Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/Face the Raven

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

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Although it's what's on screen that ultimately counts, the filming script for Face the Raven, released on the BBC Writers Room website on 26 November 2015, indicates several plot points left unclear in the final episode were originally included. They include (among others):

• The old man (a.k.a. "Chronolock Guy") is not a Cyberman as some have interpreted Ashildr's dialogue to suggest.
• Ashildr's tattoo does not disappear for Clara's death because, according to the filming script, Ashildr no longer had control over the raven once Clara changed the terms of the deal. Thus the tattoo remains with her throughout.
• The disposition of Clara's body and the fact Rigsy keeps his memory is the subject of a cut sequence in which the Doctor carries her remains inside and instructs Rigsy to inform her family and Coal Hill School. He also demands that Ashildr not use retcon on Rigsy in order for him to both do this and remember the sacrifice Clara made for him.

• As indicated, unfilmed references in this script really don't have any bearing on continuity or discontinuity.

• It is stated that no-one leaves the trap street without having their memory wiped, but Rigsy's mural for Clara shows that he somehow retained his memories.

• That's their policy, but they of course don't have to enforce it. Ashildr may have chosen not to out of guilt over Clara's death, and/or fear of the Doctor's threatening tone. Alternatively, we don't know what Rigsy did or did not remember. He could have been given a retconned version of events that still allowed him to honour Clara's memory.

• • • (Related to the above) How can 'Chronolock Guy' be a Cyberman? He has a strong emotional attachment to the woman who is presumably his wife.

They said the death cannot be avoided, but what if Clara transferred the Chronolock to Ashildr. I mean if you cannot kill an immortal then what happens?

Since Ashildir controls the Chronolock, it's possible she may be immune to its effects.

• Another question, were the terms ever explained? If the terms were that "If Rigsy was innocent then Ashildir will remove the Chronolock" but he already was innocent. So how does Clara gaining the Chronolock suddenly invalidate already false terms?

I believe the terms were "if they could prove Rigsy's innocence", then the Chronolock would be removed.

It could be viewed that the Chronolock was promised a soul, and was promised Rigsy so long as he was deemed guilty. This was the agreement between the Chronolock and Ashildir. However Clara then made an agreement with the Chronolock to take it off Rigsy - hence Ashildir is no longer part of the agreement and thus cannot remove the Chronolock as Clara never made that part of the terms with the Chronolock. Cutting out the middleman (Ashildir) is a good way to think of this in short.

• We see an Ood bandaging up a Cyberman,but the Ood has a translation ball instead of a second brain. These balls were added by the humans who enslaved the Ood, but these humans hadn't reached the Ood Sphere yet. How does this Ood have the translation ball?