7X07 The Rings of Akhenaten (Grading/Discussion) (SPOILERS!)

[Psion]

Been thinking things over, got a nitpick. Clara's age. Last week, it's implied she's 24 (the most recent age printed in her book). This week it's implied she was 11 when her mother died (most recent age when standing in the cemetery).

So now we got a problem, when is Clara supposed to be from? Since her mother died in 2005, and assuming Clara is meant to be from 2013, that would mean she should have been 16 in 2005. Interestingly enough, 16 is one of the ages (along with 23) that have been skipped over in her book (which some are specualting could be significant). On the other hand, if she were indeed 11 in 2005, than in order to be 24 she would be from 2018 which is consistent with all the leapfrogging through the modern years done throughout the first half of the season. Indeed, by time of their departure, Amy and Rory should have been from 2016 or so, even though that episode has 2012 spoken many times.

Thoughts?

Ah! I see where you got mixed up. The book originally belonged to Clara's mother, and it was she who wrote "Property of Elle Ravenwood aged 11" into the first page. Clara's list of ages is on the next page.

 

[The Wormhole]

So, in other words, Clara probably was 16 when her mother died in 2005 and therefore is from 2013? Makes sense.

 

[Psion]

But I agree with the notion that the Ponds, towards the end, were likely from the future and only visiting 2012 in "Angels ...." Whether that was the show's intent is another issue. I bet the writers let that one get away from them.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Did i see this wrong or was she not understanding the alien language, i thought the tardis automatically translated all alien languages for anybody who travelled in it.

Or have i got this wrong.

 

[RoJoHen]

Nope, you've got that right. I was wondering the same thing.

I wonder if it was intentional, or if Moffat just wasn't thinking. If intentional, it could go along with the "I don't think it likes me" comment that Clara made about the TARDIS.

 

[Neroon]

Did i see this wrong or was she not understanding the alien language, i thought the tardis automatically translated all alien languages for anybody who travelled in it.

Or have i got this wrong.

Remember that Clara felt the TARDIS didn't like her, as it wouldn't let her back inside.

 

[Photoman15]

I thought it didn't let her back inside because SHE DIDN'T HAVE A KEY and the door was locked. No one gets in without a key, except maybe the Doctor (oh snap).

I think Clara saying the Tardis didn't like her was for Merry's to make light of the situation.

 

[RoJoHen]

I thought it didn't let her back inside because SHE DIDN'T HAVE A KEY and the door was locked. No one gets in without a key, except maybe the Doctor (oh snap).

Sure, but writers don't just throw random dialogue in for no reason. Clara could have easily said, "It's locked!" instead of "I don't think it likes me."

Given the little that we know about Clara, it's quite possible that she is some kind of temporal paradox. The TARDIS hates those.

 

[Photoman15]

I think Clara saying the Tardis didn't like her was for Merry to make light of the situation.

 

[RoJoHen]

Time will tell.

 

[Psion]

Did i see this wrong or was she not understanding the alien language, i thought the tardis automatically translated all alien languages for anybody who travelled in it.

Or have i got this wrong.

Yep, I noticed this too.

It could be deliberate, or it could be down to forgetful continuity. We'll have to wait and see. It's a Russian sub, this week, isn't it? There should be confirmation there.

 

[Shawnster]

I missed the Susan reference. What was it and when in the episode?

Shortly after they arrived the Doctor mentioned he was there before with his granddaughter...Right before he takes off and Clara bumps into the little girl for the first time.

Ah, thanks!

I think Clara saying the Tardis didn't like her was for Merry to make light of the situation.

I thought I heard Clara say "he" doesn't like me. Maybe I misunderstood. If she did say "he," then she's either unaware of the TARDIS gender (yet thinks the TARDIS should have gender), or she was referring to the Doctor.

 

[Mister Fandango]

I think Clara saying the Tardis didn't like her was for Merry to make light of the situation.

Think it all you like, there was a reason that the writers had her say that exact line. And since no one at all laughed at it or otherwise showed any indiciation of "making light of the situation," not even with musical cues, it's a safe bet to say that you're very much wrong here.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I think Clara saying the Tardis didn't like her was for Merry to make light of the situation.

Think it all you like, there was a reason that the writers had her say that exact line. And since no one at all laughed at it or otherwise showed any indiciation of "making light of the situation," not even with musical cues, it's a safe bet to say that you're very much wrong here.

I pretty much agree here. The TARDIS can see across all time & space. She knows exactly who/what Clara is and already knows if she is going to hurt the Doctor or is being used for that purpose.

 

[Starkers]

She didn't seem to mind River though?

By the way did anyone else wonder if the Doctor was going to use his glasses as money? Those are Amy's specs aren't they? Or am I mistaken?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Did i see this wrong or was she not understanding the alien language, i thought the tardis automatically translated all alien languages for anybody who travelled in it.

Or have i got this wrong.

Remember that Clara felt the TARDIS didn't like her, as it wouldn't let her back inside.

The TARDIS was probably like "Barking, really? I just can't be bothered. Uh, moped, whatever...happy?"

 

[Gov Kodos]

We have Clara's belief, but that doesn't mean the Tardis doesn't like her. I guess this will be clarified further in the Journey to the Center of the Tardis episode.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

She didn't seem to mind River though?

Good point. Maybe the plot requires it now?

By the way did anyone else wonder if the Doctor was going to use his glasses as money? Those are Amy's specs aren't they? Or am I mistaken?

They sure look like the same ones.

 

[bryce]

The flying through space in that scooter exposed to the vaccume, without the TARDIS to project and air corridor or or gravity bubble - or no mention that the "scooter" was capable of projecting one - really bugged me.

(I was wondering if maybe the idea was either that the scooter *projected* a "gravity bubble...or the ring system was something like the "smoke ring" in Lary Nivin's "The Smoke Ring" and the Integril Trees", and it had an atmosphere...?)

I also didn't like seeing the "planet" that the rings orbited just vanish, and no one worry what the rings were going to orbit now!?

Perhaps the ring is some artifically maintained system with air and gravity - to keep the ring in orbit - and such...but if it was supposed to be, imo, the most likely source for generating and maintaining all of that was the being/"planet" in the center...and when it vanished, well...

It just seemed like sloppy and careless writing to me - and a lot of it could be explained away or accounted for in a short line or two of exposition.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Regarding language, quite a bit of it was translated. Perhaps not consistently so, but certainly more than it would be if it was translating nothing.

The TARDIS doesn't translate everything, after all. I mean the Doctor speaks Horse, but the TARDIS didn't start translating the horse, did it?