UK Timeline : Doctor Who General Discussion

[Mick Fisher]

Well I watched it, wasn't impressed

I can only hope that Peter Capaldi makes a better fist of it

[Graham M]

Moffat pulled a complete blinder with this, absolutely loved every minute of it

[Mr K]

The 3D was a lot better than I expected. Shame the BBC are abandoning it, though there probably aren't that many programmes that would benefit from it.

Oh yes, and the story was brilliant. Will have been too much for a lot of the Saturday xfactor/strictly audience as it would have required more than 10 seconds of concentration.

Watched it today on catch-up - I thought it was outstanding.

Loved the humour, and the interplay between the Doctors.

[Stephen]

Well 10.2 million watched it in the UK last night and it's won a Guinness world record for the worlds largest simulcast of a tv drama.

[Stuart]

Apparently Orla Brady (who played Walter's wife and Peter's mum on Fringe) is to play someone from the doctor's past in the christmas special.

Several people speculating (at least in the comments section ) that she could be playing Romana, or The Rani.

---------- Post added at 14:04 ---------- Previous post was at 13:48 ----------

Also, the mirror has a story that Matt Smith is actually the 13th doctor (apparently John Hurt's regeneration does count, and David Tennant is counted as both 11 and 12). Apparently the regeneration limit will be addressed in the Xmas episodes..

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/d...s-matt-2847509

[dilli-theclaw]

I liked it - and oddly quite fancy Elisabeth

Originally Posted by Stuart

Apparently Orla Brady (who played Walter's wife and Peter's mum on Fringe) is to play someone from the doctor's past in the christmas special.

Several people speculating (at least in the comments section ) that she could be playing Romana, or The Rani.

---------- Post added at 14:04 ---------- Previous post was at 13:48 ----------

Also, the mirror has a story that Matt Smith is actually the 13th doctor (apparently John Hurt's regeneration does count, and David Tennant is counted as both 11 and 12). Apparently the regeneration limit will be addressed in the Xmas episodes..

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/d...s-matt-2847509

Some thoughts on the above ...

1. Speculating on a comeback for the Rani has become almost an in-joke in fandom. I would say the chances of it happening are remote. There are other far more interesting former adversaries that they could bring back.
2. Yes, Hurt does count, the General in the war room on Gallifrey counted him when he said "all 13 of them" were encircling the planet.
3. There has been an in-universe explanation for beating the 13-life limit since the 20th anniversary in 1983. The Master was offered a "whole new life cycle" in return for rescuing the Doctor from the Death Zone on Gallifrey. Whatever needs to be done, I would speculate, needs Time Lord medicine. That would tie in with the Doctor's new mission to "find Gallifrey". It might also be addressed by another trip to Karn; as we saw in the mini episode the other week, the sisterhood is pretty handy with Time Lord medicine.

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

Hmm ... If the Mirror's "source" knows what they're talking about, they're actually planning to artificially bring forward the regeneration "problem" to this Christmas, by saying David Tennant actually played two regenerations (after that business with the Daleks and his spare hand). If you add Hurt and Tennant-2 to the rest, then Smith is indeed the 13th and final face. So he's either going to find Gallifrey with indecent haste, or else the Moff has dreamed up something entirely different.

[tweetiepooh]

Tried to watch on TiVo iPlayer on Saturday evening and it was unwatchable. Was OK at same time on tablet. Now recording on TiVo to watch later.

[Doug P]

Originally Posted by Graham M

Moffat pulled a complete blinder with this, absolutely loved every minute of it

stonking script superb acting great humour dramatic highs....

ten out of ten....

---------- Post added at 15:21 ---------- Previous post was at 15:12 ----------

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

Well I watched it, wasn't impressed

I can only hope that Peter Capaldi makes a better fist of it

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Chris

Some thoughts on the above ...

1. Speculating on a comeback for the Rani has become almost an in-joke in fandom. I would say the chances of it happening are remote. There are other far more interesting former adversaries that they could bring back.
2. Yes, Hurt does count, the General in the war room on Gallifrey counted him when he said "all 13 of them" were encircling the planet.
3. There has been an in-universe explanation for beating the 13-life limit since the 20th anniversary in 1983. The Master was offered a "whole new life cycle" in return for rescuing the Doctor from the Death Zone on Gallifrey. Whatever needs to be done, I would speculate, needs Time Lord medicine. That would tie in with the Doctor's new mission to "find Gallifrey". It might also be addressed by another trip to Karn; as we saw in the mini episode the other week, the sisterhood is pretty handy with Time Lord medicine.

---------- Post added at 14:36 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

Hmm ... If the Mirror's "source" knows what they're talking about, they're actually planning to artificially bring forward the regeneration "problem" to this Christmas, by saying David Tennant actually played two regenerations (after that business with the Daleks and his spare hand). If you add Hurt and Tennant-2 to the rest, then Smith is indeed the 13th and final face. So he's either going to find Gallifrey with indecent haste, or else the Moff has dreamed up something entirely different.

Actually you are right, and I did think of the reset the regenerations thing in the Five Doctors. After all, if they are willing to give The Master a whole new set of regenerations for merely saving the Doctor, what would the Timelords give to the Doctor for saving their entire civilisation?

As for the speculation about who Orla Brady is playing, it is just that: speculation. Personally, I'd far rather see Romana back in some form or another (after all, she is a time lady and in many ways, superior to the Doctor) than the Rani. Mind you, it might be interesting to have an evil Time Lady. Maybe they could make it Romana and say she was turned evil by her experiences in e-space, or the time war (assuming that any Gallifreyan other than the Doctor is left with any memory of the time war)?

I think RTD has also implicitly dealt with the regeneration limit by bringing back the Master, who regenerated in the normal way, rather than body snatching as we saw him do previously. Perhaps he got his new regeneration cycle in return for joining the Time War.

On that subject, if the Doctor does find Gallifrey, that's where the Master currently is ...

[Pierre]

I watched it tonight and I very much enjoyed it, I think it was a shame the Chris Eccleston wasn't involved and I thought Tom Bakers appearance unnecessary.

But very good, I did enjoy Capaldi's cameo.

And in regards to regenerations, and the double Tennant.

When the general says "all twelve of them" and someone says " no sir all thirteen" that's when you see Capaldi's face.

So that would suggest to me that Capaldi is 13.

And the Mirror story is wrong.

---------- Post added at 22:01 ---------- Previous post was at 21:14 ----------

Sorry, just correct myself.

I understand now that there is no argument that Capaldi is no.13.

Just that to get there there needs to be 13 regenerations, which is one more than he has.


I see now, yes I think it's best they address it now. Will be interesting to see how it's done.

I don't like the idea of being 'granted' extra regens. I would hope it's something a bit more biological.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I watched it tonight and I very much enjoyed it, I think it was a shame the Chris Eccleston wasn't involved and I thought Tom Bakers appearance unnecessary.

But very good, I did enjoy Capaldi's cameo.

And in regards to regenerations, and the double Tennant.

When the general says "all twelve of them" and someone says " no sir all thirteen" that's when you see Capaldi's face.

So that would suggest to me that Capaldi is 13.

And the Mirror story is wrong.

---------- Post added at 22:01 ---------- Previous post was at 21:14 ----------

Sorry, just correct myself.

I understand now that there is no argument that Capaldi is no.13.

Just that to get there there needs to be 13 regenerations, which is one more than he has.


I see now, yes I think it's best they address it now. Will be interesting to see how it's done.

I don't like the idea of being 'granted' extra regens. I would hope it's something a bit more biological.

Shouldn't that be 12 regenerations. As there are 13 Doctors but the second Doctor was the first actual 'regeneration'.

Capaldi will be the 13th Doctor but the 12th Regeneration.

[Pierre]

12 generations 13 lives. Yes.

But what is being proposed in the earlier posts is that Tennant the tenth, but actually the 11 th doctor used up 2 regens.

Which means that Smith, the 12 incarnation actually came into being on the 12th regen.

We know that Capaldi is the 13th as it that made clear on the Saturday.

Which means to get to Capaldi, if we say that tennants second regen into himself was an actual regen, we need to magic a regen out of something.