Well I suppose as we've been chating about the 50th Anniversary Special for a while. Is it time to turn our attnetion to Matt Smith's swansong. So do we think Moffat will tie up all the lose ends from Smith's era? So any wild guesses as to what will cause this regenreation?
So, is 2013 the 800th? Cos then whether 2014 is would depend on how many episodes season 8 has, which has yet to be confirmed (running Sept-Nov as already leaked means a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 13, depending on the dates)
I'll have to side with the infamous Ian Le Vine. It does take a long time between series. Also, wouldn't the Christmas special practically be part of Series 8? All Christmas specials had been, essentially, episode 0 of the upcoming series.
Anyway, an older but more relevant post on the matter: http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/moffat-talks-valeyard-rivers-future-closure-52047.htm
Given that the Complete Series 7 box set will be released later October with all series 7 episodes and Christmas specials, I shall highly doubt that. Plus, it wouldn't be the first time a series would begin and end with different Doctors. Think Series 4 of Old Who with Hartnell/Troughton, and accordingly Series 21 with Davison/Baker (on second thought, maybe you shouldn't ).
I think I just mean "storywise" it'll be more like the end of Season 7, rather than the beginning of a new season. Whether it's actually marketed or released that way is another matter.
Yea, I'm kinda hoping Name of the Doctor, The Anniversary Special, and The Christmas Special will be a Trilogy of sorts. Name of the Doctor introduces HurtDoctor, so, it's a Good bet, The Anniversary Special will take off from where NotD left off, and bring in Ten(nant) and Rose. So, hopefully, that Anniversary Special will lead straight into the Christmas Special and his ultimate Regeneration.
I'd dig the above structure. Would remind me of Old Who trilogies like the New Begginings Trilogy, where the Master came back, the Doctor regenerated, and the Master was defeated. In this case, the Doctor is confronted by his past, he will face his most regretful part of his past, and probably will deal with his unresolved enemies before regenerating.
Final read through was today http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/smith-prepares-for-final-episode-filming-52958.htm I can't imagine how it must feel for Matt to read the final words of the eleventh doctor.
I bet everyone will be asking him how he feels about his exit, story-wise. An early wager: Will it be better or worse than End of Time?
I'm going to go with better, although it'll be hard to top the last five minutes or so of TEOT. I think it'll be a tighter story, and I think it'll resist any kind of grand tour of every companion evah!
Just so long as he gets a better fucking last line than "I don't want to go". I suggested to a mate of Moffat's recently that the Eleventh's last words should be "What bus?"
From what Moffat has said it looks like he's expanding that one line into the basis for the entire episode. So he'll probably wind up curled up in a ball in the corner of the TARDIS crying, "I don't want to die."
Well, when you had the Eleventh Doctor basically running around in the sixth series, trying to avoid his death... I don't think they'll treat his regeneration as an imminent one. At least, I hope they won't.
I'll try and track down the actual quote when I have more time but basically Moffat said that he'll be afraid of what he's going to change into next and fighting against it. (Which makes sense I suppose since as the 12th Doctor, the Valeyard should be next.)
I'd be tempted to go with Geronimo...but actually what might work would be a semi-conscious "Come along, Pond." said with a dreamy smile.