Doctor Who - Spoilers!

[JonWes]

Well, that was a great finale all around. Made up for a series full of ups and downs.

Spoiler

I really liked the resolution of River's story. It was really well done. I am definitely intrigued by the Hurt Doctor. I'm so glad I avoided all spoilers! I wonder if he's a Doctor between the 8th and 9th, since that's the only regeneration we never saw. It'd make sense if the Hurt Doctor was the one who was involved in the Time War, I suppose.

I am still confused what this has to do with the whoever tried to destroy the TARDIS in Series 5 and said "Silence Will Fall" and what it has to do with the Silence. I feel like there's a lot that's been dangling too long. Maybe they'll wrap that up in the 50th?

Interesting that the Valeyard was name-checked. The only part of the episode that was a bit embarrassing was the insertion of Clara into past episodes. It's such a fun idea I guess I could overlook it during the show... but man, that was pretty badly executed.

 

[Ghost of QG]

Well, that was a great finale all around. Made up for a series full of ups and downs.

Spoiler

I really liked the resolution of River's story. It was really well done. I am definitely intrigued by the Hurt Doctor. I'm so glad I avoided all spoilers! I wonder if he's a Doctor between the 8th and 9th, since that's the only regeneration we never saw. It'd make sense if the Hurt Doctor was the one who was involved in the Time War, I suppose.

I am still confused what this has to do with the whoever tried to destroy the TARDIS in Series 5 and said "Silence Will Fall" and what it has to do with the Silence. I feel like there's a lot that's been dangling too long. Maybe they'll wrap that up in the 50th?

Interesting that the Valeyard was name-checked. The only part of the episode that was a bit embarrassing was the insertion of Clara into past episodes. It's such a fun idea I guess I could overlook it during the show... but man, that was pretty badly executed.

Spoiler

McGann is the eighth Doctor, and Eccelston is the ninth. , so how would there be another Doctor? I think he is the Valeyard....

 

[pixletwin]

Spoiler

He is not the Valeyard.

Here is the breakdown:

First Doc
Second Doc
Third Doc
Fourth Doc
Fifth Doc
Sixth Doc
Seventh Doc
Eight Doc
Forgotten Doc who did what he did "in the name of Peace and Sanity.. but not in The Name of the Doctor".. (presumably ended the Time War by committing genocide on the Gallifreyans/Time Lords and attempting genocide on the Daleks).
Ninth Doctor
Tenth Doctor Eleventh Doctor
........
Valeyard (somehwere between the 12th and final incarnation of the The Doctor).

 

[Ghost of QG]

Spoiler

He is not the Valeyard.

Here is the breakdown:

First Doc
Second Doc
Third Doc
Fourth Doc
Fifth Doc
Sixth Doc
Seventh Doc
Eight Doc
Forgotten Doc who did what he did "in the name of Peace and Sanity.. but not in The Name of the Doctor".. (presumably ended the Time War by committing genocide on the Gallifreyans/Time Lords and attempting genocide on the Daleks).
Ninth Doctor
Tenth Doctor Eleventh Doctor
........
Valeyard (somehwere between the 12th and final incarnation of the The Doctor).

Spoiler

So John Hurt would technically be the Ninth Doctor making Matt Smith the 12th Doctor? Gonna be a stretch for me...

 

[JonWes]

Spoiler

So John Hurt would technically be the Ninth Doctor making Matt Smith the 12th Doctor? Gonna be a stretch for me...

Spoiler

Kinda sorta. Of course, John Hurt isn't REALLY a Doctor, which is sort of the point of the episode (although almost hilariously refuted by the caption at the end... but I understand why they did that) so I suppose we don't have to rename them in our heads. It'd just be a technicality.

The thing is, that doesn't QUITE make sense. For one thing, the Doctor has been pretty open about his actions during the Time War. So why would the Hurt Doctor be his greatest secret?

 

[Ghost of QG]

Spoiler

Kinda sorta. Of course, John Hurt isn't REALLY a Doctor, which is sort of the point of the episode (although almost hilariously refuted by the caption at the end. but I understand why they did that) so I suppose we don't have to rename them in our heads. It'd just be a technicality.

The thing is, that doesn't QUITE make sense. For one thing, the Doctor has been pretty open about his actions during the Time War. So why would the Hurt Doctor be his greatest secret?

Spoiler

Some people on other boards have a theory that John Hurt is actually the first Doctor ( before Hartnell) and that Hartnell takes the name of the Doctor and steals the Tardis and atones for his sins by helping others.

It'll be a fun six months of debates and theories

 

[Kamandi]

Spoiler

I think they turned Susan Foreman into one of Clara's lives.

Clara seeing the book about The Time War lends some weight to the theory about Hurt being the 'real' ninth generation, but The Valeyard is a classic character and I'd rather see them go with that.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Finale was great, they definitely saved the best for last. The way the footage of classic Doctors was inserted into the show wasn't terribly effective, but the effort was still much appreciated.

 

[William Shatners Toupee]

I have really enjoyed S7.2 a lot. Even the few weaker stories had interesting bits. Loved the finale. Nu Who (for me) has had a big problem handling/resolving story arcs and I think they handled the Clara one very well. I also feel Nu Who has gotten much better at telling a story in the 45 minute format which they have struggled with since they they introduced it. I am glad they got back to stories being more action/adventure this half.

And to clarify, that's JUST my 7.2 review. I still weep over the amazingly bad plot of Angels in Manhattan. I like imagining how the Angels must have brought Rory or whatever prisoner they had in the hotel room room-service to keep them alive all of those decades. Did those rooms have movie channels? No? Those *******s! (laugh)

 

[pixletwin]

Spoiler

I think they turned Susan Foreman into one of Clara's lives.

Clara seeing the book about The Time War lends some weight to the theory about Hurt being the 'real' ninth generation, but The Valeyard is a classic character and I'd rather see them go with that.

How is that possible? They showed her next to the Doctor with Clara a ways off watching them.... Was she watching herself? I don't think so.

 

[N2k-swb]

I don't think i have ever geek-ed out as much as i did in the opening minutes of the finale, my other half gave me a pretty odd expression since she doesn't know much about Who pre-2005.

I loved it, i wish more of the Whisper Men since they seemed like they could be genuinely scary with more story.

Here's my thoughts on the ending that blew me off my chair... great to be theorising again!

Spoiler

John Hurt is a time war era Doctor, cast out because he committed a terrible act. I don't think he could be pre-Hartnell because the Doctor name hadn't been established for him yet. Because of Clara finding the Time War book in the TARDIS episode. which seemed a bit of an clue after the event not referenced for a while, I think this is after 8, the version of himself who was forced to go to far in the Time War and perhaps he enjoyed it a bit too much.
So once the Doctor won the war he forced a regeneration on himself into Eccleston and time locked the event to ever let that side of him escape again, which might explain why 9 was still a bit of an angry man afterwards. Long winded way of me saying, i think Hurt is the real Doctor 9 cast away from memory.

 

[drdandalek]

These are all great theories of who John Hurt is. I found an article online, that, if accurate states that John Hurt was the true 9th Doctor moving all of the numbers forward for each Doctor. Here is the link.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepa...or-who-50th-anniversary-special-spoilers.html

If it's true, renumbering the Doctors is kind of silly, but hey, it's only what we've come to know. Lol.

 

[lerath666]

it would suck Juuuuust as a tad, as TENnant, would no longer be TEN.

But beyond that, it could be cool, if he was soooo mentaly scarred by the time war, that it messed him up that much.

 

[jdeezy75]

Time War and eradication of Daleks and Time Lords happened sometime between 8 and 9...

Spoiler

so Hurt is definitely 8.5/9A...

 

[pixletwin]

Time War and eradication of Daleks and Time Lords happened sometime between 8 and 9...

Spoiler

so Hurt is definitely 8.5/9A...

 

[Kabukiman]

"You're always here to me."

Excuse me, I seem to have something caught in my eye...

Great episode.

 

[Calcifer]

He's certainly the true 9th Doctor, on set pictures from the 50th show better pics of his costume and he is clearly wearing the same coat as 9's and the waistcoat and neckerchief of 8, I did however read some theories that he's possibly playing an aged 8, that 8 actually lived for a veeeerrry long time after the tv movie, a nice idea but it would be a bit of a slap in the face to poor auld Paul Mcgann that his Doctors is in the 50th but ain't playing him! Ya I'm sure he is 9.


O and yes loved the episode!

 

[SAB]

Have loved the Moffat era and this finale was just epic!

 

[JonWes]

I would love if we saw an 8 to Hurt regen!

 

[drdandalek]

I would love if we saw an 8 to Hurt regen!

I agree whole-heartedly! That would be amazing. To see our favorite Time Lord carrying the burden of having to commit genocide f his whole race including Romana, Leela(maybe), and everything he knew of his home. Played out by John Hurt. Brilliant!