Uncovering the Hidden Easter Eggs in Doctor Who's Tales of the TARDIS: Episode by Episode

Article Overview

Doctor Who's spin-off, Tales of the TARDIS, is packed with Easter eggs referencing the Doctor's past, featuring reunions and reminiscing between various characters.

The characters' memories are set against the backdrop of the memory TARDIS, a combination of various console parts. The scenes include numerous elements that pay tribute to the show's rich history.

As each pair reminisces, they not only recall a beloved Doctor Who story but also provide updates on the companions' lives after their time in the TARDIS. Throughout their conversations, there are mentions of significant episodes and iconic accessories, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere.

Doctor Who's 60th-anniversary special, called Tales of the TARDIS, has introduced a fresh spin-off, packed with Easter eggs that nod to the Doctor's past. It is the first Doctor Who spin-off since Russell T. Davies returned as showrunner, after rebooting the popular sci-fi series in 2005 and serving as head writer until David Tennant's Doctor departed in 2010. Tales of the TARDIS brings together various pairs from Doctor Who's history, reuniting them to reminisce about their shared experiences with the Doctor.

Currently exclusively available on BBC iPlayer, Tales of the TARDIS features the return of previous Doctors and companions from the show's classic era. It also includes Clyde Langer (portrayed by Daniel Anthony) from the CBBC spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures. Within the context of the memory TARDIS, each pair tells a classic Doctor Who story and catches up on what happened to them after leaving the TARDIS. In the background of these scenes, keen-eyed viewers can spot several references to the Doctor's numerous adventures throughout the years, although some are more noticeable than others.

6. Earthshock

In "Earthshock", the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) and Tegan (Janet Fielding) reunite, bringing back memories of the adventure that led to the death of Adric, one of the few companions in Doctor Who who met a tragic end. This episode marked the beginning of Tales of the TARDIS and introduced the memory TARDIS, created from various consoles seen throughout the series. In one shot, the head of Handles, a Cyberman companion from the Eleventh Doctor's (Matt Smith) final episode, can be spotted in the background.

As the Doctor and Tegan see each other for the first time, Eleven's fez can be seen resting on a shelf, the same one from the fifth season's episode "The Big Bang". Additionally, a miniature version of Cassandra's jukebox (Zoe Wannamaker) from the first season's episode "The End of the World" is visible. As the Doctor and Tegan conclude their reminiscing about "Earthshock", the Doctor holds Adric's blue star badge, which was destroyed on the spaceship where he met his unfortunate demise.

5. The Mind Robber

In "The Mind Robber," Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury), companions of the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), reunite to reminisce about their adventure in the Land of Fiction. During this episode, they come across the Second Doctor's iconic flute, which he often carried with him. There is a brief shot where a small blue suitcase is visible, containing miniature figurines representing various incarnations of the Doctor.

This could possibly be a nod to the Toymaker's return in the 60th-anniversary special, as one of the figurines depicts the Tenth Doctor. However, the remaining ones strongly resemble the Eleventh Doctor, which may suggest that the suitcase belonged to Amelia Pond and the toys inside are representations of the Raggedy Doctor she imagined as a child. Furthermore, this episode features a sweeping shot of the car registration plate "WHO 1," famously associated with the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and his vehicle, Bessie.

4. Vengeance on Varos

During the reunion of the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant), they reminisce about their adventures on the alien planet in the episode "Vengeance on Varos". The episode begins with a close-up of the Sixth Doctor's iconic multicolored coat, adorned with a memorable cat pin on the lapel. Although the Doctor himself is not wearing the coat, it is hung nearby, while he sports a beige suit with a small dog pin on the lapel.

In another scene, the mask of the Clockwork Droids from the season 2 episode "The Girl in the Fireplace" is prominently displayed along with a small gold clock. Although not the exact clock seen in Madame De Pompadour's hearth, it bears a striking resemblance, suggesting a reference to the same episode. Additionally, the Tenth Doctor's 3D glasses make a brief appearance, recalling their use to observe the Cybermen ghosts in "The Army of Ghosts" and "Doomsday".

3. The Three Doctors

In "The Three Doctors," Jo Grant (played by Katy Manning) reunites with Clyde Langer, who once saved the world alongside Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) during their teenage years. This episode is rich with emotional references to Sarah Jane, as Clyde brings Jo up to speed on the lives of himself, Rani (Anjli Mohindra), and Luke (Tommy Knight). The episode begins with Clyde removing a large spacesuit helmet, which the Doctor had worn on various occasions, including in the terrifying episode "The Waters of Mars." Jo also notices a stuffed owl, a memento that Sarah Jane carried with her when she left the Fourth Doctor's (Tom Baker) TARDIS.

They also explore a drawer that houses every version of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, leaving Jo eager to give them a try. As they sit across from each other for a chat, Clyde holds a silver box, which upon closer inspection, reveals itself as one of the cubes from the season 6 episode "The Power of Three." Jo comes across a blue crystal from Metebelis III, identical to the one the Doctor had gifted her as a wedding present many years ago.

2. The Time Meddler

In "The Time Meddler", two companions of the first Doctor (William Hartnell), Steven (Peter Purves) and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien), are reunited. They quickly discover the Doctor's pocket watch and the horned Viking helmet they had previously found, which leads them into retelling the story.

As the episode progresses, another reference to the First Doctor is seen in the background – the out-of-order sign that was previously attached to the front of the TARDIS in the 1966 story "The War Machines". Additionally, three fluid links, which are used to power the TARDIS, can be seen sitting in a bowl on the console.

Towards the end, Vicki playfully mentions the dimensional control that the Doctor had stolen from the monks, wondering if the monk is still searching for it.

1. The Curse of Fenric

In the memory TARDIS, the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophia Alred) recall their adventure in a secret naval base off the coast of Northumberland, known as "The Curse of Fenric". This episode features several Doctor Who Easter eggs, including a display showcasing every type of TARDIS key seen on the show. The Doctor's fondness for chess is evident as he interacts with a chess set, a game favored by every incarnation of the Time Lord. Notably, the Seventh Doctor displays a particular affection for it.

A shot reveals a holder filled with various items that have long handles, such as Ace's baseball bat from "Remembrance of the Daleks" and a tennis racket resembling the one used by the Tenth Doctor in "The Sontaran Strategem". Other items scattered around the room include The Doctor's blackboard from "Listen" and the Fifth Doctor's cricket gloves. These objects add to the richness of the Tales of the TARDIS episode.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I was thrilled to learn about the hidden Easter eggs in the spin-off series, Tales of the TARDIS. The show is packed with references to the Doctor's past, featuring reunions and reminiscing between various characters. The characters' memories are set against the backdrop of the memory TARDIS, a combination of various console parts. The scenes include numerous elements that pay tribute to the show's rich history.

One of the Easter eggs that caught my attention was the appearance of Handles, the Cyberman companion from the Eleventh Doctor's (Matt Smith) final episode, in the background of "Earthshock." This was a fun nod to a memorable character and a reminder of the Doctor's long and complex history. Another Easter egg that I enjoyed was the inclusion of the Second Doctor's iconic flute in "The Mind Robber." This was a small but significant detail that added to the authenticity of the episode and showed the creators' attention to detail.