Doctor Who: The Devil's Chord Breakdown - 23 Easter Eggs & References! 

Calling it: The Timeless Child arc will complete to show the Doctor is a lost member of the Pantheon, perhaps Lord Temporum

When Maestro takes control of the TARDIS with their piano, they are not playing the Doctor Who theme distorted but the Saxon theme!! The subtitles clearly indicate this as "playing the Saxon theme off-key"!

My theory is that it might not actually be Ruby's mother who left her at the church but the Trickster, the hood, the black clock and the high heeled boots. Trickster could probably disguise himself. Plus the finger point when the 'memory changed'

Honestly, I don't think any character introduction could make me more hyped than THE TRICKSTER! Like seriously, if RTD brings him back for the two-part finale I'm gonna lose my mind, one of the coolest villains to grace (ironic) the Doctor Who universe - and he was introduced over a DECADE AGO!

If Susan comes back and was the reoccurring actress, it will literally be a Susan Twist at the end. There is always one, after all. My theory is that the Doctor is locked in a show of some kind, and he knows it: there have been fourth wall breaks in the main episodes (as distinct from, say, 12 explaining the Bootstrap Paradox outside the episode) plus the Doctor's comment in this episode about having thought a piece of music was non diegetic, i.e. hearable only to the audience. That makes sense only if he knows he is in a show and is able to hear things that characters should not be able to hear. Maybe that will be the Trickster's doing?

Surely Ruby playing the piano on the roof is a reference to The Beatles' famous rooftop concert.

I think it’s possible the Doctor is in the Land of Fiction in a story called “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” and has begun to realize it and started planning an escape.

13:27 for the record, when Maestro starts playing the piano, the Disney Plus subtitles say “plays the Saxon theme off key”.

Unless i missed it - YOU MISSED AN EASTER EGG! When the mystro mentiones that she needs power to comand the "song of the Sphears" this is a reference (to the surprisingly NOW CANNON!) Dr who at the orchestra in which the 10th doctor breaks the 4th wall and gives the audiance/orchestra the "Song of the Sphears" aka the sound of the universe.

Ellie and all, has anyone else noticed that the Tardis hasn't been making much noise when travelling. Do you think 15 final took the Hand-brake off 😂.

The song Ruby sings under Maestro’s control before it switches to Carol of the Bells sounds eerily similar to the Trickster’s theme from SJA. I think there’s a strong possibility we’ll see the Trickster in Doctor Who finally.

I've also noticed that the Doctor still hasn't actually seen Susan Twist, in this episode she turns her back when he turns round to get the teas

I honestly thought that Maestro's last outfit was a reference to Paul McCartney's outfit on the Sergeant Peppers album, but the Toymaker reference makes sense too

Also, when they were dancing on Abby Road on the end, with their umbrellas, I got vibes of the Singing in the Rain, especially in the way they were dancing.

Is it just me or did the melody of 'There's Always A Twist At The End' seem very reminiscent of the melody of the Giggle?

The chord John and Paul played to banish Maestro sounded a lot like the chord at the end of A Day In The Life.

I think Ruby is the doctors great grand daughter. The doctor was a member of the pantheon as the embodiment of life hence regeneration. The one who waits is death and possibly the father of ruby. Being a daughter of a god Ruby has some power like memory or reality hence the snow coming through. Possibly the doctor opted to leave the pantheon at the cost of their memories in order to experience life rather than consume his element like the other gods seem to do.

I'm starting a new drinking game, every time they mention Susan in these videos take a shot. You'll be passed out in no time flat

Honestly Murray Gold featuring in the show as himself is so meta.

So The Twist was a song by Chubby Checker in the 1960s and it had a dance to go along with it. Tarantino was definitely using that dance too, but Checker invented and popularized it. That was a long time ago and I guess lost to the ages soon. 😅 It was during my mom's time tho so you made me feel kinda ancient today lol I really enjoy all your content tho, doing an analysis on such a timeframe must be a crunch ❤

I actually noticed that when Ruby got dragged on the floor by the music notes, that gave me vibes in The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 2 episode Enemy Of The Bane when Sarah Jane got dragged on the floor by The Bane, in that part it was when Sarah Jane, Rani, Rani's Mum and Mrs Wormwood were running out of a old factory unit

There's a moment when they go back to 1963 where the TARDIS makes a strange noise and Ruby asks if it's broken and the Doctor then says "No, that's something else." I think that's going to link up to S.TRIAD personally. :)

You said that Big is underrated, but in the US it is considered a classic. The toy store they went into F.A.O. Swartz even has a super long line tourists to wait n order to dance on the piano like in the movie.

Honestly if you listen closely to the distorted Dr Who theme it kinda sounds like the Saxon Theme and even the subtitles say The Saxon Theme but some say Distorted Dr Who theme

Phew! You made it through the first week/double feature marathon just in time! Well done WhoCulture team!

The other thing that happens in 1925, as shown in the Giggle, is the invention of television. This is a TV show and it keeps breaking the 4th wall, recognising itself as a TV show. Salt at the edge of the universe wasn’t the inciting incident. It was the invention of television. Perhaps not just television, but the media industry. The thing that sucks the joy out of creativity.

Ellie, you missed one? What about Harbinger right at the end, peeking through the door, and not being affected by the music magic?

Me on my hands and knees begging RTD to bring the Trickster back cause it would be so cool and now is the best time to do so. Also Doctor and Ruby travelling back to modern just to see everything destroyed is also very reminiscent of a scene in the Sarah Jane Adventures. Where Sarah Jane and Luke had gone back in time to the 50s and then came back to modern day to find it all destroyed by the Trickster.

I’m not 100% certain about this, but here we go - in the scene where the piano is being winched up to the roof, the Doctor speak s to one of the workmen, and addresses him as ‘Billy’; given this is an episode that features the Beatles, and a piano being played on the roof, I wondered if this was a reference to Billy Preston, who played with The Beatles on the famous rooftop concert, and was the only musician to be given a credit on a Beatles single (“Get Back”). Given that music has, effectively, died, it’s quite possible that Preston would be a workman instead of a musician.

The Wicked Lady plot reminds me of the Woman Who Lived episode in the series when 12 met Ashilder again when she was acting as a highway man or something like that

Tim Drake and Harbinger feel like DC Comics Easter Eggs

For number 23, I think that when the Toymaker appeared, I just imagine all of his "children" climb out of an imaginary floor in an imaginary plain and held until fit properly, like they just go out of the plain to fight the doctor

I was rewatching the giggle today and found it interesting how The Toymaker also talks about the one who waits as someone who he would never play a game with

Missed the reference to Music of the Spheres from Doctor Who at the Proms. This is worth a watch with Devil’s Chord in mind and that the Graske was working for the Trickster. At the 30:28 minute mark, we get this exchange: The sound of a nuclear winter, the purest music of all. Aeolian tones. Music without the need for people. And every song that goes unsung feeds me. I get stronger and stronger until I can reach out and steal the Music of the Spheres! Then the universe will stop turning.

One thing i think is worth mentioning which you didn't talk ab in the vid, is the sonic in this episode. For whatever rsn i have not seen anyone comment on the fact its suddenly red. My theory behind this is that its a timeline error, in that perhaps this episode is actually set later on in the events of the Doctor and Ruby's adventures. This makes sense since as we know 6 months has randomly passed between ep 1 and 2 plus i cant see them doing such a big change to the sonic for no reason, there must be something story related! Plus considering all the timey wimey shenanigans weve seen already I wouldn't be surprised if they did put all the episodes this season purpousfully out of order and perhpas a story later in the season will lead to a chnage in sonic which then allows us to distinguish the time each episode was set. Or I'm rlly overthinking it and the sonic will just have a new colour to fit every episode or something 😂

I'm so impressed. 90% of this stuff flies over my head 😂

Susan Twist making a reference to a character that impersonates a highway robber - Ashildr (ME) also spent time as a highway robber. Just a thought. Not necessarily a good one (I did not care for the character). When the Doctor mentions that he's currently "over there", he does leave out the fact that he was also at Coal Hill School dealing with a few Daleks (Remembrance of the Daleks). No one seems to be talking about that. Maestro's final costume also resembles the costumes worn by the Beatles for Sgt. Pepper. Topical. This episode was just packed with references. I'm sure I missed several. Well done, guys. P.S. I had a thought during the vid: we're heading toward the revelation that Ruby is The One Who Waits. I hope not. It's just a bit too on the nose.

11:52 it could also be a reference to the SJA story, the temptation of Sarah Jane, since its a similar shot, same colour palette and both destructions were caused by a god-like being (Maestro and The Trickster). Also could potentially be a small hint of The Tricksters return

Marina Sirtis was in the 1983 remake of Wicked Lady

The doctor looking back at the Tardis before changing his mind caught my eye. I felt I missed something there.

I was disappointed that you didn't catch the significance of the chord that John and Paul finally put together that defeated The Maestro. It was the very same chord that ends their song "A Day In The Life," which was sustained on the original recording and reputedly ended in an ultrasonic note dogs could hear.

On DWM it was explained that the third costume for Maestro was inspired to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper Lonely Heart's Club Band.

There also is a screech from the beginning of the Goblin song twice in the final music number.

When maestro uses the tuning fork to end the silence from the sonic, they say “sound and vision” and look over their shoulder, in a way that looks a lot like the David Bowie album “Low” (of which sound and vision was the lead single) just a fun Easter egg

Big is underrated? It was a very popular movie back in the 1980s, and one of my favorites from my teen years. It's the movie that really launched Tom Hanks' career.

The tardis only goes off its rocker when the saxon theme because its got ptsd of when it was cnabalised into a paradox machine

Missed: Maestro’s finger rings. 3 placed to look. 1. In beginning rings r big and sparkly, 2. When trying to find Doctor snd Ruby she hits her large deep blue ring with her tuning fork as the Toymaker did in Classic DW, 3. Maestro end scene rings r now simple gold bands with gold spheres like planets.

Susan Twist said she was Margaret Lockwood in The Wicked Lady and Margaret Lockwood played Barbara Worth and Susan Foreman's teacher and fellow TARDIS companion was called Barbara Wright. Barbara's friend in The Wicked Lady was called Caroline and Susan Foreman was played by Carol Anne Ford. I'm probably reaching but thought I'd point it out.

One easter egg you missed, was Harbenger reappeared again just when he came out the door after the devils cord

I'm hoping the Guardians will be back, perhaps the Old One and The One Who Waits are White and Black Guardians, that could be fun. I hope the Trickster comes back, but as a one off like the Maestro, not for a big bad.

With the distorted Doctor Who opening theme being Saxon's theme, when the Doctor says the only thing he can do is have the TARDIS go back to 1963, I like to think that's a reference to The Sound of Drums, where the Doctor made the TARDIS only capable of travelling between the year one hundred trillion and the last place the TARDIS landed. In both, the TARDIS went back to the last place it landed.

I'm only fairly sure this is a reference, but when Susan Twist's tea lady is talking about the actress from The Twisted Lady, she says something about how she always liked her because she was Statuesque. This might very well have been a reference to the movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar" where the character Vida Boheme says something very similar about Julie. Especially since this was an episode featuring an iconic drag queen and "To Wong Foo" is an iconic drag movie.

And still I remember an old British silent short film, where a guy jumped on the crosswalk and made music out of it, involving a policeman, playing music on his cuffs and helmet. I wonder if it was a Monty Pithon thing.

If you watch the episode with subtitles, the moment you referred to as the the distorted Dr Who theme is actually titled "Saxon." I'm assuming that's a reference to Harold Saxon and also why the TARDIS begins to malfunction since we know the Master cannibalized the TARDIS to make a paradox machine.

Another reference to the Trickster was nearly at the end of the episode in the scene where Maestro had Ruby caught in some music. They ask her to sing. And when she does, it sounds like she's actually singing the Trickster's theme.

This episode had my favorite line so far from Ncuti's Doctor: "I thought it was non-diagetic!" Also, I thought the ending "twist" took the curse off of having a musical number in Doctor Who. I was a bit worried. So far, RTD2 is staying on the edge but not jumping off it.

fun fact, I believe there was actually a (very similar) scene where they go back to the 'present' only to find it a wasteland, in the 11th Doctor adventure game with amy. the first one, with the daleks. I loved those games :)

Has everyone forgot about Clara jumping in the doctors time line and now is through the doctors life what if Susan twist or miss flood is maybe Clara??

I know people dont like the friday midnight release but i love it! The work week im always busy and so time goes by so quick and before Saturdays felt so long waitint for the release. Now after all my busy week its out straight away!

I think RTD has been paying attention to videos like this one. He knows channels like these are going to uncover all these connections. Great video as always Ellie!

As soon as I saw the scene of destroyed london I immediately thought of the second trickster story of SJA where it shows a very similar shit of a destroyed London (both of which are rtd story’s)

I'm convinced this episode exists within its own separate cannon

When Rose gets captured she says something about hearing music and the Doctor says, "I thought that was non-diagetic" Also, the light-up stripes could be a reference to Michael Jackson's Billy Jean music video.

Okay so hear me out what if…ruby’s mother is…the trickster and I know it sounds crazy but considering the possibility of the trickster returning and the fact we have no idea who Ruby’s mother is and we might never until the end of the season based on those facts and the fact we barely even saw the face of Ruby’s mother and considering whatever powers the trickster has Ruby could be a creation of the trickster and stuff like I know it sounds crazy but it could work

Do you remember the guy in the 4th Doctor's The Pirate Planet who ketp hollering "Mr. Fibuli!!" and stuff like "By All The Skydemons Of Rathtar!!" or whatever? That who Maestro reminded me of. Very over-the-top.

I can see RTD setting up Susan to come back for the 63rd or 64th Anniversary of DW. 63rd because DW came out in 1963 obviously. But I can also see it being set up for the 64th Anniversary because Susan was left behind snd given the "I'll be back" speech in 1964

I think the theme that plays just before you hear the song hidden deep inside rubys soul, you hear a similar theme to the tricksters theme from Sarah Jane Adventures, or the theme that played when the box that makes you remember timelines was on screen.

3:42 The VW and the van in shot are both also the same vehicles, in the same places, with the same 1968 number plates, as the cover from Abbey Road. Sadly that means they're six years too early for the stated date of the episode.

I petition Ellie to be cast as Susan.

BIG FAIL from the costume department for poor research. The costumes were 5-6 years too late for 1963 (1968-1969 at the earliest). I lived it (I remember the JFK assassination/funeral, but verified it with a 10 minute Google search). John Lennon's shirt/tie was the only thing correct (he wore Buddy Holly style glasses in 1963, and didn't wear the round Windsors until after appearing in a film in 1966). Simple web searching again. The John/Paul "save" was too obvious. I wanted Pete Best to show up and save the day on the drums... The dance bit was also wrongly costumed, but at least the Twist first came out in 1958...

I do hope Jinkx remembered to brush and floss after chewing all that scenery

The Doctor has already met and thwarted the Trickster. Hell, Sarah Jane and her group of kids did too. Not a big enough threat to be taken seriously. At least Sutekh or Fenric would be imposing. Although I'd wager "The one who waits" won't turn out to be anyone we've met before.

Also, the tune for the musical number at the end is to the tune of the Giggle.

Big isn't underrated, everyone loves Big!

Wow. I never realized that scene was 1925. Regardless, I think it's safe to say that even if Neil Patrick Harris has to produce it with his own finances, the Toymaker and Maestro will definitely return, if only to appear on screen together at some point.

I was just happy to see Johannes & Jinkx Monsoon was fantastic loved all the easter eggs & call backs

What if Susan Twists character is The One Who Waits? I mean she does seem to be hanging around a lot in the Doctors timeline. But in that regard she's a bit like Clara during her Impossible Girl phase.

Maestro dose say Music of the Spheres. Music of the Spheres was an interactive mini-episode made especially for Doctor Who Prom 2008 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

My guess is that the spaceship adventure from Wild Blue Yonder happened in 1925 Earth Time.

Not so much an Easter Egg as a clever nod, but did anyone else notice that during the scene where the Doctor steals all sound, Maestro mouths "vat" rather than "what" the second time they mouth confusion at what is happening, just as the Toymaker asked "vat" when the Doctor bi-generated.

I don't think its fair to call the giggle "the laugh of the Toy Maker" which Maestro is then co-opting... I think the opposite is true. The giggle is an arpeggio, it is musical in nature. Maestro makes it clear that "daddy was so mean" to them. I think all of the Toy Maker's musical bits, from the giggle to the music video, we're him abusing Maestro's powers.

THANKS for this, Ellie!!!!!

The Toymaker and Maestro both wore marching band uniforms, which are loosely based on 1800s military uniforms. The guy in the original Toymaker story was wearing more of a toy soldier uniform.

The final villain of the 15th doctor is the god of entertainment and controls the show it's self

if i'm not mistaken, the chord played by john and paul on the abbey road piano, is the one at the end of a day in the life...

when they sing "There's always a twist at the end" it's in the same tune as the giggle. getting higher until the word twist and then going lower. you should rewatch it and listen out for it

What the twist dance move from Pulp Fiction reminded me of is lonelyisland's The Creep

Oh gosh. I hope Susan Twist isn't the Master/Missy.

Did you notice the, at least, three song references in Maestro's speech back in "present time"? "Feeds me" exactly pronounced like the plant do in Little shop of horrors movie; "Reach out" pronounced quite similar to "Reach out and touch faith" in Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus; and last Maestro also says "Music of the Spheres", like the name of Coldplay's album!

It looks like Murray Gold is wearing hidden Mickey cuff links in his cameo.

There was a dancer shown onscreen in the dance number with a specific style of hat that MAY POSSIBLY BE another SUBTLE nod to a First Doctor companion; who also appeared in a number of William Hartnel era stories. One such story was ‘THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER’ and that character being Dorothea ‘Dodo’ Chaplet portrayed by the late Jackie Lane. Could that dancer POSSIBLY be the ACTUAL Dodo Chaplet before she joined the TARDIS crew ??? 😃

It also sounded like the Master' theme (double heart beat)

Pretty sure The Master's Death Particle thing is the reference for the genocide,, since they saved Gallifrey from themsevles and the Daleks during the time war, and they know it meow.

You know your show has too much lore in it when the simple act of knocking four times could be seen as a reference

You forgot to mention that coming out of the opening credits Ruby and the Doctor are listening to the Doctor Who Theme Tune on the Juke Box. Speaking of Meta, Doctor Who has appeared on Strictly.

Hell yes you confirmed my theory I posted on your comments the other day about the pantheon thank you!! I couldn’t find out anything if it was the same pantheon that’s made me so happy thank you Ellie:)

Why didn't you mentioned that "there's always a twist" could relate to Suzan Twist, that she is the one important character in the end of the season?

I found it funny in this video how who culture made it so he said i live over there and pointed at the destroyed galifrey, and Ruby sounded shocked, and he just casually said I live over there in the destroyed galifrey

Random thought I had during the video: What if something like this happened, going with the “1925 being a nexus year for them” as Ellie said. One of the Pantheon arrives in 1925 and makes itself instrumental in historical events occurring (both good and bad) and the Doctor is faced with the threat of a massive Grandfather paradox if he takes the Pantheon member out.

I really like your hair! ☺ Also, James Marsters' character in Torchwood had a somewhat similar jacket