Doctor Who Series 7.10: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

[Busard]

It was nice to see a bit more of inside the TARDIS, although i was expecting some more references to the past. I dislike how Moffat keeps on not aknowledging that the show existed before he took over.

Did you miss the scene with Clara in that one room filled with old companions' things? Also, this (half) season has been littered with references to Classic Who. Almost one per episode, in fact.

I've seen it but it's just kinda "there". Although I really liked when the doctor referenced his grand daughter in the Rings episode.

I just find weird how the influence of all these past characters seem to magically disappear the moment there's a new companion. Although that is a personal complaint and I can understand how it would somehow break the flow of the show if it was too often. It is a minor complaint though, don't take it too seriously

My bigger complaint is how they seem to pull some plot convenient stuff at every stuff or try to shoehorn drama at the last minute. It just makes the episodes feel rushed and not really thought out. I'd prefer if the "rules" of the episode were just anchored at the beginning of an episode and they try to stick to that for the rest of the time given.

 

[Encurtidos]

It was good how it wasn't solved with 'emotions'. However, it would've been neat if the lava-type-monsters were all of the Doctor's innocent victims, would've added another plot twist. Good thing Clara ended up forgetting the Doctor's name, otherwise the series would never feel the same.

 

[Little Woodsman]

Exactly. Which is why, with Gallifrey destroyed, the TARDIS needs to stop and refuel like in 'Boom Town' and 'Utopia'. It does kind of throw a spanner in the continuity a bit.

It also has a primary fuel cell in this episode. But it's an infinitely large ship that exists in its own dimension and can rearrange itself at a whim. So who am I to say what rules it should be following. It's possible that it maintains some link to the Eye even though it no longer exists that it needs for some purpose that isn't fuel.

The link to the EoH also serves as a temporally stable reference point for navigation.
Hmm, that actually makes *more* sense now that it's been established that time itself tends
to be "wibbly wobbly".....

 

[Little Woodsman]

I am not so sure, did they? It seems aliases are rather common in Time Lord society. Surely some might still know their names from childhood, I'm not assuming a little kid already called himself "the Master", but I can't imagine it would be common knowledge.
But surely the History of the Time War must have been written by a Time Lord, who else would know the Doctor's real name?

Yeah, don't see how anyone over the Time Lords could write it, but don't see how they could either.

Aliases only seem to be common against renegade Time Lords (The Master, The Doctor, The Rani, maybe even The Meddling Monk, but he stopped being in the series long before the Time Lord stuff came up), the normal ones all seem to have names (Borusa, Goth, Flavia etc).

Time Lord/Gallifreyan nomenclature has always been a bit of a sticky point in the series....at one point Tom Baker's Doctor encountered an old classmate who referred to him as "Theta Sigma"...but the classmate himself had a relatively normal name (Drax) and the novelization of the episode in which this occurred stated that Theta Sigma was not actually the Doctor's name, but a kind of Time Lord coding.
Then there's Romana--who's actual name was Romanadvoratnalundar--was her name just a weird exception?
I think that what actually happened was that more than one writer threw in bits about Time Lord names to add flavor, and unfortunately nobody counted on a fandom that would keep track of things like this......

 

[lord.jeff]

Two things would of really improved this episode for me one a better ending and two getting rid of the monsters, they felt like nothing more then zombies and seemed to only be in the episode to add needless extra tension, we already had the explosion and the no good brothers.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Time Lord/Gallifreyan nomenclature has always been a bit of a sticky point in the series....at one point Tom Baker's Doctor encountered an old classmate who referred to him as "Theta Sigma"...but the classmate himself had a relatively normal name (Drax) and the novelization of the episode in which this occurred stated that Theta Sigma was not actually the Doctor's name, but a kind of Time Lord coding.

In "The Happiness Patrol" the Doctor says "Theta Sigma" was his nickname.

Also, in "The Armageddon Factor", it's said that the Doctor went and got a doctorate, that's why he calls himself that.

 

[Yuno Gasai]

Any episode which breathes more life into the TARDIS is good in my books.

I particularly liked the scene towards the end, where the Doctor likens her to a wounded animal; I thought that was a beautiful touch.

I was anticipating some kind of reconciliation between Clara and the TARDIS, and was somewhat disappointed when almost the entire episode was written off as "NP REWROTE TIEM LOL" but I guess you can't win 'em all.

It'll be interesting to see where things go from here. I can't quite figure out what Clara's deal is. If they turn around and try and fob it off as "coincidence lol" I'll be well pissed off.

 

[Diablo2000]

Or third possibility, and considering how multiple seasons have dropped little hints during episodes leading to a big revealing in the finale... Clara is a Time Lady.

I'll one-up that: Clara is a reincarnation of Susan Foreman

I tried to stay away from that but nooo, you had to do it, didn't you?

The 50th anniversary of the show coming up, the Doctor mentioning his granddaughter in the second episode after the Christmas special, the voice of Susan in the TARDIS and the shot of the cradle in this episode.
Of course, I could be completely wrong, but it seems like it's all pointing at something.

I know. It would be... how do I say it best? Ah yes.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9sz55foCB1rzjjfeo1_250.gif

I still hope she's actually Romana.

Also, <url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Matt-and-Jenna-on-the-Truth-about-Clara-the-Finale-and-More>new BBC blog post concerning the next episodes and the finale. Some very promising titbits. Obvious small spoilers ahead.

Small thought that I just had 5am while wait my coffe to make...
There are some ways to go about this:

The unninteresting way and the more likely one: She's a timey thingy and the "She met the Doctor more than three times" is a bad wolf kinda of deal and they will added her to the time line by timey thingy
The Interesting Way, with 50 years coming up, might as well happen: She's Susan or Romana, the series never gave a ultimate fate about neither they would have to explain why they are human and hold no memory of past events, but that could be easily explain by that thing that the 10 doctor used in Family of Blood.(Forgot the name)
The I will go to Britain to punch Moffat in the face if that's it way: She's another regeneration of River Song (Fuck hope not)
My theory way: She's Rani... Think this with me, the Tardis may have a reason not to like Clara if she is a time anomaly of sorts, but the Tardis never gave either Susan or Romana trouble, Susan was the Doctor Granddaughter and first companion and Romana was a companion too and huge friend of the Doctor, unless they decided to throw the Time War in there as a explanation to the Tardis not to like anymore I don't really see how else this would play. Clara also has a huge intelect that even the Daleks didn't want to throw away, may not mean anything, but it's something that is out there and read the Interesting Way to see why she has no memory and she's good now(The Master was a good guy while he was Doctor Yana in season 3). So yeah, probably wrong thought, but I think is a nice theory never the less...

In fact they might be all wrong as far as I know, but as far as I know they could prove correct... (One of them anyway)

 

[UBERfionn]

I think she might be River Song or at least related to her in some way. In Forest of the dead I think I remember River saying something along the lines of "Run you clever boy" which is what Clara keeps saying and the thing that tipped the doctor off to her being the same person three times.

It might be why she can also read the book in the library.

 

[BrotherRool]

I think she might be River Song or at least related to her in some way. In Forest of the dead I think I remember River saying something along the lines of "Run you clever boy" which is what Clara keeps saying and the thing that tipped the doctor off to her being the same person three times.

It might be why she can also read the book in the library.

There really would be no twist that could be more de-satisfying for me than that. How about we take a good character and then surprise! she's actually inextricably linked to the irritating character you were glad to be rid of.

Would also mean that Clara is/related to the Doctor's Wife -_-

 

[UBERfionn]

I think she might be River Song or at least related to her in some way. In Forest of the dead I think I remember River saying something along the lines of "Run you clever boy" which is what Clara keeps saying and the thing that tipped the doctor off to her being the same person three times.

It might be why she can also read the book in the library.

There really would be no twist that could be more de-satisfying for me than that. How about we take a good character and then surprise! she's actually inextricably linked to the irritating character you were glad to be rid of.

Would also mean that Clara is/related to the Doctor's Wife -_-

I'm not saying it would be good but there is a link between Clara and River. Not sure what it is. And what would be wrong with Clara and River being related?

Maybe it's his daughter? It would explain why he feels the need to protect her and ask her if she feels safe?

 

[BrotherRool]

I'm not saying it would be good but there is a link between Clara and River. Not sure what it is. And what would be wrong with Clara and River being related?

Maybe it's his daughter? It would explain why he feels the need to protect her and ask her if she feels safe?

I'm not blaming you or anything, and I think there's a decent chance you might be right. I just don't particularly like River Song and the prospect of having her once again linked to a character I did like isn't joyous. It's going to happen but 'River Song will be in the finale' is bad enough news for me.

 

[Albino Boo]

Small thought that I just had 5am while wait my coffe to make...
There are some ways to go about this:

The unninteresting way and the more likely one: She's a timey thingy and the "She met the Doctor more than three times" is a bad wolf kinda of deal and they will added her to the time line by timey thingy
The Interesting Way, with 50 years coming up, might as well happen: She's Susan or Romana, the series never gave a ultimate fate about neither they would have to explain why they are human and hold no memory of past events, but that could be easily explain by that thing that the 10 doctor used in Family of Blood.(Forgot the name)
The I will go to Britain to punch Moffat in the face if that's it way: She's another regeneration of River Song (Fuck hope not)
My theory way: She's Rani... Think this with me, the Tardis may have a reason not to like Clara if she is a time anomaly of sorts, but the Tardis never gave either Susan or Romana trouble, Susan was the Doctor Granddaughter and first companion and Romana was a companion too and huge friend of the Doctor, unless they decided to throw the Time War in there as a explanation to the Tardis not to like anymore I don't really see how else this would play. Clara also has a huge intelect that even the Daleks didn't want to throw away, may not mean anything, but it's something that is out there and read the Interesting Way to see why she has no memory and she's good now(The Master was a good guy while he was Doctor Yana in season 3). So yeah, probably wrong thought, but I think is a nice theory never the less...

In fact they might be all wrong as far as I know, but as far as I know they could prove correct... (One of them anyway)

Clara could be the Rani, Romana, Susan or even the Master. A few other ideas I have had is that Clara could the Doctor's next regeneration (the equivalent of the watcher for 4th to 5th Doctor) or she could be Miss Hartigan from the Next Doctor Christmas special. Its all wild speculation at this point but I suppose that is the point.

 

[Quaxar]

Small thought that I just had 5am while wait my coffe to make...
There are some ways to go about this:

The unninteresting way and the more likely one: She's a timey thingy and the "She met the Doctor more than three times" is a bad wolf kinda of deal and they will added her to the time line by timey thingy
The Interesting Way, with 50 years coming up, might as well happen: She's Susan or Romana, the series never gave a ultimate fate about neither they would have to explain why they are human and hold no memory of past events, but that could be easily explain by that thing that the 10 doctor used in Family of Blood.(Forgot the name)
The I will go to Britain to punch Moffat in the face if that's it way: She's another regeneration of River Song (Fuck hope not)
My theory way: She's Rani... Think this with me, the Tardis may have a reason not to like Clara if she is a time anomaly of sorts, but the Tardis never gave either Susan or Romana trouble, Susan was the Doctor Granddaughter and first companion and Romana was a companion too and huge friend of the Doctor, unless they decided to throw the Time War in there as a explanation to the Tardis not to like anymore I don't really see how else this would play. Clara also has a huge intelect that even the Daleks didn't want to throw away, may not mean anything, but it's something that is out there and read the Interesting Way to see why she has no memory and she's good now(The Master was a good guy while he was Doctor Yana in season 3). So yeah, probably wrong thought, but I think is a nice theory never the less...

In fact they might be all wrong as far as I know, but as far as I know they could prove correct... (One of them anyway)

Not to criticize your thoughts but I apart from awful River again the Rani seems like the worst choice. She didn't really have much of a role or significance in her time when you consider the important females like Susan Foreman or Romana.

And to randomly throw out another hunch, this from a discussion with my sister a few hours ago: Jenny. Remember her? Anyone? The Doctor's Daughter? The somewhat-Time Lady one that kind-of-regenerated and went into the galaxy for adventures while the Doctor believes her dead?
I'm not saying it's Jenny. But I thought I could mention it, maybe someone is interested in that thought. I mean she could possibly read Gallifreyan and her genetic weirdness could creep out the TARDIS but I have no idea how to fit it properly.

 

[Diablo2000]

Small thought that I just had 5am while wait my coffe to make...
There are some ways to go about this:

The unninteresting way and the more likely one: She's a timey thingy and the "She met the Doctor more than three times" is a bad wolf kinda of deal and they will added her to the time line by timey thingy
The Interesting Way, with 50 years coming up, might as well happen: She's Susan or Romana, the series never gave a ultimate fate about neither they would have to explain why they are human and hold no memory of past events, but that could be easily explain by that thing that the 10 doctor used in Family of Blood.(Forgot the name)
The I will go to Britain to punch Moffat in the face if that's it way: She's another regeneration of River Song (Fuck hope not)
My theory way: She's Rani... Think this with me, the Tardis may have a reason not to like Clara if she is a time anomaly of sorts, but the Tardis never gave either Susan or Romana trouble, Susan was the Doctor Granddaughter and first companion and Romana was a companion too and huge friend of the Doctor, unless they decided to throw the Time War in there as a explanation to the Tardis not to like anymore I don't really see how else this would play. Clara also has a huge intelect that even the Daleks didn't want to throw away, may not mean anything, but it's something that is out there and read the Interesting Way to see why she has no memory and she's good now(The Master was a good guy while he was Doctor Yana in season 3). So yeah, probably wrong thought, but I think is a nice theory never the less...

In fact they might be all wrong as far as I know, but as far as I know they could prove correct... (One of them anyway)

Not to criticize your thoughts but I apart from awful River again the Rani seems like the worst choice. She didn't really have much of a role or significance in her time when you consider the important females like Susan Foreman or Romana.

And to randomly throw out another hunch, this from a discussion with my sister a few hours ago: Jenny. Remember her? Anyone? The Doctor's Daughter? The somewhat-Time Lady one that kind-of-regenerated and went into the galaxy for adventures while the Doctor believes her dead?
I'm not saying it's Jenny. But I thought I could mention it, maybe someone is interested in that thought. I mean she could possibly read Gallifreyan and her genetic weirdness could creep out the TARDIS but I have no idea how to fit it properly.

Jenny couldn't regenerate as far as I know, she only ressurected because of the terraform device. But kinda fits seen as was Moffat who asked to her to live... It's another throw on the "maybe" bin. Then again every theory is on the "maybe" bin until we get an official anwser which might be only the season finale if not next season.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

This is my favourite type of episode, a more claustrophobic and personal story, set aboard the TARDIS, integrating time/time travel and using proper pseudo-science as solutions.

However...

I felt the brothers were an absolutely terrible addition, had little to no character and were gone before they even started. They should have been given an extra episode to grow or been ditched entirely. Actually, a single bounty hunter/renegade type would have been better. The Doctor could still have tricked him into the deal (liked that, naughty Doctor!) and he could have still been a threat within the TARDIS without the whole "family" nonsense bogging him down. The brothers just came off as incompetent idiots and the whole android storyline, which was admittedly interesting, served zero purpose by the end.

There were some truly great ideas in this episode but we needed more than 45 minutes to truly see them used properly.

It's still the best story so far in what's been an abysmal series. I still care nothing for Clara, she has none of the spark or charm of any of the previous compaions (aside from Martha, had no love for her either.) Matt Smith remains the truly best part of current Doctor Who; it's just a shame he doesn't have a better actress to spar with on screen.

 

[randomrob]

Boring convoluted plot, contradiction of previously established canon as to what the Eye of Harmony is, more "intrigue" about the "mystery" of Clara, and more hints about how Steven Moffat is going to endeavour to kill the series more than he has done all ready by revealing the Doctor's name. Pretty sets, quite liked Matt Smith's performance, everything else was awful, especially the ending with Moffat's favourite cop-out: "time being re-written and people somehow still remembering shit." Could be worse though, River could have been in it. (to those who would regail me with how much you love Moffat and his favourite Mary-Sue (River), I will pre-emptively say, "I don't care.")

 

[Zeraki]

One of my favorite parts was when Clara was walking through the TARDIS and she sees the swimming pool. I didn't quite catch it at first so I had to rewind it and I just started laughing.

This was the best episode of the season so far. Unfortunately last week's episode would have been had it not shoved that stupid ending in there.

 

[Pebkio]

I don't think Clara is a Time Lord. Oh, and really stop calling her a Time Lady, it's kinda weird... the distinction between "lord" and "lady" is born from the sexist idea that men and women have to be separated in even title, but anyway. Firstly, the only Time Lord I know of that could regenerate without changing was the Doctor's "daughter", and that clearly isn't Jenny. I really hope she's not the Rani, because we already had a person who could've been the perfect Rani... but she turned out to have an annoyingly dumb backstory instead.

Side note: I kinda think it's prevalent here, but that's besides the point. Am I the only one who's still curious on who is the "Silence Will Fall" guy?

Anyway, let's take what we know about Clara Oswin Oswald:
Exists at different times
Clever in all of the incarnations
Carries experiences from one time to the next (governess from early and computer genius later)
The TARDIS has an issue with her
No memories from her previous other selves
The Doctor met the future version of her first
The Doctor met the past version of her second
The Doctor met the present version of her third
The present version doesn't have the middle name Oswin
The present version was given the Doctor's number by a "lady in a shop"

All of that is a bit hard to piece together, admittedly, and to know the whole story, we'd probably just need to have it told to us. But there's one thing I can glean from the whole thing: Clara might not be a person. There have been items powerful enough to "become" a person. 1/6th of the Key to Time was able to be a person and there are probably other things that are as powerful.

My feeling is that she's got something to do with a TARDIS. May or may not be Sexy. Maybe the diminished remnant of a TARDIS that survived the Time War that's just supplanted itself in different time periods.

The one thing I know for certain, though, is that the Time War book was really dumb.

 

[Albino Boo]

One of my favorite parts was when Clara was walking through the TARDIS and she sees the swimming pool. I didn't quite catch it at first so I had to rewind it and I just started laughing.

This was the best episode of the season so far. Unfortunately last week's episode would have been had it not shoved that stupid ending in there.

Not only that but at the Clara is drying her after going swimming perhaps.