Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/The Claws of Axos


 * In episode 4, after the TARDIS dematerialises from the Nuton lab, it is still there during the UNIT gun battle which follows.
 * However, this is still during the time of the Doctor's exile, which means his knowledge of dematerialization and all that good stuff is gone or shaky at best, so he could have had trouble piloting it and accidentally, albeit briefly, rematerialized in the lab.


 * As the Brigadier and his men leave the room where they've been held captive in episode 2, the wall shakes.
 * This is a production error.


 * The TARDIS console room appears to have some kind of anteroom, as circular panelling can be seen beyond the closing doors.
 * Just another example of its programmable internal architecture.


 * Why is a replica of Filer made?
 * Possibly to gain the Doctor's confidence and make it easier to capture him, whereas sending a regular ol' Axon would have gotten the Doctor's guard up, and Jo wasn't available for them to replicate.


 * The Nuton complex powers half the UK, but explodes without loss of life
 * Characters return to it only seconds after it has blown up.
 * It wasn't the whole complex that exploded, just the building housing the light accelerator. Admittedly though it's not made very clear in the dialogue, and it does seem a bit implausible that the accelerator building could have exploded without doing any noticeable damage to the rest of the complex.


 * Why do the Axons need the Doctor to divulge the secret of time travel? Surely the Master is just as smart, and working for them to boot?
 * Probably because the Axons cannot exercise any leverage over the Master, whereas they can over the Doctor (Jo).


 * How do the four Axons gain entry to Prof. Winser's lab just after he's been killed, without raising any alarms?
 * They can assimilate any form of energy, and so probably disabled the security.