Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/Frontier in Space

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This page is for discussing the ways in which Frontier in Space 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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• If the Master's device makes one see one's greatest fear, why does Jo see the ship change shape in episode one?

The implication is that she is seeing the effect of the device being turned on, but it's still an error; Jo wouldn't be afraid of a Draconian ship any more than any other kind of spaceship.

The fear of the other humans would likely have a psychic influence at that point to push her perception in that direction.

Since the hypno-sound should, realistically, only be useful once audio communication had been established between the ships (in space, no-one can hear you brainwash) then perhaps the Ogron ship has some sort of backup holographic cloaking device, although using the hypno-sound effect to establish that is just plain confusing...

As the audience, we don't know what ships Jo is scared of.

• If the Master's device makes Jo see people as Drashigs at first, then why wouldn't she see them every time she hears that sound?

Different fears are foremost in her mind at different moments.

Its a collective fear.

• What happens to the Master at the climax of this story? I can understand the Ogrons running off when the Doctor activates the hypno-sound fear device but surely the Master didn't. So unless he was actually carried away by some Ogrons there's no accounting for his absence at the end while the Doctor and Jo escape in the TARDIS.

The monster could have frightened ven him, or the hypno-sound made him see his worst fear

Since his plans have been uncovered, three whole races will be coming after him soon, and Jo's somehow got hold of his gun in the chaos, fleeing to a different part of time and space is the most sensible thing he can do at this point.

• In Episode 4, when the Doctor tells Jo about the events of The War Games, The Master knows all about it. However since those events were erased from history, the only Time Lords who would know about them would be the Doctor, the War Chief, and the three Time Lords from the trial.

The events weren't erased. The war lord and his planet were placed in force fields and the war lord and his followers were made to disappear. Not wiped from history. The events still occurred.

• I don't understand how the ending resolves anything. When the Earth General and the Draconian Prince escape, and get back to their planets, they have no more proof than they did before the expedition to the Ogron's planet was mounted. So you still have the Emperor/Prince and the President/General telling their respective peoples that it was all a devious plot, without the proof needed to quell the rising sentiment for war.

The combined influence of two high ranking figures, would probably be enough to convince their superiors to reinvestigate the matter more closely. As it was all just a very elaborate trick, such investigations would probably provide the proof necessary to back up their claims.

• Do none of the ships in the entire Earth or Draconian fleets have black boxes / flight recorders of any kind? One could always assume that the Ogrons disabled or removed the black boxes to cover their tracks, but that itself would (or should) raise questions.