[janetteB @replies]

I wonder if he has been following this forum though??

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Oh dear. Statements like that always make me nervous. Unless it is a return to longer episodes I am not sure I like the sound of “complete game changer.” Hopefully it is just the usual kind of marketing overstatement.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Something minor has been bothering me about Hide and just reading a comment elsewhere about the date, 1974, brought it to mind. I am old enough to recall 1974 and we definitely didn’t wander about with candles then. In times of power failure we resorted to torches. The candelabra is a lovely gothic touch and I wouldn’t attribute anything more to it but the Jessica character was dressed rather oddly for the time. Her clothing was hardly the fashion for the period but maybe that was meant to reflect on the character. Or maybe there is something wrong with time, or the stories we are seeing are occurring in some kind of pocket or alternative universe, or a copy world where the designers haven’t quite got the look of things right, hence the popping of the wrong balloon.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@phaseshift I am flattered. It isn’t often that I say anything quote worthy.

Maybe the significance of the date is yet to be revealed.

@cleverbonkerstheorists, Nice work on the Cloister Bell. I like the alternative universe theory. Alternative universes are always fun.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@HTPBET. Hope all goes well and you are back with us at the weekend, fully recovered.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@lula. Another Fringe fan. That nicely filled the gap between Who series for me. (There was a brief discussion of Fringe over in the TV thread some time ago.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Getting back to  clara’s dress. She does tend to wear a lot of red. Bright red in ASotD, first deep red then blue in the Christmas special. Just re watching it now and I am struck by how differently she behaves. Snowman Clara is self assured and adventurous.  When the Doctor tells her to stay she does the usual, ignore him and take off after him. She seems to personify everything he values in his companions. It is as though she is generated to lure him down of his cloud. I also wonder if her story about being born behind Big Ben is significant and surely the one about the fish is a reference to all the “fish” on the Guardian blog, the episode of course pre dating this wonderful site. IT is also implying that Clara is a creation. Contemporary Clara and Victorian Clara are both connected to stories. Music too tells stories. I haven’t noted a lot of paintings as yet, other than the one of Clara.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@vizier  re; the curse, sorry I wasnt’ being very precise, was called down upon the Border Reivers, the clans living in the Cumberland/Scotland border region in the 16th century. It has been comemorated in Carlisle in a carving causing some dispute in the local council. The name Moffat is a prominent Reiver name so I assume that Moffat’s ancestors were border folk. Hence the reference to Carlisle might have been bit of an “in joke”, though the episode was scripted by Cross not Moffat so it might have signified something altogether different. I was digging about for any significance re’ Carlisle that might explain the line and that was all I found.

It is amazing what one learns through an obsession with Dr Who. My own family were from the Cumbria/Scotland border region though they don’t have a Reivers name, and I knew nothing about this until yesterday.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I noted the child like dress too. Now I need to look back and see if she is always dressed in a child like way. I have thought there is something childlike about the way she acts as well and wondered if it is deliberate. I still don’t fully believe the back story. Also she recalls meeting the Doctor at her mother’s funeral but that was the playground. He hides behind the tree at the funeral and there is no indication that she saw him. Her back was turned the entire time. Maybe the cindy doll is more meaningful than we think. Clara is almost like and invention of the Doctor’s.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@vizier. Maybe Moffat holds a grudge against Carlisle because they enshrined the Bishop’s curse on the Border families including the Moffats.  Can’t think of any other reason for it. Surely there are many worse places than Carlisle?

I have one item to add to the TARDIS list.

A work room filled with boxes of K.9 kits.  (not sure what rating to give that one.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@lula. It must be time for R.A. to do a cameo in Dr Who, as a meglamaniac Time Lord perhaps. He would be a good Master but I doubt he would commit to more than one episode what with being a famous Dwarf and all.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Which takes me back to the long forgotten theory that Clara is sent by the Time Lords to somehow manipulate the Doctor into unlocking the time lock and letting them out again. (Have we had that one. I am certain is is burried somewhere pages and pages back and I have no ideal who to credit for it so apologies.) Not sure how that fits with her rescuing the dr from being Dalekised or G.l.’d. In the past it was the Time Lords who relaxed the rules of time and space to enable multiple incarnations of the Doctor to ineract. Perhaps Clara is sent by one of the noble Time Lords to save the Dr from G.I or Dalekisation  or the Silence or all three somehow tied in together, and to do so she must call on the assistance of Dr 10.5. and Rose.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

And could Moffat resist torturing fans with a six month wait for the resolution. I think not.

the anniversary special will have to work as a complete story as well though but I am certain that isn’t too difficult ot accomplish.

And I agree that too much has been made of the Doctor’s name. I suspect and hope that it is never revealed.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Just done a little reseach on Cumbria and found that Moffat is one of the names associated with the Border clans known as the Border Reivers. Maybe the reason for all the Cumbria references?

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Wow. So many good posts. Too many to comment on. I like the Cumbria/Oswald connection. It may not signify anything, just Moffat’s attention to detail. Does it state where Clara grew up? Our pc is currently out of action so I can’t check. The only place reference I recall is the holiday to Blackpool, Lancashire. Red rose is of course associated with Lancaster & Lancashire borders Cumbria. Don’t see how that is significant though. Could the real clara have been substituted with fake Clara when she was lost at Blackpool and the real Clara is currently composing poems by the shore of one of the lakes?? Ok. Forgot that. I think Moffat is teasing us with all these lovely little clues hoping that, like the Dr, we will be distracted by the details and miss the great big elephant about to stomp on us.

I am clinging to the mother/governess links. Victorian Clara had memories of making souffles implying that she shared some consciousness with Dalek Clara. Modern Clara doesn’t seem to have any of those associations. She hasn’t asked about the Tardis kitchen one.

I doubt she will turn out to be the Doctor’s former wife as he has a current wife and that might be deemed to radical for the kiddies, though it is hardly a novel concept. Maybe time lords have arranged marriages and she was the woman chosen by his bossy mother who has somehow escaped the time lock and been splintered in time to trap him. No. I don’t like that theory either. Maybe she was an assistant pre 1963, other than Susan. He might not have left Gallifrey alone. She could have regenerated since then. Something might have happened to her back in his past, the splintering might have occurred then. I suspect that discovering Clara’s identity will create the crisis which drives the Anniversary special.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

New bonkers theory. (must be the shiraz) Just rewatched Cold War and again struck by Clara’s reactions. At the end she says “it’s what we do. Save the world.” Made me wonder if she is some sort of world saving clone soldier from the future. It is implied she has a mission but no real memory or likes. And now for the really bonkers bit, maybe she was sent by River or Susan or … the Doctor’s bossy mother, who was the reason he ran away from Gallifrey in the first place. O.k. Maybe I should stick to coffee.

Cheers

Janette. (a bossy mother)

 

[janetteB @replies]

I’ll raise a glass of local (Barossa) shiraz to that.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I suspect that “our Clara” is not the real one Maybe none of the Clara’s we have met thus far are real hence the distrust of the TARDIS. The projection was of the real Clara whom fake Clara is modelling herself on. Another thought, (and don’t ask me to try and fit these two ideas together), maybe Clara is a regeneration of the Doctor’s governess/teacher back on Gallifrey. Umm on second thoughts maybe it is time for a glass of wine after all.

It does seem as though the three manifestations of Clara need to be united to create a complete person. This Clara lacks the initiative that the other two incarnations possessed. That suggests that the parts of segements of a key, ie key to time though that does not seem likely.

I love all the bonkers theories re’ blue and red Doctors. The popping of the blue balloon gives them a lot of weight.

@phileasf. I had the same thought as you re Carlyle rather than Carlisle. Must be something in the water.

I hope Moffat knows just how much fun he is providing for us fans..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

On a side note the story reminded me of late 70s series The Omega Factor which, incidentally, starred Louise Jameson.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Also the story implies that humans in the future have time travel ability. Maybe that is due to Susan trying to get back to find her grandfather after the death of her human husband or her offspring.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Haven’t had time to catch up on all the posts yets but wanted to post my thoughts while they are still fresh so apologies if most of what I say has already been said.

re’ Clara and the umbrella, wasn’t there an umbrella stand in Dr 1’s tardis?

The end it seemed to me that the obvious thing he was missing at the end was the DNA connection of Clara to him. I think odds just went up on the Clara as Susan or Susan descendant theory just spiked.

I think the red herring of the night was the blue crystal. Lovely nod to past stories but I don’t see it as having any real significance.

The Tardis projecting the image of Clara rather than her mother suggests that she has no real memories or connections to anyone else.

Love the Snow Queen reference. That was always one of my favourite fairy tales when I was a child. Must re-read it now. That ties the Doctor back to the G.I and also might refer to his Dalekisation process.

Maybe Clara, (being either Susan or Susan’s daughter) has been found by someone such as River Song and scattered through time to save the Doctor from the de timelording process that he is currently undergoing.

 

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

An art gallery with exhibits from all over the universe.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Just thought as I was posting, wouldn’t it be nice if instead of multiple Doctors which isn’t really possible, we have multipe assistants because those who are still with us are permitted to age and those who have passed away deserve a tribute. There is no need not to acknowledge them.

Cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

incidentally and totally irrelevant, Alex Kingston is also 50. (I note these things, 1963 being such a good vintage. I only wish I could say I look as good.)

I too suspect his name won’t be revealed. That teaser suggests to me that his friends include the human Dr (Tennant) and Rose and that the story will lead into the anniversary special. I just hope that Susan is one of those “friends”.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Muse, Madness and Arvo Part. Brilliant but where is Ghost Town? It is now offically Who related.

[janetteB @replies]

Love the cup cakes. My second son is currently making a marzipan dalek for his father’s b’day cake. He’s putting on bumps now. I will take photos, I promise.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I am warming to the dalekisation of the Dr too. @phileasf put forward a very convincing case for it. I do not entirely believe Clara’s back story. Maybe he dreamed that hence the similiarity between the car that almost knocks down her dad to the one that killed Rose’s dad and all the Rose references. Also ties with the Dr as Soldier in Cold War. I thought it interesting that he didn’t challenge that as in the past he was always adamant that he was not a soldier.

I wonder if MOffat is aware of this site, and if so just what his expression is on reading through all the wonderful, bonkers theories, an amused chuckle, a twinge of envy, (I wish I’d thought of that), or dismay..

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Not exactly a spoiler and I don’t know if it has already been mentioned but I only just realised that Carol Ann Ford is in the “Adventures in Time and Space” special. She plays a random character, presumably an audience member. I am still hoping that we will see both her and William Russell turn up in the 50th.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi. Having returned from the coast to an end of term party with neighbours have only just caught up on Cold War and all the posts.

LOvely episode and have more to say but is now nearing midnight so I will be brief. The first thing that really hit me was the mention of “daughter”. The IW’s memory of his daughter really didn’t need to be there. I felt as though it was shoe horned in for a reason, displacing the emphasis on him being the last of his kind. Daughter’s are a definite theme in this series.

Second point was Clara questioning how she could understand the Russians. In Masque of Mandragora, the Dr realises that Sarah Jane is under hypnosis when she does that.

Clara does appear to be a blank slate. She didn’t know how the internet worked, she has no interests or tastes and her asking the Professor how she was performing gave me the impression of the actress asking how she is going in her new role. This incarnation of Clara appears to be acting as she thinks a companion should. I don’t think that is a failing of the actress, quite the opposite in fact. It isn’t easy to act someone acting badly but that I what I suspect she is doing. Clara is struggling with the role of companion not JLC.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@bluesqueakpip Your remark re’ the visibility of the Trafalgar Square filming made me wonder if the entire thing was bit of a set up to attract attention. I suspect it was either a marketing gimmick, a red herring or a distraction from events elsewhere or perhaps a bit of all three. After all what is going to be more noticable than a big crane over Trafalgar Square on a weekday.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi. Waves. Been away for a few days, sans internet and sans Dr Who. I have pages of posts to catch up on and my head is spinning. I have just finished reading the  comments on last weeks episodes and there were some fantastic ideas which I wanted to comment on but by the time I reached the end I had forgotten just what it was I was going to say.

@juniperfish, my sons are at that age where they tend to rush off back to their respective computers once the episode finishes. They all appeared to enjoy the Ice Warriors though the youngest was a little scared, though too old to admit to it. They were literally reared on Dr Who. We had quite a few very poor quality recordings and a few pre recorded VHS tapes then in 2005-6 ABC repeated Dr Who from the very first story. The final episode screened the night before we left for O.S. and we had a farewell dinner and they were furious with us over missing it.  That has now been remedied.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Don’t know whether to be excited or not about that news @wolfweed. I generally have little hope in reboots. I was indifferent when I first heard that Who was to be revived back in the early years of this millenium as I expected it to be awful. Think I will “play safe” re the Blake’s 7 news and maybe I will be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

thank’s for the link @wolfweed.  The Tower of London scenes brought back a few memories. Good to see that Kate is returning. Was hoping she would be a recurring character. Also very excited to see THE SCARF, though it is probably just a teaser and may well “signify nothing”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I would guess that those scenes were using stunt doubles. I don’t think they would hang Matt from the Tardis like that.

@chickenelly, well done. I am envious of course.

Thanks for the links @scaryb

I’m off to  the spoilers thread now to see the images posted by @wolfweed

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Good points @thedoctordude I assumed that the conversion had failed hence locking her up in the Asylum, though there is certainly something that distinguishes her from the remainder of the crew. I’m not convinced that the current incarnation is a “screaming genius” despite last week’s little tangle with the wi fi.

New thought. Maybe the Clara Doctor meets in the Maitland house is not the real item. The actual Clara could easily have been substituted after the death of her mother. This clone/Clara has the memories or at least some of them.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Re the Sonic. I think it is overused but it has become a defining aspect of “the Doctor”, the hero whose only weapon is a sonic screwdriver. It is as important for what it isn’t, (a gun) as for what it does.

Oh and while I’m on the sofa.. a long overdue welcome to all our new members. I’m enjoying all the discussion but by the time I get to catch up there are so many new names that I get too confuzzled to do individual welcomes.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@HTPBET I really enjoyed your post even though I don’t entirely agree. Like @jimthefish, Smith won me over within a couple of episodes. I agree there are some inconsistencies in his characterisation but  I think the actor pulls those off brilliantly. He is meant to be inconsistent, just as he can be so clumsy and innocent yet brilliant and clever at the same time. The Lodger exemplifies his character I think.

I love the story archs and the spun out plotting. Without them how could we spend so much time devising and discussing bonkers theories? I like the complicated companion around which the story revolves though I am not sure that I would want Clara to be sole companion for too long, not unless she “normalises” at the end of the series or maybe she will turn out to be just a “normal” girl to whom extroadinary things happen.

I wonder if the Doctor is going to investigate the backgrounds of Victorian Clara and Dalek Clara too? It appears that there is another episode set in Victorian London coming up. I suspect he will and find that all three have “organic” human origins. Or appear to. I think her origins are more likely linked to the G.I than to Susan though I’m still clinging to the theory that she is a password or key of some kind and hoping that it involves the Time Lock on Gallifrey. I doubt she is connected to Susan but it is possible that somebody such as Omega, wanting to unlock the Time War had located Susan or her daughter and scattered her through time in order to trap the Doctor.

[janetteB @replies]

There is always one. I think in every single D.M blog someone has attacked him for his view on the episode. Some people just can’t tolerate other’s having opinions that differ from their own. Ah human beings. I sometimes wonder why the Dr cares so much about us and spends so much time saving us. I just hope he never reads the comments on Guardian blogs or we as in the human race, might be in real trouble.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Finally got to watch the episode. It was enjoyable but definitely light on story. I liked the funny head aliens in the market scenes probably because they reminded me of the Zocolo in B.5. as well as the obvious Star Wars bar. I was pleased that Susan finally got a mention. Yay. Still hoping that the Doctor will meet up with her at some stage.

On Clara. Once again Mothers are featured. I am certain that the mother/daughter thing is important. The destruction of the leaf implies that the events featured in the beginnng might have happened before events of the previous episode. Once again alternative time lines are significant and alternate dimensions, the somewhere every decision is lived out. Not sure how Clara’s relationship with the Tardis is significant. Have to ponder that for a while.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Didn’t Clara claim to have created all fish? I smell something ….. no. I’ll get my coat now.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Is the Doctor’s name mentioned when he returns to Gallifrey in “The Invasion of Time”? I must rewatch, once we have got through re watching series 5 that is.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Everytime I have to click the “Remember Me” box (after being unaccountably logged out) I think of Clara and wonder if she is a password. A Log in.

Re’ the maple leaf, I too think it is a reference to the prequel scene in the park (though it may signify several things.) but that may not be as simple as it appears. For instance we don’t know when that meeting took place. We naturally assume that it was about ten years before he meets a grown up Clara. It might not be so. Given Clara’s rather unaccountable ignorance of the internet, maybe there is some oddity surrounding her upbringing. This too would tie with the clone idea. In fact Clara’s lack of ability to manage modern living reminds me a little of the Elizabeth Bennet character in Lost in Austen, who was also working as a governess.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Ooh. Lots of nice spoilery images there. Thank-you.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I heard tonight, (from a friend) that it has been announced that Matt has signed on for another year. I can’t hunt down the news myself to see if it is true as our lovely, darling sons have used all our internet for the month. Grrrr.

cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

Comming in late, having watching the episode last night and has taken the better part of today to catch up on the wonderful comments. Now I really need to watc h the episode again to catch all the details which I missed.

Re Clara I suspect this is the original Clara. In this episode she acquires the computing skills on display in “Asylum” and the child minding skills of “Snowman”. Victorian Clara appears to be without family. On re watching “Snowman” the other night I noted that she recalls a passion for Souffles on entering the Tardis as though a memory had been triggered.

I assumed the autumn leaf was a reference to the prequel. Autumn is also the fall of summer.

Another thought, which somewhat contradicts my earlier statement. Clara’s ignorance of computers and the web could be more than a story device. She is of a generation that grew up with computers.

There is also an association with stories. In Snowman her ability to tell wild tales is remarked upon. Here she discusses Amy’s book with the children. Could Clara herself be a character who comes to life, maybe through the G.I?

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Thank you for all the links @wolfweed. The publicity is really ramping up now for the new series. I expect we won’t hear much about the 50th special until this series is well under way or even concluded especially given that these next episodes are leading up to the special.

Only four sleeps to go….

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

thanks @phaseshift for making time to share this wonderful little gem. I look foward to seeing more of the Paternoster Gang in the new series, only five sleeps away…

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Um. I needed that reminder a couple of posts up.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I posted the following in the Dr Who news thread in response to an observation of @jimthefish in regard to the trailer for the next episode then realised that this is the correct place for bonkers theorising.

bonkers bonkers theory, Clara is the daughter of River Song and the Doctor has to hide her by sending her through the universe. Don’t think this has any merit though for many reasons. I suspect that the “marriage” will remain deliberately ambigious and they wouldn’t have her snogging the Dr if she was his daughter. More likely Clara is somehow the child of the Tardis hence her, It’s smaller on the outside”. She has an intuitive knowledge of the inside. In a timey wimey way she might have been splintered through time at different ages or as an infant in each age.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@jimthefish is I think correct. The Dr is testing to see if the child is indeed Clara. The meeting is neither destiny or coincidence which suggests to me that in some way it is future Doctor who splits Clara and sends part of her across time and space, (maybe a little too Bad Wolf) to help him or warn him. The are a lot of mother and daughter references, the woman who sends him to Skaro is looking for her daughter, Clara in AOTD is talking ot her mother and in this short we see her with her mother. In the Christmas special she was a nanny governess taking the place of an absent mother.

bonkers bonkers theory, Clara is the daughter of River Song and the Doctor has to hide her by sending her through the universe. Don’t think this has any merit though for many reasons. I suspect that the “marriage” will remain deliberately ambigious and they wouldn’t have her snogging the Dr if she was his daughter. More likely Clara is somehow the child of the Tardis hence her, It’s smaller on the outside”. She has an intuitive knowledge of the inside. In a timey wimey way she might have been splintered through time at different ages or as an infant in each age.

Cheers

Janette

[Author]

Posts