DW 12-10: The Timeless Children

A guide to classic Who references in new Who.

Doctor Who Series 12, episode 10 in which the Doctor learns her origin.

May contain spoilers for 

"The Timeless Children"

References

[OLD] - Things that first appeared in the classic series (or the film).

The following are also covered:

[NEW] - Things that first appeared in the new series.
[1ST] - Things appearing for the first time in the episode.

Previously on Doctor Who...

Gallifrey

• [OLD] The Home Planet of the Time Lords. Appeared in the original series; first appearing in Second Doctor story "The War Games" (Doctor Who (1963) season 6) and its name first said by the Third Doctor in "The Time Warrior" (Doctor Who (1963)  season 11).  It last appeared in the old series in The Five Doctors special and was mentioned as the Seventh Doctor's destination in the beginning of the Doctor Who (1996) movie. It was destroyed in the Time War (between the movie and the new series), but was restored in "Day of the Doctor" (Doctor Who (2005) 50 Anniversary Special). It was revealed to have been destroyed again by the Master in "Spyfall, part 2" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12).

The Master

• [OLD]  An enemy snd childhood friend of the Doctor, first introducted in the classic series. Like The Doctor and other Time Lords the Master can regenerate. He was last seen when the Kasaavin took him back to their dimension "Spyfall, part 2" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12).

The Doctor

• [OLD] The main character of Doctor Who, classic series and new. Born on Gallifrey,  she is a Time Lord. Due to Time Lords' ability to regenerate this is the "Thirteen Doctor." Or is she?

Cybermen

• [OLD] The cybermen were foe of the Doctor from the classic series. They last appeared in "World and Time Enough"/"The Doctor Falls" (Doctor Who (2005) series 10) where it was revealed that many different groups of Cybermen developed on different planets.

The Lone Cyberman

• [NEW] First mentioned in a message given to the companions by Captain Jack Harkness in "Fugitive of the Judoon" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12). He appears first appeared in "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12) to be an unfinished version of the type that first appeared in "Nightmare in Silver" (Doctor Who (2005) series 7).

Sonic Screwdriver

• [OLD] The Doctor's favourite tool: the sonic screwdriver. First shown to be used by the Second Doctor in "Fury of the Deep" (Doctor Who (1963) season 5), it has been used almost constantly since. She built her current version in "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" (Doctor Who (2015) series 11). It can usually read everything.

The Time Lords

• [OLD] As noted here the ruling elite on Gallifrey.

Chameleon Circuit

• [OLD] A device that allows a TARDIS to blend into its surroundings. The one of the Doctor's TARDIS has rarely worked.

The TARDIS

• [OLD] The Doctor's time and space travel vehicle.  It stands for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space.  Like a lot of the Doctor's race's technology, it is "bigger on the inside."  The Doctor stole her second-hand TARDIS when fleeing her homeworld. It is an older model ("Type 40") and unreliable, often ending up in the wrong location, and being unable to blend into its environment (a feature TARDISes should have). This is the 12th television story in the history of Doctor Who in which the TARDIS does not appear, although it is mentioned a few times.

The Judoon

• [NEW] First appearance in "Smith and Jones" (Doctor Who (2005) series 3) and have made cameo appearances since then. They had a major role in "Fugitive of the Judoon" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12) where they were chasing The Doctor (Ruth).

This episode...

The Boundary

• [NEW] First appeared last episode.

The Panopticon

• [OLD] Appeared in ("The Deadly Assassin" (Doctor Who (1963) season 14)), as the location where...

"Assassinating Presidents"

• [OLD] The assassination of the President of the High Council. This even was set up by the Master in an attempt to frame the Doctor for it. ("The Deadly Assassin" (Doctor Who (1963) season 14).

Transmat Technology

• [OLD] It has previously appeared as a common form of teleportation (and sometimes time travel) used by a number of races and organisations:
• Humans ("Seeds of Death" (Doctor Who (1963) season 6) (called T-Mat), "The Ark in Space" & "Revenge of the Cybermen"  (Doctor Who (1963) season 12), "Bad Wolf" (Doctor Who (2005) series 1), "Nightmare in Silver" (Doctor Who (2005) series 7).
• Time Lords ("The Five Doctors" (Doctor Who (1963) 25th Anniversary Special), although in "Genesis of the Daleks" (Doctor Who (1963) season 12) they say that they've transcended the technology (and can safely intecept those using it.)
• Mawdryn's race ("Mawdryn Undead" (Doctor Who (1963) season 20).
• Daleks ("Remembrance of the Daleks" (Doctor Who (1963) season 25), "Journey's End" (Doctor Who (2005) series 4).
• Sontarans ("The Sontaran Stratagem"/"The Poison Sky" (Doctor Who (2005) series 4).
• The Alliance of Shades ("The Vault of Secrets" (Sarah Jane Adventures series 4)).
• Thejarians ('Demons of the Punjab" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).

The Time Lord Matrix

• [OLD]  The Matrix was the Gallifreyan Super Computer that appeared in reality imitating worlds or black void, usually accessed by a something placed on the head, including the Crown of Rassilon. It has also been called the Matrix Data Slice (Gallifreyan Hard Drive).

Shobogans

• [OLD] Previously mentioned as vandals who left graffiti in the Capital ("The Deadly Assassin" (Doctor Who (1963) season 14). They may be connected to the Outsiders, Gallifreyans who live outside the Captial.

Death Particle

• [1ST] First mention of this particle.

Regeneration

• [OLD] See: "Background: Regeneration."

Tissue Compression Eliminator

• [OLD]  On-again off-again weapon of choice of the Master, which kills people by compressing thier tissue (and thus shrinking them.

The Division

• [1ST] First appearance of this group. However, they do sound similar the the Celestial Intervention Agency who the Doctor has interacted with a couple of times.

Cyberium

• [NEW] First appearance in  "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12).

The Doctor (Ruth)

• [OLD] The main character of Doctor Who, classic series and new. Born on Gallifrey, she is a Time Lord. In "The Brain of Morbius" (Doctor Who (1963) season 13) implied there were at least 8 incarnation of the Doctor before the First Doctor.

The Doctor's Memories...

• The Master.
• The Lone Cyberman.
• The Thirteenth Doctor and the Cyberium.
• The Thirteenth and her Companions ("The Haunting of Villa Diodati" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• Rakaya ("Can You Here Me?" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• Gat ("Fugitive of the Judoon" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• The Doctor (Ruth).
• Captain Jack Harkness.
• The Doctor and others running from attacking birds ("Praxeus" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• Nikola Tesla. ("Nikola Telsa's Night of Terror" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• Skithra Queen. ("Nikola Telsa's Night of Terror" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• A Dreg ("Orphan 55" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• The TARDIS & ruins of Gallifrey. ("Spyfall, part 2" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• A Kasaavin. ("Spyfall" (Doctor Who (2005) series 12)).
• Rebuilt Dalek Scout. ("Resolution" (Doctor Who (2005) New Years Special 2019)).
• Rebuilt Dalek Scout and the Thirteenth Doctor. ("Resolution" (Doctor Who (2005) New Years Special 2019).
• The Doctor and the Ux on Ranskoor av Kolos ("The Battle of Ranskoor av Kolos"  (Doctor Who (2005) series 11)).
• A fake Grace O'Brien (The Solitract) ("It Takes You Away" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11)).
• The Doctor, etc ("It Takes You Away" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11)).
• Old Mother Twiston's corpse inhabited by the Morax. ("The Witchfinders" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11)).
• Doctor being drowned as a witch. ("The Witchfinders" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11)).
• Marriage of Umbreen and Prem ("Demons of the Punjab" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• The Kab!am! Man ("Kab!am" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• P'Ting ("The Tsuranga Conundrum" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• Doctor and others below a hotel. ("Archnids in the UK" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• Doctor on bus with Rosa Parks. ("Rosa" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• Doctor racing to the Ghost Monument. ("The Ghost Monument" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• Doctor and others attacked by Reminents. ("The Ghost Monument" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• Tzin-Sha. ("The Woman Who Fell To Earth" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).
• The Doctor in her new costume. ("The Woman Who Fell To Earth" (Doctor Who (2005) series 11).

• Davros / Rose (Doctor Who (2005) series 1 & 2+)
• Sycorax ("The Christmas Invasion" (Doctor Who (2005) Christmas Special 2005)) / Donna (Doctor Who (2005) series 4+)
• Slitheen / Amy (Doctor Who (2005) series 5 - 7)
• Abzorbaloff ("Love & Monsters" (Doctor Who (2005) series 2)) / River Song
• Living Scarecrow ("Human Nature" (Doctor Who (2005) series 3)) / Wilf (Doctor Who (2005) series 4+)
• Living Scarecrow / Clara (Doctor Who (2005) series 7 - 9)
• Sonatran / Bill Potts (Doctor Who (2005) series 10)
• Ood ("The Impossible Planet"+ (Doctor Who (2005) series 2)) / Martha (Doctor Who (2005) series 3+)
• Racnoss Queen ("The Runaway Bride" (Doctor Who (2005) Christmas Special 2006)) / ?
• Racnoss Queen / Rory (Doctor Who (2005) series 5 - 7)
• Cat nun ("New Earth"+ (Doctor Who (2005) series 2)) / Sara Jane

• The Twelfth Doctor.
• The Eleventh Doctor.
• The Tenth Doctor.
• The Ninth Doctor.
• The War Doctor. ("Name of the Doctor" (Doctor Who (2005) series 7), "Night of the Doctor" (Doctor Who (2005) webisode), and "Day of the Doctor (Doctor Who (2005) 50th Anniversary Special)). 

• The Eighth Doctor.
• The Seventh Doctor.
• The Sixth Doctor.
• The Fifth Doctor.
• The Fourth Doctor (also includes an image of the earliest "Morbius Doctor" (-7) see below).
• The Third Doctor.
• The Second Doctor.
• The First Doctor.

• Sea Devils ("The Sea Devils" + (Doctor Who (1963) season 9) / The Master (Harold Saxon) (Doctor Who (2005) Series 3 +)
• Zygons / The Master (Harold Saxon) 
• Sil ("Vengeance on Varos" + (Doctor Who (1963) season 22)/ Missy (Doctor Who (2005) series 8 - 10)
• Sharaz Jek ("The Caves of Androzani" (Doctor Who (1963) season 21)/ Missy.
• Auton / The Master (Professor Yana) 
• A Voc class robot ("The Robots of Death" (Doctor Who (1963) season 14)) / The Master (Professor Yana) 
• A Voc class robot / The Master (Paramedic)
• Sutekh ("The Pyramid of Mars" (Doctor Who (1963) season 13)) / The Master (Paramedic)
•  An Orgon ("Day of the Daleks" (Doctor Who (1963) season 9)  / The Master (Tremas)
• Haemovore ("The Curse of Fenric" (Doctor Who (1963) season 26) / The Master's corpse.
• The Master / Scaroth ("City of Death" (Doctor Who (1963) season 17))

• The Foundling (Presumably the First body of the Timeless child).
• The Foundling (first body fall to its death)
• The second body of the foundling.
• Possibly the third body of the foundling.
• Possibly the fourth body of the foundling.
• Possibly the fifth body of the foundling.
• Possibly the seventh body of the foundling.
• An images from a competition from "The Brain of Morbius" (Doctor Who (1963) season 13) between the Doctor and Morbius in which Morbius was pushing the Doctor's back to his beginning. This image is 5 faces before the first Doctor's. (-4)
• A Doctor before that (-5)
• A Doctor before that (-6)
• A doctor before the first (-0)
• A doctor before that (-1)
• A doctor before that (-2)
• A doctor before that (-3)
• A memory of "Brendon" created to cover memories of the actions of the Division.
• A Doctor prior to the first who went by the name of Ruth when Chameleon Arched.

...and beyond

This may include spoilers for future episodes.

Foundling

• "The Church on Ruby Road" (Doctor Who (2005) Christmas Special 2023) the Doctor mentions being adopted.

~ 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.