Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/The Androids of Tara

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This page is for discussing the ways in which The Androids of Tara 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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• Romana's restraints look pretty easy to escape from.

Assuming, as seems likely, they were designed to restrain malfunctioning androids, they need only be secure enough to resist uncoordinated flailing as opposed to deliberate escape attempts.

• Why does the prince have such a tiny number of troops at his disposal?

Because the population as a whole was diminished by plague, which is why the androids were introduced in the first place.

• Why is the head guard surprised to see a mechanical dog, when Tara has androids, a comparable, or perhaps even more advanced technology?

Precisely: when you make proper functioning androids, why make a robot dog? Sure, it's possible, but what for?

Taran technology, at least in the presence of the aristocracy, is deliberately designed to look as "retro" as possible. Whilst the K9 prop would adequately answer to that description in most settings, in high Taran society he looks offensively futuristic.

• Grendel tells Kurster to kill Strella if there's any difficulties during the wedding ceremony. So why, when the Doctor halts the ceremony, does Kurster wait until the Doctor has the upper hand in the sword fight before going?

Strella is safely locked in the dungeon and can be killed at any time, so Kurster waits at first to see if he would be more use to the Count in the hall. He heads for the dungeon when he realises that there's a risk of Strella being released if she isn't killed straight away.