2005 replies to this topic

[Roebuck]

Interesting. I always took Claire Bloom's character to be...

Spoiler

An older Donna. Remember at the wedding? After Wilf asked the Doctor who the woman was, and the Doctor looked over at Donna.

…who’s in her bridal gown.

Spoiler

My theory’s that the Doc’s having a little reminisce to himself there. Whether the decision to dress Bloom all in white was indicative of anything I’ve no idea.

Of course she could be Romana, but I’d have expected her to get a name check in that case.

[Tybre]

Spoiler

This is the first time the Doctor's regenerated without an assistant with him, isnt it? Just the Doctor and the audience. Who'll be there to watch him being out of sorts post regeneration after he crashlands?

Happened with Troughton

Well, there is 6B...

I’m of the mind that if it didn’t happen (or wasn’t referenced) on screen then it didn’t happen. My one exception is that I’d like to totally ignore the McGann movie. Nothing against McGann, but the McCoy Doctor had the streak of ruthlessness necessary to bring the Time War to an end. I can never imagine his girly haired replacement doing that.

Between the two novels I've read -- The Eight Doctors and Vampire Science -- and the about half of the first season of the Big Finish audio series I've heard, I could easily picture the Eighth Doctor fighting in the Time War. Also, the later EDA novels supposedly feature a large scale war between the Time Lords and an entity identified only as The Enemy. Sure, the war isn't the Last Great Time War, but it is a war. And judging by the synopses both the Doctor and the stories take a turn for the dark. I'm actually quite looking forward to that portion of EDA. But EDA is out of print, and older ones like Vampire Science ran me up $70, so I'm not exactly picking up EDA every other week like I would if they were the price listed on the back. I'll get there eventually, though.

As for the identity of The Woman, I haven't given it much thought. Of all the fan theories going around -- Donna, Romana, Mother, White Guardian, Susan -- I have to say I like Susan and Romana best, although I'm not ready to jump on board either of them. Actually I kind of prefer leaving the Woman's identity enigmatic. It can always be addressed later, but I think it works fine leaving it open like that.

And technically speaking 6B did happen on screen. Cases in point: The Two Doctors and The Five Doctors.

[Roebuck]

And technically speaking 6B did happen on screen. Cases in point: The Two Doctors and The Five Doctors.

I’ve heard this proposed before and I’m not convinced. My take is that the Doctors are plucked from a moment in their own timelines and returned there with only the current incarnation retaining memory of the adventure.

[Tybre]

And technically speaking 6B did happen on screen. Cases in point: The Two Doctors and The Five Doctors.

I’ve heard this proposed before and I’m not convinced. My take is that the Doctors are plucked from a moment in their own timelines and returned there with only the current incarnation retaining memory of the adventure.

Fair enough. Personally I like riding the 6B train.

[DamnCoffee]

Yeah...

[Jim]

Seemed to be one episode of running around snarling at each other and then one episode of standing around snarling at each other. All most peculiar.

[David Schofield]

Yeah...

Very, very witty, Matthew.

And DT, of course, gets his wish: "I don't want to go"

[marktmurphy]

The movie also fires a photon torpedo through fanboy speculation on the identity of Claire Bloom’s character.

Spoiler

Unlikely to be the Doctor’s mum if, as McGann states, his mother was human. I’m betting she’s a former Mrs. Who.

Unless, y'know- time war, travelling through his own history, meeting himself... perhaps his own timeline has been screwed up so much she used to be human but now isn't!
Or, maybe his mum was a human who lived on Gallifrey.

And technically speaking 6B did happen on screen. Cases in point: The Two Doctors and The Five Doctors.

I’ve heard this proposed before and I’m not convinced. My take is that the Doctors are plucked from a moment in their own timelines and returned there with only the current incarnation retaining memory of the adventure.

But the 2nd Doctor in the Two Doctors was unlike the 2nd Doctor onscreen in the 60's: he looked older, had a remote control for the TARDIS and -most importantly- was working for the Time Lords.

[Roebuck]

But the 2nd Doctor in the Two Doctors was unlike the 2nd Doctor onscreen in the 60's: he looked older, had a remote control for the TARDIS and -most importantly- was working for the Time Lords.

Simple truth is that Pat and Fraser were much older. Robert Holmes didn’t bother to explain it away. Instead he took advantage of the fact only viewers over twenty (and only a few of them) would notice that and where he fudged continuity. Otherwise you have to accept the Time Lords mind-wipe Jamie, return him to his own era, then undo it. All because his Highlander skills will be vital when the Doctor visits a space station to meet a genetic scientist.

This sort of fan speculation is fun but I’d hate to se it become canonical.

[Tybre]

But the 2nd Doctor in the Two Doctors was unlike the 2nd Doctor onscreen in the 60's: he looked older, had a remote control for the TARDIS and -most importantly- was working for the Time Lords.

Simple truth is that Pat and Fraser were much older. Robert Holmes didn’t bother to explain it away. Instead he took advantage of the fact only viewers over twenty (and only a few of them) would notice that and where he fudged continuity. Otherwise you have to accept the Time Lords mind-wipe Jamie, return him to his own era, then undo it. All because his Highlander skills will be vital when the Doctor visits a space station to meet a genetic scientist.

This sort of fan speculation is fun but I’d hate to se it become canonical.

Well, not the Time Lords, per se. It was the CIA who restored Jamie and Victoria's memories, gave Second that tech, and had him working as one of their boys for a while before he was forced to regenerate into the Third Doctor. And even if the rest of 6B can be dodgy at times, the notion of the Second Doctor having further adventures isn't far fetched. The fact of the matter is Second is never explicitly shown regenerating at the end of the War Games, and there's nothing in Spearhead from Space to say Third came straight from that trial and forced regeneration. There are other plot holes it addresses, too, but I won't go into those right now unless someone asks or I get bored. And trust me, I am more than willing to defend 6B to the death.

[marktmurphy]

But the 2nd Doctor in the Two Doctors was unlike the 2nd Doctor onscreen in the 60's: he looked older, had a remote control for the TARDIS and -most importantly- was working for the Time Lords.

Simple truth is that Pat and Fraser were much older. Robert Holmes didn’t bother to explain it away. Instead he took advantage of the fact only viewers over twenty (and only a few of them) would notice that and where he fudged continuity. Otherwise you have to accept the Time Lords mind-wipe Jamie, return him to his own era, then undo it. All because his Highlander skills will be vital when the Doctor visits a space station to meet a genetic scientist.

Which is another problem: unless that happens how come the 2nd Doctor in The Five Doctors remembers Jamie's mind being wiped? In The War Games he only gets told about it just before being sentenced at his trial. And how come the Doctor can steer the TARDIS to UNIT HQ? He couldn't fly it in his TV adventures. Plus the third Doctor arrives with some TARDIS homing gadgetry we never saw him with prior to Spearhead From Space.

6B tidies things up rather nicely and is a good little story in itself. I'm all for it, and Terrance Dicks himself has even written a book or two during the period. It's as close to official as you like.

[Sniperscope]

But the 2nd Doctor in the Two Doctors was unlike the 2nd Doctor onscreen in the 60's: he looked older, had a remote control for the TARDIS and -most importantly- was working for the Time Lords.

Interesting discussion here and I agree with marktmurphy - Doctor 2 is nothing like himself in behaviour and characterisation and the working for the timelords thing is unprecedented within the 2 Doctor timeline of adventures we saw on screen. I give a certain amount of credence to 6B but Jamie's presence is a bit of an annoyance to that.
It's the same with Doctor 5 in the BIG FINISH audios and TIME CRASH - he's quite different as a character to the televised one...

Actually interesting quote here from the HORNETS' NEST CD (I guess it should be considered canonical)

MIKE YATES: it's the time lines, isn't it? you've gone and crossed over and back again and looped the flaming loop, haven't you?
DOCTOR: Have I?

Weird that! Mike seems to saying it in full knowledge of there being other Doctors since the fourth suggesting that only the current Doctor (10 at that time) should be able to visit him. Yet the fourth is here and has not crossed the time lines at all, as his cryptic reply implies. Can that mean that each incarnation continues on in alternative timestreams infinitely?

Edited by Sniperscope, 03 January 2010 - 12:27 AM.

[Tybre]

But the 2nd Doctor in the Two Doctors was unlike the 2nd Doctor onscreen in the 60's: he looked older, had a remote control for the TARDIS and -most importantly- was working for the Time Lords.

Interesting discussion here and I agree with marktmurphy - Doctor 2 is nothing like himself in behaviour and characterisation and the working for the timelords thing is unprecedented within the 2 Doctor timeline of adventures we saw on screen. I give a certain amount of credence to 6B but Jamie's presence is a bit of an annoyance to that.
It's the same with Doctor 5 in the BIG FINISH audios and TIME CRASH - he's quite different as a character to the televised one...

Actually interesting quote here from the HORNETS' NEST CD (I guess it should be considered canonical)

MIKE YATES: it's the time lines, isn't it? you've gone and crossed over and back again and looped the flaming loop, haven't you?
DOCTOR: Have I?

Weird that! Mike seems to saying it in full knowledge of there being other Doctors since the fourth suggesting that only the current Doctor (10 at that time) should be able to visit him. Yet the fourth is here and has not crossed the time lines at all, as his cryptic reply implies. Can that mean that each incarnation continues on in alternative timestreams infinitely?

Well in Zagreus (which I thought was quite brilliant, shameless Alice in Wonderland-ness and all) and occasionally in other Big Finish audio drama (I know, Hornet's Nest is BBC) the point is made that the Big Finish adventures and the Virgin [insert appropriate word here] Adventures books take place in alternate universes (i.e. in Zagreus, Zagreus shows him an alternate universe where he rips out one of his own hearts, a reference to one of the later EDA books). So I don't think it's unreasonable to assume there are alternate time lines where different fates befall different Doctors. Although I still support 6B in its entirety, right down to Jamie's presence.

And now because I've said it so much and I just love saying it,

Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus Zagreus . Okay I'm done. For now. Zagreus.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

I'm really not happy. Not happy at all. Doctor Who is officially dead to me. This past series was the final nail in the coffin for me, as I've come to find that ever since Tennant's second series, I've liked the show less and less until this two-parter came along and pissed all over what used to be one of, if not the best show on telly. It's the writing that's done it for me. I never had a problem with Tennant or any of the other actors in the show, but the writing has produced so many plot holes and embarrassingly poor explanations for key moments in time that just don't fit in with the pre-Eccleston era. I'm so upset that I have to walk away from a show I once loved. RIP Doctor Who, may those who ruined you pay for their crimes...

[Roebuck]

Which is another problem: unless that happens how come the 2nd Doctor in The Five Doctors remembers Jamie's mind being wiped? In The War Games he only gets told about it just before being sentenced at his trial. And how come the Doctor can steer the TARDIS to UNIT HQ? He couldn't fly it in his TV adventures. Plus the third Doctor arrives with some TARDIS homing gadgetry we never saw him with prior to Spearhead From Space.

6B tidies things up rather nicely and is a good little story in itself. I'm all for it, and Terrance Dicks himself has even written a book or two during the period. It's as close to official as you like.

When Terrance Dicks wrote that scene in The Five Doctors was he laying the foundations of the 6b universe, or did he just make a mistake he hoped would go unnoticed? That’s my personal objection to 6b. It’s like the James Bond Codename Theory – something a few hardcore fans use to explain continuity glitches that most of the audience won’t care about. All it really accomplishes is to draw attention to them. Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders has a different face now than she did on her first appearance in 1991, yet the BBC hasn’t seen the need to create a back-story to explain how Jo Warne regenerated into Barbara Windsor. It’s just generally accepted that this sort of recasting regularly happens in soaps. We all appreciate television is an imperfect medium, hobbled by budget and time constraints for the most part. Even on New Who we’ve had instances where established continuity is given the heave-ho because it got in the way of the story they wanted to tell.

6b is a great boon to the niche audience who want further Troughton Doctor adventures. Doesn’t hurt anybody and brings pleasure to the few who read the stuff. But with Pat long gone (and much of his era lost to us) there’s little point trying to join it up to the mainstream.

[Tybre]

Which is another problem: unless that happens how come the 2nd Doctor in The Five Doctors remembers Jamie's mind being wiped? In The War Games he only gets told about it just before being sentenced at his trial. And how come the Doctor can steer the TARDIS to UNIT HQ? He couldn't fly it in his TV adventures. Plus the third Doctor arrives with some TARDIS homing gadgetry we never saw him with prior to Spearhead From Space.

6B tidies things up rather nicely and is a good little story in itself. I'm all for it, and Terrance Dicks himself has even written a book or two during the period. It's as close to official as you like.

When Terrance Dicks wrote that scene in The Five Doctors was he laying the foundations of the 6b universe, or did he just make a mistake he hoped would go unnoticed?

6B was started well before the Five Doctors. Plot holes 6B covers begin with the Third Doctor, mostly smaller things until you hit The Three Doctors. And that's just speaking in terms of the show. The idea of The Second Doctor having further adventures goes as far back as The War Games itself. TV Comic is kind of responsible for kicking it all off. There was a brief arc in which the Second Doctor escapes the forced regeneration, has five further adventures on Earth, and is then kidnapped by scarecrows who have been animated by the Time Lords, forced to the regenerate, and has his TARDIS sent to a random location elsewhere on Earth, that final sequence intended to lead straight into Spearhead.

As for it being like the Codename Theory...not really. That connection is tenuous at best, but I'm not much for going down that road at the moment, seeing as it's late and I'm getting tired. And regarding wanting further Troughton adventures...Okay, yeah, I can see that being the reason why other people would buy into it. But I don't. There's three years of good material, even if a lot of it is gone or exists as audio only, along with novels and comics and things featuring the character. There's more than enough to satisfy any wish for Second. But they brought him back, and they brought him back on numerous occasions, during which they left rather glaring plot holes, and there are even quite a few plot holes between War Games and Spearhead, which, if the stories follow one another as we're probably meant to believe, such holes should not exist. Honestly, if 6B didn't exist I'd probably have cooked up my own "Second has adventures between War Games and Spearhead" theory by now, and one that would probably make considerable less sense. At least the whole idea of the Celestial Intervention Agency -- who it has been made quite apparent are often at odds with the main of Time Lord society -- saved the Doctor from forced regeneration and exile, albeit momentarily, in exchange for being one of their agents has some degree of plausibility to it.

But you want to deny 6B, deny 6B.

[Mr. Blofeld]

... the way some people are talking about Smith stamping all over Tennant's grave by appearing at the end is more than a bit much! He's not "dead" - the Doctor has regenerated. Big difference and a crucial one.

Indeed, after Tennant's lip-quivering Farewell Tour, Smith's enthusiastic arrival was the perfect sobering slap in the face.

Moffatt saying enough, you drama queen.

I'm in complete agreement, here; I didn't get to see the Series 5 preview following the broadcast, but I fell in love with Smith's Doctor the moment he said, "Legs... I've still got legs!"

I'm really not happy. Not happy at all. Doctor Who is officially dead to me. It's the writing that's done it for me. I'm so upset that I have to walk away from a show I once loved. RIP Doctor Who, may those who ruined you pay for their crimes...

There's a brand-new writing staff, now, you silly goose! Davies is gone; Moffat's in charge, now, and it looks like he's bringing a new flavour to the series.

Oh, and a brief correction:

Loved Smith's introduction. Brilliant send-off. So much better than I expected of Russell at this point.

From the Wikipedia page for The End of Time:

Davies's script for the final episode finished with the Tenth Doctor's final line, "I don't want to go." He then sent the script to his successor Steven Moffat, who is responsible for all of the Eleventh Doctor's dialogue that follows.

Brilliant work from Steven Moffat... GERONIMO!!!

[Tybre]

Oh yes, I'm well aware Moffat penned the post-regeneration scene. I simply meant End of Time Part 2 was better than what I expected of Russell at that point.

And here's that trailer you apparently missed (BBCA not air it?):



God I never get tired of that thing.

[marktmurphy]

I'm really not happy. Not happy at all. Doctor Who is officially dead to me. This past series was the final nail in the coffin for me, as I've come to find that ever since Tennant's second series, I've liked the show less and less until this two-parter came along and pissed all over what used to be one of, if not the best show on telly. It's the writing that's done it for me. I never had a problem with Tennant or any of the other actors in the show, but the writing has produced so many plot holes and embarrassingly poor explanations for key moments in time that just don't fit in with the pre-Eccleston era. I'm so upset that I have to walk away from a show I once loved. RIP Doctor Who, may those who ruined you pay for their crimes...

Isn't now the time to come back, then? Now Davies has left perhaps you'll like it more?

When Terrance Dicks wrote that scene in The Five Doctors was he laying the foundations of the 6b universe, or did he just make a mistake he hoped would go unnoticed?

Apparently they wanted Victoria rather than Zoe: she would have mis-identified the Brigadier as 'Brigadier' (she only knew him when he was a Colonel), but then the actor wasn't available and they changed it to Jamie and Zoe.
I know what you mean; sometimes retcon is clunky and nasty and just draws attention to little mistakes, but here I think it's actually rather nice. And if you know your Dr Who, The Two Doctors especially is pretty hard to resolve. It's not really a niche to add further Pat stories because only Dicks has done that; it just makes things add up a bit nicer.

I didn't get to see the Series 5 preview following the broadcast, but I fell in love with Smith's Doctor the moment he said, "Legs... I've still got legs!"

Can you not see it on YouTube?

[Tybre]

Murray Gold confirmed in an interview he will be returning for Series 5. Full interview can be read here. Talk of Series 5 begins on the third page.

In terms of the new series then, is there anything you have in mind, anything you’d like to do with the music? Even just perhaps in terms of the title theme…
I’ll play it to you…

You’ve done it?

I’ve been working on it…

Note: Murray played me what is likely to be his new take on the opening theme… all will be revealed in 2010. In short, it’s marvellous…

[Mr. Blofeld]

I didn't get to see the Series 5 preview following the broadcast, but I fell in love with Smith's Doctor the moment he said, "Legs... I've still got legs!"

Can you not see it on YouTube?

No, I saw it on YouTube; I just wasn't able to see it right on the telly because I DVR'd End of Time, not knowing that BBC America was going to show the Series 5 preview during that dreadful-looking Demons show.

All in all, though, fun way to introduce Mr. Smith. Bring on April!

[danslittlefinger]

Latest Doctor Who Matt Smith set to face scariest enemies yet (two new(?) pics?)

Spoiler

http://www.newsofthe...t-see-pics.html

In spring, he faces aliens including vampires, weeping angels and old foes the Daleks in World War Two.



Silurians return.

[marktmurphy]

Silurians and Sea Devils by the look of the trail. String vest and dish gun? Gotta be a Sea Devil.

[Tybre]

And yet they're too lizard-y to be Sea Devils, but lack some of the qualities of Silurians. Could all just be a redesign, or perhaps it's a hybrid or a new species entirely. I suppose we'll learn come spring.

Our new alien friends:

Spoiler

Silurians, ca. Warriors of the Deep and Doctor Who and the Silurians, respectively

Spoiler

Sea Devils, ca. Warriors of the Deep and The Sea Devils, respectively:

Spoiler

Now, I say they could be hybrids because we've never actually seen hybrids before, just this unofficial blend for a copy of The Scales of Injustice:

Spoiler

My money's riding mostly on new species, but I'm not ruling out redesign or hybrid. Could maybe also be something in Silurian past or something. Like I said, wait until spring. And yes, my life is non-existent enough and my nerd-dom massive enough to really have just gone through all that trouble.

And in unrelated non-news news:

It's hard to believe that this is the same story as the novelisation, and it's increasingly clear that the Target range existed solely so that Terrance Dicks could infect the brains of a generation by conning them into thinking that all Pertwee stories were made on a budget equivalent to Ben Hur or Cleopatra. I applaud his actions in some ways, but he is entirely responsibe for that horrible feeling in my 13-year old belly when I realised that the Doctor's duel with Omega's dark side was not quite the same as the novelisation, i.e. rather than a massive arena with a scorching hot sun and a savage beast, there was a black BBC studio with an opponent that would not have been out of place on ITV with a Kent Walton commentary. Shame on you Terrance.

[Sniperscope]

Murray Gold confirmed in an interview he will be returning for Series 5. Full interview can be read here. Talk of Series 5 begins on the third page.

In terms of the new series then, is there anything you have in mind, anything you’d like to do with the music? Even just perhaps in terms of the title theme…
I’ll play it to you…

You’ve done it?

I’ve been working on it…

Note: Murray played me what is likely to be his new take on the opening theme… all will be revealed in 2010. In short, it’s marvellous…

Well that's a shame! I had hoped (wished?!) that Gold would be gone with the change of producer - alas it was not to be... I want strange and atmospheric sounds - like Tristram Carey's THE DALEKS music or Brian Enoesque soundscapes, not more Hollywood-lite bombast! Perhaps Moffat will reign him in... but then again... he probably won't...

And in unrelated non-news news:

It's hard to believe that this is the same story as the novelisation, and it's increasingly clear that the Target range existed solely so that Terrance Dicks could infect the brains of a generation by conning them into thinking that all Pertwee stories were made on a budget equivalent to Ben Hur or Cleopatra. I applaud his actions in some ways, but he is entirely responsibe for that horrible feeling in my 13-year old belly when I realised that the Doctor's duel with Omega's dark side was not quite the same as the novelisation, i.e. rather than a massive arena with a scorching hot sun and a savage beast, there was a black BBC studio with an opponent that would not have been out of place on ITV with a Kent Walton commentary. Shame on you Terrance.

But of course, I read only to see in print exactly what i see on screen! Obviously the joys of reading and imagination are a wee bit lost on this chap! Yep shame on Terrance for inspiring several generations to read and dream!

Edited by Sniperscope, 04 January 2010 - 10:49 AM.

[Sniperscope]

DELETED DOUBLE POST

Edited by Sniperscope, 04 January 2010 - 10:50 AM.

[Tybre]

Murray Gold confirmed in an interview he will be returning for Series 5. Full interview can be read here. Talk of Series 5 begins on the third page.

In terms of the new series then, is there anything you have in mind, anything you’d like to do with the music? Even just perhaps in terms of the title theme…
I’ll play it to you…

You’ve done it?

I’ve been working on it…

Note: Murray played me what is likely to be his new take on the opening theme… all will be revealed in 2010. In short, it’s marvellous…

Well that's a shame! I had hoped (wished?!) that Gold would be gone with the change of producer - alas it was not to be... I want strange and atmospheric sounds - like Tristram Carey's THE DALEKS music or Brian Enoesque soundscapes, not more Hollywood-lite bombast! Perhaps Moffat will reign him in... but then again... he probably won't...

While I admit I was hopeful we'd get a more classic-style sound for the new season, mostly because I just positively love that stuff, even the worst, most poorly synthesized of it, I don't have much of a problem with Murray Gold returning. For the most part he does good work. And there's also a part of me that's hoping -- although I severely doubt such a move would be made -- a part of me is hoping that brief minute of music that plays of Smith's first scene is indicative of things to come. Because I just ing love that music.

[Zorin Industries]

I really think Smith ruined the atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, the series 5 trailer looks amazing, but It was like stamping all over 10's grave.

The whole scene just felt, wrong. I know it's a new guy, but I really didn't like the upbeat music or anything. I just didn't feel he had a good introduction.

9's first words: RUN
10's first words: Hello
11's first words.... Legs.

You saw twenty seconds of a new DOCTOR who - historically - is not fully settled into his new body just yet. And as the teaser proves what I have been told for months now...Smith will all over Tennent.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

I'm really not happy. Not happy at all. Doctor Who is officially dead to me. This past series was the final nail in the coffin for me, as I've come to find that ever since Tennant's second series, I've liked the show less and less until this two-parter came along and pissed all over what used to be one of, if not the best show on telly. It's the writing that's done it for me. I never had a problem with Tennant or any of the other actors in the show, but the writing has produced so many plot holes and embarrassingly poor explanations for key moments in time that just don't fit in with the pre-Eccleston era. I'm so upset that I have to walk away from a show I once loved. RIP Doctor Who, may those who ruined you pay for their crimes...

Isn't now the time to come back, then? Now Davies has left perhaps you'll like it more?

I think the damage is irreparable.

[Zorin Industries]

Okay, I am going to lay my cards on the table here.

I am one of those wild cats who genuinely believes that Claire Bloom's character THE WOMAN is indeed DONNA NOBLE. Why and how else would a part Timelord / part human character be able to communicate on Earth? And why pick WILF?

I would also add - and I will get shot from the turret on this one.... might DONNA actually be THE DOCTOR's Mother? Their relationship was nothing but platonic and DONNA has been one of the few assistants to actually teach the DOCTOR some life lessons (i.e. POMPEII). It would also underline why WILF keeps referencing having sons and why the DOCTOR keeps meeting him AND why DONNA's 'path' and choices (eg. TURN LEFT) were explored in great depth.

Long shot granted... but one I felt at the time...

Be nice.

I think the damage is irreparable.

Thousands of crew members, BBC accountants, ratings compilers, merchandise designers, actors, writers, new audiences, old audiences, global audiences, musicians, location scouts, TV schedulers and creators of subsequent series such as MERLIN, THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, BEING HUMAN and SHERLOCK HOLMES would say otherwise.

The irony is that you will no doubt watch every episode of Matt Smith's inaugural season as DOCTOR WHO and see for yourself just how and why he is being hailed as 'superb' and awe-inspiring.... to be honest, who wouldn't?!