3

When the time lords are sending the question through the crack, how can they be? They are in a pocket universe trapped in a single moment in time (from in the 50th anniversary episode); surely if they are trapped in a single moment, that's not long enough to say "Doctor Who?" and certainly not enough to power up a truth field and project the question through all of space and time.

2 Answers 2

5

The mechanics of the "stasis boxes" which Gallifrey was caught in have not been clearly explained in the show. However, we know that the "single moment in time" description cannot be literally correct; it's most likely figurative. We know this because it doesn't work that way on the two other cases we see:

  • The Zygons put themselves into paintings that were then taken to the Undergallery, where they somehow recognized time passing and were able to escape them.
  • The Three Doctors and Clara trapped themselves in a stasis box and we see them walking through that "moment", watching events unfold, until they also escape from the painting.

Most likely, the stasis box traps some finite stretch of time in a pocket dimension, where there is no interaction with the main universe. Time doesn't "pass" in the usual sense (people don't age, buildings don't deteriorate, etc) but the people in that pocket are able to be active and move around.

In that case, the Time Lords finding the crack in the universe and sending a message through it is no different than the Zygons or The Doctors finding the exit to their paintings and walking out of them.

4
  • "... have now been clearly explained ..."?  Do you mean "... have not been clearly explained ..."? Nov 26, 2015 at 15:02
  • Also worth noting: when we first see the "Gallifrey Falls" painting, the Doctor describes it as "Time Lord art. Bigger on the inside. A slice of real time, frozen." The word "slice" could fit the idea of a finite interval rather than a single instant...and as you note, the three Doctors later walk out of that same painting (or 'stasis cube') and into the Black Archive (right after the Doctor calls a UNIT worker and tells him 'I need you to send the Gallifrey Falls painting to the Black Archive'), showing it's possible to move around inside it.
    – Hypnosifl
    Nov 26, 2015 at 17:34
  • Which begs the question...how did the Doctors enter the "painting" in the first place? I'll ask it later if I have the time...
    – tilley31
    Nov 26, 2015 at 17:44
  • There, I asked... scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/108792/…
    – tilley31
    Nov 26, 2015 at 17:55
7

Time Lords can fit the large inside the small.

They are in a pocket universe trapped in a single moment in time

You've hit the nail on the head there. They might be trapped in a single moment of time, but there's a whole pocket universe inside that single moment, with a whole universe's worth of time and space. That's Time Lord technology for you: they can fit the large inside the small. In the same way a massive TARDIS spaceship can be inside a small police box, an entire universe can be inside a single moment in time.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.