You May Have Missed Star Trek's Most Unhinged Doctor Who Easter Egg But I Didn't

You may have missed Star Trek’s most unhinged Doctor Who Easter Egg, but I did not. Two of the longest-running pop culture franchises, Star Trek and Doctor Who, have made sly references to one another over the years. In issues 26 and 27 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, first published by Malibu in 1995, Trek drops one of its most unhinged, and coolest, Doctor Who Easter Eggs yet.

In the story “Mudd’s Pets,” appearing as back-up features in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 26 and 27, Horace Mudd arrives on the titular space station, seeking a deal with Quark. Mudd is trafficking cute creatures he has dubbed “Meeps” due to the sound they make. There is a downside to the little critters though: their saliva is a universal solvent.

The Meeps escape from Mudd and wreak havoc on Deep Space Nine, forcing Sisko and company to find a way to stop the cute and cuddly menace from destroying them all.

The Meep, Doctor Who's Cutest Adversary, Explained

Beep the Meep Made the Leap From Doctor Who Comics to Live Action

The adorable little Meeps that nearly destroy Deep Space Nine are also one of the Star Trek franchises’ coolest Doctor Who shout-outs. In 2023, audiences met Beep the Meep in the Doctor Who episode “The Star Beast.” Featuring David Tennant as the 14th Doctor, the episode was in fact an adaptation of a Doctor Who comic book story from over 40 years ago. In issues 19 through 26 of Doctor Who Weekly, first published between February through April 1980, Beep the Meep was introduced to the mythos, and would become a popular villain.

Longtime Doctor Who fans were thrilled by Beep's on-screen debut. In the episode “The Star Beast,” Beep crash-lands on Earth, being pursued by Wararth Warriors. Beep’s cute and cuddly appearance masked a ruthless adversary, one who was not above murder to get what he wanted. Beep the Meep was willing to sacrifice all of London to get his ship off Earth, and the Doctor, assisted by Donna Noble, barely beat him. The episode ends on an ambiguous note, with the Meep being taken by an unknown party called “The Boss.”

Did Doctor Who's Meep Influence Star Trek's Version?

Regardless, Both Doctor Who and Star Trek's Meeps Are Deadly

Beep the Meep would go on to become a popular Doctor Who antagonist, making additional appearances in the comics as well as novels before making his live action debut. It stands to reason the writers behind “Mudd’s Pets” may have been familiar with the Meep’s history, and the creature’s name could be a shout-out. Both Meeps are adorable in appearance, and both are deadly. While Doctor Who’s Meep is intelligent, the Meeps of the Star Trek universe are not, and are more akin to Tribbles. And just like Tribbles, Star Trek’s Meeps are an ecological crisis waiting to happen.

And “Mudd’s Pets” shows just what Star Trek’s version of the Meep is capable of. With their highly destructive saliva, the Meeps nearly bring Deep Space Nine to its knees, and within a matter of days as well. Furthermore, the Meeps of the Star Trek universe can assume a decidedly less cuddly look, taking on the appearance of a small dinosaur. Underestimating both versions of the Meep due to their cute and unassuming demeanors has been the downfall of many an alien species. Both, however, met their match in either the Doctor or Starfleet.

Hopefully, One Day, Star Trek and Doctor Who Will Cross Over On Screen

Until Then, Easter Eggs Like the Meep Will Be All Fans Will Get

Both Star Trek and Doctor Who are still going strong, meaning unofficial “crossovers” like the Meep will more than likely continue. While the worlds of Star Trek and Doctor Who have collided in comics, the likelihood they will ever meet on-screen is very small, making little Easter Eggs such as the Meep the closest fans will get to the two science fiction franchises meeting. This Doctor Who reference in Star Trek is one of the most unhinged, and one that might have slipped fans by.