The Timeless Children: Does It Break Existing Canon in Doctor Who?
The recent Doctor Who series 12 finale titled "The Timeless Children" has raised some eyebrows and sparked debates among fans. While it adds new layers to the Doctor Who universe, some commentators argue it breaks existing canon. However, a closer look reveals that the storyline does not fundamentally alter the established lore.
Canon and Consistency in Doctor Who
One of the key arguments against "The Timeless Children" is the presentation of the Doctor's origin and the emergence of other stories from before the First Doctor. Critics point out discrepancies, such as the Fugitive Doctor's Police Box TARDIS or the Doctor's indefinite regenerative capabilities.
Bridge Over Troubled TARDISes
Consider the discrepancy raised by the Fugitive Doctor's TARDIS. While the TARDIS in the series is designed to adapt its appearance based on the pilot's preferences or the chameleon circuit, this storyline presents a different scenario. The Fugitive Doctor's TARDIS may have retained the Police Box shape because it was meant to be a recognizable sign of the Doctor's identity, even before the First Doctor.
Example: In the episode where the First Doctor steals his own TARDIS, it changes to a Police Box when reintegrated. This change is attributed to the Doctor's preference for a familiar design. Similarly, the Fugitive Doctor's TARDIS might have retained a familiar shape due to its pilot's preference, irrespective of the Time Lord's chameleon circuit.
Clara Oswald and the Time Stream
The inclusion of the Eighth and War Doctors, and their absence from Clara's timeline, raises questions. Clara's perspective and her encounters with the Doctor's timeline do not necessarily require her to see every incarnation of the Doctor, especially if her mission was to correct the Great Intelligence's alterations.
Example: The Great Intelligence's modifications could have restricted Clara's access to the Doctor's complete timeline, leading to the absence of the Eighth and War Doctors. This would explain why Clara did not see these Doctors in her encounters with the Doctor.
Regenerative Limitations
The death of the Eleventh Doctor in "The Time of the Doctor" is a significant event, as it challenges the traditional understanding of the Doctor's endless regeneration. However, the Time Lords intervened with the First Doctor, imposing a regeneration limit.
Example:
Since the Time Lords imposed a limit on the First Doctor, any additional regenerations after the Eleventh Doctor could raise questions. The Time Lords might impose further limits or restrictions to maintain control over the Doctor’s life. Alternatively, the Doctor's decision to accept only one more regeneration might be a personal choice rather than a necessity imposed by the Time Lords, making the next regeneration possible and indefinite.The removal of this limit could explain why the Doctor can regenerate without restrictions, even after the Eleventh Doctor's final regeneration.
In-Universe Explanation: The Time Lords' intervention might have locked the Doctor into a pattern of regeneration, leading to a series of white male Doctors. This pattern could have been broken with the release of later Doctors, such as the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), a woman, and the upcoming Doctors, including the Shoemaker and the next black Doctor.
Time Lords and the Founders
The existence of Rassilon and Omega and the Time Lord founders brings up the question of the truth underlying the Doctor's past. The Time Lords' tendency to lie and manipulate history further adds to the complexity of the Doctor's origins.
Example: If the Time Lords have lied about the Doctor's origins, it is plausible that the founders of Time Lord society might have also fabricated their history to maintain control or to fit their ideals of greatness.
Conclusion
While "The Timeless Children" may introduce some new elements that challenge the traditional canon, it does not fundamentally break the established lore. Instead, it adds depth and mystery to the Doctor's past. Arguably, this adds to the excitement of the series and provides fans with more room for interpretation and speculation.
Key Takeaways: Periodic TARDIS shapes are based on the pilot's preference, not just the chameleon circuit. Clara's encounters are limited by the Great Intelligence's modifications rather than the Doctor's complete timeline. Regeneration limitations can be removed or adjusted by the Time Lords. The history of Time Lords and their founders is likely to be subject to manipulation.
This mystery is what makes the Doctor