My big question is what does it mean that Gallifrey's given him a new cycle of regenerations. I'm guessing they can break the time-slice the same way the Doctors did in TDotD but that raises the question of why and who is in control on Gallifrey. I can't see Rassilon, for instance, wanting to give the Doctor new regenerations, especially since TEoT just happened for him.
Either the Doctor is somehow necessary to their plans, seen as a useful tool (really? They've killed other Time Lords for less, and I'd think his stunts with the Moment (as War) and as Ten in TEoT might've significantly upped his renegade status!) or some other faction is now in control, which might mean all the problems in Gallifrey just got shoved off the table in a move (maybe a War Council take over?)--I'm obviously not too happy about the last option.
I was honestly kind of underwhelmed: the loose-end tying was great, but Clara going to and fro from Trenzalore got a bit annoying after a while. But I absolutely loved the ending--particularly Amy's "raggedy man, good night." And Eleven's closing speech! It was just...awesome.
Yeah, I will definitely admit that that raises a lot of questions. I guess we'll have to wait until Season Eight to find out, really, but yeah, it does raise some interesting questions. And yeah, Clara going to and from Trenzalore did get a bit...y'know. I know that when Eleven sent her away again, I was like, "Really?!" But yeah, the ending was fantastic, and I think it really did tie up Eleven's time as the Doctor beautifully.
I'm guessing either the Master somehow killed Rassilon and took over as Lord President (he was sent back into the Time Lock with the High Council in TEOT, remember, though I don't know why he would want the Doctor to live, either), or the War Council carried out a coup and imprisoned Rassilon (and any other High Council members who went along willingly with his insane plan of The Final Sanction). For me, there's compelling evidence for both. The supporting piece of that for the first scenario is according to reliable spoiler hounds on another DW community I frequent (Gallifrey Base, specifically), the Master is going to return in S8. The support for the other one is less reliable, but it's still there, at least IMO- to me,the voice that kept asking "Doctor who?" sounded rather similar to that of the General's from DOTD (though I don't know how the War Council has the authority to give new regeneration cycles- I imagine that power is reserved for the High Council alone).
I'd think his stunts with the Moment (as War) and as Ten in TEoT might've significantly upped his renegade status! In the latter case, very likely, but probably not the former, since "Doctor 8.5" was the first or second of our three DOTD doctors to address the War Council, so they know he played a part in coming up with the plan to save Gallifrey (and actually, Future!Ten's actions in TEOT may very well have been forgiven for the exact same reason).
The Master's coming back? That's freaking awesome! :D
And yeah, I think it is possible. I mean, it sounds like something the Master would do. And he has some affection left over for the Doctor, twisted as it may be -- heck, Russell T. Davies even said, when Euros Lyn asked why the Master didn't kill the Doctor, that it was because the Master loved him. And I think he's definitely right. The Master may be a nasty piece of work -- if a fun-to-watch one as well, really -- but he does still care about the man who used to be his old friend. (Which I don't think is that far from the Master's character in the Classic series as well) But yeah, Clara's plea -- assuming that the Master is running all this -- might have struck a chord with him and so he decided to help the Doctor. After all...why not, in his eyes. And the idea of Rassilon being overthrown is pretty plausible too. The War Council just going "No more" and imprisoning Rassilon. (Which I think the guy on the War Council would do. Yeah, he's not exactly happy to see the Doctor, but at the very least, he's a generally decent man) Maybe the War Council sort of took over the High Council as well. (That's a theory, at least)
And yeah, I definitely think you're right! That and Future!Ten really did do it to save Earth and assuming that the right people are in charge...hopefully they'll understand. (Or not, but I'm hoping for the former)
I did see the War Council takeover as a possibility although I wouldn't suggest it's 'compelling evidence'. It's one of those twists which I would find a bit more contrived, although our thresholds for what counts as a twist that can be legitimately signalled obviously differ!
I wasn't certain about the Master, but I like the idea of him returning, given the last we saw of him has him with a botched resurrection, and it'd be pretty interesting to see how that pans out.
Good catch on the General--I wasn't certain until I listened to it, but I think you're right, and I'm also not sure the War Council can give new regeneration cycles, so it probably points to something with the High Council.
Yeah, fair enough--although Future!Ten's actions being forgiven, I think, hinges on who takes power. At the very least, I'll say that the Gallifrey we see has a power vacuum, or serious power instabilities. How that affected the decision to give Eleven a new cycle is an open question, but at least for me, pulling it wouldn't be a deus ex, but far lower in the same ball park.
Either the Doctor is somehow necessary to their plans, seen as a useful tool (really? They've killed other Time Lords for less, and I'd think his stunts with the Moment (as War) and as Ten in TEoT might've significantly upped his renegade status!) or some other faction is now in control, which might mean all the problems in Gallifrey just got shoved off the table in a move (maybe a War Council take over?)--I'm obviously not too happy about the last option.
I was honestly kind of underwhelmed: the loose-end tying was great, but Clara going to and fro from Trenzalore got a bit annoying after a while. But I absolutely loved the ending--particularly Amy's "raggedy man, good night." And Eleven's closing speech! It was just...awesome.
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I'd think his stunts with the Moment (as War) and as Ten in TEoT might've significantly upped his renegade status!
In the latter case, very likely, but probably not the former, since "Doctor 8.5" was the first or second of our three DOTD doctors to address the War Council, so they know he played a part in coming up with the plan to save Gallifrey (and actually, Future!Ten's actions in TEOT may very well have been forgiven for the exact same reason).
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And yeah, I think it is possible. I mean, it sounds like something the Master would do. And he has some affection left over for the Doctor, twisted as it may be -- heck, Russell T. Davies even said, when Euros Lyn asked why the Master didn't kill the Doctor, that it was because the Master loved him. And I think he's definitely right. The Master may be a nasty piece of work -- if a fun-to-watch one as well, really -- but he does still care about the man who used to be his old friend. (Which I don't think is that far from the Master's character in the Classic series as well) But yeah, Clara's plea -- assuming that the Master is running all this -- might have struck a chord with him and so he decided to help the Doctor. After all...why not, in his eyes. And the idea of Rassilon being overthrown is pretty plausible too. The War Council just going "No more" and imprisoning Rassilon. (Which I think the guy on the War Council would do. Yeah, he's not exactly happy to see the Doctor, but at the very least, he's a generally decent man) Maybe the War Council sort of took over the High Council as well. (That's a theory, at least)
And yeah, I definitely think you're right! That and Future!Ten really did do it to save Earth and assuming that the right people are in charge...hopefully they'll understand. (Or not, but I'm hoping for the former)
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I wasn't certain about the Master, but I like the idea of him returning, given the last we saw of him has him with a botched resurrection, and it'd be pretty interesting to see how that pans out.
Good catch on the General--I wasn't certain until I listened to it, but I think you're right, and I'm also not sure the War Council can give new regeneration cycles, so it probably points to something with the High Council.
Yeah, fair enough--although Future!Ten's actions being forgiven, I think, hinges on who takes power. At the very least, I'll say that the Gallifrey we see has a power vacuum, or serious power instabilities. How that affected the decision to give Eleven a new cycle is an open question, but at least for me, pulling it wouldn't be a deus ex, but far lower in the same ball park.
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