Spoilers Survivors of the Flux grade and discussion thread

[Evil Robert]

Interestingly one of the things I enjoyed most about this episode was adding to the mess of the Unit Dating Conventions lol.

It did feel tongue-in-cheek to stir the pot a little there

 

[Starkers]

That would be difficult as the RMS Titanic sank on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912. It also had four funnels, not three. The ship depicted in the episode was the RMS Queen Mary, apparently, which didn't start operating until 1936.

IIRC, DW has never done a Titanic story on screen if we don't count Voyage of the Damned. John Hart and Jack Harkness were on board according to one of the Torchwood audio stories. The Time Machine travellers Doug Phillips and Tony Newman were apparently also on board but didn't get it on like the other two.

I can't remember, in Rose was it implied the Ninth Doctor had been on the Titanic, or that he'd met up with a family before they went on the Titanic?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I can't remember, in Rose was it implied the Ninth Doctor had been on the Titanic, or that he'd met up with a family before they went on the Titanic?

I thought it was before but I might be misremembering. Of course, that incident seems to attract time travellers like beer attracts wasps.

 

[cultcross]

If time travel were possible, key historical events would be like Glastonbury with the crowds.

 

[Starkers]

If time travel were possible, key historical events would be like Glastonbury with the crowds.

Funnily enough...

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Welease Wodger!

 

[dupersuper]

So if Tecteun is the Doctor's adoptive mother then who was the lady on the TV talking to Wilfred during 'The End of Time'?

His daughter/Susan's mother?

 

[Starkers]

Welease Wodger!

 

[Starkers]

His daughter/Susan's mother?

I know RTD said it was the Doctor's mother, but my personal head cannon always defaulted to it being Susan herself.

 

[matthunter]

DenOfGeek has a theory that the Grand Serpent is the Master.

Points in favour: knows exactly when and where to infiltrate UNIT history. Underestimates Kate. Working with another alien aggressor. Has access to time travel? (latter not confirmed but Kate hints at it)

The snake is VERY reminiscent of the Master's deathworm from the McGann movie...

And then there's this:

The name he assumes when he infiltrates UNIT is “Prentis”. Master and Apprentice? Now you might say, ‘That’s a really crap pun’, to which I say, ‘The prosecution rests’.

 

[captainkirk]

My biggest dread at the moment is Chibnal has no idea what memories are in the fobwatch and there will be no answer to that storyline.

Ala the Doctor sacrificing her memories to save the universe being the most likely narrative.

That'll piss me right off honestly. Its crappy story telling at its worst (like X-Files/Lost/That blasted women in "The End of Time").

Using the excuse of "leaving it up to the viewers imagination" is a big bugbear of mine. I'm here too have a conclusion to the questions you raised. Not do my own mental gymnastics to make up for your crappy writing.

As terrible as Moffat was at endings, at least the poor dear tried ar least attempted to answer all questions! Lol

So end my rant hahaha

I hate stories that end that way too. It just screams that the writer has no idea how to end things without changing the status quo too much. I'm willing to bet that that's exactly what will happen here.

 

[Starkers]

DenOfGeek has a theory that the Grand Serpent is the Master.

Points in favour: knows exactly when and where to infiltrate UNIT history. Underestimates Kate. Working with another alien aggressor. Has access to time travel? (latter not confirmed but Kate hints at it)

The snake is VERY reminiscent of the Master's deathworm from the McGann movie...

And then there's this:

There is something very Master'like about him, it's just where he'd sit in the Master chronology. We know

Spoiler

Dhawan is back for at least one of the specials.

I suppose Parkinson could be a post Dhawan Master, or he could be the Master between Missy and Dhawan, or he could even be further down the line, although the Doctor and the Master do tend to meet each other in sequence don't they? Outside of Big Finish I don't think there's been a situation where a Doctor has met a previous incarnation of the Master (outside of World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls of course).

Also introducing a new Master just before you hand the show over to someone else seems poor form.

The (ap)Prentice pun is interesting, maybe the Grand Serpent is the Darth Maul to the Master's Palpatine?

 

[Lonemagpie]

DenOfGeek has a theory that the Grand Serpent is the Master.

Points in favour: knows exactly when and where to infiltrate UNIT history. Underestimates Kate. Working with another alien aggressor. Has access to time travel? (latter not confirmed but Kate hints at it)

The snake is VERY reminiscent of the Master's deathworm from the McGann movie...

And then there's this:

Prentis is just a near-anagram of Serpent, though.

 

[matthunter]

Prentis is just a near-anagram of Serpent, though.

Again, not helping his case, is he?

 

[Turtletrekker]

If the Doctor wanted to find their lost memories, couldn't they track down those glass people from Capaldi's last episode? I'm sure they have them stored.

 

[Csalem]

I can't remember, in Rose was it implied the Ninth Doctor had been on the Titanic, or that he'd met up with a family before they went on the Titanic?

He met the family the day before and they cancelled their trip on the ship.

 

[Starkers]

^ Ta

 

[Gul Scorpius]

On the heels of a brilliant episode, Chapter five of the flux does not build on the excitement and I'm left scratching my head with how all these distinct strands will bring the sage to a satisfying conclusion.
Nonetheless, the episode is not without merit, I found myself enjoying the globetrotting expeditions of the trio and Yaz is slipping into a more comfortable role, Dan has been a huge joy to watch and much credit goes to Bishop's portrayal, imbuing Dan with a level of charm and 'everyman' quality.
Saying that, for me, this is the weakest of the bunch, and it seems to me Chibnall and co have found themselves in a writing pitfall trying to juggle a fair amount of plot threads with no end in sight.

I am hopeful the story sticks to landing despite the disparate elements being at the forefront of the overarching story. Fingers crossed I'm wrong in my assessment.

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

DenOfGeek has a theory that the Grand Serpent is the Master.

That crossed my mind, too. Then I thought, But they would want Sasha Dhawan back.

HA, good catch wth Apprentice/ Master. I did think of Apprentice but never made the leap. Duh.
Ofc, he could also really just be an apprentice of the Master, who will then also turn up, because why not.

 

[Mr Awe]

DenOfGeek has a theory that the Grand Serpent is the Master.

Points in favour: knows exactly when and where to infiltrate UNIT history. Underestimates Kate. Working with another alien aggressor. Has access to time travel? (latter not confirmed but Kate hints at it)

I would add that the Grand Serpent is most in character with the suave, charming, but slippery evil characterization of Delgado's Master during the UNIT era.

I do think the Master will appear in the finale. The Grand Serpent is a good guess.