Doctor Who - SPOILERS!!

[Jan]

I don't know about Doctor Who as a question unless one presumes that the Doctor is trying to find himself?

Any comments about the new companion? Besides whether she's cute or not - I gather that she is. But is she a good actress?

Jan

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by Jan

I don't know about Doctor Who as a question unless one presumes that the Doctor is trying to find himself?

(SPOILERS FOR THE END OF THE PREVIOUS SEASON)

I just wonder why it is presented as this universe-changing question. It's an interesting direction, hinting that the Doctor is perhaps a more important figure than we know (as has been done before in the history of DW).

Any comments about the new companion? Besides whether she's cute or not - I gather that she is. But is she a good actress?

I find the character description a little worrying, as I'm not a huge fan of Moffat's new characters, but I think we'll just have to see. I personally enjoyed the last season more than the one before it (even Amy was better), so I hope that Moffat is finding his stride.

[OmahaStar]

Originally Posted by Jonas

(SPOILERS FOR THE END OF THE PREVIOUS SEASON)

I just wonder why it is presented as this universe-changing question. It's an interesting direction, hinting that the Doctor is perhaps a more important figure than we know (as has been done before in the history of DW).

Whatever it is, I have a feeling we've already been introduced to at least part of it.

Moffatt seems to plan these things out. Go back to his very first episode as show runner. Not only do we have things setting up that one season (the crack in the wall), the prisoner specifically says "Silence will fall," which directly leads into the following season's arc - a year early. In "The Lodger" we see the not-Tardis. We then find out the Silence were responsible for that, again the following year, in the episode with the Soul Hunter/G'Sten.

I'm willing to bet he has a long-term story in mind, and whatever that story arc is, he's already laid the groundwork. We just don't realize it yet.

[Andrew_Swallow]

Originally Posted by Jonas

{snip}

Let's get this thread back on track. How do you think the question of the question (Doctor Who?) will be handled?

First they will play a word game. There will be a choice between two people so the question becomes "Doctor, who?"

Second the Doctor will whisper to answer to River Song and we will not hear.

[Doom Shepherd]

I would think it's going to be something about the Doctor's "true nature."
(Tell me, Doctor, have you read the works of Shan Yu?)

Also, as I recall, part of the legend is it being the "Fall of the Eleventh," so it will see the transition to the Twelfth.

On the other hand, they fooled us with that before ("He will knock four times," I assumed to be the Master, but it was really Wilfred) so the eleventh might also be something else.

[Marsden]

It may have something to do with what he saw in room 11 in the God Complex hotel. But they didn't show us that, so it doesn't matter mentioning it, really.

Does he have only 1 regeneration left now, or 2, I remember him being limited to 12 but I think it was 10 once, so they can always modify it. I remember The Doctor (Tom Baker) gloating about The Master using up all ten of his regenerations right before he stole Nyssa's father.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

Originally Posted by Marsden

It may have something to do with what he saw in room 11 in the God Complex hotel. But they didn't show us that, so it doesn't matter mentioning it, really.

Does he have only 1 regeneration left now, or 2, I remember him being limited to 12 but I think it was 10 once, so they can always modify it. I remember The Doctor (Tom Baker) gloating about The Master using up all ten of his regenerations right before he stole Nyssa's father.

I think the established principle is that the Doctor has 12 regenerations (and therefore 13 bodies) so he would have two left ... unless the one he aborted at the end of The Stolen Earth counts.

That said, I think the loss of the Time Lords gives the producers a perfect excuse to say that this no longer applies, especially given that the Time Lords at one point granted The Master additional regenerations. Clearly they had some say in the matter, so with them gone, the Doctor probably has an infinite number of possible regenerations provided his body has the energy to go through it.

[Marsden]

Originally Posted by Garibaldi's Hair

I think the established principle is that the Doctor has 12 regenerations (and therefore 13 bodies) so he would have two left ... unless the one he aborted at the end of The Stolen Earth counts.

That said, I think the loss of the Time Lords gives the producers a perfect excuse to say that this no longer applies, especially given that the Time Lords at one point granted The Master additional regenerations. Clearly they had some say in the matter, so with them gone, the Doctor probably has an infinite number of possible regenerations provided his body has the energy to go through it.

Excellent point. I doubt there really would be anything they couldn't get around, actually. But there may be some kind of build up as if it is the end and then it really isn't, kind of like the whole last season.

[Doom Shepherd]

Well, there was that one episode of Sarah Jane where he said he could regenerate "507" times. He may have been lying.

I think it's going to need to be revised, and the Time War does seem to be the perfect excuse. They'll probably have to address it on-screen in some way to satisfy the fans, though. Maybe what River did in "Let's Kill Hitler" had some effect.

[Andrew_Swallow]

Since the Time War the Doctor has been regenerating in a different way. The new way may not have a limit on it. Now they just have to reveal a new machine hidden in the Tardis that is helping him.

[Marsden]

The Doctor Who Christmas Special premieres December 25, 9:00pm ET on BBC America.

If anyone is interested. Just thought I'd share as I was happy to see that myself.

[Jan]

Looking forward to it a lot! Curious about the new Companion. I hope she helps the Doctor find his compassion again. I haven't much cared for him recently.

Jan

[Marsden]

I liked the special, but did anyone have the thought, "Oh my God, they killed Clara! You bastards!"

I liked seeing Strax, is this earlier in his timeline or are there several of him? He is a clone.

[OmahaStar]

Originally Posted by Marsden

I liked the special, but did anyone have the thought, "Oh my God, they killed Clara! You bastards!"

I liked seeing Strax, is this earlier in his timeline or are there several of him? He is a clone.

Later. Same Strax. The Doctor casually says that he died but one of his friends brought him back, without going into any details.

So, he died but got better.

[Jonas]

I didn't love the special, but it was far better than last year's, which I despised. (I quite liked A Christmas Carol, which had some of the emotion and humanity that most of the Moffat episodes are missing.)

Let's see where this Clara/Oswin thing goes. The character seems a little too precious for her own good, but then again she has some nice moments, so maybe they'll do something interesting with her.