# Doctor Who - Series Six - Part II **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860 "2011-08-24T03:38:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/441 "2011-09-26T06:44:39Z")
I much preferred the first half of this series to this second half. The second half just doesn’t seem to hang together coherently and this week’s episode, well, I just thought it was a mess, rather desperate and lacking in ideas. OB ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/442 "2011-09-26T07:40:41Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > **5. What did the Doctor whisper in River’s ear in Let’s Kill Hitler?** I presumed it was his name. > [@Nobody](#): > > **6. What exactly is River in prison for? Murdering the Doctor the first time in LKH or this second, coming time? Or something else completely unrelated?** The Space Anglicans are the ones holding her prisoner, right? And they’re allies of the Silence, so it’s likely that they’re keeping her in order to try to stop her from helping the Doctor. > [@Nobody](#): > > **7. Who the heck is Jim the Fish?** Something which the Doctor and River encountered in between _The God Complex_ and _Closing Time_, presumably. My guess is it’s some sort of fish. Named Jim. > [@Nobody](#): > > **11. What’s wrong with Fez’s?** There’s nothing wrong with fezzes. _Fezzes are cool._ > [@Nobody](#): > > **15. Why would the Doctor invite a previous version of himself to watch him die?** Because it’s “already happened”, and he already remembers showing up just after the others saw his future self die. He needs for it to happen in order for causality to be maintained. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/443 "2011-09-26T10:07:38Z")
Closing Time felt a lot like Night Terrors in that the MOTW takes a back seat to what’s going on with the Doctor, and the climactic battle ends up being rushed and resolved too quickly because so much of the episode is spent on other things. That said, the comic elements and throwaway references were great (I particularly liked “Petrichor”, the robot dog joke, and “Bitey”). Frankly sometimes I wish they didn’t have to have a Random Alien Menace Encounter just so we could get the character and plot arc development at a less rushed pace. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/444 "2011-09-26T11:47:57Z")
Some things are too hard to do on a phone, so no quoting… The reason The Doctor shows up just after his death, rather than before was to allow himself to cheat. If he were there he would be a participant. Once that happens, anything done to change it involves messing with his own timeline. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/445 "2011-09-26T12:06:50Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > The version I saw (on BBC America) had the modified opening sequence with the Amy voiceover. I’m sorry, what? Is this a US-only thing? Regarding the episode, I thought it was generally ‘ok’ but not much beyond that. It felt rushed due to the need to get it over and do the bit at the end and, like someone else, I worry about the voyager/Borg-style wussification of the Cybermen. Overall though, I am firmly in the camp that believes this has been the worst series of nuWho. By a long, long way. The second half has improved over the woeful first half though, mainly due to finally getting some decent standalone episodes. I do not want Dr Who to turn into Lost or any other show known for getting to bogged down in it’s own mythos and ongoing story. ---
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/446 "2011-09-26T12:46:49Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > Regarding the eyepatch - is it possible that there’s just a picture of one of the Silence on the inside of it? 😃 It’s a low-tech approach to the problem, but should work, as long as you don’t close that eye. Hmm… I agree that’s what the eyepatch has to be all about: if there was an image of a Silent constantly hovering in front of your eye, it would totally negate their ability to edit your memory. It would also explain why River gets an eyepatch as well: I don’t believe she and Madame Kovarian are the same person for an instant. Unfortunately, I’m worried that the finale is going to be a hell of a mess: there’s just so much to cram into the hour. > [@amanset](#): > > I’m sorry, what? Is this a US-only thing? Yes, it’s US only. There’s no Amy voiceover on this side of the sea. Doctor Who is so ingrained here we don’t need it! ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/447 "2011-09-26T12:53:28Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I’m sorry, what? Is this a US-only thing? North American only, AFAIK - it originated with BBC America, but Space channel in Canada is also running them. Just before the proper credits sequence in the Time Vortex, there’s a montage of moments from season 5 and early season 6 I think, with Karen Gillian reading something like the following: “When I was little, I had an imaginary friend. After I grew up, he came back. He’s called the Doctor, and he has a box that’s bigger on the outside, and can travel anywhere in time and space. I ran away with him - and we’ve been running ever since!” ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/448 "2011-09-26T13:32:15Z")
Cheers for the explanation, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/449 "2011-09-26T13:40:16Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > 1. What did the Doctor whisper in River’s ear in Let’s Kill Hitler? > 2. Who the heck is Jim the Fish? > 3. What is the Doctor’s name? > 4. What’s wrong with Fez’s? > 5. What is the only reason the Doctor would ever tell someone his name? I imagine that the answer to all these questions won’t be addressed next week. Frankly they’re not terribly important in resolving the storyline. > [@chrisk](#): > > " and he has a box that’s bigger on the outside" Man, they’ve really nerfed the Tardis, haven’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/450 "2011-09-26T14:14:41Z")
Where did “Jim the fish” get mentioned? Only fish I can think of is the one in The God Complex… -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/451 "2011-09-26T14:24:41Z")
Only in passing, when the Doctor and River are trying to align themselves with their diaries. It’s an encounter they shared in River’s past and the Doctor’s future. I always picture him as a gangster with slightly bulging eyes and a damp handshake. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/452 "2011-09-26T14:48:49Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > I always picture him as a gangster with slightly bulging eyes and a damp handshake. I see him more as a [Mack Salmon](http://www.samandmax.net/wiki/Mack_Salmon) type. ---
**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/453 "2011-09-26T15:41:43Z")
Speculation for the eye-patches: Basically a picture of one of the greys…the amnesia doesn’t seem to kick in until you look away, so if you _can’t_ look away… And honestly, what kind of plan is “let’s kill the _time-traveler_ so he can’t interfere with our plans in the _future_” anyway? Seriously…maybe he _already did!_ ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/454 "2011-09-26T16:16:31Z")
> [@Unpronounceable](#): > > Speculation for the eye-patches: > > Basically a picture of one of the greys…the amnesia doesn’t seem to kick in until you look away, so if you _can’t_ look away… > > And honestly, what kind of plan is “let’s kill the _time-traveler_ so he can’t interfere with our plans in the _future_” anyway? Seriously…maybe he _already did!_ Maybe it’s to stop him from interfering with their plans in the _past_. Look at it this way–most of us aren’t aware of it, but the Doctor is changing history _all the time_. And every time he does so, previous timelines get wiped out just like old Amy in “The Girl Who Waited.” So logically, everyone at _any point in history_ who is more or less happy with their life should want the Doctor dead before he _does_ go back and kills Hitler, in which case none of us will have been born (or will have been wiped out at a young age, for those of us alive prior to Hitler’s death.) I mean, sure, if the Doctor isn’t around to stop a Cyberman invasion tomorrow, there’s a good chance I’ll die (and as you point out, maybe he already stopped it!), but if he goes back and stops a Cyberman invasion in 1890 that led to the only timeline in which my parents met and had kids, there’s an _absolute certainty_ I’ll die. (Ok, be erased from history, but no one thought that was better than death when it happened to Rory, least of all the Doctor!) ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/455 "2011-09-26T16:16:47Z")
I’ve always hated the Amy Pond voice-over. To me, it takes the emphasis _off_ the Doctor and makes it The Amy Pond Adventures. StG ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/456 "2011-09-26T16:36:31Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I’m sorry, what? Is this a US-only thing? You can see it [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4dJ8n64HE). It’s annoying not because it’s expository. I can live with that, not entirely unlike Quantum Leap or Babylon 5 or countless other shows. My problem is that gives the impression that it’s the Amy Pond Show when in the Whoverse, companions come and go. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/457 "2011-09-26T16:41:38Z")
I only saw the first episode of this series on BBCA, and thought that was just part of the series premier. Lately, I’ve been buying the episodes on Amazon, and they lack that bit. I’m glad, because it is annoying. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/458 "2011-09-26T16:45:26Z")
BBCA has made a major push to promote DW in the States, with the intro voice-over added to clue newbies as to what is going on. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but in an episode that didn’t have Amy at all (other than the one shot), it doesn’t make any sense. I bet they’ll keep it for the last episode and drop it for the next season. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/459 "2011-09-26T17:07:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I presumed it was his name. > The Space Anglicans are the ones holding her prisoner, right? And they’re allies of the Silence, so it’s likely that they’re keeping her in order to try to stop her from helping the Doctor. > Something which the Doctor and River encountered in between _The God Complex_ and _Closing Time_, presumably. My guess is it’s some sort of fish. Named Jim. > There’s nothing wrong with fezzes. _Fezzes are cool._ > Because it’s “already happened”, and he already remembers showing up just after the others saw his future self die. He needs for it to happen in order for causality to be maintained. **Smapti** - Those weren’t my questions. I was answering questions **standingwave** posted in post #435 ---
**Author:** ![Unpronounceable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de0a6/32.png) [@Unpronounceable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unpronounceable)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860/460 "2011-09-26T17:54:13Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I mean, sure, if the Doctor isn’t around to stop a Cyberman invasion tomorrow, there’s a good chance I’ll die (and as you point out, maybe he already stopped it!), but if he goes back and stops a Cyberman invasion in 1890 that led to the only timeline in which my parents met and had kids, there’s an _absolute certainty_ I’ll die. (Ok, be erased from history, but no one thought that was better than death when it happened to Rory, least of all the Doctor!) Meh, you’re just as likely to stop him from _creating_ your past timeline in his future. Assuming you’re capable of succeeding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-six-part-ii/593860.md?page=24)