TW 1-05: Small Worlds

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

Torchwood series 1 episode 5 (Story 5):  Jack and crew meet fairies.

Warning: May contain Spoilers for

"Small Worlds"

• 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 characters.)

[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...

• [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."

 This episode...

• [1ST]  Fairies - First appearance in Doctor Who and spin-offs of these creatures.

• [NEW]  Jack in 1909 - First reference to Jack being alive in this era.

• [NEW]  Jack in World War II - Jack first appeared in the "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" set during World War II.  He then went time traveling with the Doctor and later gained his immortality.

• [OLD]  Mara - The villainous spirit-like entity from the Dark Places which haunted the Fifth Doctor's companion Tegan in "Kinda" (Season 19) and "Snakedance" (Season 20).

• [1ST]  The Lost Lands - First reference to this place.  The Doctor refers to the dream-state-place that Tegan goes to and the Mara comes from as the Dark Places of Inside, which given the connection that Jack makes between the Fairies and the Mara may make the two related.

~ DUG.

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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.