![]() Note that Graham points out that Yaz is more inspiring than the Doctor, because she mirrors the Doctor’s fearlessness and perseverance, but does so without a TARDIS or a sonic. It is, and I think Chibnall realizes that this revelation removes some of this hope from the character. That really seems to run counter to the theme of “hope” running through Thirteen’s tenure. Positing that early versions of the Doctor were forced into their roles undermines the aspirational aspect of the character. I’ve always loved those aspects of the Doctor.Įveryone does! And it’s particularly frustrating because these characteristics – – the wanderlust, the curiosity, the selfless desire to help others – – are imitable by Doctor Who’s audience. The Division conscripting the Doctor into their service undermines this connection. ![]() Is it any wonder why the Doctor habitually travels with companions who also have a strong desire to see more of the world than allowed by their familial or cultural expectations? The Doctor doesn’t just see the Universe through the eyes of his companions, he sees his story mirrored in them. Establishing that early versions of the Doctor were ordered by the Division to intervene “in other worlds and times” diminishes this character trait.įurther, One ran away from Gallifrey because he wanted to see more of the Universe than allowed by the Time Lords’ “strict non-intervention” policy. Oh, not at all! What I do think people will care about is how this reveal fundamentally changes the nature of the Doctor.Īn immutable facet of the Doctor is that he chooses to help others, to fight for the oppressed and to save lives, when he can. However, you don’t actually expect casual viewers to care about this level of continuity, do you? I’m sure there are ways to explain away each of these issues, but it seems like Chibnall is countering a lot of recent developments in order to canonize a one-off joke from a 43-year-old episode.Īll fair points. If the Time Lords were created by combining Shobogan genetics with that of the Timeless Child, then why is “the Hybrid” a feared mythological figure, rather than a deified one, in Gallifreyan culture? Why did the Doctor require a new set of regenerations, in “The Time of the Doctor,” and why did the Time Lords award them to Eleven? How has the sonic screwdriver never registered that the Doctor isn’t Gallifreyan and only shares a fraction of her genetic makeup with others supposedly of her same race? ![]() If Ruth is a pre-Hartnell regeneration, then why is her TARDIS shaped like a phone box? The TARDIS’ chameleon circuit functioned until landing in 1963, with One and Susan, just before the events of The Unearthly Child. If the Time Lords didn’t gain their regenerative abilities by being exposed to the energies of the Time Vortex, then how does one explain River Song? Still, there are some questions, just begging to be answered. I’m more invested in seeing the Doctor’s story move forward, not looking back at the series’ twisted continuity. I’m not angered that Chibnall has canonized pre-Hartnell-era iterations of the Doctor, but – – aside from Jo Martin’s Doctor – – I am completely uninterested in meeting or learning more about any of those regenerations. ![]() Both Davies and Steven Moffat were respectful of the previous continuity, often allowing aspects of it to flavor modern-era episodes, but they weren’t enslaved by it. This focused the narrative on the Doctor and the companions, allowing newer viewers to appreciate the series regardless of their level of familiarity with the classic era. Davies did for Doctor Who was to remove Gallifrey and the mythology of the Time Lords from the forefront of the series, via the Time War. I think one of the best things Russell T. How do you feel about the reveal that there are an untold number of pre-Hartnell iterations of the Doctor? Note: this review contains full SPOILERS for episode 10 of Series 12. Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp Share on E-mailĬlint Hassell continues his SPOILER-filled commentary on the tenth episode of Series 12. ![]()
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