We do not need to know why the Doctor ran from Gallifrey

[Gingerbread Demon]

^^^ As in my title.

But do we really need to know why he left Gallifrey? It was a huge mystery in the old series never explained fully so why can't they keep it a mystery?

Must everything be explained for everyone?

 

[Sketcher]

More than likely, just as with the Doctor's name, we won't learn the true reason for why he left Gallifrey.

 

[auntiehill]

Not everything SHOULD be explained. The Doctor should have some mystery about him.

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

For me, it will always be 99% because he was bored of Time Lord society, and 1% whatever else they pile on. (Hand of Omega, Fear of the Hybrid, tenure disputes, etc..)

 

[sttngfan1701d]

These threads always amuse me. Because usually it's just freaking out over nothing. More than likely, just like with the "name" of the Doctor a few years ago, it'll be teased but not really explained. And IF it is.....*gasp*!!!! So what? Really...so what?

With the nature of Doctor Who, it can easily be rewritten or retconned later, and in the meantime, it opens up NEW mysteries to dig into and more character exploration of the show's central character. Because there's only so much mileage you can get out of "adventure of the week" stories.

How many episodes have we had in the new series now? I don't even know. But these sorts of "big events" only come around every so often and it's not like the showrunners are clamoring to "explain everything to everyone." But if they address the big stuff, it only adds to or enriches the show's central mythology so it can be expanded later on.

 

[Volpone]

What we really need to know is where he got the big blue ring. Hmm? Hmm, my boy?

 

[The Wormhole]

More than likely, just as with the Doctor's name, we won't learn the true reason for why he left Gallifrey.

Exactly. This is a Moffat script, he never give straight answers to this stuff.

 

[Cyke101]

I'm reminded of Q at the end of All Good Things. Once all is said and done and Picard has solved the gigantic generational cosmic mystery, Picard asks Q a question about the truth. Q leans in, about to whisper the answer in Picard's ear, but smoothly and quickly reels back. He'll find out the answer one day, but not today.

In this case, the viewer is Picard and Moffet is Q. It's a tease to keep our interest, nothing more. Anything can be turned into a mystery, really.

 

[Mr Awe]

I was always fine with the explanation that the Doctor got bored. He wanted to get out, see things, do things, etc. In the Classic series, the Time Lords were generally portrayed as being stodgy and not wanting to get involved. That was explanation enough for me. I hope the next story doesn't try to expand on that too much.

Mr Awe

 

[Romulan_spy]

For me, it will always be 99% because he was bored of Time Lord society, and 1% whatever else they pile on. (Hand of Omega, Fear of the Hybrid, tenure disputes, etc..)

Yeah, I've always assumed the main reason why the Doctor ran away is because he was bored and also because he is a bit of a rebel and could not stand the rigid "by the book" culture of the Time Lords. He wanted the freedom to explore the universe his way, and break a few rules if need be.

I also got the impression from classic who that the time lords had become a society that had run out of anything new to do, a bit like the scene with the Q continuum in the desert in that voyager ep where the other Q wants to die. The Time Lords have already explored the entire universe, all of space and time for millions of years. There is nothing new for them to discover. So they maintain a non-interference policy and just sit back. The Doctor on the other hand, is like a new kid, who wants to discover stuff for himself. So he wants to go out and explore, make mistakes. Basically, he wants to discover the universe for himself, not just take for granted what Time Lords have already done.

 

[The Mighty Monkey of Mim]

I was always fine with the explanation that the Doctor got bored. He wanted to get out, see things, do things, etc.

Not that it doesn't sound like the Doctor, but it never quite fit with the way Hartnell talked about the matter. In very first episode he said he and Susan were "exiles" who were "cut off" from their planet and expressed a desire to get back one day. This came up again when he found himself briefly alone at the conclusion of The Massacre.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ That's true to an extant and I think that was going to be developed more under the original plans. That Susan was some sort of Princess on the run or something.

However, it also fits in with what has transpired since then. As shown in the War Games, the Doctor was in fact breaking Time Lord law and there were repercussions. The first incarnation I'm sure was aware that he'd face a trial if caught and so felt exiled and cut off.

Mr Awe

 

[Cyke101]

I was always fine with the explanation that the Doctor got bored. He wanted to get out, see things, do things, etc. In the Classic series, the Time Lords were generally portrayed as being stodgy and not wanting to get involved. That was explanation enough for me. I hope the next story doesn't try to expand on that too much.

Mr Awe

Maybe he was scared of getting bored?

 

[Robert D. Robot]

While I am curious about why the Doctor left Gallifrey, and would like to know a little more, I realize that I really DON'T want it all laid out because I am not sure any explanation (no matter how creative and clever) would ultimately be as satisfying as I would like and the reveal would remove some of the mystery and magic (dare I say) of the character and of the program. It is somewhat like peaking at any thread here marked 'SPOILERS' to get just a little more information, but then being disappointed when I've unintentionally gone and read TOO much.

I can make somewhat of a comparison with my interest in the nature of the TARDIS (being one of those folks who buys the technical manuals and used to memorize blueprints). I have wanted to see more of the TARDIS interior for years -and have been happy to see more rooms in recent series (esp. the Library, and a brief peek at the pool) - but I have to admit that I am of mixed feelings about the 'giant Christmas Tree with the magic bulbs' that is the basis of her ability to create and rearrange matter (and manage her own internal design) as shown in "Journey to the Center of the TARDIS". I even like the captive star as shown in that episode as powering the engines, but I was not so much sold on the 'tree-thing' (if I may call it that). Seemed like it should have been something more monumentally incomprehensible to us lowly human viewers. Careful what you ask for, right?

Then again, the Moment looked like a medium sized box with gears. I tried to explain to my sister (who never watches any TV anyway!) that there where a lot of higher dimensions wrapped up in there in that 3D aspect of the weapon, but she did not care to explore the concept and realize why advanced Time Lord tech would look like a gear box! (I wish she allowed a little more magic and wonder into her entertainment!).....

 

[EnderAKH]

You know, I thought this initially too, but then I thought back to how in the beginning they didn't even show Gallifrey until The War Games, and didn't mention it by name until the Time Warrioe. Look how much that brought into the mythology by closing the mystery of where the Doctor is from. Solving a mystery doesn't have to be a bad thing if it leads to other interesting story elements.

 

[Relayer1]

I need to know...

 

[Lucas35]

I'm hoping we'll find out who the Doctor is the true the Other.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

While I am curious about why the Doctor left Gallifrey, and would like to know a little more, I realize that I really DON'T want it all laid out because I am not sure any explanation (no matter how creative and clever) would ultimately be as satisfying as I would like and the reveal would remove some of the mystery and magic (dare I say) of the character and of the program. It is somewhat like peaking at any thread here marked 'SPOILERS' to get just a little more information, but then being disappointed when I've unintentionally gone and read TOO much.

I can make somewhat of a comparison with my interest in the nature of the TARDIS (being one of those folks who buys the technical manuals and used to memorize blueprints). I have wanted to see more of the TARDIS interior for years -and have been happy to see more rooms in recent series (esp. the Library, and a brief peek at the pool) - but I have to admit that I am of mixed feelings about the 'giant Christmas Tree with the magic bulbs' that is the basis of her ability to create and rearrange matter (and manage her own internal design) as shown in "Journey to the Center of the TARDIS". I even like the captive star as shown in that episode as powering the engines, but I was not so much sold on the 'tree-thing' (if I may call it that). Seemed like it should have been something more monumentally incomprehensible to us lowly human viewers. Careful what you ask for, right?

Then again, the Moment looked like a medium sized box with gears. I tried to explain to my sister (who never watches any TV anyway!) that there where a lot of higher dimensions wrapped up in there in that 3D aspect of the weapon, but she did not care to explore the concept and realize why advanced Time Lord tech would look like a gear box! (I wish she allowed a little more magic and wonder into her entertainment!).....

That's kind of why I am not fond of revealing all this..

Any explanation no matter how well done just won't satisfy everyone.