Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/The Armageddon Factor


 * Romana forgets that she's already been told (in The Stones of Blood) that it wasn't the President who sent her on the mission.
 * The Doctor says he's never seen K9 spin around before, so he's forgotten about The Pirate Planet.
 * He may have been referring to K-9's behaviour in this particular context, including K-9 unusually imperious dialogue in this scene.


 * Astra says that she is the sixth princess of the sixth dynasty of the sixth royal house of Atrios. :It should be sixth house of the sixth dynasty or it could be a different system to the earth tradition.


 * In episode four Merak expounds on how only the Doctor and Romana can get into the TARDIS, despite the fact that he shouldn't even know what it is. His insight continues in episode six, where he talks knowledgeably of the sixth segment, having been told nothing about it.
 * On screen. The scene cuts away during his and Romana's search for the TransMat in episode 3, in which she had plenty of time to explain what they were looking for and why.


 * In episode six Shapp acquires the same ability, somehow understanding the functions of the time loop.


 * Drax repeatedly mispronounces Gallifrey as 'Gallifree'.
 * Perhaps that's how Drax pronouces Gallifrey. Note also that this seems to be Tom Baker's preferred pronunciation: see, for example, The Invasion of Time.


 * Why doesn't the Black Guardian appear to the Doctor in the guise of the White Guardian, instead of arousing suspicion by appearing as the Lord President?
 * He doesn't. He is trying to pass himself off as the white guardian. However, this makes little sense either as he does not remotely resemble the White Guardian the Doctor encountered at the beginning of the season.


 * If the sixth segment returns to its original location and form when the Doctor splits the Key up, does that mean the original segments simply returned to their original locations on Tara, etc.
 * Its segments probably took different forms.


 * The Shadow explains that the Atrios-Zeos war was only intended to be a practice run for the universal war the Black Guardian was intending to start once he had control of the Key to Time. Firstly, would a war between two small planets really be a good model for such a vast conflict, and secondly, would a being such as the Black Guardian really require any preparation for causing chaos, given that it is the essence of what he is?
 * The true purpose of the Atrios-Zeos war was to wear down Princess Astra's personal security and get the Marshal to hand her over. The Shadow is getting above himself, supposing that he is of more value to the Black Guardian than a mere errand boy. His death scene ("whimpering wraith" etc.) proves him mistaken.
 * The doctor states that Astra is a human being when talking to the black gardian, but surely she's an atrosian?
 * The doctor states that Astra is a human being when talking to the black gardian, but surely she's an atrosian?