Doctor Who Finale Speculation
Jun. 30th, 2008 09:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Just a random list of things that could happen. Discuss at will.
Donna = fobwatched Romana.
Why: Donna is awesome. Romana is awesome. Everything needs more Romana. There's clearly something special about Donna. Plus there appeared to be an oblique Romana reference in Midnight.
Why Not: Donna should be special for Donna. As a human. I'd like to keep her for the human race, thanks. Also, Donna seems awfully related to her mother and grandfather.
Donna = fobwatched Eleven or Twelve
Why: Steven Moffat is taking over and he loves the wibbly-wobbly timey wimey. The Doctor does not there's an awful lot of coincidence surrounding Donna.
Why Not: Much as I love this idea, it'd require Catherine Tate to take over the program at some point and she's got a pretty solid career outside of Who.
The Key to Time plays a part in the solution (thanks to
timjr for this one)
Why: Calufrax (a segment of the Key to Time) is mentioned as one of the stolen planets. Problem: the last time we saw Calufrax, it was a lump of really heavy rock, squeezed to nothing by the Pirate Planet (and then after that as a segment of the Key to Time). So this would probably have to be before Four got to it... which means it could still be a segment. Also, what's that Key thing that Martha has?
Why Not: I'm not sure Rusty's willing to get *that* old school without giving the audience a lot more preparation ahead of time.
So?: Rusty's going out with a bang, it would seem (specials notwithstanding) and anything could go, especially seeing as "Journey's End" will be 65 minutes long.
Donna = a segment of the Key to Time
Why: In the original Key to Time story, one of the segments was Princess Astra (Lalla Ward). Turns out that a girl who is a key is a pretty old concept.
Why Not: Would require that previous theory pan out, which is unlikely.
It'd Be Funny: To see how fast Buffy fans jump on Rusty for "stealing" from Joss.
Everything Resets
Why: It's Rusty. He likes to blow things up big... and then he likes to use science fiction concepts to dodge the larger consequences.
Why Not: It'd be bollocks to have a new Doctor for just one episode. It's been done before. A lot. One would think a man as generally creative as Rusty (and he is) would not be so lazy as to do the SAME THING AGAIN.
So?: Still not entirely sure the Doctor is really regenerating. Rusty hasn't given us reason to believe he isn't that lazy.
The Doctor Is Really Regenerating
Why: Um, did you see the end of that episode? It'd be pretty lame to have an ending that essentially says "this changes everything" -- and then not change anything.
Why Not: The press has been surprisingly mum on a new Doctor -- even the tabloids have been quiet. Something doesn't sit right here.
My Preference: I love Tennant. And I still want to get a Tennant costume together for Con or Halloween or something. But I'm all for change. New story possibilities with a new Doctor. Plus, a fresh start for Moffat might be just the right thing.
Paul McGann and/or Christopher Eccleston Show Up
Why: Because it would rock. And there's Dalek Caan's reference to the Dark Lord... the Threefold Man.
Why Not: Um, I think the BBC couldn't keep their lip buttoned on a ratings coup like that.
The Valeyard Shows Up
Why: If the Doctor doesn't properly regenerate, then he might spit out his darker side, the Valeyard, forming one part of the Threefold Man. Bonus points if it's still Michael Jayston (even if he is 72).
Why Not: It's a bit early. The Valeyard is supposed to come out of the regeneration between Twelve and Thirteen. The Valeyard is also a freaking complicated thing to explain. Also, it's not entirely clear if the Valeyard is still a canonically certain event, given that he showed up in a Classic Who serial set on Gallifrey.
Seven Shows Up
Why: Because barring needing more Ace, everything needs more of Ace's most faithful companion. Also, Sylvester McCoy is one of the few old school Doctors who still looks reasonably as he did when he was on the show.
Why Not: Because how the hell would you explain it?
Romana Shows Up
Why: If you ignore book canon, she could still be in E-space and unaffected by the events of the Time War. Or she could be fobwatched somewhere.
Why Not: Everything is going down this Saturday and you want to stick in another Time Lord out of nowhere? That seriously sounds like something to save for a two-parter next season.
Gallifrey Is Restored
Why: If Dalek Caan can break the lock on the Time War, who says it can't be done again? C'mon... Time Lords in funny hats. Romana. Leela. Because it's the kind of thing Rusty would do at the end of his era.
Why Not: Because it's Time Lords in funny hats and it would add a ridiculous political angle to the show. Also, future show-runner Steven Moffat has expressed a disdain for the concept of an active Gallifrey:
The Most Faithful Companion pool
Donna: There have been portents of doom for Donna all season. Plus, as I said, Catherine Tate has a career outside of Who. Call it even odds.
Rose: Crossed dimensions for the Doctor. Woobed over him lots and lots. Had two whole seasons with him. Rusty thinks she's the very Best Most Awesome Prettiest. 3:2.
Jack: Loves the Doctor. Seriously. Died for the man more than once, would do it again. Still, it'd be something of a cheat, especially since we know that he's probably back for Torchwood Season 3. 5:1.
Martha: Left the Doctor to get her own life in order, thus showing a clear line of reasoning and respect for self. Shows equal concern for the safety of the world and her family as she does for the Doctor. Obviously a faithless stupid person. *rolls eyes* 10:1.
Sarah Jane: Pined after the Doctor (apparently) ever since The Hand of Fear, but didn't really seek him out in all that time. Shows nearly equal concern about safety of the world and her son Luke as she does for the Doctor. Clearly she is also a faithless stupid person. *additional eyeroll* Still, we know there's a second season of Sarah Jane Adventures in the offing, so probably not. 25:1.
Mickey: May show up next week and prove himself terribly faithful at the end somehow. Could happen. Still, he wasn't in The Stolen Earth and that hurts his chances quite a bit. 50:1.
K-9: Nothing's more faithful than a dog, right? Even a tin one. Still no word whether the BBC ponied up for the royalties to use him, though. Also, he can just be rebuilt. 100:1.
Romana: The already (presumed) dead might show up and die again. Still, she left the Doctor to do her own thing in E-Space. And I really doubt she's even going to show. 1000:1
Jamie: Well, clearly a Doctor's Most Faithful Companion, although not this Doctor's. Still, probably died on the Scottish Highlands ages ago. 5000:1.
Donna = fobwatched Romana.
Why: Donna is awesome. Romana is awesome. Everything needs more Romana. There's clearly something special about Donna. Plus there appeared to be an oblique Romana reference in Midnight.
Why Not: Donna should be special for Donna. As a human. I'd like to keep her for the human race, thanks. Also, Donna seems awfully related to her mother and grandfather.
Donna = fobwatched Eleven or Twelve
Why: Steven Moffat is taking over and he loves the wibbly-wobbly timey wimey. The Doctor does not there's an awful lot of coincidence surrounding Donna.
Why Not: Much as I love this idea, it'd require Catherine Tate to take over the program at some point and she's got a pretty solid career outside of Who.
The Key to Time plays a part in the solution (thanks to
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Why: Calufrax (a segment of the Key to Time) is mentioned as one of the stolen planets. Problem: the last time we saw Calufrax, it was a lump of really heavy rock, squeezed to nothing by the Pirate Planet (and then after that as a segment of the Key to Time). So this would probably have to be before Four got to it... which means it could still be a segment. Also, what's that Key thing that Martha has?
Why Not: I'm not sure Rusty's willing to get *that* old school without giving the audience a lot more preparation ahead of time.
So?: Rusty's going out with a bang, it would seem (specials notwithstanding) and anything could go, especially seeing as "Journey's End" will be 65 minutes long.
Donna = a segment of the Key to Time
Why: In the original Key to Time story, one of the segments was Princess Astra (Lalla Ward). Turns out that a girl who is a key is a pretty old concept.
Why Not: Would require that previous theory pan out, which is unlikely.
It'd Be Funny: To see how fast Buffy fans jump on Rusty for "stealing" from Joss.
Everything Resets
Why: It's Rusty. He likes to blow things up big... and then he likes to use science fiction concepts to dodge the larger consequences.
Why Not: It'd be bollocks to have a new Doctor for just one episode. It's been done before. A lot. One would think a man as generally creative as Rusty (and he is) would not be so lazy as to do the SAME THING AGAIN.
So?: Still not entirely sure the Doctor is really regenerating. Rusty hasn't given us reason to believe he isn't that lazy.
The Doctor Is Really Regenerating
Why: Um, did you see the end of that episode? It'd be pretty lame to have an ending that essentially says "this changes everything" -- and then not change anything.
Why Not: The press has been surprisingly mum on a new Doctor -- even the tabloids have been quiet. Something doesn't sit right here.
My Preference: I love Tennant. And I still want to get a Tennant costume together for Con or Halloween or something. But I'm all for change. New story possibilities with a new Doctor. Plus, a fresh start for Moffat might be just the right thing.
Paul McGann and/or Christopher Eccleston Show Up
Why: Because it would rock. And there's Dalek Caan's reference to the Dark Lord... the Threefold Man.
Why Not: Um, I think the BBC couldn't keep their lip buttoned on a ratings coup like that.
The Valeyard Shows Up
Why: If the Doctor doesn't properly regenerate, then he might spit out his darker side, the Valeyard, forming one part of the Threefold Man. Bonus points if it's still Michael Jayston (even if he is 72).
Why Not: It's a bit early. The Valeyard is supposed to come out of the regeneration between Twelve and Thirteen. The Valeyard is also a freaking complicated thing to explain. Also, it's not entirely clear if the Valeyard is still a canonically certain event, given that he showed up in a Classic Who serial set on Gallifrey.
Seven Shows Up
Why: Because barring needing more Ace, everything needs more of Ace's most faithful companion. Also, Sylvester McCoy is one of the few old school Doctors who still looks reasonably as he did when he was on the show.
Why Not: Because how the hell would you explain it?
Romana Shows Up
Why: If you ignore book canon, she could still be in E-space and unaffected by the events of the Time War. Or she could be fobwatched somewhere.
Why Not: Everything is going down this Saturday and you want to stick in another Time Lord out of nowhere? That seriously sounds like something to save for a two-parter next season.
Gallifrey Is Restored
Why: If Dalek Caan can break the lock on the Time War, who says it can't be done again? C'mon... Time Lords in funny hats. Romana. Leela. Because it's the kind of thing Rusty would do at the end of his era.
Why Not: Because it's Time Lords in funny hats and it would add a ridiculous political angle to the show. Also, future show-runner Steven Moffat has expressed a disdain for the concept of an active Gallifrey:
My real reason for thinking this is a good idea is simply that I've never able to believe Gallifrey as a place the Doctor could ever have come from. It's one of the most lazily conceived societies in the show's history (against stiff opposition) and the Doctor has nothing remotely in common with any of the inhabitants. -- source
The Most Faithful Companion pool
Donna: There have been portents of doom for Donna all season. Plus, as I said, Catherine Tate has a career outside of Who. Call it even odds.
Rose: Crossed dimensions for the Doctor. Woobed over him lots and lots. Had two whole seasons with him. Rusty thinks she's the very Best Most Awesome Prettiest. 3:2.
Jack: Loves the Doctor. Seriously. Died for the man more than once, would do it again. Still, it'd be something of a cheat, especially since we know that he's probably back for Torchwood Season 3. 5:1.
Martha: Left the Doctor to get her own life in order, thus showing a clear line of reasoning and respect for self. Shows equal concern for the safety of the world and her family as she does for the Doctor. Obviously a faithless stupid person. *rolls eyes* 10:1.
Sarah Jane: Pined after the Doctor (apparently) ever since The Hand of Fear, but didn't really seek him out in all that time. Shows nearly equal concern about safety of the world and her son Luke as she does for the Doctor. Clearly she is also a faithless stupid person. *additional eyeroll* Still, we know there's a second season of Sarah Jane Adventures in the offing, so probably not. 25:1.
Mickey: May show up next week and prove himself terribly faithful at the end somehow. Could happen. Still, he wasn't in The Stolen Earth and that hurts his chances quite a bit. 50:1.
K-9: Nothing's more faithful than a dog, right? Even a tin one. Still no word whether the BBC ponied up for the royalties to use him, though. Also, he can just be rebuilt. 100:1.
Romana: The already (presumed) dead might show up and die again. Still, she left the Doctor to do her own thing in E-Space. And I really doubt she's even going to show. 1000:1
Jamie: Well, clearly a Doctor's Most Faithful Companion, although not this Doctor's. Still, probably died on the Scottish Highlands ages ago. 5000:1.
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Date: 2008-06-30 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-30 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-30 07:54 pm (UTC)Then again, that was at least a couple of years ago, and people can change their minds...
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Date: 2008-07-02 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-30 06:03 pm (UTC)I'm totally unconvinced that anything is going to especially happen to Tennant. Doctor Who is pretty bad about spoilers getting out. Somebody would have said *something*. Theory: since "the walls of the universe are breaking down" the normal rules don't apply. He regenerates as...himself.
That being said, Rusty's already shown disregard for canonical logic. "It happened too fast for him to regenerate" - what?
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Date: 2008-06-30 06:08 pm (UTC)I'm hoping against hope that it's really a regeneration, because I'm going to feel massively cheated otherwise. I know that said hopes will be dashed.
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Date: 2008-06-30 06:15 pm (UTC)Obviously I am biased.
Also, I pointed out that "regenerates as himself" option to Nate, but I added the prefix of "if" and the addendum of "I'm flying to England and beating Rusty do death with a spoon." Seriously, that would be dumb.
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Date: 2008-06-30 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-30 08:40 pm (UTC)It's the "eternal death" thing, though. Sure the TARDIS _can_ die... we've seen that in the Cybermen AU and Donna's AU--she was going down fast in both.
But--Who w/o the TARDIS? You just can't. Even stranded on Earth all that time (please, just _no_) he still had her there. He'd have to get a new/replacement one ASAP, just to make it still be Who--and I'd be massively pissed if they just swapped out for a new one like it doesn't matter. (Besides--would he then immediately reprogram-and-break the chameleon circuit? WTH?)
Since I'm strongly suspecting a re-set of some sort is already a given (A reality just one second off from the rest of the universe, anyone? Just for starters: Jack, arriving a second earlier, would have blown the Dalek to hell before it shot anyone, no?) I'm game to lose the TARDIS pending re-set, 'cuz in the "most faithful companion" category she clearly has no competition.
(Damn! Gotta run!) I've also be pretty much assuming some variation of regenerates-into-same-self...just because, while I never hear spoilers like this (which is good), *no one* seems to have heard spoilers of any other Doctor [past or future] being involved...and I can't think they kept things locked down *that* tight.
...ooh, I suppose he could regenerate into the Master somehow! ( *insert your own ~wibbly wobbly regener-y ation-iny~ rationale here*). I don't actually believe it will happen (Why, WTF?, and How? being the big questions, in an already packed line-up), but I'm happy to start it as a rumor. ;-)
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Date: 2008-06-30 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 03:20 am (UTC)Oh! Oh! I know! -- Donna is actually Rose & Ten's secret lovechild (time travel and AUs make this stuff almost too easy!) and the second (third?) coming of Romana reborn through them to embody the Bad Wolf!!11!1!
But heeeeeey... we never found out what happened to whatever child the Face of Boe was reportedly pregnant with back on Satalite Five...
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Date: 2008-06-30 10:15 pm (UTC)I kind of like the Key to Time theory. But if they were going to drop that in, I would expect there to be a lot more set-up and explanation for those New Who watchers not familiar with every aspect of Classic Who. It is interesting that Calufrax was mentioned, though, and I find it hard to believe that they would drop a reference like that without it meaning anything.
Seriously, though. ROMANA. I would die. I've been sending psychic nudges to RTD for a Romana appearance since The Master showed up. I mean come on. I have the same torn feelings about Donna, though. I want her to be special just for being herself and rocking so hardcore, but it would also be amazing, and a shock, if she were really a Time Lord. (Time Lady? I seem to recall Romana being called that, but I could be crazy. Also, I might have to scoff at gender issues of the 60's if anyone in new Who says "Time Lady". [$10 says it would be Jack.])
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Date: 2008-06-30 10:51 pm (UTC)The Romana reference in Midnight was the Doctor's friend who went to a parallel universe for space. Sounds like Rose at first, but the context isn't quite right... but it fits Romana perfectly.
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Date: 2008-07-01 12:25 am (UTC)(Plus, it'd be worth it just to see the Doctor pouting because Romana got to be ginger and he didn't. ;-))
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Date: 2008-06-30 11:02 pm (UTC)Anagrams:
"Wilfred Mott" = "Timelord ... WTF?"
"Donna, Rose, Martha" = "Romana and others"
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Date: 2008-07-02 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 01:26 am (UTC)ROse, MArtha, donNA going.
Although that seems like one hell of a long game for Rusty to actually have planned out. Plus, I'm not sure what it would mean...
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Date: 2008-07-02 05:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 12:36 am (UTC)As for regeneration, there hasn't even been a whisper of it until this point so I doubt that it will happen. They have been focusing on his hand through out the season so I think it will keep him from regenerating. Also, I wouldn't mind a change, but I want to see Steven Moffet have his dirty, dirty way with 10 for a season before that change. Plus, they are starting to get close to the end of the Doctor's regenerations and I think they will try to hold on to whatever actor they have at the time for as long as they can so they can make money off of Who for even longer. Also, this could be a ploy used by the BBC to see for the end of next season what names come from the fans to see who they would want for Tennant's replacement. A testing of the water.
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Date: 2008-07-01 02:48 am (UTC)For all I know, Rose AND Donna are screwed. That'd really blow.
I should note that I was watching Season 1 and remembering how much I liked Rose back in the day. *sigh* I miss her.
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Date: 2008-07-01 08:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 09:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 12:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:42 am (UTC)Right then.
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Date: 2008-07-01 11:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 12:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 01:21 pm (UTC)Also: Obscene amounts of love for your icon! <3
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Date: 2008-07-02 08:29 am (UTC)I love that icon. Has become somewhat of a staple of mine. I got that phrase written on a t-shirt made for me by a friend for my birthday. Unfortunately, I can't take credit for it. I have no idea who made it (or even where I really got it from) but it is so much win.
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Date: 2008-07-02 04:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-03 04:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-01 10:19 am (UTC)I have decided that Donna, like Astrid, is a TARDIS in human(oid) form.
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Date: 2008-07-01 11:22 am (UTC)(I know, I'm haunting Nate's blog more than he is... but I just finished my latest job and I have breathing space... and speculation is fun! :)
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Date: 2008-07-02 12:41 am (UTC)It would certainly be nice to have more than one TARDIS roaming (Romana-ing) around the universe.
Also, welcome!
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Date: 2008-07-01 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-02 12:40 am (UTC)