@classicsrule1 welcome to the forum!
I do think that the entire season WAS about the significance of Ruby’s mother. Pretty much from Christmas.

Many orphans, like the Doctor, and those who don’t know their parents, have taken this story to heart (Still, I understand you registered just to complain  😀). The series is strong and has been this way…[Read more]

@miapatrick I think you won @mudlark some cash… “Mrs Flood chameleon arced til Christmas.”

Niiice.

I really, really would’ve liked the carol to have been used a little more. But overall, I can see why RTD has gone down this particular path. We’ve had reality bombs, the most important woman in the universe, the end of the world. And the death of…[Read more]

@miapatrick

Mrs Flood is Susan, who had been chameleon arced till the Christmas episode.

Yessss!  Wonderful suggestion – it fits perfectly with what we know, and if I were given to betting I might even stake a modest sum on the likelihood of it turning out to be true.

@miapatrick

Oh yes, me too, I love the dialogue with the audience and the fans especially. I think there’s been a lot of it and now (see my puppet post) I believe it’s actually crucial to the whole ending!

We’ll see! I think now I’m gonna stop overthinking and just wait for Saturday, like in the old days! 🙃

@miapatrick  @thane16  @bunface

Early in the comments you were discussing the newly and overtly empathic and emotional face of the Doctor. For what its’s worth, I’ve been seeing this as a result of the bi-generation.  What was left of the accumulated trauma and guilt carried over from the Time War and other events and losses, together with all th…[Read more]

@miapatrick. Yes indeed, perhaps pressed for time though, he said “a different face, same person” but Matt’s Doctor phoned Clara to “help” this new Doctor because he would need her… and as he was so very different to the previous incarnation….  Absolutely. A friend like Mel must tell us truth – you’re amazing but get up! To have a  friend one tru…[Read more]

@miapatrick I should clarify that I don’t mean to describe the Doctor as vain but rather they had a smell of vanity, occasionally -in the way it might be perceived by earthlings…In Gridlock the Doctor admits “I lied and I liked it. This way I could pretend. That they were still alive [context is everything!].”

Puro.

@miapatrick yes! I recall Tennant & Capaldi mentioning their vanity: the conversation with Martha in Gridlock fraught with loss & memories of “the mighty citadel under twin suns with fields of deep red grass, capped with snow.” And he didn’t want to share this, as to make it concrete was to no longer contain despair…

and yes: blind or vain, b…[Read more]

@miapatrick yes, you’re right, she did say it was the beast. It was interesting when the Doctor demands Ruby go into the Time Window (what a terrific idea!) & she asks “why?” that Kate says “go, don’t question!!!” -a little harsh considering the issue with Harbinger…. AND the latter did say, before the reveal, “this is what I’m made for (presumi…[Read more]

@janetteb the Alt doctor is a great idea. Also @miapatrick the fact the Doctor isn’t the sole -saviour now. It’s interesting in story and to look over all the Doctor’s seasons and how it was “doctor save us/will save us” to the Doctor expecting US to save ourselves: see Capaldi’s moon episode with Hermoine Norris to CC’s idea of the companions wa…[Read more]

@mudlark @janetteb @juniperfish @ps1l0v3y0u @blenkinsopthebrave @cathannabel @thane16

@scaryb @devilishrobby @dentarthurdent @krathoon @miapatrick @cookgroom @bunface @orionhunt @fozzyb @bobbyfatv2 @spacedmunkee @Craig

Thought I’d do a recap ahead of the two-part finale.

What needs clearing up:

1. Who is Ruby’s mother / mysterious woman wh…

[Read more]

@JanetteB

He promises to take Rogue to Gallifrey. Does that mean that Gallfirey still exists?

Yes I noticed that and I was happy, as I was not a fan of the re-genociding of Gallifrey by the Dhawan Master. It detracted IMHO from the fact that the War Doctor was responsible/ the 9th and 10th and 11th Doctors believed he was responsible for the…[Read more]

@ScaryB

“queering” of the Doctor. (Not delved into the nether regions of Twitter tho, or BTL comments). But this old school DW veteran is very happy.

Me too – I’m delighted. I may have let out an undignified squeal once Gatwa Doc starting getting his flirt on with Rogue.

@Miapatrick I feel the need for a rainbow TARDIS mug with Gatwa-Doc lea…[Read more]

@bunface

@miapatrick

I get what you are saying bun, and to an extent I agree with it but for me it’s like Superman asking Lois to save Metropolis or Batman to ask Robin to be the hero. Not sure many people,  I might be wrong,  are tuning in to see Ruby be the main saviour as she has been in the Maestro ep and whatever ep 4 was meant to b…[Read more]

@fozzyb
@miapatrick

Yes, you’re right, and the race issue bound up with the Doctor as saviour is also made explicit in this episode because he actually offers to save them all/save the world, but as he’s not a white saviour he isn’t eligible.

All we can say is hooray that the dwindling group that only puts their faith in white saviours is doomed!

Other thoughts…

The Doctor’s tears
@bunface thanks for the quote, that does make sense.
@juniperfish @miapatrick – the tears are noticeable, even when the rest of his face is still. Also reminded me of Bill’s puddle-person who can come back in a teardrop.

Also @juniperfish – I’m liking your 3 witches (or 3 fates?) theory 😉
I do also like the…[Read more]

Late to the fray and still catching up on last week’s threads, having had a lot of RL in the way!

First of all, just to say I really liked this one as well. And interesting that again, the real baddies are the humans. I kept waiting for Lindy to see the light, and then wham! Not one, but two sucker punches at the end that showed that she was…[Read more]

@miapatrick I do wonder if even Rickey September would have been entirely immune – though given the level of self-education, decency and courage that he showed, one hopes that he would have fought against his indoctrination.  As the song says, ‘you’ve got to be carefully taught’, but he’s been exploring other aspects of the society and its…[Read more]

@miapatrick I like the ‘bug’ suggestion. Very clever 😀

@miapatrick

Legal next of kin is generally decided by closest generic relative – or spouse/civil partner – but in cases of adoption, it’s adoptive family

True in our present day earth, and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. But this is the whoniverse in the far future and on a distant planet, so the writer is free to make up the rules as serves the plot 😉