The 11 Doctors

[JRoss]

Over on Imdb.com they've been discussing the 50th anniversary. Seeing as how the 10th and 25th each brought multi-doctor stories, it seems that we might be in for something great soon.

If they did a multi-doctor story, how would you like it handled?

Personally, I like an idea I saw suggested elsewhere: Have the entire series consist of 13 episodes, with the first eleven each featuring a single Doctor, then wrapping it up with a few episodes with them all together or in groups.

 

[The]

Give Doctor's 4-11 a two-parter each, with another two-parter that unites them onscreen. Simultaneously release a direct-to-DVD with three cgi/animated stories starring the first three Doctors. Animating a "Lost" story for the first two would be fine for me, with maybe a voice-actor doing an all-new Pertwee story? You get the picture...

 

[OmahaStar]

All I know is Six and Maxil would be the stars.

 

[Captain Pike]

All this talk of multi episode stories, season long arcs etc is pure pipedream (of course you knew that).

We'll be extremely lucky to get a real proper episode instead of some 10 minute CiN afterthought (which is far more likely imo)..

But, if they do actually end up doing it, I think it simply has to have McGann.

 

[Professor Zoom]

All I know is Six and Maxil would be the stars.

Stars? That implies there would be OTHER characters.

No. I think it should just be a two-hander. Six and Maxil, over tea and a chess set...and the fate of the UNIVERSE at stake.

 

[Starkers]

All this talk of multi episode stories, season long arcs etc is pure pipedream (of course you knew that).

We'll be extremely lucky to get a real proper episode instead of some 10 minute CiN afterthought (which is far more likely imo)..

But, if they do actually end up doing it, I think it simply has to have McGann.

Yeah I think you're right, and if I'm honest I'm not sure I really want an episode featuring them all...it would just be so confusing and lets face it none of them will get the screentime they deserve. Better to maybe stick with one Doctor, and I'd be tempted to agree that McGann is the best choice.

I think a series long arc that involved the (hopefully) 11th Doctor retracing his steps and encountering people/places from his past might be a more interesting and viable way of celebrating the show's history.

 

[Venardhi]

I'm hoping for something along the lines of all the post-War Doctors (9-11) getting pulled into the final days of the time war where they run into 8, with them having to work together to (insert plot here). It allows us to see a piece of the interesting history of the modern version of the character, as well as offering closure for the current Doctor as he finally lets go of his guilt and whatnot related to his actions during/ending the war.

End their solution with a 'call to arms' scene where they need the other 7 Doctors (and their fan-favorite companions) from before the war to throw in and help them save the day in some sort of charming montage with the climax involving 1, 8 and 11. . . who regenerates into 12.

 

[Captaindemotion]

This sort of thing has been discussed at some length in the thread 'McCoy wants to come back'

 

[Iamnotspock]

Personally, I like an idea I saw suggested elsewhere: Have the entire series consist of 13 episodes, with the first eleven each featuring a single Doctor, then wrapping it up with a few episodes with them all together or in groups.

An excellent suggestion, with just three teeny, tiny drawbacks...

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ Yeah that suggestion was brought up in the other thread.

 

[Trevacious]

Yes, I think McGann should have an episode to himself, with Smith there to bookend the flashback story.

But my first choice for Multi-Doctor action is, "The Four Doctors," to feature all four of the modern Doctors since '96. And do it while they're all still young and fit enough for some running about.

(And gimme that regeneration scene from Eight to Nine to complete the set.)

 

[Morfius]

If anybody with the power is reading, My vote is for a season long arc with an edisode each for 4-11 and lots of old companions. No recreations of 1-3. Let there precense be felt through their companions. But It might be cool to have a scene where Jamie impersonates 2.

 

[The]

^Actually, I kind of agree that it would be a good point to make that the first three Docs are "inaccessible" now. You could even make it the "excuse" for why no Docs ahead of the "current" incarnation appear in these gatherings (i.e. why no Tennant, Eccles, or McGann in The Five Doctors, why no Tom in The Three Doctors, etc.) The internal logic being, the further away the incarnations are from each other, the less "connected" they are to their future or past selves. In other words, with the 5th Doctor aging so dramatically with Ten in Time Crash, it's apparent that the First Doctor could not survive encountering his Eleventh self. The "shorting out the time differential", as Moffat put it, would be so severe, Smith would be admiring a skeletal frame wrapped in Hartnell's clothes.

So, the first three incarnations are now so far removed from the Eleventh that they could no longer meet him without aging to dust. Four is as far back as time would allow his personal timeline to stretch.

Does any of that make sense?

 

[Jimmy_C]

Personally, I'd be happy with a "Tribbles & Trial-ations" style cross-over. Let's see a classic story told from a new perspective.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Personally, I'd be happy with a "Tribbles & Trial-ations" style cross-over. Let's see a classic story told from a new perspective.

Yeah, that could work. However, the quality of the footage from the old show is so much poorer than that of the current, that I'm not sure how well it would work. The Trek archive footage tarted up quite well, by comparison.

^Actually, I kind of agree that it would be a good point to make that the first three Docs are "inaccessible" now. You could even make it the "excuse" for why no Docs ahead of the "current" incarnation appear in these gatherings (i.e. why no Tennant, Eccles, or McGann in The Five Doctors, why no Tom in The Three Doctors, etc.) The internal logic being, the further away the incarnations are from each other, the less "connected" they are to their future or past selves. In other words, with the 5th Doctor aging so dramatically with Ten in Time Crash, it's apparent that the First Doctor could not survive encountering his Eleventh self. The "shorting out the time differential", as Moffat put it, would be so severe, Smith would be admiring a skeletal frame wrapped in Hartnell's clothes.

So, the first three incarnations are now so far removed from the Eleventh that they could no longer meet him without aging to dust. Four is as far back as time would allow his personal timeline to stretch.

Does any of that make sense?

It does, actually and I think it would work in the context of an episode.

 

[Iamnotspock]

^Actually, I kind of agree that it would be a good point to make that the first three Docs are "inaccessible" now. You could even make it the "excuse" for why no Docs ahead of the "current" incarnation appear in these gatherings (i.e. why no Tennant, Eccles, or McGann in The Five Doctors, why no Tom in The Three Doctors, etc.) The internal logic being, the further away the incarnations are from each other, the less "connected" they are to their future or past selves. In other words, with the 5th Doctor aging so dramatically with Ten in Time Crash, it's apparent that the First Doctor could not survive encountering his Eleventh self. The "shorting out the time differential", as Moffat put it, would be so severe, Smith would be admiring a skeletal frame wrapped in Hartnell's clothes.

So, the first three incarnations are now so far removed from the Eleventh that they could no longer meet him without aging to dust. Four is as far back as time would allow his personal timeline to stretch.

Does any of that make sense?

Yes it does, and I think it's quite brilliant actually.

 

[Shatnertage]

Animating a "Lost" story for the first two would be fine for me, with maybe a voice-actor doing an all-new Pertwee story? You get the picture...

I like this idea a best, with a small cross-over for any living Docs who want to paycheck. The season-long nostalgia trip didn't go so well for season 20 (IMHO, of course), so I'd like to see them continue moving forward, with a gift like animating a lost story or two for the Classic fans.

Promoted right, it might even boost sales of 1 & 2 DVDs, which can't hurt.

 

[Nerys Myk]

^Actually, I kind of agree that it would be a good point to make that the first three Docs are "inaccessible" now. You could even make it the "excuse" for why no Docs ahead of the "current" incarnation appear in these gatherings (i.e. why no Tennant, Eccles, or McGann in The Five Doctors, why no Tom in The Three Doctors, etc.) The internal logic being, the further away the incarnations are from each other, the less "connected" they are to their future or past selves. In other words, with the 5th Doctor aging so dramatically with Ten in Time Crash, it's apparent that the First Doctor could not survive encountering his Eleventh self. The "shorting out the time differential", as Moffat put it, would be so severe, Smith would be admiring a skeletal frame wrapped in Hartnell's clothes.

So, the first three incarnations are now so far removed from the Eleventh that they could no longer meet him without aging to dust. Four is as far back as time would allow his personal timeline to stretch.

Does any of that make sense?

I had the idea that maybe they could spin something out of the Five Doctors and feature the Six Doctors (6-11) in a plot related to that episode. By incorporatiing footage from the Five Doctors, all Doctors could represented.

 

[Tom Riley]

But my first choice for Multi-Doctor action is, "The Four Doctors," to feature all four of the modern Doctors since '96. And do it while they're all still young and fit enough for some running about.

(And gimme that regeneration scene from Eight to Nine to complete the set.)

That's what I would most like as well.

^Actually, I kind of agree that it would be a good point to make that the first three Docs are "inaccessible" now. You could even make it the "excuse" for why no Docs ahead of the "current" incarnation appear in these gatherings (i.e. why no Tennant, Eccles, or McGann in The Five Doctors, why no Tom in The Three Doctors, etc.) The internal logic being, the further away the incarnations are from each other, the less "connected" they are to their future or past selves. In other words, with the 5th Doctor aging so dramatically with Ten in Time Crash, it's apparent that the First Doctor could not survive encountering his Eleventh self. The "shorting out the time differential", as Moffat put it, would be so severe, Smith would be admiring a skeletal frame wrapped in Hartnell's clothes.

So, the first three incarnations are now so far removed from the Eleventh that they could no longer meet him without aging to dust. Four is as far back as time would allow his personal timeline to stretch.

Does any of that make sense?

Actually, yes, it makes pretty much perfect sense.

 

[The]

Oh, wow, thanks people! I'm glad my rambling imagination produced something coherent! It's just how I would approach their absence. Someone smarter than me (Moffat) could probably come up with a smoother solution. But, until he does, this is what I will use for my own "internal logic" of the show...