# Doctor Who "The Empty Child" - 5/5/06 (US airing) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677 "2006-05-06T16:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [May 8, 2006, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/41 "2006-05-08T07:21:04Z")
Okay, I’ll admit it - when Nancy said her dead brother was Jamie, I immediately thought of the Jamie that was an earlier companion of the Doctor. Imagine if she thought her brother was dead, only to have him jaunting about time with a Time Lord. StG ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/42 "2006-05-08T12:57:10Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > I did like his rationale for parking near Big Ben – first rule of camoflauged vehicles – park where you’ll remember it. _The Voyage Home_: as they leave the cloaked Klingon ship in Golden Gate Park Kirk says, “Everybody, remember where we parked.” ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/43 "2006-05-08T12:58:11Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > Ah, the joys of nationally-syndicated television channels. Plus, of course, getting Doctor Who about six months earlier than you fellows (I just finished watching the whole series through on DVD- again). > > It’s good to gloat. 😃 And you got Futurama on DVD before we did, too. Lousy, spoiled, gloating Limeys … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/44 "2006-05-08T13:42:28Z")
The Christopher Eccleston series has just won two TV _Baftas_ (the UK equivalent of the Oscars) One was for the best drama series, with its writer, Russell T Davies, receiving the Dennis Potter Award for outstanding writing. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/45 "2006-05-08T14:02:01Z")
I’m watching the Canada DVDs right now, and I have to say that The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances represents the absolute zenith of the new series so far (I have two more episodes to go). **msmith537** is right: the explanation doesn’t take away from the power and creepiness of it at all. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/46 "2006-05-08T14:05:26Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > That was due to the influence of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, who first appeared in the 2nd Doctor’s reign. The stories featuring him and UNIT were nominally set in the “near future” (i.e. present plus 10-20 years) in order to reference events that would have to be public knowledge but obviously hadn’t happened in real life (manned expedition to Mars, etc.) So by extension Sarah Jane was part of this parallel history. IIRC, Sarah Jane was in fact the last companion from the UNIT near-future timeline: his companions from Earth since have all been from “today”. The UNIT stories starting with Jon Pertwee’s Doctor were set in the 1980s and originally broadcast in 1970. There was also a previous story with the Second Doctor set in the 1970s and broadcast in 1968 in which UNIT was introduced. So the UNIT stories were originally set about ten years in the future. Later, the Fifth Doctor was in the “present” – 1982 – and, when questioned, basically says, “This is 1982, right? Contact UNIT and they’ll vouch for me.” So the show had caught up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/47 "2006-05-08T14:07:19Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > The Christopher Eccleston series has just won two TV _Baftas_ (the UK equivalent of the Oscars) One was for the best drama series, with its writer, Russell T Davies, receiving the Dennis Potter Award for outstanding writing. The series also won the Pioneer Audience award, which is voted for by the viewing public (I think it’s the only TV Bafta that is). I imagine Russell The Davies’ award will have been for his entire body of work, rather than just Doctor Who. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/48 "2006-05-08T17:42:50Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Really? I’ve never heard that. Remember, she started out with #3. > > Off to the BBC and fan pages to see what I can find out. > > [Nothing on BBC.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/companions/page18.shtml) > > [Nothing about it on Gallifrey.](http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=3u) > > Lack of a cite isn’t proof of a negative, tho. So if you can find one, I would be most intrigued. > I’m so glad Rose is a major babe. I had missed Peri and her amazing technicolour bikini. In _Pyramids of Mars_, Sarah Jane Smith says, quite explicitly, “I come from 1980” … ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/49 "2006-05-08T17:52:44Z")
> [@Steve Wright](#): > > In _Pyramids of Mars_, Sarah Jane Smith says, quite explicitly, “I come from 1980” … I believe you. What scene was it? ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/50 "2006-05-08T18:02:16Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > I believe you. What scene was it? Twice: once when she tells Laurence Scarman directly (“That is utterly preposterous, Ms. Smith”), and again when the Doctor takes her and Scarman to see what “1980” looks like after Sutekh has finished with it (“That’s a trick! I’m from 1980 …!”). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/51 "2006-05-08T18:08:41Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > Captain Jack - I’m liking him. The scene with Rose floating across the sky was very well-done, and I liked the interaction between her and Captain Jack (although I’d rather have more of the Doctor). Okay, the last time I asked a question about this series, I got accused of reading too much into it, buu-u-uut… [paraphrasing] Officer: Jack:…you’re going down to the shelter? Captain Jack: Wow, nice bottom! Officer: (hushed tone) Jack! There’s a time and a place for everything! Captain Jack: Oh not you, I’m looking out at one of the decoy balloons. Oh but, you do have a nice bottom too! [/paraphrasing] Did that mean what I think it did? I realize Jack was all flirty with Rose, but then again… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/52 "2006-05-08T18:11:25Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Okay, the last time I asked a question about this series, I got accused of reading too much into it, buu-u-uut… > > [paraphrasing] > Officer: Jack:…you’re going down to the shelter? > > Captain Jack: Wow, nice bottom! > > Officer: (hushed tone) Jack! There’s a time and a place for everything! > > Captain Jack: Oh not you, I’m looking out at one of the decoy balloons. Oh but, you do have a nice bottom too! > [/paraphrasing] > > Did that mean what I think it did? I realize Jack was all flirty with Rose, but then again… I read that as a joke. It was Rose’s Bottom he rather liked. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/53 "2006-05-08T18:45:03Z")
Oh yeah, another exchange I was wondering about; ward doctor: Before this war began, I was a father and a grand-father. Now I am neither, but still a doctor. THE Doctor: I know the feeling. Does this mean that Susan (the Doctor’s grand-daughter) is dead? I know he said he’s the last Time-Lord (which presumably means Romana has bought the farm), but Susan wasn’t necessarilly one. Not all Gallifreyans are Time-Lords (as per “Invasion of Time”). Was the entire Gallifreyan race wiped out of existence, or just the Time Lords? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/54 "2006-05-08T19:02:19Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Twice: once when she tells Laurence Scarman directly (“That is utterly preposterous, Ms. Smith”), and again when the Doctor takes her and Scarman to see what “1980” looks like after Sutekh has finished with it (“That’s a trick! I’m from 1980 …!”). … uh … yeah … what he said … ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/55 "2006-05-08T21:01:31Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Didn’t you watch \*Star Trek: Enterprise \*? …Side trivia point question: Was there ever any other cross ref of Trek to Who? Yeah, I know Rose was saying it because of Trek being a TV show in her time and not as tho Kirk and The Doctor would meet up irl, but it was still a very funny/cool/hoopy/whatever moment. Any others? What about refs to other fictional characters of other franchises? The title escapes me, but there was a Star Trek novel (from the 90s) where Kirk muses over rumors of a race in the constellation of Kasterborous who controlled time. This is a direct reference to the Timelords (even the Kasterborous reference). Someone out there will probably remember the title (maybe they remember the reference and didn’t know it referred to Dr. Who). ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/56 "2006-05-08T21:05:45Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Does this mean that Susan (the Doctor’s grand-daughter) is dead? I know he said he’s the last Time-Lord (which presumably means Romana has bought the farm), but Susan wasn’t necessarilly one. Not all Gallifreyans are Time-Lords (as per “Invasion of Time”). Was the entire Gallifreyan race wiped out of existence, or just the Time Lords? I believe at the conclusion of “The End of the World,” the Doctor tells Rose, “My planet’s gone,” suggesting that his entire race is destroyed, not just the Time Lord civilization. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/57 "2006-05-08T21:09:06Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Does this mean that Susan (the Doctor’s grand-daughter) is dead? I know he said he’s the last Time-Lord (which presumably means Romana has bought the farm), but Susan wasn’t necessarilly one. Not all Gallifreyans are Time-Lords (as per “Invasion of Time”). Was the entire Gallifreyan race wiped out of existence, or just the Time Lords? Yeah, the implication I’ve been getting all season long is he’s now the last of his kind, no asterisks. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/58 "2006-05-08T22:33:14Z")
So Sarah Jane was from the future… How about that! I’ve been watching Doctor Who for over 30 years and never picked up on that. Of course, by watching, I mean picking it up in fits and spurts on PBS stations across the South and West USA. Sometimes I didn’t have access to the Doctor at all. And when I did, it was mostly 4, 5, & 6, with a mere smattering of 3 and 7. I’m very much enjoying catching up on the Original, 2, and the rest of 3 & 7 thru some VHS and now DVDs. Still ain’t easy being a Texan Whovian in OKC. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677/59 "2006-05-09T01:08:12Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Okay, the last time I asked a question about this series, I got accused of reading too much into it, buu-u-uut… > > [paraphrasing] > Officer: Jack:…you’re going down to the shelter? > > Captain Jack: Wow, nice bottom! > > Officer: (hushed tone) Jack! There’s a time and a place for everything! > > Captain Jack: Oh not you, I’m looking out at one of the decoy balloons. Oh but, you do have a nice bottom too! > [/paraphrasing] > > Did that mean what I think it did? I realize Jack was all flirty with Rose, but then again… As I recall Captain Jack is bisexual! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-the-empty-child-5-5-06-us-airing/355677.md?page=2)