5x012 The Pandorica Opens (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!!

[Brent]

NOOOOOOOOOOO! YOu can't end it there!?!? I MUST know what happens! GAH, what a cliffhanger

I wonder though, WHAT caused the TARDIS to explode? Did River do something wrong, or did the TARDIS just get tired and decided to blow itself up? lol Seriously, what is causing it to explode!?

Oh wait, someone is controlling the TARDIS right? There was a voice? What if it is the Black Guardian!!!!!!!!1111 Would be great to bring back the White and Black Guardian back into the series!

So they imprisoned the Doctor, a BOLD plan, and it worked! But they are not aware that River is in the TARDIS and it is exploding right now!!!

How will the Doctor escape the box?

Argh, I want next week to be here now!

 

[Australis]

Oh yeah that's right she did say she would see them both again when the Pandorica opens. I guess the rewritten stuff then gives her memory gaps?

No, what I'm saying is that, like Rory, River Song will cease to exist, any memory of her life will evaporate. But the Doctor will remember his loss because he's a time traveller.

 

[Bones2]

Was there a reference yet to Amy's Choice? I get the feeling that the one behind it all is ...that guy.

Nah, the Doctor chucked the seeds out the door.

Oh wait, someone is controlling the TARDIS right? There was a voice? What if it is the Black Guardian!!!!!!!!1111 Would be great to bring back the White and Black Guardian back into the series!

So long as they don't have dead birds sitting on their heads this time. Though to be honest, what purpose did they really serve? I'm a fan of much of Doctor Who mythology being reintroduced, but I'm fairly indifference to those two old geezers. Omega's much more interesting.

 

[Maestro]

I was most impressed with tonight's episode, and I hope the resolution isn't a letdown next week.

Tonight's ep struck me as a divergence from previous finales. RTD's finales seemed to be set-up as "See how much fanwank I can pile on!" whereas this one was, "See how the whole season was tied together!"

Now, of course, if Davros turns out to be the culprit, this comparison is moot and Moffat becomes a worse fanwanker than RTD could have hoped to be.

 

[TechnoBoY]

I was sad when this episode ended and I'm sad I reached the end of this thread!

I can't wait until next week!

Awesome! And I hate how the Doctor always gets cut off when it seems like something will be explained. Like Amys life!

 

[Bacl]

"Only The Doctor can pilot the TARDIS."

Not entiely true, but still possibly a hint.

We saw all episodes from this season tie in except for "Amy's Choice".

The person controlling the TARDIS is the Dreamlord/Valeyard ..The Doctor.

His motivation? Steal the remaining regenerations.

 

[Slugboy]

Something minor I just noticed. Not sure if it was intentional, but if so, it provides a bit of continuity with the old series.

Under the "Hello Sweetie" message on the cliff face, there is a series of symbols. The first two symbols are the Greek letters Theta and Sigma. "Theta Sigma" was the nickname given to the Doctor at the Prydon Academy on Gallifrey. (this is mentioned in the Fourth Doctor serial The Armageddon Factor)

 

[Admiral_Young]

^Interesting observations and if it is the Valeyard (my suggestions were Omega or the Valeyard) it would harken back to a line the Doctor said to Amy in "The Eleventh Hour" near the duck pond when he was having his regeneration difficulties he clutches his chest and shouts "No! Not yet!" I can't help but think that was a reference to the Valeyard. Oooooh I can't wait for next weekend.

 

[Brent]

^Interesting observations and if it is the Valeyard (my suggestions were Omega or the Valeyard) it would harken back to a line the Doctor said to Amy in "The Eleventh Hour" near the duck pond when he was having his regeneration difficulties he clutches his chest and shouts "No! Not yet!" I can't help but think that was a reference to the Valeyard. Oooooh I can't wait for next weekend.

Oh yes, good point, the "No Not yet" thing has to mean something! Forgot about that.

Was there a reference yet to Amy's Choice? I get the feeling that the one behind it all is ...that guy.

Nah, the Doctor chucked the seeds out the door.

Oh wait, someone is controlling the TARDIS right? There was a voice? What if it is the Black Guardian!!!!!!!!1111 Would be great to bring back the White and Black Guardian back into the series!

So long as they don't have dead birds sitting on their heads this time. Though to be honest, what purpose did they really serve? I'm a fan of much of Doctor Who mythology being reintroduced, but I'm fairly indifference to those two old geezers. Omega's much more interesting.

Yes, I guess we gotta make a list, who can control the TARDIS? Cause that is what it looks like here.

 

[captcalhoun]

Donna Noble
The Doctor
River
Romana
Rani, Master, Meddling Monk

 

[Brent]

and Black Guardian/White Guardian

 

[Admiral_Young]

The Valeyard as well. Donna would only be able to pilot the Tardis as Doctor Donna though wouldn't she? Also a side thing I noticed and something small and possibly fanboyish and insignificant when the Doctor and Amy were talking about the engagement ring and Amy was thinking that the Doctor was with someone (I'm glad she didn't think it was for her from him) he pauses and has a wistful glance and turn shakes it off and goes back to the Pandorica with his screwdriver but i swear he was thinking about Rose in that moment.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Very good episode, although maybe not quite as smashing as "The Stolen Earth." As others have said, it's hard to judge the first part episode until you see the second part, but I have high hopes.

I was pleasantly shocked that the Romans and Rory turned out to be Autons although I wasn't quite so surprised Rory shot Amy. He did try to warn her, after all.

As for who is behind all of this, my money is on The Valeyard primarily because of "Amy's Choice" and the constant references to the previous incarnations. I've liked the idea of The Valeyard but I hated the execution of the character. If this is really him, I have faith in The Moff to make him interesting. Either way, I really hope it's not Davros.

Odd that there was no "next time" trailer.

I noticed that, too. I'm guessing that much of the episode is going to be much different from this one anything shown will be too revealing.

Come to think of it, the only spoiler and photographs I've seen for "The Big Bang" is...

Spoiler: The Big Bang

Young Amy visiting a museum and opening up the Pandorica.

Hmmm...speaking of spoilers, I'm impressed that there hasn't been any leaks about who the big baddie is this year. We were spoiled well in advance with the Daleks, Cybermen (and the Daleks again), The Master, Davros, and the Time Lords. Unless, of course, it turns out to be Omega, but I think that would be worse than Davros.

I hope these rumours of Moffat leaving after the next series are false; this has been my favourite series of new Who by quite a wide margin.

I've not heard the rumors about Moffat, I would hate that to be true.

Moffat turned down some big Hollywood projects to do Doctor Who so I assumed he would be around for Matt Smiths Era or at least 3 years.

Been reading those rumors about Moffat as well. Its got me more than a bit worried. Especially after hearing that other staffers have already left.

...I'm speechless. I haven't heard these rumors. I really hope they're not true. The big Hollywood project Moffat left was the Peter Jackson/Steven Spielberg Tintin trilogy. He wrote the script for the first film before leaving and the only reason I forgave him was because he took over Doctor Who. If he does leave after the next series, I'll be double pissed.

 

[Captain Crow]

It was a nice touch that they allowed Gareth Roberts to play the Blue Guy in the begining of the episode.

 

[Sci]

It was a nice touch that they allowed Gareth Roberts to play the Blue Guy in the begining of the episode.

I'm afraid that that was actually a character named Dorium played by an actor named Simon Fisher Becker.

I was most impressed with tonight's episode, and I hope the resolution isn't a letdown next week.

Tonight's ep struck me as a divergence from previous finales. RTD's finales seemed to be set-up as "See how much fanwank I can pile on!" whereas this one was, "See how the whole season was tied together!"

Now, of course, if Davros turns out to be the culprit, this comparison is moot and Moffat becomes a worse fanwanker than RTD could have hoped to be.

Oh, c'mon. Daleks, Cybermen, Autons, Judoon, Slitheen, Silurians, and Sontarans all join together to defeat the Doctor -- after Winston Churchill passes on a message from Vincent van Gogh -- and that's not automatically fanwank?

Donna Noble
The Doctor
River
Romana
Rani, Master, Meddling Monk

Romana, the Rani, and the Meddling Monk are all dead and/or erased from history, though, what with the Time Lords being gone and all.

 

[JoeZhang]

I'm afraid that that was actually a character named Dorium played by an actor named Simon Fisher Becker.

I'm pretty sure he was taking the piss...

 

[Bones2]

Very funny. Blue Guy's probably a better writer.

Has anyone yet mentioned why all these enemies who think the Doctor's going to destroy the universe didn't just kill him? While he was standing on the rock shouting his "ooh, I'm hard I am" speech (and though I love Smith and Moffat, I wouldn't mind a series without one of those) at the ships, I rationalised at the time that they didn't fire some shots down and kill him there because it might block the entry to the Pandorica or damage it or something, being as we didn't know what it was at the time, only that it was important enough for them to want it. But rather than forcing him into the box, why wouldn't they just kill him? I'm guessing that'll be explained next episode, or maybe there's some worth in keeping the last Time Lord in a box or something.

 

[Captain Crow]

I'm afraid that that was actually a character named Dorium played by an actor named Simon Fisher Becker.

I'm pretty sure he was taking the piss...

I was.

It's based off the gag they do in DWM when someone writes a letter to them about someone looking like one of the actors on the show. They show them both side-by-side in a similar pose then swap the names around. Guess I should have put a smiley in somewhere so people would understand it was a joke.

Blue Guy's probably a better writer.

I wouldn't doubt it. Though that's not saying much since a 12 year old with an I.Q. of 42 is probably a better writer than he is.

 

[Jim Gamma]

Has anyone yet mentioned why all these enemies who think the Doctor's going to destroy the universe didn't just kill him? While he was standing on the rock shouting his "ooh, I'm hard I am" speech (and though I love Smith and Moffat, I wouldn't mind a series without one of those) at the ships, I rationalised at the time that they didn't fire some shots down and kill him there because it might block the entry to the Pandorica or damage it or something, being as we didn't know what it was at the time, only that it was important enough for them to want it. But rather than forcing him into the box, why wouldn't they just kill him? I'm guessing that'll be explained next episode, or maybe there's some worth in keeping the last Time Lord in a box or something.

This is just my reading of it, but if you've tried to destroy someone as many times as the Alliance members tried to destroy the Doctor, but he keeps coming back, you might be a little reluctant to actually kill him until you can be sure he won't come back - hence trapping him.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Very funny. Blue Guy's probably a better writer.

Has anyone yet mentioned why all these enemies who think the Doctor's going to destroy the universe didn't just kill him? While he was standing on the rock shouting his "ooh, I'm hard I am" speech (and though I love Smith and Moffat, I wouldn't mind a series without one of those) at the ships, I rationalised at the time that they didn't fire some shots down and kill him there because it might block the entry to the Pandorica or damage it or something, being as we didn't know what it was at the time, only that it was important enough for them to want it. But rather than forcing him into the box, why wouldn't they just kill him? I'm guessing that'll be explained next episode, or maybe there's some worth in keeping the last Time Lord in a box or something.

They've already tried killing him a billion times or so. But they never tried a big box.

When that fails, they're training an army of sick cats to converge on him.