# Doctor Who question: Blink (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915 "2009-01-19T01:23:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/1 "2009-01-19T01:23:07Z")
I rewatched Doctor Who’s season 3 episode Blink today and there was something in the ending that bugged me. I think it bothered me the first time I saw it as well (though I may have been too freaked to think much of it). Fish Mouseover bait. Alrighty then: [spoiler]At the end the Doctor tricks the four angels into standing around the TARDIS in a circle. The TARDIS then departs, leaving the angels staring at each other, frozen. But aren’t they frozen only so long as the light is on? I suppose angels might be able to see in the dark, but given how they were all charging forward eyes-open when the light was flashing that doesn’t seem likely. Also, I pity the poor workmen who, 10 years down the line, clear the statues out so the house can be renovated and resold :-P[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/2 "2009-01-19T02:42:18Z")
Someone will surely correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think light had that much to do with it. The statues could move so long as someone wasn’t looking at them. The Doctor tricked them into looking at each other, making them immobile for eternity, more or less. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/3 "2009-01-19T03:06:40Z")
Along with what levdrakon said, they were then stuck in a position where all 4 were connected to each other, thus there weren’t 4 statues that a worker could move around, but 1 continuous statue, with hands entwined. Thus, they’re stuck eye-locked for eternity (or until someone breaks them apart). ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/4 "2009-01-19T03:08:15Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Someone will surely correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think light had that much to do with it. The statues could move so long as someone wasn’t looking at them. The Doctor tricked them into looking at each other, making them immobile for eternity, more or less. I suppose it turns on the definition of “looking.” in total darkness, you would be incapable of seeing anything, even slightly, so would it still matter if you were looking in the right direction? ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/5 "2009-01-19T07:10:17Z")
I think it’s one of the best episodes of television ever. But don’t try to apply logic, or it’ll fall apart. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/6 "2009-01-19T07:14:46Z")
Yeah, just tell yourself it’s timey-wimey-wibbley-wobbley. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/7 "2009-01-19T08:02:23Z")
I had always hoped that he went back and destroyed them, or else yeah, once someone goes down and moves a statue they’re back in business again. ---
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/8 "2009-01-19T11:06:20Z")
This is a problem that has been fankwanked over so much it is showing up on bukkake sites. Yeah, you heard me. Okay, here’s my efforts. **Wont the angels leave when the light’s go off?** No because they can see in the dark. Probably. When the lights were flickering they weren’t watching each other - they were watching Sally (and who can blame them?). What’s-his-face was probably safe, then - they wouldn’t even notice him. **What if someone moves them?** Well, so what? Assuming the Doctor didn’t smash them, move them, whatever, whoever moves them will get blasted back in time. Then they will leave. They were only on Earth because of the TARDIS, after all. **But… the TARDIS is _always_ on Earth. Always.** Yes, good point. But everyone who stays away from London, Cardiff and any nearby abandoned quarries should be fine. **The angels can move hundreds of metres in the space of a blink, so why did What’s-his-face survive when staring down the statue, then looking away?** A question which often turns up. The camera is an observer. **Couldn’t the Doctor avoid this whole thing now that he know’s it’s coming?** NO! Paradoxes are bad, except when they are not. Timey-wimey. **Moffat seems to be fixated on making the ordinary scary - statues, the dark, gasmasks - what is his problem?** Overabundance of genius. Take a few breaths, then go watch _Coulpling_. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/9 "2009-01-19T12:02:38Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > I rewatched Doctor Who’s season 3 episode Blink today and there was something in the ending that bugged me. I think it bothered me the first time I saw it as well (though I may have been too freaked to think much of it). > > Fish > > Mouseover bait. > > Alrighty then: > > [spoiler]At the end the Doctor tricks the four angels into standing around the TARDIS in a circle. The TARDIS then departs, leaving the angels staring at each other, frozen. But aren’t they frozen only so long as the light is on? I suppose angels might be able to see in the dark, but given how they were all charging forward eyes-open when the light was flashing that doesn’t seem likely. > > Also, I pity the poor workmen who, 10 years down the line, clear the statues out so the house can be renovated and resold :-P[/spoiler] Good thread. But you don’t have to provide space to avoid mouseovers – just make one post to start the thread, then a second post with the spoiler in it. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/10 "2009-01-19T12:39:55Z")
Questions I had: Can you smash the angels when they are in the “statue” state? Do birds, bugs, etc count as “looking” or is it only sentient beings? Brian ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/11 "2009-01-19T13:16:53Z")
More to the point, how do the damn things reproduce if they can’t even look at each other and they’re made of stone? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/12 "2009-01-19T14:26:31Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > More to the point, how do the damn things reproduce if they can’t even look at each other and they’re made of stone? My wife and I manage it. HEYO!! If she ever reads this, I’m dead. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/13 "2009-01-19T17:26:30Z")
**Smeghead** - you and your wife are made of stone? Wow, what’s that like? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/14 "2009-01-19T18:49:59Z")
Hard. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/15 "2009-01-19T19:19:54Z")
I love everything about this thread. I was watching Masterpiece - Northanger Abbey the other night, and Sally Sparrow was in it as Isabella. That actress is great - Carey Mulligan. Evidently she was in the Keira Knightly Pride & Prejudice as well. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/16 "2009-01-19T19:21:13Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > I suppose it turns on the definition of “looking.” in total darkness, you would be incapable of seeing anything, even slightly, so would it still matter if you were looking in the right direction? I dunno. I wonder what would happen to a blind person who happened to be facing them. I’m not going to over-think it. ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/17 "2009-01-19T19:54:06Z")
Related question: - _where_ can I get a T shirt saying ‘The angels have taken the phone box’?\* I would love to walk into the pub wearing that and see who got it… - or whatever the exact quote is :), saw the episode over a year ago… ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/18 "2009-01-19T20:09:14Z")
There are companies that will print anything you want on a tshirt for a very low price - [here](http://www.spreadshirt.net/en/GB/Create-t-shirt/Create-your-own--59/)is but one of many. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/19 "2009-01-19T22:11:14Z")
> [@mudkicker](#): > > Related question: - _where_ can I get a T shirt saying ‘The angels have taken the phone box’?\* I have a friend with one, he got it at a scifi convention. I’m sure there’s a number of vendors that hit the big cons with that shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915/20 "2009-01-19T23:21:27Z")
> [@mudkicker](#): > > Related question: - _where_ can I get a T shirt saying ‘The angels have taken the phone box’?\* > > I would love to walk into the pub wearing that and see who got it… > > - or whatever the exact quote is :), saw the episode over a year ago… [http://shop.cafepress.com/angels-phone-box](http://shop.cafepress.com/angels-phone-box) Take your pick. I love this episode. Probably my favorite episode of _Doctor Who_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-question-blink-spoilers/481915.md?page=2)