History Recap / DoctorWhoS30E2TheFiresOfPompeii

--->'''The Doctor:''' And before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me.
** The Doctor apparently met the Sybil, and she was an excellent dancer.

** The scene of Caecilius's family rushing to their positions during the pre-eruption earthquakes could be one to the Admiral Boom scenes in ''Film/MaryPoppins''.

'''Evelina:''' Is that your opinion... as a Doctor? ''[...]'' And you, you call yourself Noble... ''[...]'' You are a lord, sir, a Lord... of Time.

* BeenThereShapedHistory: The Doctor is quick to deny that he had anything to do with the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E4TheRomans Great Fire of Rome]], and was in fact responsible for the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (as the alternative would be letting the Pyrovile race TakeOverTheWorld).

* FollowingInRescuersFootsteps: At the end, Quintus has been inspired by his rescue by the Doctor and Donna to go to Ancient Roman medical school.

So they go for the ''other'' secret Time Lord manoeuvre: running away, much to Donna's frustration. Unfortunately, the TARDIS is missing; while they were walking around, a street merchant seized it (justified; it ''was'' parked on his market patch) and sold it to Caecilius, a local marble merchant (played by Creator/PeterCapaldi) with a dysfunctional family (a hungover son and an oracle daughter) AND a taste for avant-garde art. It's not the first time [[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E2CityOfDeath the TARDIS has been mistaken for an art installation.]]

The casting for this episode turned out to be quite auspicious. Phil Davis ("Lucius") would play the first antagonist in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' (a series run by the same showrunners as ''Doctor Who''); Tracey Childs ("Metella") had previously appeared as Dr. Elizabeth Klein in ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'', who would go on to become a regular Big Finish companion; Creator/KarenGillan (Soothsayer scout) would return as [[YouLookFamiliar Amy Pond]], one of the two longest-serving companions of the new series; and Creator/PeterCapaldi ("Caecilius") would have a supporting role in ''Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth'' and later take the helm of the show as the Twelfth Doctor himself, the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E5TheGirlWhoDied The Girl Who Died]]" featuring a CallBack to this episode as the reason Twelve has Caecilius's face.

* AccidentalArt: PlayedForLaughs, as Caecilius is sold the TARDIS as a work of modern art. His wife calls it a "great waste of space", not knowing that the TARDIS is BiggerOnTheInside. [[HilariousInHindsight Capaldi then went on to become a later resident of the TARDIS...]]

* BigNo: Lucius Petrus Dextrus and the High Priestess when their EvilPlan is foiled. Both do it twice.

* CityOfWeirdos: The Doctor assures Donna they won't stand out, as ancient Rome is "[[TakeThat like Soho, but bigger]]." It still applies after it turns out they're in Pompeii.

** The Doctor admits that Donna was right -- [[MoralityChain sometimes he does need someone.]]

* AGodAmI: It's a inverted trope here. The new "household gods" of Caecilius' household are the Doctor, Donna and the TARDIS. None of those three believe themselves to be gods -- no, not even the TARDIS.

* MeaningfulName: Lucius Petrus Dextrus (literally translating to Lucius '''Stone Right Arm'''!). These were all deliberate -- Creator/RussellTDavies was channelling ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' and asked James Moran to put them in.

** Caecilius, Metella and Quintus come from ''Literature/CambridgeLatinCourse'', the most popular Latin textbook in the UK and US (not Evelina, though -- she was created especially for the episode).

* TakenForGranite: A side-effect of the Pyroviles taking over their human hosts is stone limbs.

* TakeOverTheWorld: The Pyroviles plan to emulate Rome by taking over the entire known world -- and likely everything else on the planet.

* TranslatorMicrobes: Explored -- when the Doctor tells Donna about the translation field, she wonders what happens if she ''intentionally'' speaks Latin. Answer: The Pompeiians don't understand your Celtic.

* OhCrap: The Doctor is initially unimpressed (and slightly amused) by the supposed prophets. Then Lucius addresses him as "Man from Gallifrey", which clearly alarms him.

* MistakenForSpecialGuest: Not addressed in the episode, but there's a subtle indication that Donna is seen as someone of high status, when the soothsayers note her true name is "Noble" and that throughout this episode she wears purple, which was seen at the time [[PurpleIsPowerful to indicate wealth and status]].

* PsychicPowers: The Sibylline Sisterhood have them as a side-effect of the Pyroviles' presence. To be specific, the humans had the powers already, albeit dormant. The Pyroviles activated these powers, though the Doctor mentions a difference between "pyschic" and "seeing the future".

** Because of the TARDIS, Donna (and we) hear the Romans' Latin as English, so if you speak to them in Latin, it's translated into Celtic. When the Doctor and Quintus are cornered by Lucius Petrus Dextrus and his men, the Doctor mutters, "morituri te salutant" ("those who are about to die salute you") and Lucius Petrus Dextrus says, "Celtic prayers won't help you now."

* ArcWords: Medusa Cascade, "she is returning", the Shadow Proclamation, and something on Donna's back.

* ArcWords: Medusa Cascade, the Shadow Proclamation, something on Donna's back.

* BrickJoke: At the start of the episode, the Doctor says that Latin doesn't have a word for "volcano", and it won't until tomorrow. One day later, Caecilius coins the word from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.

The one where Creator/PeterCapaldi and Creator/KarenGillan appear early. And [[BatmanGrabsAGun the Doctor grabs a [squirt] gun.]]

* SparedByTheAdaptation: Sort of; see CreatorInJoke. In the ''Literature/CambridgeLatinCourse'', Caecilius and most of his family died in the eruption of Vesuvius.

Written by James Moran. This episode was inspired by the very similar ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' episode [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho012TheFiresOfVulcan "The Fires of Vulcan"]].

The casting for this episode turned out to be quite auspicious. Phil Davis ("Lucius") would play the first antagonist in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' (a series run by the same showrunners as ''Doctor Who''); Tracey Childs ("Metella") had previously appeared as Dr. Elizabeth Klein in ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'', who would go on to become a regular Big Finish companion; Creator/KarenGillan (Soothsayer scout) would return as [[YouLookFamiliar Amy Pond]], one of the two longest-serving companions of the new series; and Creator/PeterCapaldi ("Caecilius") would have a supporting role in ''Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth'' and later take the helm of the show as the Twelfth Doctor himself, the episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E5TheGirlWhoDied "The Girl Who Died"]] featuring a CallBack to this episode as the reason Twelve has Caecilius' face.

** The Doctor's mention of "Volcano Day" refers to a comment by Jack Harkness in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E10TheDoctorDances "The Doctor Dances"]], who mentioned using Pompeii several times to pull cons where he'd sell alien ships or technology, only for the eruption to wipe away the evidence before his mark's realised that he'd actually sold them bits of old junk.

** The Doctor's comment about the Great Fire of Rome is a reference to [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E4TheRomans "The Romans"]] (way back with the First Doctor).

** First Doctor serial [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E4TheRomans "The Romans"]] is referenced like this:

* SpiritualSuccessor: To [[Recap/DoctorWhoS3E3TheMythMakers "The Myth Makers"]]. The scene in which Caecilius introduces the TARDIS to his wife is even a loving homage to an almost identical dialogue between Paris and Cassandra.

The one with both a [[Creator/PeterCapaldi future Doctor]] and a [[Creator/KarenGillan future companion]].

-->'''Donna:''' What, and you're in charge?
-->'''Doctor:''' Time Lord? TARDIS? Yes!
-->'''Donna:''' [[ScrewYouElves Donna. Human. No! I don't need your permission, Spaceman.]]

The one with both a [[Creator/PeterCapaldi future Doctor]] and a [[Creator/KarenGillan future companion]].

The one with both a [[Creator/PeterCapaldi future Doctor]] and a [[Creator/KarenGillian future companion]].

The one where Peter Capaldi shows up early.

In no particular order: Caecilius's villa is later attacked by a massive magma-man (which is stopped by a bucket of water), and it is revealed that the volcano fumes inhaled by his oracle daughter to boost her visions are slowly turning her into stone. Also, a local prophet claims that there's something on Donna's back. This will be important [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E11TurnLeft later]]. And he says that a planet has apparently gone missing. This will be ''very'' important [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E12TheStolenEarth later]]. Meanwhile, Caecilius has a freaking computer circuit made of stone, so the Doctor decides to stick around a bit longer for the above events.

The casting for this episode turned out to be quite auspicious. Phil Davis ("Lucius") would play the first antagonist in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' (a series run by the same showrunners as ''Doctor Who''); Tracey Childs ("Metella") had previously appeared as Dr. Elizabeth Klein in ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'', who would go on to become a regular Big Finish companion; Creator/KarenGillan (Soothsayer scout) would return as [[YouLookFamiliar Amy Pond]], one of the two longest-serving companions of the new series; and Creator/PeterCapaldi ("Caecilius") would have a supporting role in ''Series/TorchwoodChildrenOfEarth'' and later take the helm of the show as the Twelfth Doctor himself, the episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E5TheGirlWhoDied "The Girl Who Died"]] featuring a CallBack to this episode as the reason Twelve has Caecilius's face.

* CityOfWeirdos: The Doctor assures Donna they won't stand out, as ancient Rome is "[[TakeThat like Soho, but bigger.]]" It still applies after it turns out they're in Pompeii.

** The Doctor's comment about the Great Fire of Rome is a reference back to "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E4TheRomans The Romans]]" (way back with the First Doctor).

* PityTheKidnapper: The priestesses abduct Donna while the Doctor's back is turned. When he shows up at their temple, neither he or Donna are very concerned about the situation. Note that Donna was about to be killed (mainly for blasphemy, but also for being... well, ''Donna''.)

* PsychicPowers: The Sibylline sisterhood have them as a side-effect of the Pyroviles' presence. To be specific, the humans had the powers already, albeit dormant. The Pyroviles activated these powers, though the Doctor mentions a difference between "pyschic" and "seeing the future".

* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The family Donna and the Doctor saved re-establish themselves in Rome. Marble business continues, Evelina is wearing a short skirt that's the latest fashion, and her brother is studying to be a doctor.

However, what the Doctor and Donna haven't realized is that by saving Caecilius Lobus and his family, [[ForWantOfANail they have set off a series of events that eventually led to]] [[spoiler: [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E10FaceTheRaven the demise of future companion Clara Oswald]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E11HeavenSent the torture of the Twelfth Doctor by Time Lords the for 4.5 billion years]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E12HellBent and his subsequent]] SanitySlippage [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E12HellBent that ended with erasing all of his memories of Clara.]] So yeah, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero good work]].]]

However, what the Doctor and Donna haven't realized is that by saving Caecilius Lobus and his family, [[ForWantOfANail they have set off a series of events that eventually led to]] [[spoiler: [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E10FaceTheRaven the demise of future companion Clara Oswald]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E11HeavenSent the torture of the Twelfth Doctor by the for 4.5 billion years]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E12HellBent and his subsequent]] SanitySlippage [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E12HellBent that ended with erasing all of his memories of Clara.]] So yeah, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero good work]].]]

Six months later, Caecilius and his family have their lives back on track, the daughter is finally socialising like a (in our time, anyway) normal teenager, and that wastrel son is making good of himself, studying to be a doctor (not that kind). And their new household gods on the altar, with a box flanked by this man and this woman, look suspiciously familiar . . .

* AccidentalArt: PlayedForLaughs, as Caecilius is sold the TARDIS as a work of modern art. His wife calls it a "great waste of space", not knowing that the TARDIS is BiggerOnTheInside. [[HilariousInHindsight Capaldi then went on to become a later resident of the TARDIS . . .]]

** The Doctor mentioning that he had [[BlatantLies nothing to do with]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E4TheRomans Rome burning.]] ". . . Okay, maybe a little bit."

** ". . . and it's [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E10TheDoctorDances Volcano Day]]!"

-->'''Donna:''' Just someone. Please. Not the whole town . . . Just save ''someone.''

-->'''Lucius:''' Is that so? Man from Gallifrey. ''[...]'' And you, daughter of . . . London.\\
'''Evelina:''' Is that your opinion . . . as a Doctor? ''[...]'' And you, you call yourself Noble . . . ''[...]'' You are a lord, sir, a Lord . . . of Time.

-->'''The Doctor:''' [[FlatWhat . . . What?]]

* PityTheKidnapper: The priestesses abduct Donna while the Doctor's back is turned. When he shows up at their temple, neither he or Donna are very concerned about the situation. Note that Donna was about to be killed (mainly for blasphemy, but also for being . . . well, ''Donna''.)

-->'''The Doctor:''' . . . but that's the choice, Donna: [[WhamLine it's Pompeii or the world.]]\\
'''Donna:''' . . . Oh my god . . . !

** To ''Series/FawltyTowers'', when the Doctor explains away Donna's ignorance of what an augur does with "she's from . . . Barcelona."

* WeaksauceWeakness: A giant, badass-looking alien warrior made of magma and rock . . . and [[KillItWithWater a bucket of water]] [[AnticlimaxBoss takes it down in seconds]]. The Doctor later uses this to his advantage by arming himself with a water pistol.

* CrazyAwesome: "You fought her off! With a water pistol! I bloody LOVE you!"

* BrickJoke: At the start of the episode, The Doctor says that Latin doesn't have a word for "volcano", and it won't until tomorrow. One day later, Caecilius coins the word from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.