Theory:Doctor Who television discontinuity and plot holes/Time Heist


 * So did he actually do (almost) whole heist before just to set up the heist? Why do it two times?
 * Why didn't the Doctor just choose without-solar-flare-time, and use the TARDIS?
 * Because Karabraxos wouldn't be evacuating and would still hold sway over the Teller, making it impossible to rescue it and its mate.
 * Unless he used the TARDIS to go directly to the personal vault. Then he could wait until Karabraxos called for the Teller to deal with the intruders (as she did in this episode). At which point, he does the same stunt, lets the creature read his mind to know he is there to help, sonics open (or lets the creature open) the door with its mate, and just pop off in the TARDIS. No real need for any of the shenanigans here, but then there usually isn't for most heist movies.
 * Not really feasible. Again, Karabraxos would still have her mental connection to the creature and power over it. The Doctor explains all that during the episode.


 * Not really relevant to anything, but was it ever explained where the Doctor/Architect got the escape ship in orbit that was mentioned?
 * True. But, it's got to be trivial enough for the Doctor to get hold of a small spaceship from some point in time/space.


 * What was the purpose of telling everyone that the devices were atomic shredders instead of teleporters? Other than for the surprise dramatic effect? He obviously knew what they were since he's the one that put them all there in the first place.
 * I guess that's because of the Teller who could read their thoughts - if he knew, Karabraxos would know, if she knew, she would cause additional problems. Basically, the less they knew about their own mission, the smaller was their guilt and the chance that the Teller would sense it - they didn't even know for sure what they're coming for.