In Doctor Who, the Pandorica is the object at the center of the 2010 episode “The Pandorica Opens.” The episode is the first part of the fifth series finale and was written by Steven Moffat.
The Pandorica is presented as a legendary prison containing what the characters believe to be the universe’s most dangerous prisoner. Its location beneath Stonehenge attracts many of the Doctor’s enemies, who assemble to prevent its occupant from escaping. The episode’s title deliberately echoes the Pandora myth while giving the object a distinct science-fiction role.
The story stars Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, with Karen Gillan as Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams. Nicholas Briggs provides voices for several returning enemies, including the Daleks and Cybermen, whose presence contributes to the finale’s large-scale threat.
“The Pandorica Opens” originally aired on BBC One on 19 June 2010. Its direct continuation is “The Big Bang,” which concludes the series-five storyline and explains the consequences of opening the prison.