Theory:Torchwood television discontinuity and plot holes/The Gathering

You are exploring the Discontinuity Index, a place where any details or rumours about unreleased stories are forbidden.
Please discuss only those whole stories which have already been released, and obey our spoiler policy.

This page is for discussing the ways in which The Gathering 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. 

• The reason that Torchwood couldn't turn Oswald into the police was that Oswald knew too much of their plans. Couldn't they just retcon him?

I think the implication isn't just that he could tell the police that they're hiding somehing, but that turning him over would cause the police to search the house and find what they're hiding. But that doesn't really work either, because the police have already searched the house, and they already know the police will be back to search again, so turning over Oswald wouldn't make things any worse.

But what about the end when they have to bring Oswald to Shanghai with them. By that point, the police had already found Greaint, so what difference could it make. They could even just retcon him, and dump him somewhere where they know he will be caught while he's unconscious.

At the end, Gwen seems to be seriously afraid that Rhys will kill Oswald if they don't take him. At first glance, it seems silly and a bit out of character for her to give in to Oswald's manipulation that easily (all she'd have to do is take him out of the house, retcon him, and dump him somewhere that Rhys couldn't possibly find before the police do…), but the look on Rhys's face may have disturbed her enough that she wasn't thinking clearly.

Well, retconning would make him not remember that first meeting, but wouldn't he still go after Jack and the others. If they retcon him, that would mean they would HAVE to leave the house, and I mean all of them. Even Gwen's mother, whose name escapes me. Because as soon as Oswald would turn up again they would have to retcon him again and again. Unless they retcon him and give him to PC Andy... Stupid retcon :p it makes the writers need to retcon the story XD