Doctor Who
Object

Squire's Pitchfork

A hayfork used by Squire in a desperate attempt to defend against the Silurian, later examined by the Doctor as evidence of self-defense. Symbolizes human futility against reptilian strength.
2 appearances

Purpose

Makeshift weapon against Silurian; later forensic clue

Significance

Highlights human weapons' futility against reptilian strength, fueling UNIT investigation into self-defense vs. attack; marks first lethal Silurian encounter

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments
S7E6 · Doctor Who and The Silurians Part 2
Squire’s fatal discovery in the barn

The Squire grabs the pitchfork from the barn shadows in a desperate attempt to defend himself against the Silurian. He thrusts it at the creature, but the tines bend uselessly against its armored hide, symbolizing the futility of human weapons against the ancient reptilian race. The pitchfork is discarded near the Squire’s body, its bent tines a silent testament to the Squire’s failed resistance. Later, the Doctor examines it, linking its bent form to the claw marks on the Squire’s body and shifting suspicion from murder to retaliation by an unknown force.

Before: Leaning against the barn wall, intact and ready for use in farm labor. It is a tool, not a weapon, but the Squire wields it in desperation.
After: Bent and discarded near the Squire’s body, its uselessness against the Silurian now evident. It becomes physical evidence of the creature’s strength and the Squire’s futile last stand.
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S7E6 · Doctor Who and The Silurians Part 2
Doctor reveals fear as the weapon

The pitchfork is a silent but powerful witness to Squire’s final moments. Bent and discarded near his corpse, its tines are warped from the force of his desperate attack on the Silurian. The Doctor lifts it with a mix of reverence and clinical detachment, using it as evidence to reconstruct Squire’s last stand. The pitchfork’s condition—bloodied, useless against the creature’s armored hide—underscores the futility of physical resistance and foreshadows the psychological nature of the threat. Its presence in the scene serves as a tangible link between Squire’s defiance and his ultimate demise, reinforcing the Doctor’s theory that fear, not claws, was the true weapon.

Before: Intact and leaning against the barn wall, part of Squire’s farming tools, ready for use in daily labor.
After: Bent, bloodied, and discarded near Squire’s corpse, its tines permanently warped from the impact with the Silurian’s hide. It becomes a forensic clue, handled by the Doctor and later examined by Liz.
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