Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/Battlefield: Difference between revisions

*There are a number of fundamental continuity problems between this [[serial]] and the [[BBC Wales]] version of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.   Dating this story is extremely difficult. Certainly, it takes place "some time" after its broadcast year of [[1989]]. It would appear to take place prior to [[2009]], because the Brigadier has been knighted by the time of [[DW]]:''[[The Poison Sky]]'', in which he is referred to as "Sir Alistair", or [[2010]], the approximate timeframe of the appearance by a much older Brigadier in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. Books and audios published in the [[1990s]] and early [[2000s]] have attempted to place the year as early [[1997]]. However, this is not entirely satsifactory, because ''Battlefield'' makes reference to there being a king on the throne, suggesting that [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] has either died or abdicated by this time. Yet she is still on the throne in the [[Tenth Doctor]]'s [[companion]]s' home eras. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'', ''[[Tooth and Claw]]'', ''[[Voyage of the Damned]]'', ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')  

::An attempt to reconcile the aging of the Brigadier was attempted years prior to [[BBC Wales]] era, when the [[Virgin New Adventures]] series established that at some point the Brigadier has his youth restored to him. It remains to be seen, however, if televised continuity will follow suit. As for the issue of who is on the throne, it's possible this story takes place in a timeline that was somehow negated by other events, similar to the shortening of Harriet Jones' political career by the Doctor in [[The Christmas Invasion]] or after-effects of the Time War. It is possible that Elizabeth II's reign is not necessarily a fixed point in time.''

:::Another explanation is offered by ''[[The Poison Sky]]'', in which the [[UNIT dating controversy]] is referenced in-narrative, and thus becomes a part of the narrative continuity of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. The implication is that, because the Doctor can't make sense of the UNIT timeline, neither should we.  

*Why would Bessie's licence plate read WHO7 if they dont know if the Doctor regenerated?  

::Obviously intended as an in-joke, as far as in-universe it's possible it was simply a coincidence that the update licence coincided with the then-present incarnation. Since the Virgin New Adventures establishes that the Brigadier actually met the Seventh Doctor prior to Battlefield but had his memory erased, it's possible some spark of recollection remained and he might have unconsciously chosen the licence number.''