What if it wasn't 11 that *SPOILERS*

[RevdKathy]

The problem lies with the use of "years" to measure time by. An earth year is substantially different from, say, a mars year, a venus year or any other planet's measure. Heaven only knows what a "year" means on Gallifrey - it could even be a flexible measure, presumably.

Which is a really good reason for ignoring all statements measured in years unless they are uttered by earth-based lifeforms (who for some reason seem to stick to the measure whether or not they remain on earth.) Especially references to things measured in years by someone who experiences the whole timeywhiminess of time.

 

[Sindatur]

The problem lies with the use of "years" to measure time by. An earth year is substantially different from, say, a mars year, a venus year or any other planet's measure. Heaven only knows what a "year" means on Gallifrey - it could even be a flexible measure, presumably.

Which is a really good reason for ignoring all statements measured in years unless they are uttered by earth-based lifeforms (who for some reason seem to stick to the measure whether or not they remain on earth.) Especially references to things measured in years by someone who experiences the whole timeywhiminess of time.

Nicely done, hadn't considered that, being I'm so Earth Centric in my thinking

 

[USS KG5]

Except... Amy raises that possibility, and older Canton dismisses it out of hand - dramatically, that's a bit like "Chekov's Gun", except it's the writer removing a possible answer from the options, rather then setting one up. If he then goes back and uses that solution, I'll feel very let down.

He won't, the opening two parter set off more Chekov's Guns than you can shake a stick at. Moffat will definitely explain all the following: -

Who shot the Doctor
How come he isn't really dead. Probably
Whats up with the little girl
Whats up with pregnant Amy
Who River Song is
Why the Silents wanted a spacesuit
Who the weird woman at the cell door is
Why Amy has poor perception of time
Why the Silents have been trying to build Tardises
Why River Song is so pissed off all the time.

I'm really looking forward to finding out.

 

[RevdKathy]

Don't hold your breath. If we're lucky, some of those will be answered by Christmas. I suspect some will be left hanging to the next series - or the one after that. Or...

I don't think Moffat likes answers.

 

[Starkers]

^ I still like the theory that Nine had years of adventures between leaving at the end of Rose, and then coming back seconds later and adding that the TARDIS did time-travel, too.

Yea, anytime, the Doctor goes into the Tardis by himself and dematerializes, all bets are off as to how much has passed for him when he hooks back up with a travelling companion. It could be just what we see, or it could be hundreds of years (Though Idris kinda put a kink in that with her quote of years and the other quotes for years we've gotten in the series)

Yeah and I think it's eminantly possible that the Doctor dropped a companion off somehwere for a break and took off on his own for a few decades--I think you could fit in a Doctor alone story anywhere really.

 

[USS KG5]

Don't hold your breath. If we're lucky, some of those will be answered by Christmas. I suspect some will be left hanging to the next series - or the one after that. Or...

I don't think Moffat likes answers.

I won't - I'll just try to enjoy the ride!

 

[ClayinCA]

I used to think that Moffat was going to run the River Song mystery right the way through his entire tenure on the show, but now it appears as though it'll all be dealt with this season. Which makes sense--if River's getting younger and younger (from the Doctor's point-of-view), I don't suppose they can keep Alex Kingston beyond a certain amount of time.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I don't suppose they can keep Alex Kingston beyond a certain amount of time.

Can't they simply use a vortex manipulator to get her younger self to star in one of the next seasons?

 

[Skellington]

^ Good thinking, Batman!

 

[PorthosShadow]

I don't suppose they can keep Alex Kingston beyond a certain amount of time.

Can't they simply use a vortex manipulator to get her younger self to star in one of the next seasons?

That hadn't occurred to me but now that you mention it, who would you pick to play a young Alex Kingston?

 

[Venardhi]

You would need to go much much younger for it not to be jarring.