10 Wibbly Wobbly Ways Doctor Who Plays With Space/Time

By Mary Ogle /

9. Using Historical Objects to Send Messages

One problem with the Doctor€™s ability to travel anywhere in space and time is that it€™s a bit hard to contact him when you need him. After all he could be anywhere and anywhen. How do you get around that? Use historical markers to send messages. This is a standing joke between the Doctor and River Song, both of whom are time travelers, and it€™s used to great effect. In €œTime of Angels€ (series 5) River engraves €œHello Sweetie€ onto the flight recorder of the starliner Byzantium in Old High Gallifreyan. River knows the Doctor likes to check his work in museums and since the Byzantium is of great historical importance he€™s bound to stumble upon the flight recorder at some point and be intrigued by her message. In €œThe Pandorica Opens€ (series 5) she does a similar thing by leaving the Doctor a message on the oldest cliff face in the universe. The Doctor, in turn, sends her a message €“ Yowza €“ through Early Qin Dynasty pottery in €œAngels Take Manhattan€ (series 7). It€™s an ingenious way to create touchstones €“ communication points €“ that keep the Doctor and River connected no matter where or when they are.

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