Paul Vargis
TyWhy can’t there be a big red button?
-War Doctor
Like any good science fiction questions around the essence of us (humanity) should be brought forward. This is at the bedrock of the Doctor Who 50th anniversary movie (watch trailer here), Day of the Doctor. It is the deepest plunging into the hardest thing to comprehend for any person… ourselves.
As the regeneration who chose themselves undeserving of the name, but asks the question as in the clips above, the Warrior Doctor, “I am looking for the Doctor.” The one who is called to heal, to help to aid…or as Clara will note the thrum of the Tardis is a sound of hope. But this is about that corner of the mind of the Doctor, no, the heart where hope has gone out.
For it was in the 9th regeneration that the fabled time war happened. When Daleks and Time Lords went to war to end all wars. Where the rest of the universes saw the Time Lords just as evil as the Daleks who view anything outside their race as need to be exterminated, which this mini-episode Night of the Doctor expertly portrays as the Doctor must make a choice to not be apart of the war or to be apart of the solution?
The haunting begins.
Much like we make choices within our own lives at any given moment with the information available. Whether it is good, bad, horrible or indifferent. It is what is possible and probably for us at that moment. Much like moments in human history (very hard to bring 21st century morals onto situation 400 years old or 150 years old as we try to erase instead of critically teach history so the cycle can be fully broken. Just ask any abuse survivor, the story and triumph need to be spoken so that it will not be repeated, in all its darkness).
This literally becomes the story. As the device designed to end the Time War by the Doctor is AI with a conscience and brings the Doctor to begin interacting with his decision. The decision? At that moment and time in war as the Daleks are all gathered at Gallifrey—to end it all, Daleks and his people. The haunting ripples this will bring through time.
The decision driven by the motto burned into a wall by him “No More.” The war must end.
The journey forward form that choice showing the grief cycle. The short regeneration shortly after not even there. The true shock.
But the struggle between who are known as the Tenth (David Tenant) and Eleventh (Matt Smith) Doctor’s to forget this period in time. How it shapers personality. One who lives in pained regret and the other who lives to forget, to move forward.
The haunting question answered by 2.41 billion.
But with the Eleventh Doctor being 400 years out…is there another decision that can be seen?
What if that decision can be tried?
What if in your moment of darkness your future selves could stand with you and you would not have to be alone?
What if, you live in acceptance of the choice and find hope in spite of it to move forward in a better life for yourself and others?
This may seem like nothing more than a toss away sci-fi movie from the BBC. Apart of geek culture and nothing more.
Yet we live in a time of reconciliation.
A time when groups who have been oppressed and the former oppressors know that something needs to change.
But how do we get there?
Sometimes a science fiction story can show us the interior and exterior journey in a way that creates conversations that can create the space for critical discussion and active listening, that other venues cannot.
Just think of using this in a religious or political or classroom setting with the Time War as the metaphor for residential schools, Canadian Eugenic practices for those with disabilities, the destructive LGBTTQ2+ laws; the dying with dignity or abortion laws; slavery, the list can go on…
For what questions would haunt our journey where the answer 2.41 billion could just be as haunting.
But even more so.
What is the new life?
What is the regeneration that awaits each one of us?
Where does hope exist?
Do you hear the thrum of the TARDIS? Or are you blocking it out?
A Monk's Musings 