Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/Army of Ghosts

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This page is for discussing the ways in which Army of Ghosts doesn't fit well with other DWU narratives. You can also talk about the plot holes that render its own, internal narrative confusing.

Remember, this is a forum, so civil discussion is encouraged. However, please do not sign your posts. Also, keep all posts about the same continuity error under the same bullet point. You can add a new point by typing:

* This is point one.
::This is a counter-argument to point one.
:::This is a counter-argument to the counter-argument above
* This is point two.
::Explanation of point two.
::Further discussion and query of point two.

... and so on. 

• When the Cyberman kills the Ghostwatch presenter, there is no electricity coming from the Cyberman's hand.

It is unknown how it works that way where they can discharge electricity or not. It happened before in Age of Steel where Rose is grabbed but not "deleted". And: how can you be sure he is killed in the episode? He is still screaming and dead people can't scream.

The Cyberman looked as though it was strangling the person as he was grabbing the persons neck.

No. You are wrong. He grabs Alistair Appleton's shoulder blades, not his neck.

Cybermen are very physically strong, enough to kill a human without the need of electricity if so desired.

Why would a Cyberman want to grab Alistair Appleton instead of asking him to surrender when he doesn't appear to be antagonising the Cybermen? It just doesn't make any sense IMHO.

• Nobody notices that three high-ranking Torchwood employees now have two earpods instead of one and are acting very differently.

Yvonne was pre-occupied with the Doctor and what was happening with the ghosts to check her employees' ears.

They were not particularly high-ranking, simply working for the highest ranked person.

But when Adeola lures Matt to the Cybermen he faces her and should notice she clearly has two earpods.

People really don't always notice every little detail like that when life is going on around them. He can also perhaps be forgiven for being distracted by the circumstances (excited for an upcoming physical encounter, nervous about being found out at work, etc).

And even if he did notice. How does "you have two earpods" translate into "you are being mind-controled by alien cyborg entities to kill me" in anyone's mind without having observed the process?

• How do the Cybermen infiltrate Torchwood even before the Doctor gets there? Wouldn't the workers in the construction area have noticed the Cybermen long before the story even begins?

The Cybermen were thought to be ghosts by Torchwood and its employees, so they would not have bothered with them.

As Mickey says, there was an advance group of Cybermen. They set up the "construction area"; it was a fake construction area to keep others out.

• The Cybermen supposedly infiltrated Torchwood because the personnel assumed they were ghosts. But how did they create big red glowing conversion chambers without detection or anyone wondering what they were?

They hid within their fake "construction area". No one, not even Yvonne knew what was going on in there. Yes, a very slack approach to security, but people tend to be very uninquisitive.

• Rose gives Jackie some laundry to wash, suggesting the TARDIS doesn't have clothes-washing facilities. If that is the case, what about the Doctor's clothes?

Rose doesn't know everything there is to know about the TARDIS.

The Doctor may get his specially laundered or use a facility such as the decontamination lift in New Earth.

The Doctor's Time Lord physiology may not cause a need for clothes to be washed.

The clothes may be self-cleaning.

Rose could also just be using this as an excuse to see her mother.

The TARDIS will most likely have clothes washing facilities, but Rose is a teenager who spends her time whizzing around time and space. Why would she waste time washing her clothes when she knows she can visit home for her mother to do it?

• Rose states that she has loads of washing for Jackie but when Jackie hugs her as Rose and the Doctor step inside the house, she squashes her huge bag with just her arms, and very few clothes seem to be in there. Even if rose was just exaggerating, the bag still wouldn't squash so easily in Jackie's arms.

Rose may not have brought them all in at once.

The bag may be bigger on the inside.

• Why did Alistair Appleton not run in panic when at least one Cyberman invaded Ghostwatch studio? Wouldn't he be aware of everyone running away in the corridor behind him and put down what ever he was holding in his hand?

• How do you know the Police Commissioner was on TV? It is never specifically stated in the episode.

• Why would the Police Commissioner have a water jug with what appears to be a couple of small glasses next to it on his desk? (you'd think there'd be other people in his office as well if he had a few glasses on his desk)? Wouldn't the office just have a water cooler instead?(it's still hard to tell because the quality isn't the best on those objects.)

• When the Doctor goes to inspect the breach, why does he walk to the cantina instead of towards the breach?

He got a little lost.