7A Takes Place Out of Order for The Doctor
| Fan Theory | |
|---|---|
| Fan Theory: | 7A Takes Place Out of Order for the Doctor |
| Synonyms: | 7A Happens in Reverse, 7A is Backwards |
| Origin: | |
| Fandom(s): | Doctor Who |
| Dates: | 2012 |
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7A Takes Place Out of Order for the Doctor is a fan theory in Doctor Who fandom that posits that the first half of series 7 takes place out of chronological order for the Eleventh Doctor. That The Doctor has already experienced Amy and Rory's end at the hands of the Weeping Angels and the first half of season 7 is him going back to earlier points in the Ponds' timeline to spend time and have more adventures with them. There is some variation in the theory with some viewers believing 7A should be watched in reverse from Angels in Manhattan to Asylum of Daleks[1][2], where as others believe it is more complicated with some episodes going in order and others moved around in time.
A reddit user summarized their take on the theory as thus:
The assylum of the daleks: This is definitely ep.1 for amy and rory, in pondlife we see that while waiting for the doctor rory walks out on amy just before the doctor changes the lightbulb and shows up in ep.1 they are then dropped back off at the endDinosaurs on a spaceship: This is definitely ep.2 because we meet brian for the first time and they were also picked up but it has been 10 months since the events of assylum
A town called mecy: This is where things get complicated, the doctor doesnt pick up amy and rory here they are already on their adventure and while walking through the town he mentions that they were under henry the 8ths bed which doesnt happen until halfway through The power of three on their anniversary. Now this could be because the doctor is visiting them in reverse but i dont think so.
Power of three: Now this episode could tie into Pond life as when he bursts into their bedroom he could be talking about the cubes and why the earth is in danger buuut at no point when he arrives in that episode is he concerned apart from when hes already there and the cubes start acting up. They also go to henry 8ths bed here and at the end the ponds decide that they want to stop waiting for the doctor and go on proper adventures with him which is why i think A town called mercy happens next for them aswell to tie in with the fact that they are always traveling and dont get picked up.
The angels take Manhattan: Obviously this is the final for rory and amy as they "die" but whats to note here is that at the end river asks if the bulb needs changing and he says he just changed it tying back into Pondlife pre Assylum.
As for the doctors timeline im not too certain so its up for discussion. The way he talks in power of three about running to them before they fade away could imply that hes already lost them but then that doesnt tie in to the angels coming after that point when amy is supposed to be with him full time from then on so the order i think it goes in for the doctor is Power of three a town called mercy the angels take manhattan assylum of the daleks and then dinosaurs on a spaceship but this doesnt leave much closure between that point and the snowmen.
it could be angels, assylum dinosaurs power of three then mercy but im not sure at what point after mercy the doctor drops them off to be picked up again earlier for him and later for them in angels. This is up for discussion[3]
The origins of this theory are vague, a post by tumblr user "aragog" is referenced in an early reddit thread that mentions the theory while the first part of season 7 was still airing[1], although the post is now gone and was not archived. Although, the theory itself probably takes its inspiration from canon: Pond Life Omnibus: Series 7 was a Doctor Who short released before series 7, and it does show an instance where the Doctor pops in to grab the Ponds to stop a world threatening event that they have no idea about and he then realizes that he has come to find them at the wrong point in time. So the idea that Doctor would visit the Ponds out of chronological order is not far fetched.