Silence (Doctor Who)

The Silence (individual: Silent) are a religious order in the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, created by then-showrunner Steven Moffat. They are a humanoid species who design draws inspiration from Edvard Munch's 1893 expressionist painting The Scream as well as the urban legend of the "men in black." In-universe, those who turn away from the Silence after seeing them will forget they ever saw the Silence; the Silence use this ability to act undetected and manipulate others using post-hypnotic suggestion. Though the phrase "Silence will fall" recurred throughout the 2010 series of Doctor Who, the Silence were not seen until the 2011 series' opener "The Impossible Astronaut", with their origins and goals not fully revealed until the 2013 special "The Time of the Doctor".

The Silence were met with a positive response from critics, being described as effective and scary antagonists, though some were concerned if the species was too terrifying for child audiences. The Silence have been analyzed for their ability to convey fear, as well as in their relationship with the series' protagonist, The Doctor.