Doctor Who: Speculation Wanted. (Spec WITHOUT Spoilers, please!)

[apple_pathways]

I've now watched each of the first two episodes of the new season twice. I have Questions and Concerns. I would like to know if other people share my questions and concerns, and if they have any clever speculation they'd like to share as to the answers. Let me know your thoughts! But please: NO SPOILERS FOR UPCOMING EPISODES!



Before I start, let me just reassure everyone: I also have much love for these episodes! The Silence? Doctor/River? Doctor cuddling Rory coming out of the body bag? Regenerating seven year-olds in spacesuits? Amy's HAIR? Etc. etc. SQUEE! I love this show like WHOA, so don't think because I'm picking it apart it means I'm not still madly infatuated with its genius. I always analyze the ones I love! (If you'd like to share your squee for anything I've forgotten in the comments, please do!)

Now, on to my Concerns:

1. Since when is the Doctor Ok with all the guns and violence?

One of the things I've always loved about Doctor Who, and about Ten in particular, was the Doctor's dedication to peace and non-violent solutions. (Incidentally, one of the things that has always annoyed me about Doctor Who, and Ten in particular, is how often the Doctor benefits from the violence committed by others without being called on it. People are killed, sacrificed, and entire races annhilated, and the Doctor gets to stand by and ring his hands about the tragedy of it all, all the while soaking up the credit for saving the day, despite the fact it's never explored exactly how he would have achieved the same results without violence. Anyway.)

There are guns all over this episode, and the Doctor never so much as blinks. It used to be he couldn't stand to be in the same room with a gun! (I suppose this has to do with the show being set in America, where naturally, we're all used to having guns waved around all the time. *eyeroll* Yes, the Trigger-Happy American stereotype did bug me, but then I do realize that we don't get to stomp all over the world with our guns and our bravado and not get called on it occasionally. So moving on...)

I'm not so sure I like the wild west gunslinger direction our River is taking. I know it's been happening for awhile, but I think there was altogether too much shooting in these episodes, and it started to get to me.


2. Speaking of shooting: WTF is up with Amy shooting a little girl IN THE FACE, and then it just getting hand-waved away the next week?

This better come back later and have Significance. I don't like the idea of Amy shooting at children as a cheap stunt to end the episode on a dramatic note.


3. Amy's Schroedinger's Pregnancy

Someone needs to help me with the timeline. Ok, so:

Amy tells the Doctor that she didn't want to tell Rory she thought she was pregnant, because she was afraid she might have been pregnant while travelling in the TARDIS, and she was worried the time travel and whatnot might have affected the baby.

At the beginning of The Impossible Astronaut (TIA), Rory mentions it has been two months since they've seen the Doctor.

This means, for Amy to have been pregnant while travelling in the TARDIS, she'd have to be at least 3 months along when she tells the Doctor she's pregnant.

3 months is just...a long time! It's a long time to think you're pregnant without having a doctor confirm it (and to start prenatal care). It's also a long time to hide the fact you think you're pregnant from your new husband. Finally, it's a bit far in for an "OMG I'm pregnant!" "Oops, my bad, I'm not"-kinda scare.

And then, AND THEN: they spend a further three months in America hunting down The Silence before the events of Day of the Moon (DOTM). Which means, if Amy is pregnant, she is about SIX MONTHS along at the end of DOTM. I know it's some weird, timey-wimey, Schroedinger's pregnancy, but still: shouldn't be showing, even if she's only intermittently pregnant?

4. While we're on the subject, about them spending 3 months hunting down The Silence before DOTM: whuh? Why? And why haven't they changed their clothes? My brain hurts!

5. Aliens. In. Suits. WHY??? They have no need to Blend In. WHY ARE THEY WEARING SUITS???

Here's what I want the answer to be: that suits are actually a totally alien clothing choice, and another example of how The Silence have manipulated humanity. It would go a long way toward explaining why all (Western...) men dress alike when they want to look smart.

Other fun things that might be worth speculating on: If Amy's occasional bouts of nausea are a result of her Timey Wimey pregnancy, does this mean River is also Intermittently Pregnant, as she exhibited the same symptoms? What's up with the picture of Amy and the baby? Are the other pictures on the nightstand supposed to be Amy as a little girl? (They do look like old pictures of Karen...) If there is a baby, is it Rory's? (IT HAS TO BE, RIGHT? RIGHT???) Why does the little girl have super powers of regeneration??? ETA one more: who's the lady in the eyepatch looking out of the little girl's room at the orphanage?

HOW AWESOME IS THIS SHOW?

:D

Comments

[jinxed-wood.livejournal.com]

The thing about the Doctor and guns, is that his hate for them tends to vary from incarnation to incarnation (or showrunner to showrunner!) - plus, if you're an old Who fan, like me, you tend to take it more in your stride because - Hello? - River is not the first crack shot in the TARDIS (that would be Sara Jane) or the first companion who uses violence to achieve a result (Ace and her nitro!)

Previously, the Doctor was someone who disapproved of violence as a first resort, but didn't exactly take it off the table either...

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

That's a good point, and something I didn't consider: I will admit, I haven't watched much Classic Who.

Undoubtedly, a lot of his changes in attitudes and personality can be put down to a change in actors, and a change in showrunners. But if you view the Doctor as one character (instead of 11 separate ones), can't you also assume a sort of progression of characterization? I mean: how much of his personality is permanent? What parts of him are consistently The Doctor?

One of the things I liked best about New Who was the Doctor's dedication to non-violent, peaceful solutions. Sure, there's always been violence and shooting: I just would have expected a moment of disapproval, even if it were just a throwaway line!

And his history of travelling with women who use weapons brings me back to my big irritation with Ten's run: that the Doctor benefits from the violence and aggression of others while maintaining a non-violent stance. It's all very well and good to call yourself a peaceful pacifist when you're travelling with a woman who carries explosives! It's something that's not really ever dealt with on the show, and I'd be interested to see how it's approached.

[jinxed-wood.livejournal.com]

The thing is, I'm not really sure if it was progress with Ten. For me, Ten's great sin was hubris. He decided that it was his way or the highway, and if this caused pain and suffering along the way...well, that was the price to pay for travelling with the Doctor.

Take, for instance, the Doctor's reluctance to kill the Master, and the results. Sure, not many remember what happened during the year-that-wasn't, but the scars left on Martha's family are horrific.

Nine's inner conflict almost seemed more mature to me. Nine always asked himself if he had the right. Ten just assumed he did.

There is a hint of bitterness to Eleven's character, which I find very interesting. There is also a lot more grey in him than Ten. To me, it's a bit of a relief after all that absolutism.

And you'd think, from all this, that I hated Ten! I didn't - I just never thought he was always right :-P

As for the Timetot - I'm thinking Amy's prenancy is a misdirect, and the Timetot is River or River's child or...

[Puts on tinfoil hat]

ZOMG! It's Romana!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

The thing is, I'm not really sure if it was progress with Ten.

I didn't mean progess in the sense that each version of the Doctor is necessarily better than the last, but that rather his personality might evolve over time, and some of those changes might be permanent. I would think an aversion to guns, developed over many years and so late in his life, would be something that sticks. But then, I'm probably assuming way too much about Time Lord personalities and how they work!

In any case, I totally agree with your summation of Ten! He did view himself as some sort of higher authority, and often acted broadly without taking the time to wonder if he was right. What always bothered me the most about him was all this angst and compassion he felt for all life, without really acknowledging his own role in the suffering. How often would someone else act as Deus ex Machina for him, swoop in and take out the baddie, leaving him free to pontificate on the evils of violence and the needlessness of death?

And you're totally right about The Master: that would have been a perfect opportunity to explore the other side of the Doctor's pacifism. When you've got as much power as the Doctor does, refusing to act can has as big (or bigger) consequences than acting.

Anyway, food for thought! (I have a feeling the show would be dull and depressing as hell if it contained as much philosophizing as I look for!)

As for the Timetot - I'm thinking Amy's prenancy is a misdirect, and the Timetot is River or River's child or...

[Puts on tinfoil hat]

ZOMG! It's Romana!

SEE, this is the kind of speculation I love! ♥ *puts on own hat* Romana would be cool! I always thought New Who's decision to do away with all the other Time Lords (save The Master( was rather rash. I'd be over the moon if there more of them floating around...

[plumeriandeity.livejournal.com]

*SQUEE* what an awesome show. Really.

The gun thing, I also found weird. But from reading other people's comments, it does seem like it varies from Doctor to Doctor. 10 was a gun-phobe (but not cruelty-phobic, as you said) and 11 just seems to be a sort of do-what-you-want-but-just-don't-tell-me-that-you-used-a-gun.

The whole pregnancy thing = WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? I thought the same thing about River - I thought the Silence caused the nausea but then Amy said she was preggers and River was sick too...confuzzling. Maybe there is a weird timey-wimey effect on the baby.

The whole same-clothes thing for 3 months - I KNOW. I noticed it but didn't think twice about it. That was just weird. And then yeah, you're right, if she were pregnant, she would be showing. Hmmm. Unless it's some weird Silence alien baby (just say No!).

HA I love the theory that the Silence are the originator of suits and humans wear it because the Silence told them to. LOVE IT. I did find it really strange that the Silence wore suits. They're like the Men in Black, except not.

And 100 percent agree that there better be some explanation about Amy shooting the girl and what really happened in that basement. We got very little info about that, IMO.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Now I am wracking my brain trying to come up with an instance of Eleven's distaste for guns and/or violence. The only specific example I can think of so far is a rather throwaway moment from The Lodger: after the football match, when one of the players says of an upcoming match that they're going to "annhilate" the other team, and the Doctor goes all "No, no violence! Never! I am the ONCOMING STORM!" etc. (There's also some commentary from the Confidential episode for Cold Blood: when the Doctor is fighting off the Silurians, using his screwdriver to blow up their guns or whatever, I believe it's the director who says they specifically had him hold his screwdriver pointing up, rather than toward the Silurians, to avoid a comparison between the screwdriver and a gun, because the Doctor isn't about guns. But that wasn't specifically stated in the show, so I don't think I can count it.)

I just really, really hope the timeline is specifically addressed, because it seems like there's a lot of time passing unnecessarily and unaccounted for! They spend three months investigating the Silence between TIA and DOTM? Not only that, but they split up! Rory and Amy have only been married for roughly two months at the beginning of TIA: and they voluntarily separate for three months to chase after aliens? IDEK.

I DO NOT WANT A SILENCE ALIEN BABY! Just: please, no! (Though I am intrigued by the final scene where the Doctor's giving Amy the full body scan. What does it meeeann???) :P

I expected at least some angst/moralizing about Amy shooting the little girl! I never for a moment thought she would actually kill the girl, but I did expect to see some of the aftermath.

I love this show and its pain-inducing effects on my brain. :P The Moff has a track record as a man who provides answers, so I'm looking forward to what he comes up with to explain all this away!

[plumeriandeity.livejournal.com]

Can we just fast forward to the end of the (first half of the) season because I just want answers. Now. No adventures, just answers (kidding, I so want to see the pirates episode!).

Yeah I'm not sure about the gun thing. I haven't seen 11 actually use a gun and he clearly didn't want Amy to shoot the girl-astronaut, but he was OK with River blasting the Silence (but I figure that's because he knows River's style and that he can't change it). I think 11 has ADD and just does whatever.

Yeah, I guess Rory and Amy are one of those couples that don't mind splitting up if it's for the good of mankind. But really, WTF is up with Amy running around AFTER telling the Doctor she's preggers and he ALLOWS her to run? That whole scene at the end of the first ep needs to be clarified because all we saw was Canton's point of view. That's not enough. Something else happened there - I mean, how did Rory and River escape the Silence? At the end of the first ep, River gasped "Rory!" and we never found out what happened. All of that was just...AH I AM SO AGGRAVATED I JUST WANT ANSWERS. Damn you Moffat for making my brain hurt from speculation.

Agreed 111110000 percent - NO ALIEN BABY. I wondered about the scan too. I can't even think right now, there's just too much going on to even digest that.

We'll get an explanation about the whole shooting the girl thing. There's something funny about how she comes into the room when Amy sees the photo and then all of a sudden, Amy's gone and the girl's out of the suit. Bizarre. Maybe Amy helped her out of the suit? I mean, River did say that she broke out of it.

SIGH. So many thoughts, so little time. And now with this whole Osama bin Laden thing - I can't even think coherently. It's all too bizarre.

Anyway - I'm done rambling :) Good night and happy speculating!

[rewindclunkplay.livejournal.com]

The Doctor has always been with violence though, I wasn't actually phased (fazed? I feel like I should know this but w/e) at the episode when they went all ape shit on the Silence. The Doctor always gives them a choice- get out or I'll take you down. I mean just looking at Ten's reign alone- locking people in mirrors and drowning Racnoss, and then we have Nine going apeshit on that Dalek and in the very first episode, the shit that killed that jello crap (I feel like my arguments would stand better if I stopped swearing but I unfortunately don't know how to do that). The Doctor just doesn't use guns to kill people, but he does use violence quite a bit.

and in regards to Amy, there was the whole, 'I'm sorry I shot you but at least I missed' bit which I suppose was Moffat saying 'see she's sorry we're alright' but meh.

And the Silence wear suits because they are DAPPER

THIS SHOW IS VERY AWESOME

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I'm still not buying the gun-tastic episode! But I am willing to concede it's probably not as unprecedented as I thought.

And the Silence wear suits because they are DAPPER

LOL! You're just so convincing when you use Capslock like that... ;)

[ravelled-ribbon.livejournal.com]

Actually three months really isn't that late to realise you're pregnant. If your periods are irregular, you lose track of time passing because you are focused on the now (Amy strikes me as someone who would) or if you were spot bleeding periodically its perfectly reasonable not to realise until that late. And she had known for a while, so lets say she figured it out around six to eight weeks which is when a lot of people work it out, then she only spent six to four weeks freaking out and not telling Rory, which isn't actually that long to sit on something panicing about it.

As for why the baby isn't visible yet maybe its stuck in some sort of time loop? Maybe it cycles back and forth from just implanted to not yet implanted because of the Tardis travel and also the exposure to the cracks in reality and all the time spent in the Pandorica?

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

You're right: it's not impossible that it took her that long to realize she was pregnant, and that she didn't mention it to Rory. I don't know, it just: something doesn't ring true for me. I know that the pregnancy is going to be an ongoing storyline in the series, and I'm just hoping the weird timeline is mentioned. (Especially the three months they spend investigating the silence between TIA and DOTM.)

There's undoubtedly something up with that baby. I am just so fearful for Amy and Rory! They deserve a nice, healthy baby. :P

[jacknjill270.livejournal.com]

HOW AWESOME IS THIS SHOW? TOO AWESOME TO BE BELIEVED, THAT'S WHAT.

Amy's hair deserves much love. Haters can say what they like, but they gotta admit this show is gorgeous.

The Doctor being ok with guns doesn't bother me as much as AMY SHOOTING A KID IN THE FACE, WHAT. Like the other comments said, each Doctor has kinda varied on his position on violence/guns so him looking the other way when River whips out her gun doesn't seem OOC for me. Besides he's destroyed like, entire planets I don't think he really has any room to talk. Though I can see why it would bother you - I felt the same way during the Christmas episode, I kept thinking PEOPLE FROZEN IN BOXES BY EVIL TYRANT AND DOCTOR DOES NOTHING, WHYYYY MOFFAT WHY but I digress.

My current theory is that Amy was pregnant and had the baby but spent so much time around the Silence that she forgot, similar to the guy who worked at the closed-down orphanage whose name escapes me. I'm not sure if that would even make sense with the time line because it makes my brain hurt if I think about it too long.

AND NEXT WEEK WE GET PIRATES. I LOVE THIS SHOW. :D

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I kept thinking PEOPLE FROZEN IN BOXES BY EVIL TYRANT AND DOCTOR DOES NOTHING, WHYYYY MOFFAT WHY

Very true! That also was rather un-Doctor-like. I suppose I'm just really bummed about the guns, because it was always one of my favorite Doctor traits: the violence-phobia. Sure, yeah, people ended up getting left and right anyway, but at least the Doctor always said that killing wasn't the answer! (It's the whole "Triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism" thing. :P)

I want Amy's hair. I've been trying to style my hair the way she had it when they were investigating the orphanage, but it just WILL NOT COOPERATE. Damn you, Karen, and your magic hair! (Though more likely, it's the fact she has professionals to style it for her...)

he guy who worked at the closed-down orphanage whose name escapes me.

DR. RENFREW! He is my new favorite character EVAR! I love that crazy-ass man, and his over-the-top Southern bayou accent! He added just the right creepy touch to that orphanage. He and the Silence need their own spin-off series--maybe a sitcom. :P

I am so scared for Amy's baby! I DO NOT WANT HER TO HAVE A WEIRD ALIEN BABY PREGNANCY!