Death Is the Only Answer (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{title dab away}} | ||
{{Infobox | {{real world}} | ||
{{ImageLinkTV}} | |||
{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
|image = Death is the Only answer.jpg | |image = Death is the Only answer.jpg | ||
| | |special = DWC contest winner | ||
|doctor = | |doctor = Eleventh Doctor | ||
|featuring = [[Albert Einstein]] | |featuring = [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]] | ||
|enemy = [[Einstein's liquid]] | |||
|setting = [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] | |setting = [[The Doctor's TARDIS]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = The Children of Oakley Junior School | ||
|director = [[Jeremy Webb]] | |director = [[Jeremy Webb]] | ||
|broadcast date = | |broadcast date = 1 October 2011 | ||
|network= | |network = BBC Three | ||
|format = 1 x 4 minute episode | |format = 1 x 4 minute episode | ||
|confidential = | |confidential = When Time Froze (CON episode) | ||
}} | |||
'''''Death Is the Only Answer''''' was a mini-episode | '''''Death Is the Only Answer''''' was a mini-episode broadcast on ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]''. It debuted on [[BBC Three]] as part of ''[[When Time Froze (CON episode)|When Time Froze]]''. | ||
''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]'' and BBC Learning teamed up in a competition for UK students aged 9-11 to write a script for a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' short. The winning script was chosen by ''Doctor Who'' producers [[Steven Moffat]], [[Piers Wenger]] and [[Beth Willis]] and Controller of BBC Learning Saul Nassé. The writers of the winning script were Adam, Daniel, Katie, and Ben, Year Six students at Oakley C.E. Junior School in Basingstoke. | |||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
In the [[TARDIS control room| | In the [[:TARDIS control room|console room]] of [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] is celebrating his acquisition of a new [[fez]] formerly owned by his old friend [[Albert Einstein]]. The Doctor trips near the console, knocking the fez out of his hands and onto a lever on the console. The Doctor accidentally pushes another lever, causing the fez to vanish. A time portal appears and Einstein himself stumbles through it with the fez, bewildered. | ||
Einstein had been working on his own attempt at a time machine, but when he tried to turn it off, he arrived in the TARDIS. Einstein also thought that he'd discovered the vital part of finishing his time machine | Einstein had been working on [[Einstein's time machine|his own attempt at a time machine]], but when he tried to turn it off, he arrived in the TARDIS. Einstein also thought that he'd discovered the vital part of finishing his time machine — a [[Einstein's liquid|green liquid]], which he believed to be [[bionic fusion liquid]]. After scanning the liquid, the Doctor informs Einstein that he is wrong. When Einstein walks away from the console to run some tests on the liquid, the flask suddenly bubbles over and the liquid splashes onto his face, turning him into an [[Ood]] who repeats the sentence, "Death is the only answer." | ||
The Doctor has the TARDIS generate an energy field which turns Albert back into his normal self. The Doctor recommends that Albert keeps his fried hair, as it looks "more sciencey". The Doctor drops Albert off on [[18 September]] [[1945]], and leaves for another adventure; unnoticed by the Doctor, a bit of Einstein's liquid remains on the console room floor, moving on its own. | The Doctor has the TARDIS generate an energy field which turns Albert back into his normal self. The Doctor recommends that Albert keeps his fried hair, as it looks "more sciencey". The Doctor drops Albert off on [[18 September]] [[1945]], and leaves for another adventure; unnoticed by the Doctor, a bit of Einstein's liquid remains on the console room floor, moving on its own. | ||
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* [[Albert Einstein]] - [[Nickolas Grace]] | * [[Albert Einstein]] - [[Nickolas Grace]] | ||
* [[Ood]] - [[Paul Kasey]] | * [[Ood]] - [[Paul Kasey]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* The Doctor mentions that Einstein's toothbrush was destroyed by the [[Dalek]]s during a recent encounter. | * The Doctor mentions that Einstein's toothbrush was destroyed by the [[Dalek]]s during a recent encounter, or if his memory is slipping, within the last century. | ||
* The Doctor and Einstein are old friends. | |||
== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* For their on-screen credit, the only credit in the episode, the authors were collectively known as [[the Children of Oakley Junior School]]. This form of collective on-screen writing credit is unique in the history of the franchise to this and the other script-to-screen episode, [[TV]]: ''[[Good as Gold]]'' written by [[the Children of Ashdene School]]. | |||
* Aspects of this episode's production were covered in a regular "Script to Screen" feature, which appeared in every ''Confidential'' episode from ''[[River Runs Wild (CON episode)|River Runs Wild]]'' through its premiere within ''[[When Time Froze (CON episode)|When Time Froze]]''. | |||
* Aspects of this episode's production were covered in a regular "Script to Screen" feature, which appeared in every ''Confidential'' episode from ''[[River Runs Wild]]'' through its premiere within ''[[When Time Froze]] | |||
* A shortened version of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' opening titles was used. | * A shortened version of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' opening titles was used. | ||
* After being cast as the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith famously wrote several (unpublished) ''Doctor Who'' short stories, in order to help him prepare for the role. According to several interviews, one of these stories featured the Doctor meeting Einstein.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8580985.stm] | * After being cast as the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith famously wrote several (unpublished) ''Doctor Who'' short stories, in order to help him prepare for the role. According to several interviews, one of these stories featured the Doctor meeting Einstein.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8580985.stm] | ||
* [[Nickolas Grace]] (Albert Einstein) previously played Mr Loozly in [[ | * [[Nickolas Grace]] (Albert Einstein) previously played Mr Loozly in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Bang-Bang-a-Boom! (audio story)|Bang-Bang-a-Boom!]]'' and [[Straxus (Human Resources)|Straxus]] in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Human Resources (audio story)|Human Resources]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Sisters of the Flame (audio story)|Sisters of the Flame]]'' and [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Vengeance of Morbius (audio story)|The Vengeance of Morbius]]''. | ||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
''to be added'' | ''to be added'' | ||
| Line 53: | Line 53: | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* The Doctor has obtained a new [[fez]], one which had been previously owned by Albert Einstein. He mentions [[River Song]] blowing up his old fez. ([[ | * The Doctor has obtained a new [[fez]], one which had been previously owned by Albert Einstein. He mentions [[River Song]] blowing up his old fez. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') | ||
* Albert Einstein gets temporarily turned into or replaced by an Ood. Their last appearance was in [[ | * Albert Einstein gets temporarily turned into or replaced by an Ood. Their last appearance was in [[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Wife (TV story)|The Doctor's Wife]]''. | ||
* The Doctor says of the TARDIS that "This 'old Trash' will be around until [[Utopia (TV story)|the end of time]]. In fact, it was." | * The Doctor says of the TARDIS that "This 'old Trash' will be around until [[Utopia (TV story)|the end of time]]. In fact, it was." | ||
* This is the second time Einstein has been seen in the TARDIS, and references are made to unseen adventures of Einstein and the Doctor. His first appearance was with the [[Seventh Doctor]] in [[ | * This is the second time Einstein has been seen in the TARDIS, and references are made to unseen adventures of Einstein and the Doctor. His first appearance was with the [[Seventh Doctor]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'' explaining that the TARDIS was all relative. He once had his picture taken with the Eleventh Doctor and [[Father Christmas]] at [[Frank Sinatra]]'s hunting lodge. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'') | ||
* The Doctor also wore a fez while sharing adventures with [[Kazran Sardick]] and [[Abigail Pettigrew]], and when appearing in a [[Laurel and Hardy]] film. ([[ | * The Doctor also wore a fez while sharing adventures with [[Kazran Sardick]] and [[Abigail Pettigrew]], and when appearing in a [[Laurel and Hardy]] film. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'') | ||
== DVD/Blu-ray release == | == DVD/Blu-ray release == | ||
Although the episode of ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]'' that contained ''Death is the Only Answer'' was included in the Series 6 DVD and Blu-ray box sets in a "Cutdown" edit, this mini-episode was not included | Although the episode of ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]'' that contained ''Death is the Only Answer'' was included in the Series 6 DVD and Blu-ray box sets in a "Cutdown" edit, this mini-episode was not included, although its follow-up, ''[[Good as Gold (TV story)|Good as Gold]]'', would be included in the UK edition of the Series 7 set. It joins a handful of other minisodes, such as the ''[[Tardisode]]s'' and [[Doctor Who tie-in websites|tie-in website]] videos of Series 2 and ''[[P.S. (webcast)|P.S.]]'' that have yet to receive home video releases. | ||
{{DWTV}} | {{DWTV}} | ||
{{Ood stories}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]] | [[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]] | ||
[[Category:Ood television stories]] | [[Category:Ood television stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set entirely in the TARDIS]] | [[Category:Stories set entirely in the TARDIS]] | ||
[[Category:2011 television stories]] | [[Category:2011 television stories]] | ||
[[Category:Doctor Who mini-episodes]] | [[Category:Doctor Who mini-episodes]] | ||
[[fr:Death Is the Only Answer (TV)]] | |||
Latest revision as of 15:32, 27 December 2023
Death Is the Only Answer was a mini-episode broadcast on Doctor Who Confidential. It debuted on BBC Three as part of When Time Froze.
Doctor Who Confidential and BBC Learning teamed up in a competition for UK students aged 9-11 to write a script for a Doctor Who short. The winning script was chosen by Doctor Who producers Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger and Beth Willis and Controller of BBC Learning Saul Nassé. The writers of the winning script were Adam, Daniel, Katie, and Ben, Year Six students at Oakley C.E. Junior School in Basingstoke.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
In the console room of his TARDIS, the Eleventh Doctor is celebrating his acquisition of a new fez formerly owned by his old friend Albert Einstein. The Doctor trips near the console, knocking the fez out of his hands and onto a lever on the console. The Doctor accidentally pushes another lever, causing the fez to vanish. A time portal appears and Einstein himself stumbles through it with the fez, bewildered.
Einstein had been working on his own attempt at a time machine, but when he tried to turn it off, he arrived in the TARDIS. Einstein also thought that he'd discovered the vital part of finishing his time machine — a green liquid, which he believed to be bionic fusion liquid. After scanning the liquid, the Doctor informs Einstein that he is wrong. When Einstein walks away from the console to run some tests on the liquid, the flask suddenly bubbles over and the liquid splashes onto his face, turning him into an Ood who repeats the sentence, "Death is the only answer."
The Doctor has the TARDIS generate an energy field which turns Albert back into his normal self. The Doctor recommends that Albert keeps his fried hair, as it looks "more sciencey". The Doctor drops Albert off on 18 September 1945, and leaves for another adventure; unnoticed by the Doctor, a bit of Einstein's liquid remains on the console room floor, moving on its own.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor mentions that Einstein's toothbrush was destroyed by the Daleks during a recent encounter, or if his memory is slipping, within the last century.
- The Doctor and Einstein are old friends.
Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- For their on-screen credit, the only credit in the episode, the authors were collectively known as the Children of Oakley Junior School. This form of collective on-screen writing credit is unique in the history of the franchise to this and the other script-to-screen episode, TV: Good as Gold written by the Children of Ashdene School.
- Aspects of this episode's production were covered in a regular "Script to Screen" feature, which appeared in every Confidential episode from River Runs Wild through its premiere within When Time Froze.
- A shortened version of the Doctor Who opening titles was used.
- After being cast as the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith famously wrote several (unpublished) Doctor Who short stories, in order to help him prepare for the role. According to several interviews, one of these stories featured the Doctor meeting Einstein.[1]
- Nickolas Grace (Albert Einstein) previously played Mr Loozly in AUDIO: Bang-Bang-a-Boom! and Straxus in AUDIO: Human Resources, AUDIO: Sisters of the Flame and AUDIO: The Vengeance of Morbius.
Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]
If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
to be added
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor has obtained a new fez, one which had been previously owned by Albert Einstein. He mentions River Song blowing up his old fez. (TV: The Big Bang)
- Albert Einstein gets temporarily turned into or replaced by an Ood. Their last appearance was in TV: The Doctor's Wife.
- The Doctor says of the TARDIS that "This 'old Trash' will be around until the end of time. In fact, it was."
- This is the second time Einstein has been seen in the TARDIS, and references are made to unseen adventures of Einstein and the Doctor. His first appearance was with the Seventh Doctor in TV: Time and the Rani explaining that the TARDIS was all relative. He once had his picture taken with the Eleventh Doctor and Father Christmas at Frank Sinatra's hunting lodge. (TV: A Christmas Carol)
- The Doctor also wore a fez while sharing adventures with Kazran Sardick and Abigail Pettigrew, and when appearing in a Laurel and Hardy film. (TV: A Christmas Carol, The Impossible Astronaut)
DVD/Blu-ray release[[edit] | [edit source]]
Although the episode of Doctor Who Confidential that contained Death is the Only Answer was included in the Series 6 DVD and Blu-ray box sets in a "Cutdown" edit, this mini-episode was not included, although its follow-up, Good as Gold, would be included in the UK edition of the Series 7 set. It joins a handful of other minisodes, such as the Tardisodes and tie-in website videos of Series 2 and P.S. that have yet to receive home video releases.
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