The Doctor Who 60th Anniversary episode, “The Star Beast,” cleverly incorporates an Easter egg referencing a Doctor Who audio story from 23 years ago, hinting at the possible return of a classic villain in Doctor Who season 14. This special marks the first of three featuring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor alongside his former companion, Donna Noble (Catherine Tate). These specials are all leading to the introduction of the Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, who will have his first full episode on Christmas Day.
Russell T. Davies is back as the showrunner for Doctor Who and has layered the special with Easter eggs from past episodes, books, and audio stories. The first special features The Meep, who first appeared in the 1980 comic strip Doctor Who and the Star Beast. During this episode, The Doctor, Donna, The Meep, Rose, Shaun, and Sylvia escape gunfire by making their way through the attics of connecting houses. As they go down the stairs of the closest house to their car, a Red Dawn poster is seen on the wall behind them. While also the name of an actual band, “Red Dawn” is a Doctor Who story from 2000.
Doctor Who’s Red Dawn Easter Egg Explained
While Red Dawn is a hard rock band that was formed in 1992, there is also a 2000s audio story of the same name that features the Fifth Doctor. In the story “Red Dawn,” the Fifth Doctor and his companion, Peri Brown, find themselves on Mars alongside NASA’s first manned mission to the planet. Their investigation into mysterious ice pillars beneath the surface reveals that they actually hold the Ice Warriors, who are an extraterrestrial race of reptilian humanoids.
They first appeared in the Doctor Who 1967 serial The Ice Warriors, which features the Second Doctor with his companions Jamie and Victoria. This alien race originated on the dying planet of Mars and are working to escape their planet to conquer Earth. The Ice Warrior’s last appearance on Doctor Who was in 2017 in the episode “Empress of Mars,” featuring Peter Capaldi as the Fourteenth Doctor. While this poster could just be an Easter egg paying homage to the history of the Doctor Who universe, it could be a teaser for what is to come.
Is Doctor Who’s Red Dawn Easter Egg Teasing Ice Warriors For Season 14?
The Red Dawn Easter Egg might just pave the way for the return of the Ice Warriors in Doctor Who season 14. The 60th Anniversary specials have already reintroduced The Meep, who was originally just from the Doctor Who comics, bringing that adversary to the series. The specials are also bringing back the Doctor Who villain named the Celestial Toymaker, who hasn’t been in the series since 1966. This trend suggests a deliberate focus on showcasing more classic and obscure characters, bringing fresh energy into the current era of Doctor Who. The presence of the Red Dawn poster as an Easter egg potentially foreshadows the inclusion of the classic villain, Ice Warriors, for Doctor Who season 14.
Doctor Who
- Release Date:
- 1963-11-23
- Cast:
- Jenna Coleman, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Kingston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi
- Genres:
- Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi
- Seasons:
- 534192,534193,534194,534195,534196,534197,534198,534199,534200,534201,534202,534203,534204,534205,534206,534207,534208,534209,534210,534211,534212,534213,534214,534215,534216,534217
- Summary:
- As the last of the alien species known as the Time Lords, the Doctor travels through time and space in his TARDIS, a time machine thats bigger on the inside than the outside, seeking out adventures in the ancient past and unimagined future while also serving as the protector of Earth and mankind. With a human companion by his side, the Doctor meets extraordinary – and sometimes deadly – characters and creatures from across the universe.
- Franchise:
- Doctor Who
- Story By:
- Sydney Newman C. E. Webber Donald Wilson
- Writers:
- Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Neil Cross, Steven Moffat, Chris Chibnall
- Network:
- BBC
