This episode was amazing - I was on the edge of my seat the entire time - except for the ending!! I found it to be such a letdown, left with so many questions as follows (somewhat in order) from least needing answers to to most needing answers (with some theories): 1. Why did the doctor disappear? [ig just because he's the one who broke the circle and bcs magic probably?] 2. Why did the tardis lock? [he didn't actually lock it from the inside so how/why did it lock? Some people think bcs him and the tardis are connected and it realises he's not there or something] 3. Who made the circle/when/why [is the prime minister guy like a reincarnation of mad jack who only exists bcs they broke the circle; hence the circle was made ages ago by people trying to stop this spirit but since they broke it the spirit of mad jack went into this guy - this theory also relates to the next question I had] 4. What did the Prime Minister have to do with anything? [ok I get that he's "mad jack" but I feel like that whole section with him wasn't fleshed out at all and didn't make much sense to me. It wasn't really explained what he had to do with the woman/stepping on the circle excpet perhaps the woman (old ruby) making him run away and therefore not become pm and start a nuclear war] 5. How does old Ruby time travel back to wales to stop the doctor from stepping on the circle? [I like your theory about it being Ruby's ghost echoing back through time but still would've like more of an explanation in the episode] 6. Why can everyone see the woman but not photograph her? [probably just the perception filter tbh] 7. Why 73 feet? 8. WHY DOES OLD RUBY MAKE EVERYONE HATE HER (ESP HER MUM) [I like the theory u mentioned about it being to do with shock when they realise she's a ghost (put simply), or that happening so as not to change the loop etc. but stillll] 9. WHAT ARE THE GESTURES!!! [this one esp. was expecting something similar to the episode with the zombies outside the submarine mouthing the list of name of people to be killed. Even a line would've been nice where ruby mentions trying to see if it's sign language or something. The repetition of same gestions was noticible enough that I thought it would've been explained.] I like the points you made about maybe this episode coming up again later, and also esp with susan and how it'd be cool if ruby mentions seeing her in wales and has some kind of flashback haha Also sorry for writing so much and idk if any of that made sense but I'm sure some of my above questions could be answered if you really think about it for ages but like you said it shouldn't require mental gymnastics to understand an episode. Having said all of that I still LOVED this episode! Disappointed by all the questions left unanswered in the last couple of minutes but it is definitely one I'll rewatch in the future :)
I think I can answer some. 1. Cuz he broke the chain. 2. As Kate said they were in a suspended timeline hence the Tardis locking itself 4. The Prime Minister just popped in his time as intended but Ruby already knew about him hence the importance. 7. Cuz thats apparently the distance at which we cant see someoneé face or properly. Smtg like that. 8. I don't think there should be answer for that 9. It's actually sign language for smtg. I forgot but u should watch Doctor Faztrap's video on the ep for that.
My opinion on this is that the episode was awesome up until ruby died. After that the story fell to pieces because they effectively created an infinite time loop and then broke it without explaination. So it felt like non of it actually happened and we were cheated out of 45 minutes of time of our lives
I don't think it is an infinite time loop. The Doctor & Ruby are punished for interfering with the fairy circle & I think after Ruby completes her penance she is let go.
