Doctor Who (2005): Time Crash
Episode score
9.3
Superb
Time Crash
- 42.
- Season: 4
- Episode: 0
- First Aired: 11/16/2007
Location: TARDIS
Date: none
Enemies: None
After Martha says goodbye to the Doctor and leaves, he is surprised to find a problem with the TARDIS. Suddenly, a man materialises - the Fifth Doctor. But why's he here, and what's happened to the TARDIS? Read full recap »
- Though many monsters from the old series have appeared in the new series, and a couple of old assistants, this is the first time one of the original Doctors has appeared in person in an episode of the new series, though drawings of previous Doctors have appeared in John Smith's notebook in Human Nature edit »
- The Cloister bell sounds half way through the episode. This was first heard in the original series story Logopolis and is always a portent of impending disaster. It also been heard at least twice in the new series, in the previous Children in Need special and in Last of the Timelords when the TARDIS was converted to a paradox machine. edit »
- Tenth Doctor: What?
Fifth Doctor: What?
Tenth Doctor: What?
It has become a tradition of the Tenth Doctor to utter "What?" to himself several times in a row for the "unexpected event" at the end of each season. Here we see the same thing with him rather more literally saying it to himself. edit »
- According to Doctor Who Confidential, the Fifth Doctor's coat and trousers are originals that were on loan from the Blackpool Doctor Who exhibition. The trousers had been previously altered in order to fit Colin Baker for the regeneration scene in The Caves of Androzani and the opening of The Twin Dilemma. The jumper was knitted specifically for the episode, and the hat was a new roll-up Panama with the original band sewn on. edit »
- This mini-episode had 10.9 million viewers on its original airing. That was the highest viewing figures for the show since the premier episode, Rose, back in 2005. However, it was then beaten by Voyage of the Damned later in 2007. edit »
- Though originally transmitted as a UK exclusive as part of the Children In Need annual Telethon, the episode is now available on DVD (Region 2) accompanying Voyage of the Damned. edit »
- This mini episode was made for Children In Need and fits chronologically between Last of the Timelords and Voyage of the Damned. It actually slightly rewrites events at the end of Season 3, such that the effect for the crashing of the Titanic was modified. In the Season 3 ending it ripped through the fabric of the TARDIS, in Time Crash it dislodged panels, which are then seen being wound back into place in Voyage of the Damned. The paradox nature of Time Crash was used by the production team to alter the effect to make it easier to undo in the following story. edit »
- Tenth Doctor: You know, I loved being you. Back when I first started, at the very beginning, I was always trying to be old and grumpy, the way you do when you're young. And then I was you, and it was all dashing about and playing cricket and my voice going all squeaky when I got excited. I still do that, the voice thing, I got that from you! Oh, and the trainers, and [puts on his glasses] snap. 'Cos you know what, Doctor? You were my Doctor. edit »
- Tenth Doctor: Hey, I'm the Doctor, I can save the universe using a kettle and some string, and look at me I'm wearing a vegetable. edit »
- Tenth Doctor: Ooh, the back of my head.
Fifth Doctor: What?
Tenth Doctor: Sorry, sorry, it's not something you see every day is it, the back of your own head. Mind you, I can see why you wear a hat, I don't want to seem vain, but could you keep that on. edit » - Fifth Doctor: It really would help if there wasn't some skinny idiot ranting in my face about every single thing that happens to be in front of him.
Tenth Doctor: Oh, OK, Sorry. edit »
- Tenth Doctor: Back when I first started at the very beginning I was always trying to be very old, grumpy, and important like you do when you're young.
This refers back to when the series first started in 1963, when the Doctor was played by William Hartnell (then aged 55) as a white haired crotchety old man. At this point the Doctors character was under 350 years old. When Peter Davison took over the role in Logopolis in 1981 he was 29, making him still the youngest ever actor to play the Doctor, at this point the character was somewhere between 760 and 900 years old. Ironically when Time Crash was filmed Peter Davison was 56 years old, making him one year older than the crotchety old man we first saw. edit » - Tenth Doctor: You know what Doctor, you were my Doctor.
This is a little bit of "Breaking the fourth wall" letting David Tennant confess to Peter Davison that he was the Doctor he grew up with. It is a common phrasing with fans of the old series to say "he was my Doctor" to mean that was the actor they grew up with in the part, the one they most identify with the role. edit » - Tenth Doctor: Where are you now, Nyssa and Tegan, Cybermen and the Mara?
Continuity references back to the Fifth Doctor's companions Nyssa and Tegan, and The Mara, an enemy only ever faced by the Fifth Doctor, in two stories, Kinda and Snakedance. edit » - Tenth Doctor: Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey.
This is the Doctor's way of explaining away paradoxes, first used in Blink. edit » - Tenth Doctor: And just to finish off, let's fry those Ziton Crystals.
A continuity reference to original series story Vengeance on Varos edit »
Time Crash
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"10/28/08 07:47am | report abuseCollision
Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Graeme Harper ...Continue »Time Crash
The Bottom Line: "Silly"08/12/08 02:23pm | report abuseDon't get me wrong...it's great...just a little silly. ...Continue »
Time Crash
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"07/07/08 08:47pm | report abusedoctor who being doctor who and running into... himself ...Continue »
Time Crash
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"03/28/08 05:27pm | report abuseA classic example of Old School meets the New Kid on the Block, and neither disappointed. ...Continue »
Show Score
9.0
superb
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