If Wilf hadn't gone in the booth...

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brangdon

03-01-2010

Originally Posted by Mark.:
“The design of the cubicles was so that there was always one person at the controls.”

Stupid, no? Do you think real nuclear reactors are designed like that?

Quote:
“And the radiation was vented into them so as to contain it.”

Even stupider. A safety mechanism that's guaranteed to kill someone.

Smerph

03-01-2010

I have LOTS of problems with the two-parter, but Wilf knocking 4 times is not one of them. It was the one five-star moment in the entire thing. And Ten has every right to rant and rave, especially since he was under the impression he'd beat the prophecy.

True bravery is doing something despite utmost fear. No one would step into that booth with grace and not many would step in there at all. So allow him a rant and a moan, if only because he concluded it by saying it would be an honour to die for Wilf.

Mark.

03-01-2010

Originally Posted by brangdon:
“Stupid, no? Do you think real nuclear reactors are designed like that?”

Well, no, but this wasn't a nuclear reactor from Earth.

Quote:
“Even stupider. A safety mechanism that's guaranteed to kill someone.”

Kill one person....kill a few thousand. Hmm...

Shinyteapot

03-01-2010

Originally Posted by Mark.:
“What people are missing is that The Doctor thought he was going to die completely.

It wasn't until he encountered Ood Sigma after speaking to Rose he realised he was about to regenerate (the line about the song ending, but the story going on).”

He seems to have thought prior to the episode that the prophecy could mean permanent death. Might even have thought it when entering the box (though I'd expect he'd realise it's something his body can cope with through regeneration- it's not as powerful as absorbing the energy from the heart of the Tardis like last time).

But as soon as the cuts on his face healed, standing outside the box, he knew it was a regeneration. He even said 'it's started'.

Originally Posted by Captain Stable:
“To be fair to the script writers, they did add that scene where he discussed the fact that regenerating does feel like dying - and even Classic Who treats it like this - Pertwee hates Troughton (the comment in Five Doctors "Oh no, not him again." as well as their first meeting in Three Doctors).
But I agree with Shineyteapot that the whole rant was wrong.

Did 5 know he was going to Regenerate?
Did 9 know? After all, he did say "I absorbed all the energy of the Time Vortex. And no one is meant to do that"”

Thankyou Captain Stable

To answer your questions- 5 wasn't sure, he said it felt different. He didn't know if he was going to regenerate or die.
9 knew he would regenerate as soon as he'd kissed Rose- he told Rose it was a way of cheating death, and that he would change. Whether he knew beforehand I couldn't say- and I don't get the impression he even thought about it- he was only concerned with saving her.

Shinyteapot

03-01-2010

Originally Posted by Mark.:
“Well, no, but this wasn't a nuclear reactor from Earth.

Kill one person....kill a few thousand. Hmm...”

Real nuclear reactors are not designed like that. Nuclear reactors in the Whoniverse, for reasons beyond my comprehension, are- at least the one that featured at the end of Torchwood series 2 was. (Possibly with alien influence too though, if it was the Blaidd Drwg station approved by Margaret Slitheen.)

brangdon

04-01-2010

Originally Posted by Mark.:
“Well, no, but this wasn't a nuclear reactor from Earth.”

That doesn't change the principles of good design.

Quote:
“Kill one person....kill a few thousand. Hmm...”

Why not kill none? Have a third chamber lined with the magic glass and vent the radioactivity into that. There's no good reason to design to vent into a location you know is occupied.

It was just stupid, written by someone who doesn't care in order to put the Doctor into jeopardy because that's what the regeneration plot required. It's an example of why I am glad RTD is no longer in charge of Who.

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