The Time Of The Doctor (Grading/Discussion)(SPOILERS!)

[RoJoHen]

And what exactly was the purpose of them being naked in the beginning? Holographic clothes? Why?

I assumed at the very end of the episode, after the regeneration explosion, that we were seeing Peter Capaldi's Doctor walking around in a holographic Matt Smith suit. I figured he had already changed faces and was just "wearing" Matt Smith as a way to say goodbye to Clara and because he wasn't quite ready to move on yet.

I think that would have made much more sense. Otherwise why bother introducing the hologram element at all?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ There you go, creating more controversy

They finally explain the crack and the exploding TARDIS and you wanna stir up more questions.

In all seriousness, I agree with those that think it was a rushed episode. I feel like it could have done with another half hour.

Otherwise, a great episode. I'm looking forward to watching it a few more times.

 

[Redfern]

Although for some reason they brought back those pointless "spider Daleks" from Day of the Doctor. What is the purpose for these things anyway?

I stumbled across a "behind the scenes" short about the opticals arranged for "Day of the Doctor" which gave some insight. As fast as they flashed across the screen it was impossible to tell (unless one "freeze framed" the shot at just the right moment), but those weren't "individual" Daleks, "spider" or otherwise. They were, in fact, massively gunned "hover-bouts" upon which three Daleks rode. We are to assume the weapons mounted upon this "platform" possess far more firepower than any single Dalek, possibly three or more (otherwise it's diminishing returns).

The featurette revealed sequences of the "platform" slowly rotating to show off the details, lapsing from wire-frame, to "clay" shading" then fully textured and illuminated. Given a Dalek stands a little over 5 feet, the entire platform appears to stand over 20 feet tall.

Ah, I just found the clip again. The discussion about the flying platform starts at the 4 and a half minute mark.

http://www.milk-vfx.com/projects/the-day-of-the-doctor/

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Mr Awe]

As for Tasha Lem.... New character and all, but are there really no female characters from ALL those years of Doctor Who that could have served a similair purpose?

The character bugged me. Supposed to be a major character from the Doctor's past, yet this is the first time we've met her? Jeepers, fine time to introduce her.

Mr Awe

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Maybe this has been mentioned before, but if Smith's Doctor had no more regenerations left, then how did he use the regenerative energy to heal River's wrist in The Angels Take Manhattan?

 

[shivkala]

And what exactly was the purpose of them being naked in the beginning? Holographic clothes? Why?

The Church of the Papal Mainframe requires those on board to be naked (though, apparently, holographs are okay). The Doctor says this to Clara shortly before they enter the ship.

I assumed at the very end of the episode, after the regeneration explosion, that we were seeing Peter Capaldi's Doctor walking around in a holographic Matt Smith suit. I figured he had already changed faces and was just "wearing" Matt Smith as a way to say goodbye to Clara and because he wasn't quite ready to move on yet.

I do believe that later on in the episode, they comment on wearing actual clothing again.

Besides, I don't think we are seeing holographic clothing on the Tardis floor when Clara enters, after Eleven defeats the Daleks. There are clothes strewn about. I got the impression the Doctor ditched them in favor of a fresh set, in order to properly say goodbye to Clara.

ETA: I think I should post after OdoWanKenobi more often. It looks like Hal is ready to take on Parallax Sinestro.

 

[Queen Mab]

Messy. And Confusing.


I know we get a Christmas Special but do we have to get smashed over the head every year with Snow and Christmas trees and shit. We get it. Its Christmas! They sure do ladle this stuff on. "Its Christmas...It Christmas...DID WE MENTION ITS CHRISTMAS????"

I do agree strongly with this. Especially since I'm Jewish. I'm no Scrooge, there is nothing wrong with clebrating the festive holiday, but I got very annoyed with "The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe", that episode had the attitude that every living being in the entire universe is Christian, and celebrates Christmas.

There is nothing Christian about the Christmas celebrated in the Doctor Who episodes, from what I can remember.

In fact doesn't the Doctor have have an opening Monologue in one where he says how it is a general Winter Festival about family and friendship and getting through the winter an' that?

Lived in the UK all my life.. very few religious people.. even fewer incredibly religious people.. Everyone celebrates Christmas..

I think the poster above was complaining about the constant Greetings Card portrayal of Christmas in all the episodes. Am I right?

 

[Mr Awe]

I've watched it 2.5 times now (Watched it once, then the last half again, then the whole thing again). It gets better with repeated viewings. Once you understand how this regeneration worked, it makes much more sense.

I think the spookiest thing of all, is when Matt says "He's coming", and Clara says "Who?" and he says "The Doctor".

I'm scared.

No, I understood it just fine the first time around. I just didn't like the plot points via exposition (telling not showing), the magical ending, the weird pacing, the major characters out of no where, major plot threads wrapped up in a rushed line, etc.

The structure really just did not work. The premise was interesting and nice, but the execution was sorely lacking.

Mr Awe

 

[SeerSGB]

Although for some reason they brought back those pointless "spider Daleks" from Day of the Doctor. What is the purpose for these things anyway?

I stumbled across a "behind the scenes" short about the opticals arranged for "Day of the Doctor" which gave some insight. As fast as they flashed across the screen it was impossible to tell (unless one "freeze framed" the shot at just the right moment), but those weren't "individual" Daleks, "spider" or otherwise. They were, in fact, massively gunned "hover-bouts" upon which three Daleks rode. We are to assume the weapons mounted upon this "platform" possess far more firepower than any single Dalek, possibly three or more (otherwise it's diminishing returns).

The featurette revealed sequences of the "platform" slowly rotating to show off the details, lapsing from wire-frame, to "clay" shading" then fully textured and illuminated. Given a Dalek stands a little over 5 feet, the entire platform appears to stand over 20 feet tall.

Ah, I just found the clip again. The discussion about the flying platform starts at the 4 and a half minute mark.

http://www.milk-vfx.com/projects/the-day-of-the-doctor/

Sincerely,

Bill

Daleks: No such thing as over gunned. Cool concept though. Though now I have a mental image of a Dalek going "Wheeee!" as they zip around.

Still, would have liked it to have just been one big ass Dalek. Spider/tank Dalek, for when special-weapons Dalek is just to subtle.

 

[shivkala]

The people living on Trenzalore were established to be a human colony. It would only make sense, then, that they would celebrate Christmas. This was the case with "A Christmas Carol," as well.

 

[RoJoHen]

And what exactly was the purpose of them being naked in the beginning? Holographic clothes? Why?

The Church of the Papal Mainframe requires those on board to be naked (though, apparently, holographs are okay). The Doctor says this to Clara shortly before they enter the ship.

Yes, but my point is...why? It seems like a pretty random thing to throw in if it's not going to serve a purpose later.

 

[shivkala]

Ah, I thought you were questioning it story-wise, not the Church's logic. It probably makes as much sense as everyone attending a Betazoid wedding being naked. Though Tasha does strike me as the sort to just want everyone naked, making it a church rule just allows her to get away with it.

In my head canon, Tasha Lem is the daughter of River and Jack. The whole "no clothes" things makes more sense that way.

 

[Mr Awe]

I know, people are going to complain "oh, sour grapes or something" - but no, I've defended and praised Moffat's handling of the show most of the time, and am happy with most of his episodes, but if I'm gonna say "that episode was great because of..." then it's only fair that I should say the opposite when he fucks it up.

I agree with you whole heartedly. Both for the good that Moffat has generally done but also for the wreck of an episode we just saw. It's almost like Moffat spent so much time perfecting TDOTD, that he didn't have any time/creativity left for this one.

If that is the case, he should've considered letting someone else write it, as tough as that decision would've been. Or co-write it.

Mr Awe

 

[davejames]

I'm sure it's been mentioned, but I really wish they didn't specify that the Doctor now had a "new set" of regenerations. Instead of allowing Capaldi to be the Last Doctor, or the Mysterious Extra Doctor, it now makes him just the first of another 12. Which unfortunately makes him seem a lot less special I think.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

And what exactly was the purpose of them being naked in the beginning? Holographic clothes? Why?

The Church of the Papal Mainframe requires those on board to be naked (though, apparently, holographs are okay). The Doctor says this to Clara shortly before they enter the ship.

Yes, but my point is...why? It seems like a pretty random thing to throw in if it's not going to serve a purpose later.

Well, it made sense for a minute of suspense on the planet. The Doctor supposedly had nowhere to hide the key and was stranded on the planet surrounded by weeping angels with no access to the TARDIS. It was then revealed that he fooled them by wearing a wig.

If anything, the whole point was to take advantage of the fact that Matt Smith shaved his head more than anything else, but it wasn't just a side gag. That being said, odd quirky customs like precisely this one have been standard for Doctor Who at least since The End of the World. This one was actually more relevant than most.

 

[Queen Mab]

The people living on Trenzalore were established to be a human colony. It would only make sense, then, that they would celebrate Christmas. This was the case with "A Christmas Carol," as well.

It would ONLY make sense? How very ethnocentric of you.

Just because they appear human you don't think it weird that they celebrate Christmas because you do now? A celebration you just happen to know about because you were born in a specific time (and place) in human history.

 

[EnderAKH]

Maybe this has been mentioned before, but if Smith's Doctor had no more regenerations left, then how did he use the regenerative energy to heal River's wrist in The Angels Take Manhattan?

Or why was it such a big deal that the poisoned lipstick prevented regeneration in Let's Kill Hitler?

 

[Lonemagpie]

I also wonder, where Tasha Lem is concerned, whether it was written for River and Alex was unavailable...

Or whether Moffat was just unable to decide whether she was meant to be River or not.

 

[O'Dib]

So, 11th was actually 13th, and mega-regenerating made capaldi 1st of another 13? Or was the 1st of 12 new regenerations spent making capaldi? (Which would make him the new 2nd )

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Maybe this has been mentioned before, but if Smith's Doctor had no more regenerations left, then how did he use the regenerative energy to heal River's wrist in The Angels Take Manhattan?

Or why was it such a big deal that the poisoned lipstick prevented regeneration in Let's Kill Hitler?

Well, it was never said that it did. All that was said was "regeneration disabled." It could have been disabled because he was out of regenerations.