Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/The Satan Pit

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This page is for discussing the ways in which The Satan Pit 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. 

• How could the TARDIS be in the Beast's prison? It first fell in DW: The Impossible Planet into a crevasse, but how could the TARDIS gone down the seal?

The Beast has been shown to be able to telepathiclly link to living things and take control of them, the TARDIS being a living thing, therefore it is likely the Beast took control of the TARDIS and placed it in captivity. Otherwise could have been a lucky fall. As shown in the Visual Dictionary, the crevasse leads directly to the Beast's pit.

• If the Beast was imprisoned before the universe, and assuming that he was always imprisoned in Krop Tor, then how did Krop Tor and the black hole survive the Big Bang? How could they be carried over from one universe to another? The same could be asked of the Beast himself.

The Ancient Lights survived the Big Bang and as an extremely powerful entity the devil (even more so than the Ancient Lights) was able to survive as well and have the ability to hold surrounding objects. Due to the technology holding the planet being unseen and incomprehensible, it is likely that the Disciples of Light created a way of keeping the black hole static, with the planet around it.

• The Doctor claims that he could not save the Ood as he only had time for one trip. But he has a time machine. How could he not have enough time?

DW: The Parting of the Ways and DW: The Girl in the Fireplace suggested that the Doctor cannot use the TARDIS to time travel if he becomes "part of events". This is because he would be in the same place at the same time in twice or more circumtances, and the episode Father's Day shows the extreme danger of attempting it.

• It is clear in the Impossible Planet, that the Beast has total control of Toby and can work his will through him, so why is it necessary to actually open the underground seal at the end of that episode if his mind had already reached beyond it?

Though he is able control minds he cannot actually leave the confines of his body until the seal is open and the key to achieving that lies in the intonement of the words which only Toby can translate; and indeed are the means by which the Beast is able to possess him in the first place.

• Why bother to possess the Ood and set them on the 'Aliens'-esq rampage, as this only alerts the Doctor and the other humans to the impending danger? If the Beast's intention is merely to escape, why not simply use Toby to open the seal surreptitiously and then sneak away in the rocketship when no-one is looking and any the wiser?

Creating fear is a vital ingredient in the Beast's opening of the seal. If he is after all, just an idea, perhaps he needs other people's awe/terror to 'make him real.

• Why didn't Rose just shoot Toby in the head?

Even if that would have worked, and even if she had thought of it, Rose could not have been sure that the Beast wouldn't have just jumped to another person. Also, Rose may have been reluctant to directly shoot Toby.

• Why did Zack claim that he, Danny and Rose would be the first human beings to be sucked into a black hole if they already knew that Scooti Manista was sucked into the black hole and as was Toby seconds before?

Perhaps he meant "living" humans.