The Doctor appears in Return of the Jedi

[ChosenOne54]

So, right as Luke and Vader are about to dual in the Death Star in Return of the Jedi, in front of Palpatine, the TARDIS materializes right in the middle of the room. Out steps the Tenth Doctor, with his sonic screwdriver. His goal? Save Luke, vanquish Palpatine, and turn Vader to the good side (optional, if it fails, vanquish him as well).

For the sake of this match, the Doctor can't simply go back in time and prevent the galaxy from forming, or tow the Death Star into a sun etc.

What can the Doctor do? Can he save the day?

[Simon_Jester]

Unless he actively makes things worse, the situation will be resolved in his favor by default...

[Todeswind]

Uh.... step one would be going back in time and STOPPING THE CLONE WAR. Step two.... something. Step three profit.

EDIT: Re read OP's post. I can't see the doctor making anything worse and he's pretty much empowered by the magic of science wankery to do whatever the hell he wants so he's pretty much guaranteed a happy ending.

[Imperial528]

Well, he can watch until the whole shebang ends and get the redeemed Vader some medical attention, preferably after leaving the DS. That's the easiest, simplest course of action that accomplishes the stated goals in the OP.

[Purple]

Re you sure that would be a good thing? Remember, Vader was only redeemed in the eyes of his son and not the whole galaxy. Chances are that if he did survive he would have been captured and tried for his crimes. That in turn would put Luke up against his friends and cause a rift to plague the future. Well in hindsight it would make for an interesting story. But it's not the kind of happy ending you expect. Instead, it would be a brain bug to plague the watcher after the movie.

[Imperial528]

He did kill the Emperor. That counts for something. Besides, I'm sure redeemed Vader would understand why people still hated him.

Although, remember how there was a funeral for Vader at the end? There were no qualms with giving him a proper funeral, which means that at the very least the main cast of characters didn't hate him as much, or more likely understood what had happened aboard the Death Star.

[Purple]

He did kill the Emperor. That counts for something.

He also massacred so many people that it's silly, destroyed the Jedi order, participated in the destruction of a planet etc.

Besides, I'm sure redeemed Vader would understand why people still hated him.

He probably would. As I said, it would be an interesting story to read. Especially since I can totally see Luke defending him with the whole "the dark side made him do it" defense.

Although, remember how there was a funeral for Vader at the end? There were no qualms with giving him a proper funeral, which means that at the very least the main cast of characters didn't hate him as much, or more likely understood what had happened aboard the Death Star.

A funeral that only Luke attended. It's not like all the others forgave him and came to honor the fallen man. And besides, the fact that they did not feel like going all Mongol on him and mounting his helmet on a spike does not mean they forgave him after all.

[Imperial528]

Ah, several good points.

Now, something just occurred to me: Given that Vader was one of the few close to the Emperor, he may have known about the Emperor's secret projects, such as the clone bodies the Emperor used to come back from the dead. While it's a definite that no one would like keeping Vader around, they may be forced to because of the sheer amount of knowledge he has about the Empire, which would greatly aid the fledgling New Republic in taking out the rest of the fractured, yet still incredibly powerful, Empire.

[Molyneux]

Ah, several good points.

Now, something just occurred to me: Given that Vader was one of the few close to the Emperor, he may have known about the Emperor's secret projects, such as the clone bodies the Emperor used to come back from the dead. While it's a definite that no one would like keeping Vader around, they may be forced to because of the sheer amount of knowledge he has about the Empire, which would greatly aid the fledgling New Republic in taking out the rest of the fractured, yet still incredibly powerful, Empire.

That would have to be one of the biggest plea-bargains in all of fiction...but I could see it happening.
If the Doctor did show up, though, I can't see him standing idly by while the Emperor is lightning-ing Luke. He'd try to intervene somehow, probably upstaging Vader's redemption in the process.

[Crossroads Inc.]

The problem with so many of these Dr.Who "What ifs" is that they often take away one of his biggest advantages in the series. His unfathomable knowledge of his universe.
One of the reasons why he is always so confident, so sure, and so in command is usually he KNOWS so much, usually he knows more about his enemies before they know anything about him.

Take him to another Universe and, yes he is "clever" but he needs to start from scratch on a great deal of things.

I mean let's go through this, first off as others have said, the point at which he arrives would short circuit the whole Vader redemption process.
The Doctor can "do" plenty, but what would he do? For all we know he might poke his head out, say "Oh dear, wrong universe I think" and pop back in side.

He knows nothing of the situation, of Luke, Vader, of the war, etc etc...

[ChosenOne54]

The Doctor can "do" plenty, but what would he do? For all we know he might poke his head out, say "Oh dear, wrong universe I think" and pop back in side.

Heh, I'm just thinking of how awesome of a scene that would be if they put it into a later episode.

[PREDATOR490]

Step 1: TARDIS appears
Step 2: Vader, Palpatine and Luke look on dumbfounded as the Doctor exists

Step 3a: The Doctor gets nuked by Sith lightning
Step 3b: The Doctor gets zapped by Imperial guards

Really, this situation is the equivelent of the 7th Doctor exiting into a hostile situation that could see him get killed the moment he opens the door of the TARDIS.

IF he steps outside he has no information to act on beyond what he sees and I dont see the Doctor being indulged in his errant behaviour before getting zapped, choked or otherwise mauled. Then again, depending on the companion he has with him. THEY might know something about Star Wars to the point they can notify the Doctor.

Although I have a hard time seeing someone like Amy Pond being able to do much beyond tell the Doctor Luke Skywalker is a good guy. Even if Force powers dont work directly on the Doctor. The human companion would logically be vulnerable to getting zapped or choked without the Doctor being able to do shit.

The eccentric nature of the Doctor is extremely likely to get him killed in this situation before he can achieve much other than a smart ass and his companion being a wide eyed smart ass could equally get him killed. Not to mention Luke getting fucked when Palpy just decides to kill him outright rather than play with him long enough for Vader to be torn.

[Zixinus]

I recall scenes in sfdebris's review where the TARDIS has a viewing screen inside it, showing the outside world. Wouldn't he use that first?

Otherwise, I would imagine that he would quickly annoy Vader and Palpatine. I'd guess that he would try to do his usual stunt by doing things like magically disabling the lightsabers around the place. After that, it would depend whether the Doctor has any defense against telekinesis. Has he ever encountered telekinesis directed against him before?

I recall the scene specified that Palpatine ordered out the guards, so they wouldn't be the problem. Unless Palpatine orders back them, then again, why would he? He would just order Vader to quickly take care of the intruder if not taking care of it himself.

[Batman]

At least as per NuWho, the good Doctor manages to routinely park the TARDIS in places/times he never actually meant to go and usually doesn't find out until he leaves the TARDIS and a while later notices that 'wait a second-this isn't where I wanted to go', so the TARDISes view screen seems to be about as reliable as its navigation system.
Of course, this being the 10th Doctor, he might simply have refused to use it. 'Knowing what you're going to run into before going out there and experiencing it yourself? Where's the fun in that?'

[ThePerson5]

The Doctor whispers in Vader's ear: "Don't you think he (Palpatine) looks tired?"

The Galactic Empire crumbles.

[PREDATOR490]

The TARDIS is rather loud which could easily make the guards come rushing in to figure out what the hell is making the weird noise and shooing the guards away to deal with Luke in a controlled situation goes out the window when a magical box appears out of nowhere.

As for the viewer - the Doctor has repeatedly been guilty of running out before looking whats outside. Doctor #7 wouldnt be dead if he had looked. Even if the Doctor DOES look outside, without context he is going to see two people with glowy sticks hammering each other, bitching at one another or an old man shooting electricity from his hands at some poor bastard on the floor.

In almost every case, I can see the Doctor rushing out to 'help' or 'introduce' himself. The only saving grace is a companion having enough know-how to recognise the scene and warn the Doctor. Even then, I do not expect any of the three parties to indulge the Doctor in his flippant behaviour while a raging battle for the galaxy is going on outside.

[Stark]

Are you saying the Doctor only survives by plot due to his 'flippancy', rather than the reverse?

[Zixinus]

Well, then I would guess it purely depends on who's writing what happens next.

If it's Dr.Who writers, the Doctor smugly goes in, disables every weapon, counters telekinesis somehow, delivers some big speech in which Vader gets redeemed and Palpatine annoyes the Doctor. To what the Doctor whoops some Deus Ex Mechanica out of his ass, reverses the lighting bolt effect and saves the day. The companions probably get to do something semi-important along the way.

If anyone else writes it, the Doctor gets killed because Palpatine doesn't like loud, smug (even if the Doctor wasn't being one because the proper in-universe thing to do is to bow to the Emperor) people interrupting his show. Also, because the Doctor doesn't have a magical character shield.

As for the noise, wasn't there a lot of noise made during the fight?

[Stark]

So is DW writing better or worse than a scenario so stupid it drops an unarmed alien in the middle of a wizard fight?

Maybe if we replace 'the Doctor' with 'Batman' or 'Captain Kirk' it would be more amusing.

[ChosenOne54]

Well, then I would guess it purely depends on who's writing what happens next.

If it's Dr.Who writers, the Doctor smugly goes in, disables every weapon, counters telekinesis somehow, delivers some big speech in which Vader gets redeemed and Palpatine annoyes the Doctor. To what the Doctor whoops some Deus Ex Mechanica out of his ass, reverses the lighting bolt effect and saves the day. The companions probably get to do something semi-important along the way.

This is possibly the most perfect description I have ever read.

[Solauren]

Assuming the Doctor knows how things are going to go down...

His best bet, as mentioned is to let things play the course, then get Vader + Luke off the Death Star to a universe that can treat Vader's medical problems. i.e the severed legs, the damaged lungs, the fact he just got his ass cooked like a chicken in a 50000 Watt microwave oven....

Give Vader back himself, and then drop them off on Endor so they can go attend the celebration and figure out how Luke is going to explain finding his Father alive and more or less okay on the Death Star after taking out Vader and Palpatine.

[ChosenOne54]

Nanogenes to the rescue!

[streetad]

Hang on though; is Palpatine not going to be slightly curious to know who the hell this random guy is that's just materialised in the middle of his throne room and is ruining his big moment running around waving his arms about with demented, child-like enthusiasm? He might be a cackling, gurning megalomaniac but he was sharp enough to manipulate an entire galaxy over the course of several decades and there's a chance he might at least partially realise the incredible technological windfall that's just fallen into his lap.

Assuming he doesn't just get zapped in a Sith hissy-fit at being interrupted, I can see the Doctor's immediate future involving a date with one of those spiky torture droids from ESB and this time they definitely will be asking questions. Of course he will no doubt escape and recover the TARDIS during the chaos that follows as the Death Star is destroyed by the Rebel Fleet. The remainder of the 45 minutes can be dedicated to how he saves the Ewoks from the Endor Holocaust or something....

[Ugolino]

He gives his "this is your last chance" speech, stops Luke from killing anyone, and probably cooks Vader alive in a convoluted chain of events with the sonic, then takes the Emperor off to be put on trial. This is Ten we're talking about.

[NecronLord]

Doctor #7 wouldnt be dead if he had looked.

Have you actually seen the film? The console was broken by the Master, that's why he didn't know what was going on outside.

The Seventh Doctor is by far the most capable, and it's only an extremely unfortunate chain of events that led to his death. He can't be expected to use the scanner though, when it's something he has to repair later in the film, and he's in an obvious rush to try and recapture the Master.

The Tenth doctor did, relatively frequently, run out of the TARDIS without using the scanner, but you can't really apply that argument to Seven.