@Nick

In fact if you act on the basis of any expectation for reward or recognition (in this life anyway) you can’t claim any moral basis for your action, whatever it is.

I really don’t see that the phrase “(in this life anyway)” is particularly relevant ethically- the expectation of personal gain is still present, even if that comes later on. And…[Read more]

@Nick

I’d agree that we’re in a period of moral flux – one reason I like Steven Moffat’s writing (even though we have very different ideas on religion) is that we both seem to agree that utilitarianism is a dreadful philosophy. 🙂

Yes, the Doctor seems to be restating the idea that virtue should be its own reward – but in a way that avoids the…[Read more]

@Nick

I agree with @blenkinsopthebrave, that in the exchange between Bill and the Doctor the real meaning is in what is left unsaid but is understood, because in teaching/learning, travelling together and in peril of their lives, with the Doctor having risked his own for her, they have come to know one another well.  What Bill says is only hal…[Read more]

@nick, @janetteb
Re:the final dialogue between Bill and the Doctor, I think this is one of the rare occasions that I would suggest we don’t need to see hidden meanings beyond what we hear. I think it simply is an oblique way of Bill letting the Doctor know that she cared for/loved him. With other companions the emotional feelings for the Doctor…[Read more]

@nick wrote:

Is the Doctor therefore saying that he is going to this act of self sacrifice without being able to give himself even the reward that comes from the knowledge that he is saving the level 507 survivors, bitter sweet though that must be ?

It sure sounds like it to me, about as “pure” a sacrifice in extremis as he can make.  At the very…[Read more]

@Nick. I think maybe I commented on Bill’s last statement on the spoilers thread but it hints that the next Doctor will be female and her age which strikes me as too young.
cheers
Janette

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@Nick

re the dematerialisation circuit.  I have just watched that bit again and it looks as if I was mistaken and Missy does in fact produce the circuit from a pocket in her skirt and give it to Simm master.  If I had given more thought to the matter I would have realised by the end of the episode that this was the only logical explanation.

If t…[Read more]

@Nick @wolfweed

Missy grabbed the Master by the lapels and slammed him against a wall.  Her exact words then were, ‘A very long time ago a very scary lady threw me against a wall and made me promise always, always to carry a spare dematerialisation circuit.’ 

I thought she then picked his pocket to produce said spare circuit and held it up in…[Read more]

Blimey! Well I guess it was a finale so explains @pedant and @craig rolling out the big guns!
The End and Morricone!

I’ve gone with something opposite (cos…. well, just cos).
Tiny tears…

Mainly for the song title but it does have this lyric:
“How can you hurt someone so much your supposed to care…[Read more]

@Nick

Another good reason why it’s not at all likely (though Missy could’ve pickpocketed it back I suppose)…

Right  – I have to go & eat food before I fall asleep. Laters!

@Nick -Sorry – Human error! I meant ‘Missy maybe handed the Doctor the spare demat’ circuit’

Duh! (as opposed to The Master’s ring or just a weird handshake)

@nick
I agree. I think the start of the regeneration goes back earlier. Knowing Moffat, he has probably planted the origins of the regeneration back in The Pilot (a re-watch needed) or conceivably, even earlier. I remember thinking, in Eaters of the Light, that his desire to sacrifice himself was not only reckless, but, as Bill pointed out,…[Read more]

@Nick

@nick — Kroton featured in a few secondary strips in Doctor Who Weekly, mostly helping humans as he struggled with his revived humanity and he also ended up being a companion to the Eighth Doctor in his comic adventures for a while later too. They’re definitely worth seeking out. Quite a tragic character though.