Thursday Next Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Wonder if he's the longest running character ever? I'm guessing it'd be close between him and James Bond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Well it's the longest running sci-fi show of all time. Longest character would be hard to judge though. Bond started in 53 with the books, making it 10 years older. But that'd be cheating as any book could beat it. Bond films...Dr No was '62 making it one year older than the TV series. (So I guess either way it's older, but by books you bring in tons of other stuff) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FMW Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Hey there, could anyone here explain the season finale to me? I just caught up on the series and couldn't make sense of it at all. My questions are hidden below. Reveal hidden contents I don't get it. It's been established that fixed points in time cannot be altered. And we know that the shooting at the lake happening and killing the doctor is a fixed point. And we SEE the negative consequences of the doctor surviving beyond this point in time. So I'm good with all of that. What I don't understand is how he gets out of it. As far as I can tell he gets inside the person robot and pretends to die. That's fine, that makes it LOOK like he's died, but it doesn't change the outcome. He lives. Unless the timeline is as easily fooled as the human eye then it seems like that shouldn't have worked. I mean, all he did was send out a robot pretend doctor. Would a stunt double have worked just as well then? I mean, this seems like a ridiculously simple solution that doesn't solve the root problem of "the doctor survives when he must not". And they never did actually explain why he can't just jump around time forever making a point to ignore that one time in Utah. They address the plot hole, but I didn't feel like they resolved it. Was it resolved? Could someone explain how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Reveal hidden contents You know there were Silent there to watch right? Apart from River n The Doctor everyone there is down with the idea that the Doctor died. They saw him die, be given a viking funeral and this was all noted down and officially put in the records. Now the doctor knows he is going to die before the event. He knows the exact time and date. This is a predestination paradox. (would he even have being there if he didn't know the where n when of his death?) Being a timelord he's well aware he's stepping into a predestination paradox, so all the balls are in his court. Thus he's able to set it all up with the tesselecta and we can easily assume that every damn time he's been there on the beach being killed it's been inside the tesselecta. That's what historically happened. Time can't check for pulses. So when River doesn't kill the tesselecta Doctor time goes and throws a wobbler. Oh yeah it's also not a "fixed point" it's a "still point". He did somewhat point that out early on. He said it's simpler to turn a still point into a fixed point, hence there n then. So until the event happened it wouldn't be a fixed point. I have a feeling the only reason time threw a wobbler, since they've broken fixed points in the past with rescuing the Pompeii family and the people from Mars, was because the specific people involved are the Doctor and the extremely time-complex(& Timelady) Pond family. He's a timelord and he keeps how old he really is much of a secret and doesn't really pop up in chronological order, so it's not like people are to know that he's post-death doctor until a fair bit on in their timeline too. Thing is there's that whole "fall of the eleventh" and "question that must never be answered". It's "The first question" so from that we can assume it's early on in chronological time. So surely they'd know if the Dr survived and was there to answer the question. Then again it's meant to erase reality or whatever so I guess with the two outcomes: Dri s there, answers = no one later on knows cos later on doesn't exist. Or he's there/isn't there and doesn't answer and history goes it's merry way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Reveal hidden contents Like Dean said, the fixed point is about what history records rather than what actually happens. There's been plenty of other examples, the destruction of Pompeii but as a result of fire demon folk rather than a volcano. Or the death of that woman in Waters of Mars, the details weren't such an issue so long as she died. History records that the Doctor dies at Lake Silencio. I assume that's also why he talks about having to keep a low profile, so that the fixed point sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FMW Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Reveal hidden contents If that's how it works then this was super duper easy to resolve. All the doctor needed was a way to pretend to be dead. He could have used the duplicating ooze from the chemical plant, or just plain old built a pretend doctor robot. Hell, a flack jacket and some sort of fire retardant would have worked too. Am not satisfied with such a simple solution to the problem the whole season was built around. Also, the doctor needs to stop having to deal with his own death. Tennant did it super well but Smith doesn't do as good of a mopey doctor. He's at his best when he's off kilter and alien and energetic. Honestly, we all KNOW he isn't going to die so there isn't any dramatic tension in it. Messing around with the life of a mortal (like Donna Noble) is much more interesting to me. Because they can get killed off. There's a real question as to how matters will resolve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Reveal hidden contents To be honest, I was expecting a Flesh Doctor to be the solution to this one. Maybe the Doctor needed to be present so the Tessellector was the only thing that could have worked? Maybe the rules were a little more flexible because this is an artificial Fixed Point in time created by the Silence? In the end, you can pass almost anything off as being Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Doctor has made quite the point of not being keen on having the Flesh needlessly die. Reveal hidden contents Also I'm thinking you may have missed the focus of the series arc if you think it was purely about his death (Something only dealt with in the first and last episodes). It was very much about Melody Pond. The character who popped up in about 4-5 incarnations (depends if you count 'looks like, but not yet the persona' River Song from Lets Kill Hitler) throughout the series arc. Now what I'm not keen on is "he will knock four times" "Silence will fall" "The question that must never be answered...fall of the eleventh" stuff. Prophecies and time travel don't mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 On 10/10/2011 at 4:24 PM, Deanb said: Doctor has made quite the point of not being keen on having the Flesh needlessly die. Reveal hidden contents Also I'm thinking you may have missed the focus of the series arc if you think it was purely about his death (Something only dealt with in the first and last episodes). It was very much about Melody Pond. The character who popped up in about 4-5 incarnations (depends if you count 'looks like, but not yet the persona' River Song from Lets Kill Hitler) throughout the series arc. Now what I'm not keen on is "he will knock four times" "Silence will fall" "The question that must never be answered...fall of the eleventh" stuff. Prophecies and time travel don't mix. Flesh Spoiler: Reveal hidden contents But he did let Flesh Doctor and the other Flesh Person make a noble sacrifice. General Series Spoiler: Reveal hidden contents Not just Melody Pond though, the Doctor's name is the other big arc that has been running through Matt Smith's tenure. Don't see why you find prophecy so troublesome, surely time travel is the perfect excuse for people being able to predict stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Reveal hidden contents Noble sacrifice for the greater good. It'd be just as selfish as the workers he scorned if he was to make a flesh doctor with the express purpose of having it killed. Also they liquefy upon death don't they? Be a bit hard to have it put down he died if it was clear that it was Flesh. The Doctors name is going to be something definitely brought up with River at some point since I'm pretty sure "look into my eye" isn't what River told Tennant. Also he does need to take her to "The singing towers of Derrilium" (I watched Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead the other day). Thing is is she going to end up their chronologically (As in that's the last episode we see of her) or is that gonna happen, then the "fall of the Eleventh" where his name is given away. Or is it going to happen after that, say with 12th Doctor (she's implied she's seen a few). Prophecies get awkward when you can figure them out and just head straight to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Reveal hidden contents Not sure if anyone was still unclear on this, but the fixed point was never flexible; it was just misinterpreted by everyone in the series including the doctor. The Doctor was never supposed to die there, he was always supposed to survive. However, it was designed to LOOK like the Doctor's death. It was never actually the doctor that died in the first episode, that was already the Tessellect-howeveryouspellit. That's the only way it works without breaking the established rules of the Who universe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted November 2, 2011 Report Share Posted November 2, 2011 On 10/3/2011 at 10:30 AM, Thursday Next said: Great end to the series. Can't wait till Christmas. Are there any teasers up yet? On 10/3/2011 at 3:48 PM, Deanb said: Not yet. I don't think any will be popping out until closer to December/late November. Or September: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a341481/doctor-who-christmas-special-cast-story-revealed.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s4Czla6tXc Big show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 http://www.variety.c...le/VR1118046098 Quote Yates to direct bigscreen 'Doctor Who' 'Potter' helmer, BBC working on pic of sci-fi TV series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 It's late November n here's the trailer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted December 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2011 https://twitter.com/#!/steven_moffat/status/142509085982601216 Woot. Yates was talking out his ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted December 2, 2011 Report Share Posted December 2, 2011 Gods be praised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted December 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/videos/p00m7qjb And now the prequel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted December 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/doctor-who-the-eternity-clock-28890.htm New Doctor Who game, coming to PS3, Vita n PC. Details pretty slim atm. I've a feeling we're hear more on it as the Xmas special rolls up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted December 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_111211_01/Missing_Eisodes_ecovered Two of the lost episodes have been uncovered. For those not in the know, basically as a near 50 year old show a lot of its first 2 doctors worth of shows pre-date the BBCs policy of keeping hold of the film. So they're trying to get back any copies people may have had (thankfully for the BBC several foreign nations didn't just toss the film away or write over it when done. I'm to understand Australia has helped quite a bit). Some are just audio-tapes, which have been remade as animations. With the 50th anniversary coming up it's quite nice to get a couple more episodes back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Reveal hidden contents http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-16207688 /inb4dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxicitizen Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 (edited) So, after over two years of not watching (perhaps even three, can't remember for sure), I've finally started catching up on my Doctor Who. Almost at the end of David Tennant's run and man, I'm going to miss that Doctor. At first, I thought it sucked that Eccleston left after a single season. But Tennant blew him right out of the water and was absolutely awesome in every possible way. I can't imagine that Matt Smith guy topping that :/ Edited December 20, 2011 by FLD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 HAHAHAH. I had the same exact sentiment. Given that you thought it sucked when Eccleston left, then Tennant blew him out of the water, you'll have much the same reaction this time around. Though it is a tad jarring cos pretty much everything is new. 9 onto 10 still had the same TARDIS, same companion, same writing team. 10 onto 11 is new lead writer, new TARDIS, new doctor, new companions. Matt Smith is worth it just for The Doctors Wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxicitizen Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 (edited) I knew that Russel T. Davies had left and that Steven Moffat was replacing him. And it seems like companions change every couple of seasons. But a new TARDIS? That's news to me. But yeah, watched the season 4 finale last night and it very much felt like they were bringing closure to all the major characters of the past few seasons. So I didn't really expect any of them to return going forward Oh well, at least there's still Torchwood for my Captain Jack fix. Also, there's a difference in the sense that I grew much more attached to Tennant's Doctor than to Eccleston's. I mean, the latter was only around for one season. And there's just something about the way Tennant played the Doctor as a kind of mad genius that resonated with me. Might be because I'm more used to american TV/movies, but I found it very refreshing. So Smith has much bigger shoes to fill. But it's good to hear you felt the same way and weren't disappointed. I have seen literally nothing of Smith's Doctor, so I really have no reason to be pessimistic about it. It's just that the last three seasons have turned me into quite the David Tennant fan. Edited December 20, 2011 by FLD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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