Howling:5 things to look for: recognition

The Howling → 5 things to look for: recognition

There be spoilers about un-released stories here.
Run back to the forums if you're scared.

I noticed something throughout the first 5 episodes that could be seen as a running theme. In each of the 5 episodes, the Doctor is known or recognised, something which hasn't happened with such frequency in the revived series before.

• The Eleventh Hour: people in Leadworth recognise him, admittedly as the "Raggedy Doctor", which is probably more to do with the town being a fairly close-knit community rather than anything more. Similarly, after scanning him, the Atraxi recognise him as the Doctor.
• The Beast Below: Liz Ten recognises him, as her entire family had grown up on stories of him. This is because of the Doctor's many run-ins with the Royal Family over the years, so she recognises him as a legend rather than as an individual.
• Victory of the Daleks: Churchill is the Doctor's friend, and the Doctor mentions how the Daleks always recognise him.
• The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone: obviously River recognises the Doctor, but because of that Father Octavian and the Clerics know him through what River has told them about him.

It remains to be seen whether or not he is recognised in Vampires of Venice, and I could be looking into it way too much, but I'm seeing a theme emerge. On the other hand, it could just be Moffatt creating a universe where the legend of the Doctor is more widely known than in the RTD-era. What does anyone else think? 159.92.57.11 10:00, May 6, 2010 (UTC)

This is an interesting idea. And it's not just the revived series--it didn't happen that often in the classic series either, and it was often a big deal when it did. It's definitely going on my list of things to watch for in VoV.

And it could be really interesting if it ties in with the fan theory about the Doctor from the end of the season coming back through the first 11 episodes to fix things and/or to set things up for the finale. They could give us an episode where we don't understand why people recognize the Doctor until we realize that he's been there 30 minutes earlier.... --Falcotron 13:49, May 6, 2010 (UTC)