Doctor Who Series 12: Ten Huge Questions After Nikola Tesla’s Night Of Terror
6. Are There Links To A Series Arc?
Spyfall and Orphan 55 were connected by the theme of a child growing up to avenge a parent. There is no reference to Tesla’s Serbian upbringing, but he was raised by supportive parents and had none of the attachment issues that affected both Daniel Barton and Bella. It’s a theme that will no doubt tie into the Timeless Child revelations to come, but it is entirely absence in this episode.
When the Skithra queen asks the Doctor if she has seen a dead planet, there is a neat musical cue to remind us of Gallifrey and the Doctor’s fleeting visit when she saw it lying in ruins. The desolate Orphan 55 will also have been in the Doctor’s thoughts, with it being the most recent alien planet she had visited.
Spyfall brought us a partial history of the internet, both as a history lesson, but also as a plot point. The prominent role given to Wardenclyffe Tower, Tesla’s ill-fated attempt to establish a wireless network, is another intentional link between the past and contemporary technology. Once again, the TARDIS team are using mobile phones long before they were invented, though this time nobody passes comment on them. Presumably, they are able to work because of the TARDIS. Whether or not the prominence of the mobiles is significant, is anyone's guess at this stage.