramatic potential" but was "little more than window dressing for the story". He also felt using Hitler as a comic relief "struck a wrong note given the nature of the man and the regime he led" and that it was "an odd way to treat such an historically significant character". He was also critical of Moffat's "seeming keenness to kill the regular cast in some way, shape or form".<ref>{{cite news|first=Gavin|last=Fuller|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/8722394/Doctor-Who-Lets-Kill-Hitler-review.html|title=Doctor Who: Let's Kill Hitler&nbsp;– a wasted opportunity?|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918223129/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/8722394/Doctor-Who-Lets-Kill-Hitler-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, ''Entertainment Weekly''{{'s}} Tucker thought that it "didn't need Hitler to be an excellent [''Doctor Who''] episode".<ref name="EW" />

==See also==
* {{anl|Killing baby Hitler}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Eleventh Doctor}}
*{{TardisIndexFile|Let's Kill Hitler}}
*{{IMDb episode|1795142}}
*{{BBCDWnew | year=2011 | id=b0146h0q | title=Let's Kill Hitler}}
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{{Doctor Who episodes|N6}}
{{Doctor Who episodes by Steven Moffat |state=autocollapse}}
{{Eleventh Doctor stories|selected=Television}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Let's Kill Hitler}}
[[Category:2011 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor episodes]]
[[Category:Doctor Who pseudohistorical serials]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Steven Moffat]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Adolf Hitler]]
[[Category:Doctor Who stories set on Earth]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in Berlin]]
[[Category:Television episodes about Nazis]]
[[Category:Fiction about size change]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 2011]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1938]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in the 1930s]]
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