Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/Planet of Evil

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This page is for discussing the ways in which Planet of Evil 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. 

• Tom Baker almost falls over after throwing Sorenson and the container of anti-matter down into the pool.

Even the Doctor can trip.

• In The Three Doctors it was stated that anti-matter and matter couldn't exist without an explosion, so how do they manage to exist together here?

Zeta Minor exists on the dimensional boundary between both universes. It is possible that this region of space acts as a kind of buffer between them, making it possible for them to co-exist. That is why the danger increases the further the Morestran ship gets from the planet.

It could also be the act of the anti-matter creatures/intelligence, who have some power to prevent a reaction whilst it is contained to their area of influence.

• How is the ship able to take off the second time and not the first when there is anti-matter on board on both occasions?

There was less aboard the second time.

• How is the man turned into an anti-matter monster, and why didn't it happen to the Doctor when he looked at the crystals?

Sorenson's conversion is due to his long-term exposure to the crystals and to the planet.

• When expelling the anti-matter that the Doctor had, the door on the outside of the ship opens after they eject it - when expelling the Doctor the door on the ship opens before they attempt to eject him.

They can open the door at will, before or after.

• In episode two, Salamar twice mentions that seven men have died. However, there were five men dead at the beginning of the serial. Braun and Baldwin died during episode one, and their bodies were soon discovered. Then O'Hara died at the beginning of episode two. That makes eight deaths.

Salamar was either misinformed or miscounted.

• The ship can't leave, because antimatter is on board. In Episode 4, the Doctor says "there are two antimatter sources left on the ship I have one (the container) and Sorenson is the other." The Doctor then manages to get the container in the Tardis and dematerialise. Thus, there is no antimatter left on the ship. Thus the ship should no longer be drawn toward the planet, yet it is.