By Chris Taylor2013-05-13 19:00:00 UTCIn the history of spoiler alerts, there's never been anything quite like this.
Over the weekend, it emerged that some U.S. fans of the popular BBC time travel show, Doctor Who, had been sent their preordered copies of the Season 7 Blu-Ray early. How early? Three weeks ahead of schedule, and prior to the season finale actually being screened on both sides of the Atlantic (which happens Saturday).
"BBC Worldwide is currently investigating how this has happened," a spokesperson for the corporation told Mashable. It appears to have been a slip-up in BBC America's warehouses, where the DVDs have been ready to roll for weeks. (Most U.S. TV shows tend to wait longer to release their DVDs.)
Even worse for the show, the season finale is one of the most anticipated in its 40-year history. It promises to reveal something fans have never known: the Doctor's name.
The show's official account quickly issued a desparate Twitter plea, as did the BBC head of branding for the show, Edward Russell:
Some US DVDs of this series have gone out early. The #DoctorWho team would be hugely grateful if fans helped keep spoilers off the net.
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) May 12, 2013
Production error in US means DW bluray shipped early. Let's hope no one spoils it for those who want to enjoy it together on Sat. Please RT
— Edward Russell (@edwardrussell) May 12, 2013
This is like a Doctor Who version of the Dunkirk spirit! I know some folk want to boast, but it's so much better if we all watch together.
— Edward Russell (@edwardrussell) May 12, 2013
But appeals to the better angels of the Internet's nature apparently weren't enough. So showrunner Steven Moffat promised something special for fans if they kept quiet: a video featuring the two most recent actors to play the Doctor, Matt Smith and David Tennant.
Steven Moffat has promised if fans help keep the finale’s secrets, we’ll release a special video featuring Matt & David right after the ep!
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) May 12, 2013
What wasn't clear was how that offer would work. Every Doctor Who fan in the world would have to keep quiet? That appears to have already been broken. Several Doctor Who-themed Tumblrs have already posted GIFs from the upcoming show — with spoiler-filed captions. (Don't worry, we won't link to them.)
SEE ALSO: 17-year-old Builds App to Prevent TV Spoilers on Twitter
Spoilers are the bane of our high-tech modern geek entertainment lifestyle. We like to time-shift our shows and watch them when we want; we also want to make the show social and watch along with friends on Twitter. The two are rarely compatible.
Even if you solve that problem (with an app like this), you still have the problem of the Internet itself. It's the cradle of fan culture, but it's also the place where you'll find movies and TV shows leaking like a sieve.
SEE ALSO: Doctor Who Explained in 25 GIFs
As the world's smartest and most self-aware sci-fi show, Doctor Who was naturally ahead of the curve. Three years ago, the time-traveling Doctor ran into his erstwhile wife, River, who has seen much of his future. "Spoilers, sweetie," she says when he asks about it. It became a catchphrase.
So will the show be able to keep a lid on this leak? Will its instant distribution of DVDs — which appear to be stacked up in warehouses already awaiting the end of the season — turn out to be a step too far? And more importantly, will Who fans be able to avoid all evil corners of the Internet until Sunday?
We'd tell you the answers, but: spoilers, sweetie.
What's your worst encounter with a spoiler? Let us know in the comments.
Image courtesy of BBC Worldwide
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