Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 15, episode 7, “Wish World.” As the revelation unfolds at the end of the preceding episode, <em>Doctor Who</em> season 15, episode 7, titled “Wish World,” marks the pivotal moment where Anita Dobson’s character, Mrs. Flood, fully embraces her role as the notorious Time Lady, the Rani. This episode also introduces Archie Panjabi as another incarnation of the Rani, a surprising twist connected to the 2023 bi-generation narrative. This long-absent villain from Doctor Who‘s classic era makes a grand return. While the unveiling of Mrs. Flood as the Rani is undeniably thrilling, “Wish World” significantly alters Dobson’s portrayal of the character, which raises concerns among fans.
Throughout Doctor Who season 15, Mrs. Flood has emerged as a significant character, despite her limited screen time in the initial six episodes; she has been a consistent presence in each installment. Interestingly, Dobson first appeared in 2023’s “The Church on Ruby Road”, captivating audiences from the start. Her intriguing character traits fueled speculation about her true identity. While many theories have been debunked, the revelation of her identity has its shortcomings, with one flaw, in particular, drawing attention.
Mrs. Flood Adopts Traditional Character Traits After Rani Revelation
“Wish World” Strips Mrs. Flood of Her Fourth Wall Interaction
In her debut episode, Anita Dobson captivated the audience by directly addressing them, an unconventional move in Doctor Who that left viewers intrigued and set the stage for the enigma of Mrs. Flood. This interaction wasn’t a one-off; it recurred at the end of Doctor Who season 14, where she took on the role of the episode narrator, summarizing the finale of Ncuti Gatwa’s inaugural season as the Fifteenth Doctor. However, this engaging narrative style abruptly ceased in “Wish World.”
In “Wish World,” Mrs. Flood conforms to the archetypal Doctor Who character model, now that the mystery surrounding her has been unveiled.
Traditionally, breaking the fourth wall is not a characteristic associated with the Rani, suggesting that showrunner Russell T. Davies may have utilized this device to misdirect viewers regarding Mrs. Flood’s true nature. While it was an entertaining narrative twist, its sudden disappearance is disappointing. In “Wish World,” Mrs. Flood exhibits behavior more typical of a conventional Doctor Who character, now that the mystery has been resolved. This shift feels abrupt, as if her previous fourth-wall interactions were hastily dismissed without proper explanation.
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With just one more episode remaining, titled “The Reality War,” it seems that the show will focus on Omega’s return, leaving little room to explore Mrs. Flood’s fourth-wall-breaking abilities. It’s unlikely that the narrative will delve into this aspect, suggesting that the battle against Omega will take precedence, and viewers may have to accept that the Rani has this unexplained ability to engage with the audience. This scenario could be frustrating for many fans, but hopefully, this will not be the case.
Unresolved Questions Surrounding Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who
Mrs. Flood’s Actions Demand Clarity and Context
While the moments showcasing Mrs. Flood’s fourth-wall interactions are among the most pressing unresolved issues regarding her character, Doctor Who has also overlooked several aspects of the Rani’s stealthy reemergence. For instance, her unusual fixation on the Doctor’s companions, rather than the Doctor himself, raises eyebrows. She has lived next door to both Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), even prior to the Fifteenth Doctor’s arrival in the TARDIS.
It’s worth noting that Mrs. Flood’s bi-generation scene is only the second of its kind in Doctor Who history.
Moreover, Mrs. Flood has donned outfits strikingly similar to those worn by other Doctor Who companions. For instance, she sported a look reminiscent of Jenna Coleman’s Clara Oswald in the season 14 finale, “Empire of Death.” This characteristic is not new to the Rani, as Kata O’Mara’s original portrayal also shared this tendency. Thus, Mrs. Flood’s enigmatic wardrobe choices may hint at her true identity as a Time Lady in disguise. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as a taunt directed at the Doctor, showcasing her confidence as she trails him through time and space, knowing she remains undetected.
Similar to her previous ability to break the fourth wall, Mrs. Flood’s fixation on the Doctor’s companions seems to have vanished.
Throughout “Wish World,” Mrs. Flood adopts a more mundane appearance, reverting to an outfit akin to her disguise in “Lucky Day,” when she portrayed a prison guard and facilitated Conrad Clark’s escape (Jonah Hauer-King). This apparent disinterest in the Doctor’s companions, much like her previous fourth-wall interactions, has mysteriously faded away. Consequently, it raises the question of whether these facets of her character were ever as significant as initially suggested.
Doctor Who Season 15’s Finale Holds Potential for Mrs. Flood’s Character Development
“The Reality War” Must Address Mrs. Flood’s Unresolved Storylines
As previously indicated, “Wish World” is merely Doctor Who season 15’s penultimate episode, leading up to “The Reality War,” which will wrap up Gatwa’s second season on May 31. While the show appears to be content with simply confirming Mrs. Flood’s identity as the Rani and moving forward, there remains the possibility that “The Reality War” will address the unanswered questions surrounding the character, whose role is shared by both Anita Dobson and Archie Panjabi. If this occurs, it must be done while managing an episode that will likely be rich with further twists and plot developments.
The title “The Reality War” is brimming with implications and could effectively resolve the ongoing narrative threads that involve fourth-wall interactions.
Additionally, Mrs. Flood is not the sole element in Doctor Who’s Disney era that has toyed with the show’s narrative structure. Numerous moments hint that characters possess an awareness of their existence within a television show. For example, the Doctor winks at the camera in season 14’s “The Devil’s Chord,” and Fifteen interacts with Doctor Who enthusiasts in season 15’s “Lux.” Therefore, the title “The Reality War” could hold significant meaning and potentially resolve these fourth-wall moments.
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If this unfolds, then the Rani’s unexplained capacity to address the audience may be part of a broader narrative thread that encompasses elements that have seemed uncharacteristic for Doctor Who in recent seasons. If Mrs. Flood’s meta moments are revealed to be a symptom of a larger existential dilemma within the show’s reality, I would find that explanation acceptable. However, it would be far less satisfying if Doctor Who fails to acknowledge the unique qualities that have made Mrs. Flood such an intriguing character.
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Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+ |
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Episode |
Title |
|
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1 |
“The Robot Revolution” |
April 12 |
|
2 |
“Lux” |
April 19 |
|
3 |
“The Well” |
April 26 |
|
4 |
“Lucky Day” |
May 3 |
|
5 |
“The Story and the Engine” |
May 10 |
|
6 |
“The Interstellar Song Contest” |
May 17 |
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7 |
“Wish World” |
May 24 |
|
8 |
“The Reality War” |
May 31 |
Doctor Who
5/10
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
- Directors
- Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie
- Writers
- Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
- Franchise(s)
- Doctor Who / Whoniverse
