During the latest series of Doctor Who Blogtor Who will look at all the nods and references to adventures which have gone before. So even if you are not already a Mastermind expert on all things in the Whoniverse you can appreciate the little detail as well. Perhaps you are a very knowledgeable Whovian already but did you spot them all?
Sonic Sunglasses
Continuing on from the events of ‘Oxygen’ The Doctor’s blindness is hid behind a pair of sunglasses. These are no mere accessories however. They are sonic sunglasses. The Twelfth Doctor was first seen wearing these examples of “wearable technology” in 2015’s ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’. A number of uses have been seen varying between the ability to light a candle to scanning wall markings and hologram projection. Since then they appeared in the majority of episodes during Series 9 and this year were seen in ‘The Pilot’ and of course the closing stages of ‘Oxygen’. The Sonic Sunglasses were snapped in half by the Viking leader during ‘The Girl Who Died’ (2015) but were repaired or replaced.
Missy
Missy has been an integral part of the Twelfth Doctor’s era. The mysterious female debuted in the Twelfth Doctor’s first full televised adventure ‘Deep Breath’ (2014). Throughout Peter Capaldi’s debut series short scenes with Missy were featured before her true identity was finally revealed at the conclusion of ‘Dark Water’ (2014). Viewers learnt that Missy was short for ‘Mistress’ as ‘Master’ no longer fitted. This new, female incarnation of the Master was responsible for the death of Osgood and reappeared in the Series 9 opening two parter ‘The Magician’s Apprentice/The Witch’s Familiar’ (2015).
River Song’s Diary
Nardole is seen clutching a very recognisable book. TARDIS blue in colour and appearance it was none other than the diary of River Song. Nardole appears to have retrieved the diary following River’s death in the Library. Multiple versions of the diary have been seen since that debut story in ‘Silence in the Library’ (2008). From it’s gifting by The Doctor in ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’ (2011), River would be seen with it in her multiple onscreen appearances such as in ‘The Time of Angels’ (2010). The pages inside proved a useful indicator of both River and The Doctor’s personal timelines whenever their paths crossed but now provides a poignant record of their adventures together.
Execution of The Master
In the prelude to the 1996 TV Movie we saw The Master executed by the Daleks. On that occasion The Doctor was tasked with escorting the remains of his adversary and former friend back to Gallifrey. However his essence survived the execution and took possession of an ambulance driver’s body. In ‘Extremis’ The Master, this time in the Missy incarnation, once again manages to survive an execution. It was also revealed this evening that, as many had speculated, Missy is indeed inside the Vault and The Doctor was tasked with guarding his friend’s body for a thousand years.
Prydonian Chapter
The Doctor states that he belongs to the Prydonian chapter which was first mentioned back in ‘The Deadly Assassin’ (1976). A number of chapters form Time Lord society, such as the Arcalians and the Patrexes. The Prydonians were described as a “notoriously devious” sect who wore orange and scarlet ceremonial robes.
The Oval Office
The Doctor is no stranger to the Oval Office situated in the White House, Washington DC. When the Eleventh Doctor visited in 1969 Richard Nixon was President of the United States of America. On This occasion the President couldn’t be easily identified slumped in the chair having taken his own life after reading the Veritas. Tall, creepy alien figures also lurked. In ‘Extremis’ it was the Monk. In ‘The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon’ it had been the Silence. Clearly something about the Oval Office attracts these nightmarish aliens.
Is it not a Omega logo on the computer screen in the Oval office sequence ? It’s a bit blurry but it seems like a Omega.
It was a set of headphones because the doctor was listening to an audio of the Veritas