Howling:Who is building Tardis Knock-Offs?

The 11th Doctor comments that it looks like someone was trying to build a Tardis in The Lodger. Later in the Day of the Moon while rescuing Amy’s ganger from the dark suited aliens (do we have a name for them yet?), he notes that he has seen this same equipment before (referring to the equipment seen in The Lodger).

In a related topic about the astronaut suit, the Doctor explains that these dark suited aliens (DSA’s) used something like post hypnotic suggestion to make the human race build the space suit. He goes on to claim that these DSA’s use other life forms to do all of their work.

So who or what race did the DSA’s manipulate to build the Tardis knock-off? The Daleks built a Tardis-like transport and chased the 1st Doctor but they seem an unlikely candidate. Maybe a future version of River? --ANone talk to me 08:51, November 5, 2011 (UTC)

The Aliens are called the Silents, but I am unsure who built it. Perhaps the silence did?89.240.178.82 19:36, November 5, 2011 (UTC)
 * While I am surprised ANone didn't remember the name of the Silents (or maybe I shouldn't be considering their defining feature :P ) but they raise a good point, it is stated the Silents get other races to build stuff for them, which means they couldn't have built it themselves. However based on how little we know of them it could be that is incorrect and they could have done it themselves. However the question here is assuming what we know is correct who built it for them? Well starting off, I don't recall any evidence that their ships were transdimensional like the TARDIS or had an outer shell which could be change to fit the environment, they did have perception filters but so many races have those it isn't worth thinking about. That means the only thing copied is the basic interior design and function. There is speculation based off a few scenes that there may have been a Silent in the TARDIS during the 5th series, maybe they were gathering information for not only understanding how to blow up the TARDIS but take the technology for themselves. Of course if they did manage to get a basic blueprint of the TARDIS than I assume they could have manipulated any sufficiently advanced race to build it with the extra knowledge supplied. Which I guess is the closest answer to the question you'll probably get until Moffat decides to give any more details on the matter. The Light6 talk to me 02:50, November 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * the light6: "I am surprised ANone didn't remember the name of the Silents "
 * actually, the silence is a religious order, not a species, so ANone is right in wondering if we have a name for them yet. but most people here on the howling seem to be refering to them as the munch scream silents, because they resemble the things in edvard munch's painting the scream. Imamadmad talk to me 07:26, November 6, 2011 (UTC)
 * "The Silence" is the religious order, "The Silents" are the species that lead the religious order. And most people refer to them/know them as such because it has been confirmed through stuff revealed on-screen, including the credits on the show (they are credited as the Silents) and through interviews with Moffat and others involved in the show. Also the Scream only influenced their design and has nothing to do with their name (though I guess it is a nice dichotomy that something called the Silents take their appearance from something called the Scream). The Light6 talk to me 10:10, November 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * i never said they were officially called the munch scream silence, only that's what people refer to them as on the howling, if you have been reading other posts. Imamadmad talk to me 10:39, November 6, 2011 (UTC)
 * Umm, I don't think you correctly read my post; I never said that you claimed that was their official name, I was telling you that people here call them Silents because that IS their official name (http://i.imgur.com/OCL7p.png). Also no one refers to them as "Munch's Scream Silence", just The Silents, Munch's Scream is just the inspiration for their appearance. The Light6 talk to me 11:38, November 6, 2011 (UTC)
 * The architectural details and any symbols within the Tardis knock-off might lead someone to give an educated guess as to who or what race designed these Tardis Knock-offs for the Silents. And whoever, (or whichever race) created the design - even if they are based off of stolen plans - would also most likely be the source of the technology that took control of the Doctor's Tardis and made it blow up. Trying to piece together the solution to the Tardis knock-off might provide insight into season 7 events. Did anyone recognize the pattern on the "button" of the Silents' machine? Shapes of the supporting struts look familiar at all? Some one who has seen more episodes (or at least remember details better) might help pin this down. Misquoting the 11th Doctor, "this is important."--ANone talk to me 00:08, November 7, 2011 (UTC)
 * DoctorWhoTheLodgerUpstairs.jpg



Nice reasoning, ANone, but the other question is how much of the design of the knock-off is dictated by the actualities of the universe and how much by cultural issues. An Otto engine's design is pretty much set by the physics and materials involved. The shape of the auto is not. Boblipton talk to me 01:11, November 7, 2011 (UTC)

The central column is obviously reminiscent of the time rotors in the TARDIS and in the makeshift TARDIS of The Doctor's Wife, although it's not identical to either. That, at least, is a candidate for the design being dictated by the nature of the job it has to do. The design of the exterior doesn't remind me of anything previously seen in the show. However, the coffin-shaped control panels around the central column do remind me of something I've seen before and I'm pretty sure it's something from Doctor Who. The trouble is that I can't (so far) recall what they remind me of. I'm not even sure whether it's something in the revived series or something in the "classic" series. If I do remember what it is, I'll post it here. In the meantime, someone else might do a better/quicker job of remembering. --89.241.65.18 08:06, November 7, 2011 (UTC)