# The Day of the Doctor Watch-along Thread (Open Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 23, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636 "2013-11-23T19:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/61 "2013-11-23T23:55:28Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Did you not rate _The Girl in the Fireplace_? I think he’s done two stories that time travel is integral to. Good point. And surely the “using hundreds of years of processing-time to work out a solution” element to today’s episode might count as a good use of the time-travel device…? I liked it, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/62 "2013-11-23T23:59:31Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Good point. > > And surely the “using hundreds of years of processing-time to work out a solution” element to today’s episode might count as a good use of the time-travel device…? I liked it, anyway. Ha yes, the software on the screwdriver and, well, the door. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/63 "2013-11-24T00:07:58Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Oh, and I got a bit weepy when all three had their hands on the Big Red Button. “If you have to do this, at least you won’t be doing it alone”. I figured there probably was going to be the other way, but I wasn’t sure… > Brian You’ve got to have a bit of red plunger: Always preferable to THE DIAL GOING INTO THE RED!!1! 😃 eta: we also got the FIVE-MINUTE COUNTDOWN!!1! ---
**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:** [November 24, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/64 "2013-11-24T00:16:30Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > it was Brilliant! I cut it off just before the end. Can someone spoiler it for me, please? I left just after Peter Davison deleted Russell’s message. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/65 "2013-11-24T00:32:40Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I cut it off just before the end. Can someone spoiler it for me, please? I left just after Peter Davison deleted Russell’s message. > > StG They all die. j/k. Actually, the Doctor (Smith version) has new hope and a new mission (find his frozen planet); the Doctor (Tennant version) goes off to do stuff until he turns into Smith, and the Doctor (Hurt version) regenerates into Christopher Eccleston, who must have charged them a bundle to use his image. Edit: Oops, I see now you were talking about Davison’s film. :embarrassed smiley: ---
**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:** [November 24, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/66 "2013-11-24T00:33:11Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I really hope this works outside the UK. It’s directed by Peter Davison, and it’s about the 50th anniversary > > [BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), The Day of the Doctor, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01m3kfy) That was pretty awesome. Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/67 "2013-11-24T00:45:37Z")
The Guardian comments go straight for A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life as the reference points: > **[Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor – review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/nov/23/doctor-who-day-fiftieth-anniversary)** > > First Gallifrey is destroyed. Then it's saved. And Billie Piper rescues everyone. Clear? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/68 "2013-11-24T01:08:27Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I really hope this works outside the UK. It’s directed by Peter Davison, and it’s about the 50th anniversary > > [BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), The Day of the Doctor, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01m3kfy) …as a companion piece to the 50th that was simply quite brilliant. There was a tinge of sadness throughout the Day of the Doctor that we didn’t get to see all the other Doctors: but fortunately story won out in the end, as it should. But it was nice to see that McCoy/Davidson/Baker actually were in the final cut: even if they were hidden under the sheets! And Barrowman has finally come out of the closet! Married with kids! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/69 "2013-11-24T01:15:33Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I cut it off just before the end. Can someone spoiler it for me, please? I left just after Peter Davison deleted Russell’s message. > StG Okay: Scene changes to Moffat editing the footage for the 50th Anniversary episode with an assistant. Moffat says ‘we must cut the Daleks scene’ due to time constraints. (Oh, no! The 3 Docs won’t be in the episode after all!) Then Moffat leaves to take a phone call, while the assistant continues viewing the raw footage. In that footage we see the 3 Docs standing in the studio while someone says ‘we need some more shrouded Zygons,’ a production guy hands our heroes some shrouds. Moffat returns and watches some of the Under-Gallery scene with, you guessed it, the 3 Docs (presumably) under the shrouds. They got in after all, huzzah! Finis. (This little film was hilarious! Davison has got to go on making short subjects, at least—he’s got a real gift.) ---
**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:** [November 24, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/70 "2013-11-24T01:50:31Z")
Thanks, **Sherrerd!** StG ---
**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:** [November 24, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/71 "2013-11-24T02:25:21Z")
One more thought - it was funny when John Hurt thought the other doctors were companions. How many family members were in Peter Davison’s video? And Carol Ann Ford (Susan) was in it :). And I love the Hobbit / Sylvester McCoy bits Brian ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/72 "2013-11-24T02:40:46Z")
This episode reminded me how much I miss the tenth doctor. It’s not just the actor. The character of the tenth was so much better. I liked his brown suit. Everything was better. I wish somehow he could come back. Even if it was prior to his death. but I guess that’s a pipe dream. At least David was gracious enough to bring him back for one last time. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/73 "2013-11-24T03:18:50Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > but Eccleston (like Paul McGann) apparently wants nothing to do with the show. Paul McGann did the 6 minute mini-episode where he regenerated into the War Doctor, although it wasn’t very clear who he became. Extremely excellent acting from him in that. It doesn’t look like he didn’t want any part of it. This is [it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U3jrS-uhuo) Bob ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/74 "2013-11-24T06:58:12Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I think they were from a stasis set up before the Time War. Though I haven’t watched it since it first broadcast. The timelords with the White Point Star plot and Rassilon were the High Council. The timelords in the 50th special are not part of the high council. There was even a line to the effect of “The high council is in emergency session. They have plans of their own.” The events of The End of Time presumably happened in parallel with the pocketing of Gallifrey or slightly before. I won’t argue with you, glee, but due to the paradoxical nature of the events in Blink, I would consider Sally and the doctor equally responsible. After all, she did all the work. Any bright ideas he had were off-camera and therefore not pertinent. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/75 "2013-11-24T07:43:27Z")
I think that I caught a really quick reference to the UNIT dating controversy, when Kate Stewart asked for one of her father’s old files and said that it was either in the '70s or '80s, depending on the numbering system that was being used. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/76 "2013-11-24T07:50:17Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Did you not rate _The Girl in the Fireplace_? I think he’s done two stories that time travel is integral to. Good point, although that’s not so much a time travel story as a time \*lapse \*story - the Doctor and Madame Pompadour may have been moving at different rates, but they were both moving in the same direction, so there was no mucking around with cause and effect. Stories where characters move forward in time are inherently different from stories whee characters move back in time, if only because moving forward in times is something humans do every day. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/77 "2013-11-24T09:27:09Z")
I loved John Hurt’s grumpy doctor exasperated with the antics of his successors: “Stop pointing it like that! It’s a scientific instrument, not a water pistol!”. And yeah, it doesn’t pay to think about the plot too hard, but it had that spark of fun the last couple of seasons have missed. Stuffing more Doctors in like The Five Doctors would have been kind of cool, but killed the story, I was happy with the glimpses we got. And when I heard Baker’s voice I knew instantly who it was, I was all OMG THEY GOT TOM BAKER BACK! ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/78 "2013-11-24T12:14:58Z")
I, for one, found the show thoroughly satisfying and entertaining. It provides a much-needed new direction for the show to go in, while remaining respectful toward everything that came before. I haven’t been a big fan of the writing in the Matt Smith era, but this was great. I thought Christopher Eccleston’s absence was an elephant in the room, and I think it’s weird he wouldn’t be willing to participate, but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/79 "2013-11-24T12:46:15Z")
The plunger thing remined me of ‘sometimes you have to destroy the village to save the village’. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636/80 "2013-11-24T15:14:48Z")
Nice finishing touch with Tom Baker. Well played. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The timelords with the White Point Star plot and Rassilon were the High Council. The timelords in the 50th special are not part of the high council. There was even a line to the effect of “The high council is in emergency session. They have plans of their own.” The events of The End of Time presumably happened in parallel with the pocketing of Gallifrey or slightly before. Right. Yesterday we were looking at TimeLord Military HQ, not at the Council. It now creates that bit of an ambiguity there – in End of Time we already know Gallifrey was not truly destroyed but merely banished from reality, but the High Council had already made contingency plans in case that happened, a “backdoor” escape hatch that involved The Master. They of course also outdid War Doctor on the genocide front in the end, by figuring on destroying all existence in time itself so they could transcend it eternally (and thus be safe from being trapped in or out of it). End of Time made it look like that happens _after and while_ Gallifrey was time-isolated, now we can wonder if that is actually happening right before, just as, or after Gallifrey falls. We are left to speculate if the Master’s and Rassilon’s apparent mutual destruction just as they’re being sucked back into oblivion would signify that at some point Gallifrey can be restored safely. (BTW notice how they now make the Daleks destroy themselves by circular firing squad, Weeping-Angel style, rather than taking them out directly) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-day-of-the-doctor-watch-along-thread-open-spoilers/674636.md?page=5)