TW 01-03: Ghost Machine

A Guide to Classic Who references (and other references) in Torchwood episodes.

Torchwood series 1 episode 3 (Story 3):  Gwen Cooper finds a device that allows you to see the past.

Warning: May contain Spoilers for

"Ghost Machine"

Viewing Order

• Doctor Who 01-09 & 01-10 - "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" (Suggested viewing - introduction of character.)
• Doctor Who 01-12 & 01-13 - "Bad Wolf"/"The Parting of the Ways" (Suggested viewing - character developments.)
• Torchwood 01-01 - "Everything Changes"  (Suggested viewing - introduction of character.)

[OLD] - Things that first appeared in the classic series of Doctor Who (or the film.)  Episode List.

For context, the following are also covered:

[1ST] -  The first appearance of things in Doctor Who and related shows.

[NEW] - Things that first appeared previously in the new series of Doctor Who.

[TW] - Things from previous Torchwood episodes.

Ongoing References...

The following references were also made in previous episodes of Torchwood and so are listed again here.  To get to the new references, skip ahead.

• [NEW] Torchwood - This "Secret" organisation was created by Queen Victoria in 1879 and named for the Torchwood Estate (Doctor Who "Tooth & Claw") to fight aliens after she met the Doctor and Rose.  The British PM (who wasn't supposed to know about Torchwood) order them to fire upon the Sycorax spaceship.  Torchwood One (London) were responsible for the "Ghost Shift" (Doctor Who "Army of Ghosts") which led to the Battle of Canary Wharf.  In the future, it was well known enough to be a question in "The Weakest Link" (Doctor Who "Bad Wolf").  This group, Torchwood Three first appeared in "Everything Changes."
• [NEW] Captain Jack Harkness - Was a Time Agent in the 52nd Century, but went rogue and  disguised as an American airman tried scamming the Time Agency in 1941 accidentally meeting and joining the Doctor.  He first appeared in the new series episodes "The Empty Child" and last appeared in that series in "The Parting of the Ways."  He first appeared as a member of Torchwood Three  in "Everything Changes."
• [TW]  Weevils - A race that has infested Cardiff.  Here they appear on cut outs used for target practice.

 This episode...

• [1ST]  Quantum Transducer - First appearance of this technology.  The idea that "ghosts" were just emotional imprints on a location would appear in "Eye of the Gordon" (Sarah Jane Adventures).

• [TW]  Gwen can't use a gun - mentioned in the previous episode.

• [OLD]  UNIT - One of the fake ID cards that Owen has is a UNIT ID.  UNIT is a paramilitary force, set up after the invasion of the London Underground by robot Yeti controlled by the Great Intelligence.  Called United Nations Intelligence Taskforce in the classic series and initially in the new series of Doctor Who until the real world UN complained.  Is now called the UNified Intelligence Taskforce.  The ID contains Owen's real name and says he is a Senior Engineer.

Previous:  "Day One."
Next: "Cyberwoman."

~ DUG.

[Torchwood episodes]

[Doctor Who (new series) episodes][Sarah Jane Adventures episodes][Class episodes][The Doctor classic information]

Nope, you can't convince me to watch the episode again.

The Time Crash blog was created to help New Who fans understand Classic Who references - and to know if something isn't a reference but a new idea.  If there's a reference I missed or a subject that you feel needs more explaining, please comment.