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"The Power of the Doctor" - Pre-Viewing Thoughts and Reflections
I debated whether I should write one of these, since we're less than two hours away from the episode's premiere in the UK, but with the looming self-imposed six hour internet blackout to avoid spoilers, I figured now was the last chance I'd have to commit at least some of my thoughts and theories to a post. And I have to stress some, since a sixth month wait for a single episode of television gave me a lot of time to form various thoughts and expectations for one of the biggest episodes of Doctor Who in recent memory.
I have seen the trailers, but I haven't (at least knowingly) been spoiled for anything outside of that that actually happens in the episode. As far as I can tell the people who saw the advanced screening of the episode have been very good about keeping their mouths shut, only confirming that whatever happens with the regeneration at the end was not shown to them. So I'm going into this with high hopes and what I think are reasonable expectations.
First of all: I don't believe we're gonna get any "answers" about the Timeless Child storyline beyond what we've already been told the past two series. I think it's entirely possible we may get more insight on the Fugitive Doctor specifically, since it's all but confirmed Jo Martin will be in this episode, but I don't think we're gonna get any kind of major lore dump. That said, I think we'll see the fob watch in this episode in some way, and my personal theory is that the Doctor will ultimately have to open it in order regain her memories and emerge from this episode victorious... but at the cost of it taking a toll on her physically leading to her regeneration. (And the effects of the fob watch causing her to regenerate into David Tennant?).
I don't think Yaz, Tegan, or Ace will die, but I think there's a small chance Kate or Dan might, based off nothing but circumstantial theorizing. At the very least I think Dan will be sidelined for a decent part of this story because of something that happens on the train. But the reappearance of the Lone Cyberman makes me believe that whatever happens with Yaz will not be permanent and she will leave this episode alive at the very least. I do think people hoping for some weird work-around to give her and the Doctor a happy ending are a bit delusional, since I think a big thematic reason Tegan and Ace are in this episode are to aid in the thematic reasons Yaz's time as a companion has to come to an end.
As far as other companions possibly making cameos, I couldn't even begin to guess what that might be. I know Graham is definitely appearing due to set photos, and Nyssa almost certainly isn't due to comments from Sarah Sutton, but part of me hopes they managed to film Tosin Cole on a Zoom call or something so Ryan could have one last on-screen appearance as well. I can't really think of anyone else who they could bring back that wouldn't feel very out of place. Maybe Osgood will make an appearance? I almost wonder if someone from Torchwood may show up to fully close out the narrative thread for Jack now that John Harkness is basically blacklisted, but I have no idea how feasible that would be.
I know Vinder is in this episode but this role is the one I can't really form a theory on. Part of me hopes that Karvanista and Bel will also appear in some way, but this cast is already so big I'm not sure they could be serviced properly. I just hope the "Doctor is Vinder and Bel's baby" crack theory doesn't make an appearance in any way shape or form. (Judging by the generally positive feelings following the advance screening I'm pretty confident in saying it won't but you never know.)
My wildest guess that has some supporting evidence is that K-9 will be in this story. In Farewell, Sarah Jane he went off with Ace, and the character wasn't allowed to be used in the recent Redacted podcast spinoff. It would also have been relatively easy to keep him hidden in promo materials even if he has a large role in the episode.
The rest of my thoughts pretty much line up with other popular theories - The planet attacking earth is the cyber-converted Gallifrey, and that some events may end up getting undone (The Master destroying Gallifrey, The Flux?) but I extremely doubt that something massive will happen like the Timeless Child story being retconned or the characters moving to an alternative universe. Also, while I would love to see them again, I doubt Tecteun, Swarm, or Azure will appear in this aside from maybe a cameo-sized flashback. I also feel like the slightly dangling thread of the Grand Serpent won't be picked up, if for no other reason than there isn't room for him. 90% of the story has been told, this is just the last push to the end. The only "big" thing I'm unsure about is the "Eternals" showing up, since the imagery from the trailers and "Can You Hear Me?" are so similar they're hard to ignore. Hell, maybe the universe talk will bring the talking frog from "It Takes You Away" back! Maybe material from the Cartmel Masterplan will be shoved in in some way? This is the part of the post where I spiral.
In the end, I don't have extremely high expectations in terms of the big lore puzzle since that isn't something Doctor Who has ever really delivered on even at it's best. What I do have hopes for is for the Chibnall era is to finally give us some good character writing and resolution, even if the journey there is rocky. If nothing else I think this episode will look very good visually, and I'm excited to see how this may set up for the future of the show and the franchise as a whole.
Now to play the waiting game.
I have seen the trailers, but I haven't (at least knowingly) been spoiled for anything outside of that that actually happens in the episode. As far as I can tell the people who saw the advanced screening of the episode have been very good about keeping their mouths shut, only confirming that whatever happens with the regeneration at the end was not shown to them. So I'm going into this with high hopes and what I think are reasonable expectations.
First of all: I don't believe we're gonna get any "answers" about the Timeless Child storyline beyond what we've already been told the past two series. I think it's entirely possible we may get more insight on the Fugitive Doctor specifically, since it's all but confirmed Jo Martin will be in this episode, but I don't think we're gonna get any kind of major lore dump. That said, I think we'll see the fob watch in this episode in some way, and my personal theory is that the Doctor will ultimately have to open it in order regain her memories and emerge from this episode victorious... but at the cost of it taking a toll on her physically leading to her regeneration. (And the effects of the fob watch causing her to regenerate into David Tennant?).
I don't think Yaz, Tegan, or Ace will die, but I think there's a small chance Kate or Dan might, based off nothing but circumstantial theorizing. At the very least I think Dan will be sidelined for a decent part of this story because of something that happens on the train. But the reappearance of the Lone Cyberman makes me believe that whatever happens with Yaz will not be permanent and she will leave this episode alive at the very least. I do think people hoping for some weird work-around to give her and the Doctor a happy ending are a bit delusional, since I think a big thematic reason Tegan and Ace are in this episode are to aid in the thematic reasons Yaz's time as a companion has to come to an end.
As far as other companions possibly making cameos, I couldn't even begin to guess what that might be. I know Graham is definitely appearing due to set photos, and Nyssa almost certainly isn't due to comments from Sarah Sutton, but part of me hopes they managed to film Tosin Cole on a Zoom call or something so Ryan could have one last on-screen appearance as well. I can't really think of anyone else who they could bring back that wouldn't feel very out of place. Maybe Osgood will make an appearance? I almost wonder if someone from Torchwood may show up to fully close out the narrative thread for Jack now that John Harkness is basically blacklisted, but I have no idea how feasible that would be.
I know Vinder is in this episode but this role is the one I can't really form a theory on. Part of me hopes that Karvanista and Bel will also appear in some way, but this cast is already so big I'm not sure they could be serviced properly. I just hope the "Doctor is Vinder and Bel's baby" crack theory doesn't make an appearance in any way shape or form. (Judging by the generally positive feelings following the advance screening I'm pretty confident in saying it won't but you never know.)
My wildest guess that has some supporting evidence is that K-9 will be in this story. In Farewell, Sarah Jane he went off with Ace, and the character wasn't allowed to be used in the recent Redacted podcast spinoff. It would also have been relatively easy to keep him hidden in promo materials even if he has a large role in the episode.
The rest of my thoughts pretty much line up with other popular theories - The planet attacking earth is the cyber-converted Gallifrey, and that some events may end up getting undone (The Master destroying Gallifrey, The Flux?) but I extremely doubt that something massive will happen like the Timeless Child story being retconned or the characters moving to an alternative universe. Also, while I would love to see them again, I doubt Tecteun, Swarm, or Azure will appear in this aside from maybe a cameo-sized flashback. I also feel like the slightly dangling thread of the Grand Serpent won't be picked up, if for no other reason than there isn't room for him. 90% of the story has been told, this is just the last push to the end. The only "big" thing I'm unsure about is the "Eternals" showing up, since the imagery from the trailers and "Can You Hear Me?" are so similar they're hard to ignore. Hell, maybe the universe talk will bring the talking frog from "It Takes You Away" back! Maybe material from the Cartmel Masterplan will be shoved in in some way? This is the part of the post where I spiral.
In the end, I don't have extremely high expectations in terms of the big lore puzzle since that isn't something Doctor Who has ever really delivered on even at it's best. What I do have hopes for is for the Chibnall era is to finally give us some good character writing and resolution, even if the journey there is rocky. If nothing else I think this episode will look very good visually, and I'm excited to see how this may set up for the future of the show and the franchise as a whole.
Now to play the waiting game.