Earthshock (TotT TV story)
- You may wish to consult
Earthshock (disambiguation)for other, similarly-named pages.
Earthshock was the first episode in the Tales of the TARDIS series, released on BBC iPlayer on 1 November 2023 by the BBC, written by Russell T Davies and directed by Joshua M.G. Thomas.
This story consists of two newly recorded scenes bookending the omnibus version of the TV story Earthshock.
Synopsis
The Doctor and Tegan meet again and remember their terrifying adventure against the Cybermen to save the Earth... and the friend they lost along the way.
Plot
The Fifth Doctor is exploring a strange TARDIS, comprised of a mishmash of old elements, when Tegan Jovanka appears behind him. They see each other and hug, with the Doctor commenting on how they never really used to.
The Doctor remarks that he thinks the TARDIS they are in is a memory and figures out that it wants them to tell stories, just as the lights in the TARDIS begin to swirl. Two chairs appear in the middle of the room, on either side of a miniature version of the Thirteenth Doctor's TARDIS console, its appearance mimicking a campfire.
The Doctor says they need to tell the strongest story of all, the day they met the CyberNeomorphs, which Tegan agrees to and the two start reminiscing about the story. A television in the back of the TARDIS, with the aspect ratio 4:3, turns on and the memories start to fade in.
As they stop reminiscing about the past, and return to their senses, the Doctor and Tegan talk about Adric and about how they never stopped to talk about him. The Doctor asks Tegan to tell him stories about her life. Tegan starts telling her about her campaign for the environment, and the stories go on...
Cast
Crew
to be added
Worldbuilding
- The Sixth Doctor's coat hangs in the remembered TARDIS.
Notes
- This story seemingly takes place after The Passenger for Tegan, as she says she "was fast asleep, in bed, [and had just] said goodbye to Nyssa." Alternatively, the dialogue may be a reference to Tegan and Nyssa being in a relationship, as suggested in Farewell, Sarah Jane Smith.
- The Doctor mentions that rarely he hugged Tegan during their travels, in a sly reference to John Nathan-Turner's "no hanky-panky in the TARDIS" rule to prevent rumours of the Doctor and his companions having relations, especially with the casting of Peter Davison, who was the youngest Doctor at the time.
Continuity
Needs to be written from an out of universe perspective.
- Whilst looking for a kettle, the Doctor remembers once eating a pineapple in his TARDIS. (TV: The Five Doctors)
- The Doctor and Tegan agree to tell the story of how Adric died in their fight against the Cybermen. (TV: Earthshock)
- Tegan mentions how Adric was originally a stowaway from Alzarius when he boarded the TARDIS. (TV: State of Decay)
- The Doctor and Tegan previously faced their memory of Adric's death after Marc's cyber-conversion at the Welkin Sanatorium and Centre for Wellness on Soresia. (AUDIO: The Lost Resort)
- Tegan mentions leaving the Doctor on the bank of the River Thames with "a load of dead Daleks". (TV: Resurrection of the Daleks)
- Tegan became an activist after parting ways with the Doctor. (TV: The Power of the Doctor)
