Warning: Spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 8, “Empire of Death.”
Summary
WithDoctor Whoseason 14 now complete, at least some of the many mysteries recently introduced by Russell T Davies have been resolved, butthe true identity of Mrs. Flood remains one of the biggest enigmas. Anita Dobson has quietly been one of the slightly more consistent members of theDoctor Whoseason 14 cast, first appearing as Ruby Sunday’s neighbor in the 2023Doctor WhoChristmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road.” Her muted but compelling role in the season finale, “Empire of Death,” raised even more questions and brought about more theories about who Dobson is really playing.
Since Russell T Davies returned to the showrunner’s chair in time for the show’s 60th anniversary,Doctor Who’s Disney erahas been filled with mysterious storylines that promise a huge payoff. While the resolution to certain plots in the finale of Ncuti Gatwa’s first season proved divisive,Davies has made sure to leave fans wanting moregoing into 2024’s Steven Moffat-written Christmas special, and eventuallyDoctor Whoseason 15. Until then, speculation is essentially all there is to go on to solve the riddle of Mrs. Flood. That being said, the show has already provided some potentially salient clues.
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Mrs. Flood Seemed Sinister In Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 7
Dobson’s Doctor Who character spoke very ominously to Cherry Sunday
Anita Dobson’sDoctor Whodebut in December 2023 made Mrs. Flood seem interesting, but ultimately, she didn’t appear to pose a threat. Instead, her unexplained knowledge of the Doctor’s TARDIS and ability to break the fourth wall were the main talking points about her character. However,Doctor Whoseason 14, episode 7, “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” brought with it a new facet to Mrs. Flood’s persona. When called upon to look after Ruby’s grandmother during the Sutekh crisis,Mrs. Flood underwent an ominous transformationasDoctor Who’s The One Who Waitsbegan to emerge.
Every inch the friendly neighbor on the surface, in “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” Mrs. Flood reminded viewers that there was plenty still to be uncovered about who she was.
Every inch the friendly neighbor on the surface, in “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” Mrs. Flood reminded viewers that there was plenty still to be uncovered about who she was. Not only did she seem to know that Sutekh’s return was imminent, but she chose to warn no one, and she didn’t even seem scared.It’s clear that Mrs. Flood’s true intentions are hidden, and her rapid changes in disposition communicate a vague feeling of evil lurking somewhere near the surface. Unfortunately, the moment doesn’t confirm anything but instead adds to the enigma of Anita Dobson’sDoctor Whocharacter.
Mrs. Flood Knew The One Who Waits Would Return
Sutekh’s return didn’t seem to surprise Mrs. Flood
Arguably the most revealing Mrs. Flood line so far is when she looks directly down the camera lens before declaring, “He waits no more.” However, although placid, there is a sense of hopelessness and despair in her words. It’s almost as though she has the knowledge to see what’s coming, but no possible way to prevent it from happening. This is supported by the fact that when she slides onto the bed alongside Cherry Sunday in “Empire of Death”,all Mrs. Flood does is endlessly apologize for their coming fates- even if the monologue is filled with compellingly unusual platitudes.
“I’m sorry, you tiny little woman. I’m so, so sorry it ends like this. I had such plans.”
Doctor Whohasn’t yet explained how Mrs. Flood possesses such intricate knowledge of the universe and future events. The implication of her scenes with Cherry in the season 14 two-part finale is that Dobson’s character has known about Sutekh’s return for a long time. If she knew about Sutekh, it’s possible she was also aware of the god of death’s hiding place inside the TARDIS. If so, and she chose not to tell the Doctor when they crossed paths in “The Church on Ruby Road,“it would be difficult to paint Mrs. Flood as anything other than a villain.
Theory: Mrs. Flood Is Classic Doctor Who Villain The Rani
The Rani is due a comeback after being referenced in “Space Babies”
Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor mentions the Rani by nameinDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 1, “Space Babies.” The moment is an exciting one for fans ofDoctor Who’s classic era, as the Doctor explains Time Lord naming conventions to his new companion. Interestingly, the Rani is the only established character from theDoctor Whocanon who’s referenced in this sequence. The other examples aren’t genuine, or at least, they don’t reference characters already introduced. So, this could have been Davies foreshadowing the return of the sinister Time Lord.
Originally played by Kate O’Mara, the Rani was a brilliant neurochemist, although her thirst for advancement in her chosen field often took precedence over a solid moral standing. In other words, her scientific practices often ventured into the deeply unethical. As a Time Lord,the Rani has the ability to completely alter her appearancevia the process of regeneration - just like the Doctor. So, Mrs. Flood doesn’t need to look anything like Kate O’Mara to be secretly playing the Rani. Therefore, she could have returned toDoctor Whoafter a lengthy absence.
Originally played by Kate O’Mara, the Rani was a brilliant neurochemist, although her thirst for advancement in her chosen field often took precedence over a solid moral standing.
With the many references to the Doctor’s granddaughter throughoutDoctor Whoseason 14, it seems Davies is determined to bring back more figures from the show’s classic run. This is supported by Sutekh’s comeback, as the god of death faced off withTom Baker’s Fourth Doctor in 1975’s “Pyramids of Mars"four-part story. So,the Rani’s return could almost be a foregone conclusionif Davies continues to delve into the older parts of the franchise.
Theory: Mrs. Flood Is Another Pantheon God
The Pantheon has already proven to be rather eclectic
Doctor Who’s Pantheon of Godsis incredibly varied, with its members ranging fromNeil Patrick Harris' ToymakertoJinkx Monsoon’s Maestro. There’s even a villain who debuted in theDoctor Whospinoff show,The Sarah Jane Adventures- Trickster, now also retroactively bearing the title of the God of Traps. Whileit’s unclear what Mrs. Flood’s role in the Pantheon could be, she could be a member of the omnipotent order of deities. It certainly seems this way when she delivers a spirited, religiously-charged monologue to Cherry Sunday in “Empire of Death.”
“Tell your maker I will come to storm down his gates of gold and size his kingdom in my true name.”
In all the drama of theDoctor Whoseason 14 finale, Mrs. Flood can easily be forgotten, but her return near the end of the episode supports the Pantheon theory for two reasons. Firstly, her cries of “That clever boy!” reinforce the hypothesis that she knows who the Doctor is. Secondly,she narrates the closing moments of “Empire of Death,“seemingly making her aware that she’s in a fictional TV show and addressing the audience directly.
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This level of all-knowing power could easily be within the grasp of a Pantheon member. However, her joy at Sutekh being thwarted by the Doctor suggestsMrs. Flood may not be the villain she occasionally appears to be. Or, at the very least, she opposesDoctor Who’s god of death. Any kind of civil war or internal conflict within the Pantheon would be a fascinating storyline. Unfortunately, only time will reveal the truth about what Anita Dobson’sDoctor Whocharacter might be hiding.
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Doctor Who: Released on June 28, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
