Series 12 News & Spoilers

[Mr Awe]

For awhile (decades ago, mind you), I honestly thought (due to some dubious "facts" I read somewhere) that was one of the notions considered during the Pertwee era, before Delgado's untimely passing.

They had a general plan, but it wasn't that! But, the plan was that Delgado's Master was going to die, and there was going to be the hint that he died to save the Doctor.

At any rate, I don't think tinkering with their relationship in the joking idea I mentioned would be a good idea. Let them be childhood friends who took different paths and don't mess with that!

I don't know what the big reveal will be about "it's all lies" is, but I'm thinking it has more to do with the origins of Time Lord society and their time travel abilities. Maybe not quite the story Time Lord kids are told! Maybe they stole it from another universe? Or, maybe humans evolved in the distance future to become Time Lords, subconsciously explaining the Doctor's fascination (and the Master's to some extent) with Earth and the physical similarities.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Ugh, I really, really, really loathe the idea of humans evolving into Time Lords (I don't care about the continuity of "knowing" what happens to human race at the end of time). It's an idea that's been theorized for a long time and I've never liked it.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ It's not my preferred route either.

 

[StCoop]

Soo... after that episode it's looking like the rest of the series will pretty much be one story.

Episode 6 follows on straight from this one and the birds we see in the trailer also appear in the scenes we've seen from episode 7 where they form into Ian Gelder's character inside the TARDIS. Episode 8 features the Cybermen, or rather the Cyberman (and Mary Shelly). Then we're into the finale with the inevitable return of the Master.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

If everything pays off (or at least fits together well enough regardless of one's opinion of the actual content), then I'm happy with that. I'm hopeful it works out on a fundamental level because I do want to see Doctor Who take more creative risks in storytelling instead of the basic format. Granted, Moffat did do that to a certain extent during The Eleventh Doctor era with mixed results.

 

[StCoop]

I'm guessing Jack will be back for the finale as well.

Barrowman has been talking about how he developed an elaborate cover story about being back in Cardiff to renovate his apartment to hide his involvement. I can't see that being necessary for just his brief appearance in this week's episode.

Plus he has to actually meet the Doctor.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yeah, there's no way he doesn't get to meet The Doctor. No way this was just a one-off cameo. He'll be back.

 

[David cgc]

Yeah, there's no way he doesn't get to meet The Doctor. No way this was just a one-off cameo. He'll be back.

It was basically an ad for his real guest appearance. Or, more charitably, a more drawn-out version of the River scene at the end of "Closing Time," or the scenes of Missy greeting the recently deceased throughout season 8. But that drawn-outness is why I'm inclined not to be charitable; at best, it meant they won't have to spend any time on introductions when he shows up later, but at worst, it was just padded out for fan-service, getting the fam out of the way so the Doctor would be alone with Ruth, and to help sell it as the decoy Major Surprise of the episode.

 

[Professor Zoom]

It was basically an ad for his real guest appearance. Or, more charitably, a more drawn-out version of the River scene at the end of "Closing Time," or the scenes of Missy greeting the recently deceased throughout season 8. But that drawn-outness is why I'm inclined not to be charitable; at best, it meant they won't have to spend any time on introductions when he shows up later, but at worst, it was just padded out for fan-service, getting the fam out of the way so the Doctor would be alone with Ruth, and to help sell it as the decoy Major Surprise of the episode.

I didn't mind padded out fan-service when it's that much fun and sets up something. And when it's Barrowman.

 

[Australis]

Either the Fugitive is the Timeless Child herself, or she's a WAY-pre-Hartnell... Doctor

Nailed it.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Given everything I've heard over the ether, I see two-and-a-half likely possibilities: Either the Fugitive is the Timeless Child herself, or she's a WAY-pre-Hartnell - or possibly even post-Jodie - Doctor.

Or, almost certainly, both.

Another theory going around is a Doctor from an alternate reality.

 

[Relayer1]

getting the fam out of the way so the Doctor would be alone with Ruth, and to help sell it as the decoy Major Surprise of the episode.

Of course, they told Jack The Doctor is female. But not what she looks like...

 

[JoeZhang]

Another theory going around is a Doctor from an alternate reality.

I've mentioned this previously but I just don't see it for a couple of reasons - from a story point of view, it's a boring no-stakes out but also because the episode goes out of its way to set up the mystery about why the doctor does not remember being this doctor - it never at any point suggests that this is not the Doctor (upto and including the 'Introducing Jo Martin as The Doctor' credit) and that is not the emotional dilemma they set up for the Doctor (do I know my own life?).

POSSIBLE MASSIVE SPOILERS IN SPOILER BOX.

Spoiler

Also - the spoilers that were leaked by 'insider' back in Oct 2019 have been on the money so far and they are clear this Doctor is a pre-hartnell doctor. Given their accuracy so far, I do not expect this to be wrong either.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

I've mentioned this previously but I just don't see it for a couple of reasons - from a story point of view, it's a boring no-stakes out but also because the episode goes out of its way to set up the mystery about why the doctor does not remember being this doctor - it never at any point suggests that this is not the Doctor (upto and including the 'Introducing Jo Martin as The Doctor' credit) and that is not the emotional dilemma they set up for the Doctor (do I know my own life?).

POSSIBLE MASSIVE SPOILERS IN SPOILER BOX.

Spoiler

Also - the spoilers that were leaked by 'insider' back in Oct 2019 have been on the money so far and they are clear this Doctor is a pre-hartnell doctor. Given their accuracy so far, I do not expect this to be wrong either.

Well my personal theory is that the Doctor actually on her third cycle of regenerations and had her mind wiped of the first set for some reason.

 

[JoeZhang]

Well my personal theory is that the Doctor actually on her third cycle of regenerations and had her mind wiped of the first set for some reason.

That is what I think we will get as well.

Thinking a bit more about it - this has to be 'The Doctor' (not an alternative not from another time-line) for real world reasons. The UK press has been full of (very positive) press about the casting of the first black Doctor. The BBC will have expected this.

They would also expect an absolute shitstorm if they then turned around at the end of the season if they went "actually it was not *really* the Doctor but..."

 

[The Doctor]

Jo Doctor is a pre-Hartnell incarnation. I'm sure of it now.

I do hope that it's not a one-and-done incarnation though. It'd be a shame to throw away her Doctor for just an episode or two.

 

[JoeZhang]

Jo Doctor is a pre-Hartnell incarnation. I'm sure of it now.

I do hope that it's not a one-and-done incarnation though. It'd be a shame to throw away her Doctor for just an episode or two.

What is handy about having 12 other unfilled Doctors is that we can get guest appearances from relatively high-profile actresses who could not commit to a long run.

 

[The Doctor]

What is handy about having 12 other unfilled Doctors is that we can get guest appearances from relatively high-profile actresses who could not commit to a long run.

Hey, there's a silver lining!

 

[Lonemagpie]

Well my personal theory is that the Doctor actually on her third cycle of regenerations and had her mind wiped of the first set for some reason.

That is what the rumour said - and that, further, all that first cycle were female.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Alternate theory I read, that the Time Lords have cloned the Doctor and the Master to fight in the/a war.
Which sounds believable as a reason for the Master to be pissed off enough to nuke the whole lot.
Would also explain how he comes back without explanation all the time.
So, the other Doctor could be real, but separate lives, no direct lineage.