Putting it all Together – Are the Past Companions our Bad Wolf of Series 9?
There was so much information in “The Girl Who Died,” that I have barely touched the surface of all the myriad possibilities. One thing that sticks out: one common denominator of the season. Why, after several years of series 1-4 practically being non-existent are there so many references to it?
We have Davros in the premiere and his connection to past Doctors, Rose, Donna, and “Journey’s End.” In the next two-parter, there is a character that used to work for UNIT, a woman who knew all about Rose, Martha, and Amy (I almost fell off the chair when their names – particularly Rose and Martha –were ACTUALLY referenced like they existed). THEN, we have “The Girl Who Died” with a blatant connection to Donna Noble and an ambiguous one to Rose Tyler.
Why all the references all of a sudden? It COULD simply be, as the Doctor said, to keep him “on the mark.” This face, the face of a man he saved after Donna’s compassionate urging, chosen to harken back to past companions, all the ones he loved and lost over the years. It’s there to remind him to be more compassionate like Rose and Donna constantly encouraged him to be.
And indeed, I DO think that is part of it as this Doctor (though not nearly as much as the 11th Doctor did with his team of enablers) needed to be reminded to do what is right, to keep him in check? But, is the reminder of Donna’s empathy enough? Or is there more to the Doctor’s familiar face? There are still consequences, consequences the Doctor must face based on his choice to break the rules of time. The face could also work as a reminder to keep him from becoming the Time Lord Victorious.
That said, maybe as the Doctor continues to reference the people he’s forgotten (let’s not forget the 12th Doctor has completely forgotten Madame De Pompadour; could this also be a major clue?) or at the least trying to forget, the clue (like Bad Wolf putting clues throughout time and space as a message) to stopping this season’s Big Bad remains in the past with his experiences with past companions. Rose. Donna. Martha. Amy.
Which brings me back to my original theory on the Doctor’s familiar face.
Before we continue, make sure you have read my theory on The Familiar Face as it explains EVERYTHING when it comes to consequences. Read that HERE.
At the end of “The Girl Who Died,” after the Doctor has calmed down considerably, he tells Clara why what he did to Ashildr might have been a huge mistake (does this have to also do with “The Water of Mars?”):
DOCTOR: I was angry. I was emotional. Just possibly, I have made a terrible mistake. Maybe even a tidal wave. Time will tell, it always does.
Only time will tell what those circumstances may be. Will time have to be righted like with the family of Pompeii as seen in Torchwood? Is the Doctor’s familiar face more than just a reminder to show empathy for others? Could a new war be on its way?
With all the references to series 1-4, I say that perhaps the past companions ARE the Bad Wolf of the season, those little-sprinkled references that don’t make sense until the season finale. What is the purpose of these reminders? Does it have something to do with the Doctor’s confession? Does it have something to do with the prophecy of the hybrids? Does it have to do with the return of the Time Lords and the walls of reality being open once more? Is it about his love for Rose Tyler or the return of Donna Noble? Captain Jack (the Doctor’s familiar face was also seen in Torchwood after all)?
In short, could there be events from a future that characters from the future (already in the midst of it – Terminator style) feel need to be changed? To defeat some great villain or group, did they need to bring back the Time Lords so a new hybrid can be created to stop them/it?
And could there be more clues in the Doctor’s past experiences with companions that will give him a shocking answer to this season’s climax? And on a last, final impossible note, what if it’s not just one hybrid, but many? And what if the hybrids – the warriors are literally past Doctor Who companions? They all become warriors – time travelers. They have the ability to become hybrids because they have time traveled. What if the Doctor were to take some of his past companions – old favorites if you will – and put Mire technology inside of them? Maybe even mix it with Time Lord knowledge? Just imagine Doctor Donna and Bad Wolf mixed with Mire technology and working together. They sound pretty unstoppable, don’t they? It’s also quite a dark choice to take away their ability to die.
The Children of Time
Now before everyone goes off saying how ridiculous this theory is (and even I joke about the impossibility of the whole thing), we mustn’t forget that the return of Davros could be telling us something VERY central to these theories. In “Journey’s End,” Davros shows the Doctor what he has turned his “Children of Time” into:
DAVROS: And the prophecy unfolds.
CAAN: The Doctor’s soul is revealed. See him. See the heart of him.
DAVROS: The man who abhors violence, never carrying a gun. But this is the truth, Doctor. You take ordinary people and you fashion them into weapons. Behold your Children of Time: Transformed into murderers. I made the Daleks, Doctor. You made this.
DOCTOR: They’re trying to help.
DAVROS: Already I have seen them sacrifice today, for their beloved Doctor. The Earth woman who fell opening the Subwave Network.
DOCTOR: Who was that?
ROSE: Harriet Jones. She gave her life to get you here.
DAVROS: How many more? Just think. How many have died in your name? The Doctor. The man who keeps running, never looking back because he dare not, out of shame. This is my final victory, Doctor. I have shown you yourself.
The Doctor has created warriors out of his “Children of Time.” This is even noted in “The Girl Who Died” when he talks with Clara:
DOCTOR: Teaching them to fight, that’s the only plan I’ve got.
CLARA: Turning them into fighters? That’s not like you.
DOCTOR: Yeah. I used to believe that too.
CLARA: What happened?
DOCTOR: You. Oh, Clara Oswald… what have I made of you?
CLARA: It doesn’t matter how well you train them, it’s not going to make a difference.
DOCTOR: They’ll die fighting with honor. To a Viking, that’s all the difference in the world.
CLARA: A good death? Is that the best they can hope for?
DOCTOR: A good death is the best anyone can hope for… unless you happen to be immortal.
Unless you happen to be immortal…Just think of it: The Children of Time, the humans he turned into warriors, ready to fight to save the world. What would happen if some of them became immortal? What if the Doctor purposely makes them immortal so he won’t be alone? What would happen if the Children of Time (at least some of them) came home to the Tardis? Just think about the possible double meaning in the conversation between Ashildr and the Doctor.
ASHILDR: When the raiding parties go out, I make up stories about their battles.
DOCTOR: Because if you make up the right story, then you think it will keep them safe and they’ll all come home. That’s OK. You’re not the first person to ever have done that. (I’m sure the Doctor has done the same.)
Will any of this happen like the return of the Children of Time? Probably not. But like the Doctor told Clara, “Only time will tell.”
On a final note, I want to bring back “The Day of the Doctor” and the conversation between the 11th Doctor and the Curator for us all to ponder!
The Doctor tells the Curator: “I never forget a face.”
In which the Curator (who I again believe to be a future Doctor) replies, “I know you don’t. And in years to come, you might find yourself revisiting a few. But just the old favorites, eh?”
And with that, the Curator winks. He’s giving the Doctor a clue. It’s not just one face – but a few!
Hmmm.
Until next time…
What do you think about this Doctor Who Theory (or theories…)? Sound off in the comments…
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