The Enigma of Doctor Who's TARDIS Spinoff: Insights on Canon
Discover the captivating world of Tales of the TARDIS - a unique Doctor Who spinoff that offers a blend of thrilling adventures and insightful commentary Uncover the truth about its canonicity, the return of beloved classic characters, and how this series sets the stage for Doctor Who's expansive Whoniverse
Article Overview
Tales of the TARDIS is an official Doctor Who spinoff that combines new scenes with classic episodes, featuring returning actors speaking in-character.
The spinoff diverges from canonical norms and may not seamlessly integrate into the Doctor Who universe like previous spinoffs. It shares similarities with Marvel's What If...? in terms of its relationship to canon.
Tales of the TARDIS signifies the start of Doctor Who's expanding Whoniverse, teasing future spinoffs in the works. This makes it an ideal entry point for viewers who are new to the 60-year history of the show.
Tales of the TARDIS will mark the official opening of the Doctor Who universe, but its place in the show's complicated continuity is still uncertain. With Russell T Davies back as showrunner, a Disney+ agreement in place, and a 60th anniversary celebration approaching, it seemed inevitable that the Doctor Who franchise would expand. After much speculation, the first of these new Doctor Who projects has now been announced: Tales of the TARDIS.
Tales Of The TARDIS Is Part-Spinoff, Part-Doctor Who Commentary
Doctor Who has a rich history of spinoffs, with Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and Class being just a few examples from the modern era. However, these previous spinoffs had a straightforward premise. Whether it was exploring Captain Jack's adventures after his encounter with the Ninth Doctor or following the life of Sarah Jane Smith after her return in the Doctor Who season 2 episode "School Reunion," each spinoff focused on a specific aspect of the Doctor Who universe, separate from the Doctor themselves. In contrast, Tales of the TARDIS is revolutionizing this approach.
According to the BBC's official announcement, Tales of the TARDIS will incorporate:
"A feature-length omnibus episode will seamlessly blend new scenes with classic episodes, allowing the returning Doctor Who actors to reprise their roles and speak in-character. Peter Purves will make an appearance as Steven, Sophie Aldred will portray Ace, and so on. Furthermore, they will reunite with their previous Doctors or fellow companions, capturing new footage that continues their respective Doctor Who journeys."
Each Tales of the TARDIS episode will, however, primarily feature a commentary on a classic episode. In the case of Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, they will engage in discussion about "Earthshock," the notable 1982 episode showcasing the shocking demise of Fifth Doctor's companion, Adric. Acting as a fusion between a DVD commentary track and a YouTube reaction video, Tales of the TARDIS diverges from traditional actor insights and production details. Instead, the actors will reprise their former roles and provide their character's perspective from within the Doctor Who universe, utilizing scripts crafted by esteemed writers such as Pete McTighe and RTD himself.
Is Tales Of The TARDIS Doctor Who Canon?
No official statement has been released regarding the extent to which Tales of the TARDIS will adhere to Doctor Who canon. However, considering the notable names involved in its production, such as Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Phil Ford, and more, it is evident that Tales of the TARDIS is a genuine and fully-fledged Doctor Who spinoff. It is more than just a lighthearted nostalgia trip for the 60th anniversary. With Doctor Who showrunner RTD creating new material for these beloved characters, there exists a strong and undeniable connection to the main series, ensuring that Tales of the TARDIS will not exist in isolation.
On the flip side, Tales of the TARDIS is adopting a more laid-back approach to canon compared to the main Doctor Who TV show. Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury are set to reprise their roles as Jamie and Zoe, companions of the Second Doctor, despite the fact that their TARDIS adventures ended in separate timelines with their memories of traveling with the Doctor erased. The reunion of Jamie and Zoe serves as an example of how Tales of the TARDIS may not fit neatly into the established Doctor Who canon, similar to Torchwood or Class, for instance. Ultimately, this spinoff could be considered canon-adjacent, if not strictly canonical, much like Marvel's What If...?.
How The Classic Doctor Who Characters Could Return (& Why They Look Older)
It remains unclear how these beloved characters from Doctor Who are coming together in Tales of the TARDIS, but the official announcement provides several clues. Each pair of Doctor Who characters are shown inside a mysterious TARDIS-like environment. The design of this technology strongly resembles the decorations from previous eras of the TARDIS, but it cannot be immediately associated with any specific regeneration. This peculiar setting implies the presence of a strange force that bends time - perhaps even the Doctor themselves - which is bringing together past Doctors and companions to reminisce about old times.
The actors in Tales of the TARDIS appear older than they did in their original Doctor Who roles, which raises the question of how this age difference can be explained. One possibility is that the characters are brought together from different points in their timelines, long after they left the TARDIS, resulting in natural aging for Jamie, Peri, Ace, and others. However, this explanation does not clarify why the Doctors themselves also appear older, as they regenerated at relatively young ages.
Fortunately, Doctor Who has already provided two potential explanations for this age discrepancy in Tales of the TARDIS. In the Children In Need special "Time Crash," the temporal collision between the Fifth and Tenth Doctors inadvertently caused the former to age. Additionally, in Jodie Whittaker's regeneration episode "The Power of the Doctor," the age issue was attributed to holographic technology. Therefore, Tales of the TARDIS could plausibly use either of these explanations to account for the older appearances of its Doctors and companions.
Tales Of The TARDIS Is The Start Of Doctor Who's Whoniverse
The term "Whoniverse" has been a part of Doctor Who terminology for a long time. While franchises like Marvel and Star Wars have created their own extensive shared universes, Doctor Who has not quite taken that leap. Russell T Davies, even before returning as the showrunner of Doctor Who, expressed his belief that the series could follow a similar path as these media giants. With Davies' return and the support of the House of Mouse, a genuine Whoniverse finally became possible.
Despite ongoing rumors of a Doctor Who spinoff centered around UNIT or solo shows for former companions, Tales of the TARDIS marks the official start of the new Whoniverse. The anthology format of Tales of the TARDIS positions it as the Doctor Who version of What If...? However, the fact that this particular spinoff is being referred to as the beginning of the "Whoniverse" suggests that there are more spinoffs in development that have yet to be announced. In this sense, Tales of the TARDIS serves as a perfect introduction, providing a crash course in classic Doctor Who for viewers who haven't caught up on the past 60 years completely.
Sources: BBC, RadioTimes
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the upcoming Doctor Who spinoff, Tales of the TARDIS. I think it's a great way to bring back some of the classic characters and explore their stories in more detail. I'm also interested to see how the show will handle the issue of canon, as it seems like it will be taking a more relaxed approach than the main Doctor Who TV show.
Overall, I think Tales of the TARDIS has the potential to be a really fun and exciting show, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it has in store for us.
