# The Night of The Doctor Mini-episode (Open Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 14, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908 "2013-11-14T14:15:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/1 "2013-11-14T14:15:53Z")
Carrying over from the 50th Anniversary thread. . Mini Episode here: . [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-U3jrS-uhuo/maxresdefault.jpg "The Night of the Doctor | Doctor Who - BBC") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U3jrS-uhuo) . A little more space to prevent mouse overs. . A little more space. . That ought to do it. . That was great seeing Paul McGann again. We also find out John Hurt is The War Doctor. Also, nice shout out to the old series with the Sisterhood of the Flame. I was hoping to see Morbius “out for a lurch.” ---
**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 14, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/2 "2013-11-14T14:41:00Z")
Were 9,10 and 11’s places ever canonically stated or did they just let us assume that if McGann was 8, Eccleston must be 9? Also, “Will it Hurt?” Dunno about the potion, but that line did. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/3 "2013-11-14T14:51:09Z")
Looking forward to the full episode. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/4 "2013-11-14T14:56:05Z")
I must say, the Doctor Who minisodes tend to be kind of phoned in. But McGann seems to have said, “No, I’m going to act the fuck out of this.” > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Were 9,10 and 11’s places ever canonically stated or did they just let us assume that if McGann was 8, Eccleston must be 9? > > Also, “Will it Hurt?” Dunno about the potion, but that line did. They have repeatedly referred to Matt as the eleventh. But they said in “The Name of the Doctor” that Hurt doesn’t get to be called “The Doctor”. So Eccleston is the 10th version of the same time lord, but the 9th “Doctor”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/5 "2013-11-14T15:05:28Z")
wow… that was awesome… Kudos to McGann for agreeing to do it. And they really did a good job in just a few minutes of showing how he got to the point that he was willing to do this. Just 9 more days! I’m not 100% an expert, but no, **Inner Stickler** , I don’t think the numbers have ever been referenced in the new series at least. I mean, there are cute touches like Smith’s soccer jersey having the number 11 in “The Lodger” and such, but he never says “I’m the tenth Doctor.” or anything like that. Just, “I’m the Doctor.” But by calling Hurt “The War Doctor” I think they are establishing that he’s not the 9th. More like 8.5. So we can keep calling Eccleston, Tennant and Smith by the names/numbers we’ve been used to. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/6 "2013-11-14T15:07:18Z")
> [@vd](#): > > They have repeatedly referred to Matt as the eleventh. Really, when? Outside of promotional stuff, I mean. Not in the show, right? I mean, there have been a few montages of all the doctors’ faces, but as you said, The War Doctor is not The Doctor, so he gets skipped. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/7 "2013-11-14T15:15:57Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Really, when? Outside of promotional stuff, I mean. Not in the show, right? > > I mean, there have been a few montages of all the doctors’ faces, but as you said, The War Doctor is not The Doctor, so he gets skipped. Mostly the cute touches, like you said (“The Eleventh Hour”). But also “On the fields of Trenzalore, at the fall of the eleventh…”. ISTR something before Demons Run as well, but I’m not sure. But you’re right, nothing that can’t be hand-waved away. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/8 "2013-11-14T15:16:39Z")
I can’t think of a time when in show they said Smith was the 11th. Outside the show they hint at it all the time. His first episode was called, “The Eleventh Hour.” When talking about a book (written by Amelia Pond) Clara mentions that the eleventh chapter is her favorite. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/9 "2013-11-14T16:25:13Z")
> [@vd](#): > > . But also “On the fields of Trenzalore, at the fall of the eleventh…”. oh yeah, that’s a good one. probably the most blatant. ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/10 "2013-11-14T17:04:04Z")
I’m assuming that Eight, even though he was “dead,” would have regenerated anyway (after all, Seven was dead and slabbed in the morgue before his regeneration). The Sisterhood of Karn forced his hand by reviving him before he could regenerate and go on his merry way. They made him open his eyes and choose… ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/11 "2013-11-14T18:16:24Z")
Fantastic, I loved every second of it. About time McGann got more airtime! ---
**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 14, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/12 "2013-11-14T18:18:55Z")
In the “School Reunion” with Sarah Jane, SJ said “You’ve regenerated” and he said “X times since we last met”. So that was either a lie, and/or he didn’t count the War Doctor Brian ---
**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 14, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/13 "2013-11-14T18:19:43Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > And they really did a good job in just a few minutes of showing how he got to the point that he was willing to do this. Someone on another forum said that this minisode was bigger on the inside, and I think that’s exactly right. It reintroduced Eight, demonstrated just how bad the Time War had gotten by that point, told us what Eight’s reaction to and involvement in the Time War was, emphasised the Doctors willingness to self-sacrifice, reintroduced The Sisters of Karn (and their potentially useful for future episodes upgraded re-gen technology), showed Eight’s re-gen along with a big clue about the nature of John Hurt’s character, and it made Eight’s Big Finish audios canon. In six minutes. Great work from everyone involved, and kudos to the BBC for keeping it a secret. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/14 "2013-11-14T18:31:41Z")
Great Caesar’s ghost, it’s so very lovely to see McGann! I still hold out the tiniest sliver of fanboy hope that Eccles is really involved and everyone’s just managing to keep it under wraps. I know, I know. But still. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/15 "2013-11-14T18:31:51Z")
The Brain of Morbius! ---
**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 14, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/16 "2013-11-14T18:38:47Z")
I’ve wondered if they brought in John Hurt to replace Eccleston? They made it clear in the first New Who episode that Eccleston’s Doctor fought in the time war. The Warrior Doctor sounds like the same idea. It would have been so cool if Eccleston had returned for the 50th special. He could have played the darker Warrior Doctor. That eventually changes after meeting Rose. ---
**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 14, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/17 "2013-11-14T18:47:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They made it clear in the first New Who episode that Eccleston’s Doctor fought in the time war. Eccleston’s Doctor was newly regenerated in _Rose_. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/18 "2013-11-14T19:18:46Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > In the “School Reunion” with Sarah Jane, SJ said “You’ve regenerated” and he said “X times since we last met”. > > So that was either a lie, and/or he didn’t count the War Doctor > > Brian He said “half a dozen times since we last met,” BUT they last met during The Five Doctors. ---
**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 14, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/19 "2013-11-14T19:20:24Z")
I like that the last words of the last pre-revival Doctor are “Physician, heal thyself”. ---
**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 14, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908/20 "2013-11-14T20:24:33Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I was hoping to see Morbius “out for a lurch.” Of all the old villains they need to bring back, Morbius is at the top of my list. If a Time Lord war criminal can survive execution as a [disembodied brain in a jar](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9kw1RcdEMV0/TVuk32h65ZI/AAAAAAAAAGM/4HJviZ37ZI8/s1600/St--4k08.jpg) and then [an \*ad hoc \*patchwork body](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/154314322_d1552ba50b.jpg), being pushed off a cliff by a bunch of nuns shouldn’t trouble him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-of-the-doctor-mini-episode-open-spoilers/673908.md?page=2)