The Doctor Who season 14 finale episode, “Empire of Death,” saw the return of the memory TARDIS and included several references to past stories. There were plenty of Doctor Who Easter eggs in Tales of the TARDIS, but “Empire of Death” featured even more nods to the show’s past. The memory TARDIS in Doctor Who season 14 delved into the titular character’s past through various items littered around the ship.

Multiple scenes in “Empire of Death” saw the Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby, and Mel, three important members of the Doctor Who season 14 cast, surrounded by these Easter eggs. The memory TARDIS reminded audiences of adventures from both the classic and modern eras of Doctor Who in a brilliantly subtle way. However, some were more obvious than others.

15

The Fifteenth Doctor’s Jukebox

The Time Lord’s Newest Console Room Addition

A miniature version of the Fifteenth Doctor’s jukebox sat in the memory TARDIS. This was a relatively new addition to the TARDIS and only appeared in the 60th-anniversary special “The Giggle” after Doctor Who’s shocking bi-generation. The jukebox only arrived in the Fifteenth Doctor’s ship after the bi-generation, although its presence was the only difference between his and the Fourteenth Doctor’s TARDIS.

However, it was known that the Doctor was fond of a jukebox. For example, the Ninth Doctor happily grooved along to the jukebox in the episode “The End of the World” when he visited with Rose. Clara Oswald’s American diner-styled TARDIS also contained a jukebox, although this was part of the ship’s design rather than a conscious choice.

14

Who 1 License Plate

A Nod To The Third Doctor’s Car, Bessie

Another item the memory TARDIS held was the WHO 1 license plate. This was a nod to the Third Doctor and his car, which he wholesomely named Bessie. Bessie was a Siva Tourer car that the Doctor primarily used during his exile to Earth in the classic era of Doctor Who and a staple of the show at the time.

Bessie was a benefit that came with the Doctor’s role as scientific advisor at UNIT in Doctor Who. In multiple Third Doctor serials, Bessie was kitted out with all manner of sci-fi capabilities, such as when the Doctor converted it to be completely carbon neutral. However, Bessie’s yellow coating and the WHO 1 plate were the car’s most defining features.

13

Mel’s Ribbon

The Doctor’s Old Friend Was Reunited With A Part Of Her Iconic Appearance

While in the memory TARDIS, Mel Bush spotted a red polka dot ribbon. Mel famously wore a lot of bright colors during her tenure, although polka dots were a particular favorite. For example, in the serial “Paradise Towers,” Mel wore white trousers with blue polka dots and a shirt with a matching collar which reflected the Sixth Doctor’s attire, too.

The moment Mel happily found the ribbon was rather sweet. Her reflection on her original adventures with the Doctor was apparent, and no dialogue was needed. Mel’s red ribbon was very similar to the Sixth Doctor’s neck accessory; although it had larger dots, but it was still clear that the piece of fabric made her nostalgic for their time together.

12

The Sixth Doctor’s Coat

Mel Reminisced Over The Doctor’s Past Bright And Bold Attire

Another piece of clothing that Mel found in the memory TARDIS was the Sixth Doctor’s coat. The iconic jacket was made of a patchwork design, with multi-colored lapels, and was just as loud as the character’s voice. In an interview, Colin Baker referred to his costume as an “explosion in a rainbow factory” (via Geek Girl Chicago), which was an apt description of his character’s look.

Others often found the Doctor’s jacket a poor fashion choice, and Mel was amongst those. The Big Finish audio drama “The Middle” established the Doctor’s coat to have an incredible 76 different color tones. Although it wasn’t to everyone’s taste, it was always easily spotted and a piece of clothing that wasn’t forgotten easily.

11

The Doctor’s Old Sonic Screwdrivers

The Time Lord’s Trusty Accessory Has Changed Over The Years

As Mel searched through a drawer of the memory TARDIS in a panic, she started rifling through the various designs of the Doctor’s sonic screwdrivers. This included sonics from the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Doctors. Interestingly, the Doctor’s sonic started as a literal screwdriver, but over the years and his several incarnations, the Time Lord’s staple accessory was upgraded and improved upon.

The Fourteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver could create forcefields, which was a new feature added in “The Star Beast,” for example. One feature the sonic screwdriver lacked was the ability to manipulate wood. Several episodes have highlighted the shortage of wood settings in the sonic screwdriver, like in “Silence in the Library,” when Donna Noble kicked a set of doors open.

10

The Fourth Doctor’s Scarf

The Most Legendary Element Of Tom Baker’s Doctor Who Look

While the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby tried to understand Sutekh’s sudden return in Doctor Who, Mel held the Fourth Doctor’s legendary scarf to her chest. The woolen neck accessory was a huge staple in Doctor Who, and the Fourth Doctor’s iconic look was one that cosplayers were keen to replicate. What was so noticeable about the scarf, however, was its length.

The Fourth Doctor’s scarf was extremely long, and it was surprising that he didn’t trip over it. It was made up of several colors fashioned together, which made it distinctive and immediately noticeable. The Doctor mentioned that his scarf was knitted for him by Madame Nostradamus in the serial “The Ark in Space” after he’d met her during his first incarnation.

9

Past TARDIS Consoles

The TARDIS Console Room Design Has Varied With Each Incarnation Of The Doctor

There were several parts of past TARDIS consoles inside the memory TARDIS. Much like the Doctor, the TARDIS frequently changed its layout, and it would often update itself alongside a regeneration. For example, the fireplace centerpiece resembled the Thirteenth Doctor’s console room. The ceiling fixture was the time rotor from the Doctor Who anniversary special “The Three Doctors.”

The jump seat was taken from the Eleventh Doctor’s TARDIS, which was first seen in “The Eleventh Hour.” Naturally, the TARDIS’ famous “round things” were also included in the memory TARDIS’ design, which made sense, considering they were a part of many of the past layouts. In one hilarious moment, Mel attempted to close one of these circular fixtures after several pieces of TARDIS junk came flying out.

8

The Impossible Things Book

Verity Newman’s Story Of John Smith In 1913

Among the many books in the memory TARDIS was a copy of Verity Newman’s book, A Journal of Impossible Things. Verity was the great-granddaughter of Joan Redfern, and her book was based on Joan’s journal that recounted her romance with John Smith, the Doctor’s human persona in 1913. It wasn’t until the Tenth Doctor’s final story, “The End of Time,” that the book was mentioned.

When the Doctor said his goodbyes, he had Verity sign the book. This was a rather sweet moment, especially as the Doctor was concerned about Joan’s fate after the Family destroyed her life. However, it was truly beautiful to see that A Journal of Impossible Things was so prominent in the Doctor’s memory, even centuries later in his own timeline.

7

The Seventh Doctor’s Jumper

Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor Wore Lots Of Question Marks In Time And The Rani

The Seventh Doctor took some time deciding on a permanent look, but when he did eventually settle on a style, he chose a cherry-colored jumper covered in question marks. This unusual choice of clothing also appeared in the memory TARDIS. This jumper was a defining part of the Seventh Doctor’s attire, adopting it in the serial “Time and the Rani,” the first adventure this incarnation appeared in.

Mel was present for this serial, so it also made sense that she noted the question-marked jumper. The item of clothing also contained a small nod to the Sixth Doctor, who wore question marks on his collar. Considering he regenerated in “Time and the Rani,” this was an interesting way of connecting the two incarnations of the Doctor in Doctor Who.

6

Handles The Cyberman Head

The Eleventh Doctor’s Only Companion On Trenzalore

The Doctor Who Christmas special “The Time of the Doctor” introduced a Cyberman head named Handles, the Eleventh Doctor’s sole companion on the planet Trenzalore. Handles was good company to the Doctor during his exile, and although it didn’t have a conscience, the Time Lord found comfort in it. Despite Handles’ origins, the Doctor removed all its dangerous programming, so it wasn’t a threat.

Handles was irreversibly damaged, which broke the Doctor’s hearts. Although its remains were irretrievable, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Cyberman head in the memory TARDIS. The Eleventh Doctor’s final days stuck in his head throughout his further incarnations, but it was still unexpected that a converted enemy was sat in the Doctor’s ship, even if it was formed of memories.

5

The TARDIS’ Fire Extinguisher

A Reference To Past Tenth And Eleventh Doctor Stories

One brilliant moment in “Empire of Death” was when the memory TARDIS caught fire, which was only put out because Mel noticed it. Amazingly, there was a fire extinguisher among the junk, and it was the same one that was featured in past Doctor Who episodes. For example, the Eleventh Doctor used it in “The Angels Take Manhattan” after he, Rory, and Amy landed in the graveyard.

The Tenth Doctor also used it in “The Runaway Bride” after saving Donna. However, past TARDIS fire extinguishers had other purposes. The Third Doctor and Alistair Lethbridge Stewart used them against the Primords in the serial “Inferno,” for example. Ben and Polly also used them in a chemical attack against the Cybermen in the serial “The Moonbase,” too.

4

The Clockword Droid Head

A Nod To The Tenth Doctor’s Adventure With Madame De Pompadour

One of the best recurring Doctor Who villains was the clockwork droids, who first appeared in the season 2 episode “The Girl in the Fireplace.” After the Tenth Doctor, Rose, and Mickey landed on a mysterious ship that ran on human body parts, they met the Doctor Who historical figure Madame De Pompadour, who the droids attempted to kill to use for their vessel, which was named after her.

It wasn’t until the Twelfth Doctor’s first episode, “Deep Breath,” that the droids returned. However, they weren’t the exact same crew, and they were from its sister ship. While both of these adventures were eventful for the Doctor, his time with Madame De Pompadour proved to be impactful; hence the head of one of the clockwork droids sat in the memory TARDIS.

3

The TARDIS’ Out Of Order Sign

The First Doctor’s Trick To Keep The Police Away

In the corner of the memory TARDIS was a plain white sign with the words “out of order” printed on it. This was a nod to the First Doctor, who used the sign to deter police away from the TARDIS. Because of the ship’s chameleon circuit, the Doctor worried that actual law enforcement would try to enter the TARDIS on Earth.

The First Doctor initially used the sign in the serial “The War Machines” after he landed in 1966. Hilariously, this ruse worked, and the Doctor watched a police officer believe that the TARDIS was broken. While this sign wasn’t seen very often in Doctor Who, it was an incredible reference for “Empire of Death” to make and highlighted some of the show’s best stories from the classic era.

2

A Tin Of Custard

The Eleventh Doctor & Young Amelia Pond Shared Fish Fingers And Custard

Another strange item in the memory TARDIS was a tin of custard. This was a nod to the Eleventh Doctor and young Amelia Pond in the season 5 episode “The Eleventh Hour.” The Doctor’s bond with Amy in her childhood was a huge part of their friendship overall and it was referenced several times throughout her tenure.

In times when Amy needed the Doctor to trust her, she’d use the phrase “fish fingers and custard,” such as in the season 6 episode “An Impossible Astronaut.” Even during the Doctor’s regeneration, the Time Lord always remembered the first meal he shared with Amy. However, strangely enough, there were no fish fingers to go along with the custard in the memory TARDIS.

1

The Spacesuit Helmet

Multiple Versions Of The Doctor Sported An Orange Spacesuit On Adventures

On one of the monitors in the memory TARDIS, there was a spacesuit helmet. This helmet was seen multiple times in Doctor Who and was generally attached to the Doctor’s staple orange spacesuit. He wore this attire several times in the show, such as in the season 2 two-part story “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit.”

The Tenth Doctor kept the spacesuit from Sanctuary Base 6 and would bring it out at various other points. For example, he wore it to Bowie Base One in “The Waters of Mars,” and the Twelfth Doctor wore it on the moon in the season 8 episode “Kill the Moon.” While the spacesuit went through some modifications, it was always the same piece, so it made sense that it was such an important part of the Doctor’s memories in Doctor Who.