Monday 10 November 2014

DW 08-12: Death in Heaven (Part 2 of 2)

A Guide to Classic Who references in New Who episodes.



The twelfth episode of series 8, part one of the series final.  

Warning: May contain Spoilers for

"Death in Heaven"

Viewing Order

  • 7-06 "The Bells of Saint John" (Suggested viewing, flashback - reintroduction of character, plot connection)
  • 8-01 - "Deep Breath(Suggested viewing, flashback - reintroduction of character.)
  • 8-02 - "Into the Dalek" (Suggested viewing - introduction of character, plot point.)
  • 8-11 - "Dark Water" (Required viewing - first part of two-parter)




References

[1ST] - First appearance in Doctor Who.
[NEW] - Stuff seen previously in the New Series.
[OLD] - Things that first appeared in the classic series (or the film.)
[INJ] - In-jokes.


  • [NEW]  Cybermen - Old foes of the Doctor, see FOES - Cybermen. These models first appeared in "Nightmare in Silver."


  • [NEW]  Osgood - Return of the character from "Day of the Doctor."  In that she was wearing a Fourth Doctor scarf, in this she's wearing a Eleventh Doctor tie (and using his phrase "Bow ties are cool") and the Tenth Doctor's shoes.

  • [NEW]  Kate Stewart - Current chief science officer of UNIT, daughter of classic series regular Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart on of the founders of UNIT.  First appeared in "The Power of Three."  She also appeared in "Day of the Doctor."

  • [OLD]  UNIT - 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 until the real world UN complained.  Is now called the UNified Intelligence Taskforce.

  • [OLD]  On the payroll - The Third Doctor refused the Brigadier's offer money to work with UNIT in "Spearhead from Space," rather did it to repair his TARDIS.



  • [1ST]  Cyber-pollen - First appearance of this ability to transform others into Cybermen.

  • [OLD]  Dimensional Engineering - Often called transdimensional engineering, is the Gallifreyan ability to make things bigger on the inside, such as TARDISes, the Genesis Ark ("Doomsday") and the War Chief's SIDRATs (The Second Doctor story "The War Games.")  Some Dalek technology also displayed this ability (First Doctor: "The Dalek's Master Plan.").

  • [OLD]  Accounts we have on file - The news here is referring to the invasions mentioned above, however, despite the widespread nature of these previous invasion attempts, time changing and the human ability to forget has left limited knowledge of these events.


  • [OLD]  Chaplet - A chaplet is a kind of Christian prayer and so makes sense as the name for a funeral home.  It is however worth mentioning that there was a companion of the First Doctor called Dodo Chaplet from London in the 60s (who is assumed to be the descendant of Anne Chaplet, a French serving girl from 1572 who appeared in the same story.) 

  • [1ST]  Boat One - First, and probably last, appearance of this plane.  It does share the naming scheme of the US Presidential air transport call signs of "Air Force One" and "Marine One," as well as the seldom used "Army One" and "Navy One," and the assigned but never used "Coast Guard One."  Not to mention the designation should a civilian aircraft ever transport the US President "Executive One," which I clearly did just mention.

  • [NEW] The Valiant - First appeared in "The Sound of Drums"/"The Last of the Time Lords."  It later appeared in "The Poison Sky" and was destroyed by Daleks in "The Stolen Earth."  Presumably it's been replaced or repaired.

  • [OLD]  President of Earth - By 2540 this was an actual ongoing position, appearing in the Third Doctor story "Frontier in Space."  By the 40th Century the leader of Earth was the Guardian of the Solar System (First Doctor: "The Dalek's Master Plan.")

  • [OLD]  Doctor as President - Although not of Earth, the Doctor was previously named Lord President of Gallifrey, after announcing his candidacy to escape prosecution for the assassination of the previous incumbent (Fourth Doctor "The Deadly Assassin".)  Borusa became Lord Chancellor as the Doctor abandoned the position.  Eventually, Borusa became President.  Upon Borusa's death, the Doctor was again given the role (Fifth Doctor:  "The Five Doctors"), but fled, leading to him being deposed (Sixth Doctor: "Trial of the Time Lords.")

  • [OLD]  Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous - Standard location given for the Doctor's homeworld since first mentioned as being in this constellation in the Fourth Doctor story "Pyramids of Mars."  Of course, constellations are only stars that appear to be grouped in the skies of other planets and make no sense as a point of reference for locating a planet.  The description has (as far as I can tell) always been used onscreen on or near Earth, but no such constellation exist in Earth cultuires and those being told Gallifrey's location were often not from Earth.

  • [OLD]  Ran away... Type-40 TARDIS - The Doctor ran away before the first First Doctor story "An Unearthly Child," although it has been referenced regularly and the moment was shown in "The Name of the Doctor."  The Type-40 TARDIS was obsolete by the time of the Fourth Doctor story "The Deadly Assassin" with the Time Lords showing confusion that one was still being used.

  • [OLD]  Prydonian - The Doctor was a member of the Prydonian Chapter of the Time Lord.  In "The Deadly Assassin" uses a Prydonian seal to identify a message he leaves.  Prydonians wear scarlet and orange ceremonial robes. Very stylish.

  • [NEW]  Married 4 times all deceased - He has been shown to be married 3 times in the new series... Marilyn Monroe ("A Christmas Carol"), Doctor River Song ("The Wedding of River Song"), Queen Elizabeth I ("Day of the Doctor").  All three are deceased (from a certain point of view), the real people, Queen Elizabeth (1603), Monroe (1962) and Song (Some time in the 51st century: "Forest of the Dead").  The ceremony for the wedding of River Song in "The Wedding of River Song" was incomplete (the Doctor didn't say his name but told her to look into his eye) and in an alternate universe but he and River make references to being married and her knowing his name.  The fourth marriage is presumably the First Doctor's marriage to Susan's grandmother, but that is never stated.  There is at least one candidate in non-televised material, but I'm not including non-televised material, a rule I intend to stick to strictly.

  • [OLD]  Children and Grandchildren - The First Doctor initially traveled with his granddaughter Susan, implying at least one child.  When the weekly British comic book TV Comics began including Doctor Who comics it included to new grandchildren John & Gillian [Obviously this isn't from televised material, but only covering televised material is hardly a strict rule and I never promised to stick to it.]  With the Time War and the "destruction" of Gallifrey leave the Doctor the last of the Time Lords all of his relatives are missing.

  • [NEW]  Non-Gallifreyan daughter created by genetic transfer - Jenny from "The Doctor's Daughter" as far as we know the Doctor thinks she died at the end of this episode.  Although genetically manipulated clone would be a better description than daughter, the Tenth Doctor called her his daughter and they did have a father/daughter style relationship.  Also, the genetically manipulated clone description makes the incessant fan jokes about that fact the actress who played Jenny (Georgia Moffett) was in really also the daughter of the actor who played the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) and eventually became the wife of the actor who played the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and heads exploding less funny.


  • [OLD]  The Doctor's Title - See THE DOCTOR's Title.  The Glasgow comment (in case you don't have an access to the internet and cannot follow the link) refers to the Second Doctor stating in "The Moonbase" that he studied under Joseph Lister in Glasgow in 1888.  Although Lister left Glasgow University in 1869 that doesn't explain the "wrong century" comment.


  • [INJ]  23rd November 1986 - The 23rd Anniversary of Doctor Who, and the day after the final episode of the Sixth Doctor story "Terror of the Vervoids" aired.  "Always liked that date" is of course, a reference to the anniversary.

  • [NEW]  The Master & Gallifrey - When last we saw The Master (before he became Missy) in "The End of Time (part 2)" he was having a frank discussion with Rassilon about killing each other with bursts of energy as Gallifrey was sucked back into the Time War.  The Doctor ended the Time War, and thus "saved" Gallifrey soon after.


  • [NEW]  Ex-Prime Ministers - Specifically Harold Saxon, an identity previously used by the Master ("The Sound of Drums"/"The Last of the Time Lords."), but the files would also include Harriet Jones ("The Christmas Invasion") and Winston Churchill ("Victory of the Daleks" and 'reality' ('Reality' may no longer be in continuity)).

  • [1ST]  Waking up in a graveyard - Not a Doctor Who reference, but who hasn't done this after a night of heavy drinking?  I certainly haven't, and I hope you haven't either.  But I'm not judging you if you have.

  • [NEW] Salute - The Doctor did actually salute Kate in both her previous appearances.


  • [INJ]  No reference here - Sorry, move along.

  • [NEW]  Emotion Inhibitor - Something present in Cybus Cybermen the deactivation of which lead to their destruction in "The Age of Steel."

  • [NEW]   The Woman in the Shop - Missy is confirmed to be this unseen character referenced in "The Bells of St John."  Scenes from the episode are shown just to reinforce the idea.

  • [NEW]  Whoever placed the Ad - Missy is confirmed to be this unseen character who place the ad in the newspaper in "Deep Breath."  Scenes from the episode are shown just to reinforce the idea.


  • [OLD]  Falling to his death - The Master previously caused the Doctor to fall to his death in the Fourth Doctor story "Logopolis."

  • [1ST]  The Doctor's Birthday - Possibly as meaningless as the Doctor's age, the Doctor's birthday has never been mentioned previously.  With time travel and not being on Gallifrey such things are problem near impossible to determine and Missy may just be joking or manipulating the Doctor.



  • [OLD]   Co-ordinates of Gallifrey - Ten Zero Eleven Zero Zero by Two were previously given as Gallifrey's co-ordinates in N-Space (Normal Space) in the Fourth Doctor stories "Pyramids of Mars" and "Full Circle."  The negative version of those same co-ordinates is the planet Alzarius ("Full Circle.")

  • [OLD]  The Brigadier - Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart worked with the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Doctors on screen.  He also appeared in an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures.  He was played by Nicholas Courtney (who had also appeared as another character in a First Doctor story) died in 2011, a fact memorialised in show when the Doctor tried to invite the Brigadier to Lake Silencio in "The Wedding of River Song" only to find that he had passed on.  As mentioned above Kate Stewart is the character's daughter.



The 10 Rules to Doctor Who.


10.  The TARDIS is for arriving at the location of the story at the beginning of the episode and leaving at the end.  This is because Time Travel is the excuse for the story, not that the story is about.  Unless the episode is written by Steve Moffat, then it's definitely about Time Travel.
Not about Time Travel, although hinges on Missy having done it previously.  Since the episode was written by Moffat that's a bit of a fail.  [.5]

9.  No one can cross their own Time Stream, except when they do.
No one tries to meet themselves.  [NA]


8.  There's no situation that can't be briefly defused by a non-sequitur.
More by Missy than the Doctor. [.5]

7.  The Doctor is both the most serious and most frivolous person in the room - any room - at the same time.  And he does that without becoming insane.  Mostly.
The Doctor, not so much, this episode.  Missy, however... [.5]


6.  The last episode of every series must contain the Master or at least one Dalek.  Every time.  However briefly.
The Master (or the Mistress if you prefer) appears in this series final.  A Dalek also appears in flashback. [1]


5.  The main companion will be a young contemporary British female.  Although, to be
fair, almost everyone in the Universe is British and most things happen in contemporary London.
Clara.  London.  [1]

4.  The more emotionless a species, cyborg or robot the more likely they are to be destroyed by emotions.  This is true of the Daleks.  It is particularly true of the Cybermen.
True of Danny-Cyberman which leads to their downfall.  Also true of the Brig-Cyberman.  [1]

3.  Even if the episode title contains the words "Dalek(s)" or "Cyberman/men" the presence of the Daleks and or Cybermen will at the beginning be treated as a mystery and their revelation a surprise. 
The name isn't a spoiler of anything.  [0]

2.  The nature of the threat will be revealed to the audience before the Doctor.  The truth behind the threat will be unknowable by the audience until it is explained by the Doctor.
Mostly get the information at the same time.  [.5]

1.  The most dangerous creature in any situation is the last of its kind.  This sometimes also applies to aliens other than The Doctor.
The Mistress and the Doctor are the last-ish two of their kind they are both dangerous.  [.5]

Score:  6/9.

~ DUG.


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.

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