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From: see1@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (ellen keyne seebacher)
Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho
Subject: the Doctor's name
Message-ID: <210@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Feb-85 14:13:57 EST
Article-I.D.: sphinx.210
Posted: Mon Feb 25 14:13:57 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 08:03:25 EST
Organization: U. Chicago - Computation Center
Lines: 46


In "the Armageddon Factor" --last show of the Key to Time series-- the 
other Time Lord (with the Cockney accent, whom I believe was called Drax)
calls the Doctor "Thete" (short for the Greek letter Theta, which was 
apparently a school nickname at the Academy).  NOT "Pete" !!    

  I would not consider the first Doctor's alias of "Dr. Foreman" to be
a "mention of the Doctor's name" any more than we think Pertwee is serious
when he introduces himself as "Dr. John Smith"...

I don't know what fanzine the tidbit that "the Doctor's name is '______'"
came from, but it is clearly non-canonical.  Despite what the book version
of the Master's first appearance (whatever that episode was) says, the
Master's name has not, to my knowledge, been mentioned either.  

Hypothesis:

  1.  No 'defected' Time Lord -- and here I include the monk of "Planet of
the Spiders," along with the Master and characters  such as the Meddling 
Monk of an early episode, who was clearly a Time Lord -- has ever has his/
her name mentioned.  (Romanadvoratrelundar was on a mission for the Guardian
until she decided to stay in E-Space, after which we don't KNOW what name
she may have taken...see below.)

  2.  When the Master is referred to by other Time Lords, it's "he (now)
_calls himself_ the Master," and our hero tells us he's _called_ the Doctor.
Clearly these would be pretty strange names to give your children, but that
isn't the point...I think that when a Time Lord/Lady leaves Gallifreyan
society, he/she is bound to take a new name (by honor?  unwillingness to
keep an aristocratic name?  custom?  Gallifreyan law?)...

  Perhaps if he'd stayed at the end of "5 Doctors" we'd have not "Lord
President Doctor," but his old name back...


  Anyway, I don't want to flame anybody and I realize this may have all
sorts of holes in it (I know you'll point them out), but I think this
ridiculous notion of "the Doctor's name is...." has got to be put to rest.


-- 
 ellen keyne seebacher               ...ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!see1
 university of chicago        
   computation center            "...and to my Democratic precinct      
 (x9.xes@UChicago.Mailnet)              captain, I leave my vote."