(Firstly, does a slow clap for this huge meta, of course. A *week* too! Bravo.)
Mostly then Nardole's time line makes my head hurt If I may. I had a theory, and now there is no plot hole. Praise me.
It is a Stable Time Loop. Basically, yes, before leaving for the Library (and many other extended universe things), River told Nardole to follow the Doctor and keep an eye on him. Because, well, even if she doesn’t know what will happen to her, it is natural to assume that a lonely 12 –after so much time with her too- might get up to some bad/reckless shit. So. Nardole finds the diary on Darillium and takes it with him. Of course, she wouldn’t leave it behind, so that’s weird. But he has promised to find the Doctor which is not always easy. At some point he learns of River’s death too, but he has his orders (Or alternatively, the Doctor told him when he put him back together so he always knew.) He tracks him down to the executioner’s planet, he confronts him etc. Now, the Doctor remembers Nardole turning up there with the diary. Nardole remembers finding it on Darillum just as he was about to leave. Conclusion: a few days later, TARDIS lands in the Library about twenty feet from where Ten left the diary and 15 minutes after he left (it’s about River: 12 is very careful, and he can count on the Tardis being unusually precise and obedient. Plus, the timeline must be preserved, so that helps), Nardole goes out and gets it, goes back in again, they take off, the Vashta Nerada aren’t very interested because Nardole is largely a cyborg now and the *whole* thing takes about 20 seconds anyway. TARDIS lands on Darillium after River has gone but while past!Nardole is still there, the Doctor leaves the diary for him to find, they take off. And in the present they have the diary safely in the TARDIS. Ta-daa!
The timey-wimey is strong with this one.
I don't. I am very happy with what we got in Name of the Doctor. <3 HEAR, HEAR!
P.S. A week's work should be rewarded. I can post in pieces. Many nice themes here about belief and the like. I have done an official analysis, but there is fic too and it is better, broader, and one can just use small pieces too. Would you like? Only if you do. (If yes, how much? Like I said, it's a weird fic, pieces). Otherwise, I shall only briefly squee about a thing, no problem.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Consulting Plot-Hole Fixer and Continuity Explainer
Mostly then Nardole's time line makes my head hurt
If I may. I had a theory, and now there is no plot hole. Praise me.
It is a Stable Time Loop.
Basically, yes, before leaving for the Library (and many other extended universe things), River told Nardole to follow the Doctor and keep an eye on him. Because, well, even if she doesn’t know what will happen to her, it is natural to assume that a lonely 12 –after so much time with her too- might get up to some bad/reckless shit.
So. Nardole finds the diary on Darillium and takes it with him. Of course, she wouldn’t leave it behind, so that’s weird. But he has promised to find the Doctor which is not always easy. At some point he learns of River’s death too, but he has his orders (Or alternatively, the Doctor told him when he put him back together so he always knew.) He tracks him down to the executioner’s planet, he confronts him etc.
Now, the Doctor remembers Nardole turning up there with the diary. Nardole remembers finding it on Darillum just as he was about to leave.
Conclusion: a few days later, TARDIS lands in the Library about twenty feet from where Ten left the diary and 15 minutes after he left (it’s about River: 12 is very careful, and he can count on the Tardis being unusually precise and obedient. Plus, the timeline must be preserved, so that helps), Nardole goes out and gets it, goes back in again, they take off, the Vashta Nerada aren’t very interested because Nardole is largely a cyborg now and the *whole* thing takes about 20 seconds anyway.
TARDIS lands on Darillium after River has gone but while past!Nardole is still there, the Doctor leaves the diary for him to find, they take off.
And in the present they have the diary safely in the TARDIS. Ta-daa!
The timey-wimey is strong with this one.
I don't. I am very happy with what we got in Name of the Doctor. <3
HEAR, HEAR!
P.S. A week's work should be rewarded. I can post in pieces. Many nice themes here about belief and the like. I have done an official analysis, but there is fic too and it is better, broader, and one can just use small pieces too. Would you like? Only if you do. (If yes, how much? Like I said, it's a weird fic, pieces). Otherwise, I shall only briefly squee about a thing, no problem.