Timey-Wimey Box
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New to Expanded Who?
So you want to start the Expanded Universe (EU), but don't know where to start? Or perhaps you want to focus on NuWho EU and characters, as you've not experienced Classic? Or maybe it’s just a matter of understanding the details of the complex chronology surrounding our beloved show. Lucky for you, I have you all covered!
About Timey-Wimey Box
There are several hundred full-cast audio dramas that have been produced over the last 25 years, ranging from Classic Doctors, EU characters, Modern Doctors, Wilderness Years Adventures, and The Worlds of Doctor Who (focusing on TV characters, friends and foes alike, and a range of spin-off series). It can be pretty daunting to begin with, or even work out where in the timeline a particular story occurs. Nevertheless, I wanted to help the best I could and composed a beautiful (yet rather large!) document to try and make it somewhat comprehensible. This was shared with a few friends, but as more content was released, the document grew ridiculously big. My answer? This website! ​I’ve used a variety of online sources to help place stories in their correct segment of time - these include TARDIS Wiki, Eyespider, and Bradley’s Basement. I’ve also used my understanding of Classic/New Who to make judgements - in addition to having listened to over 350 audio stories as of May 2024. This is a very ambitious project and with each new release, these timelines will well and truly be in a state of flux. Either way, I hope you enjoy your visit to Timey-Wimey Box!
Starting Points for TV Who
There are several jumping-on points for televised episodes of Doctor Who. With Classic Era (1963-1996) spanning 27 seasons and nearly 700 episodes, visiting this era alongside or after watching the Modern Era (2005-2022) is recommended. However, for those determined to start with the very first serial (An Unearthly Child), I wish you the best of luck. In the Modern Era, three accessible starting points reflect a new Doctor and storytelling style. Take a look at Series 1's "Rose" (2005), Series 5's "The Eleventh Hour" (2010), and Series 11's "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" (2018). Alternatively, the Whoniverse Era (2023-Present) opens the door for a new set of fans, taking the show in a new direction. Season 1's Christmas Special, "The Church on Ruby Road" (2023) acts as a soft reboot for a brand-new cosmic era, without the requirement of previous viewing.
NuWho Characters and Audio
There are many full-cast audio drama series that focus on the travels of Modern Era Doctors - with Eccleston and Tennant reprising their roles as 9 and 10 respectively (11 & 12 as alternate voice artists). More of these can be found in The Doctor. Much-loved companions also have audio adventures, including Rose, Martha, Donna, River, Sarah Jane, etc. More of these can be seen in Friends & Allies. Notable foes featured within this era also continue their mischief within their releases - primarily the Master/Missy, or something involving the Daleks or Cybermen. More of these can be seen in Enemies & Monsters.
Most of these releases are formatted as boxset series, featuring up to four individual stories, or up to four parts of an overall 16-episode arc. Some releases are often 60-minute individual releases, so there's a range of formats to experiment with. Not all of these adventures will shy away from Classic Who and may feature characters and references (I've noted these down below!). However, I hope these encourage you to explore the different ranges available!
So assuming the Classic Era of Who is a whole world of unknown, where to begin?
Some Starting Points of NuWho Audio
Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon
The Doctor and Rose Tyler were an unstoppable duo, travelling through all of space and time with starry eyes. But what happened to Rose after the events of "Doomsday"? With a mysterious deadly threat endangering every Earth, the walls between dimensions have begun to weaken, sending Rose on a journey in search of the only person who can help… the Doctor.
UNIT: The New Series
Introduced in "The Power of Three", Kate Stewart leads UNIT towards a new age. This action-packed range occurs between "The Power of Three" and "The Day of the Doctor", and sees Kate, Osgood, and UNIT operatives Josh Carter and Sam Bishop, tackle alien friends old and new. Expect familiar foes and references to Classic Era UNIT, without the need for prior knowledge!
The Paternoster Gang
Moffat’s era of Who introduced us to the bizarre-yet-comedic trio that parodies Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes: The Paternoster Gang. The unlikely alliance of Silurian (Madame Vastra), Sontaran (Strax), and Human (Jenny Flint) only made 5 appearances in televised stories, with the potential to replace the spin-off gap left by the Sarah Jane Adventures not utilised. However, Big Finish seized the opportunity to provide a set of adventures starring our favourite Victorian investigators (Sorry Jago & Litefoot…)
Ninth Doctor Adventures & Tenth Doctor Adventures
Big Finish has also allowed the expansion of the Ninth and Tenth Doctor's travels, alongside their companions of Rose, Martha, and Donna. These stories also make for a good starting point, allowing the audience to experience more of the Doctor they know and love.​ Nine's travels occur before the events of "Rose" and have been highly praised by fans, providing more character development alongside Series 1. Meanwhile, ​Ten's travels are more extensive, with further travels for Rose and Donna, in addition to encounters with River Song and Classic Era Doctors and Companions.
Classic Who on Audio
Or as I like to call this section, "The Confusing Timeline of Big Finish Chronology and Classic Who". We have to admit that when it comes to Classic Who alone, the serialised approach means there are a lot of stories to cover. With the inclusion of Big Finish, things tend to get even more confusing, due to crossovers and an entire range that released out-of-chronological-order adventures. Finding starting points for this Era of Who is a little harder - I often find it's better to find a boxset that sounds interesting and go from there. But for the benefit of the doubt, I've provided some good starting points here that have worked well for me!
Some Starting Points of Classic Who Audio
One of the main reasons for jumping into the EU, Paul McGann's audio dramas have gained a lot of popularity. As there are now 22 years worth of audio drama, there are three ideal starting points at times when the range's format has undergone a "refresh". You could start from "Storm Warning" (2002) and progress through the Charlotte Pollard arc (and trust me, you won't be disappointed). Alternatively, "Blood of the Daleks" (2007) starts the Lucie Miller companion arc across 4 (intense!) seasons. Or if you'd like something a little more recent, "Dark Eyes" (2011) also provides access to a set of 16-part blockbuster epics.
Classic Doctors, New Monsters
One of Big Finish's finest creations for merging Classic Who with the Modern Era. This range of audio does exactly what it says on the tin and has monsters introduced in NuWho - e.g., the Sycorax, the Silence, and Weeping Angels - and pairs them with a Classic Era Doctor. This offers the perfect opportunity to get to know Classic Era!
Special Anniversary Releases
Occasionally, Big Finish will release special stories to commemorate milestones within the show's history. Some notable one-offs include "The Light at the End" (2013) and "The Legacy of Time" (2019). The "Eighth of March" (2019-2023) trilogy also provides a look into the women of Doctor Who. "Once & Future", an 8-part epic celebrating 60 years of Doctor Who, also acts as a good branch into the Classic EU.