In the latest episode of Doctor Who Season 2, titled The Interstellar Song Contest, viewers were treated to a significant revelation concerning the enigmatic character Mrs Flood, portrayed by Anita Dobson. Since her introduction, Mrs. Flood has intrigued fans with her mysterious demeanour and cryptic remarks, sparking numerous theories about her true identity. This episode finally sheds light on her character, providing answers that connect deeply with the show’s rich history.
Major Spoiler Warning for Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 6 titled “The Interstellar Song Contest”
Who is Mrs Flood?
In a pivotal moment of The Interstellar Song Contest, it’s unveiled that Mrs Flood is, in fact, the Rani—a renegade Time Lord and a formidable adversary from the classic era of Doctor Who. This revelation reintroduces a character not seen on-screen since the 1980s, marking a significant moment for long-time fans and adding a new layer of complexity to the current narrative and the ongoing threat of May 24th.
With the TARDIS doors exploding towards The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belidna (Varada Sethu) and the cloister bells ringing around the TARDIS, the episode ends, until a mid-credits stinger reveals the last remaining guest at the Interstellar Song Contest is none other than Mrs Flood. She gets out of Rylan’s cryogenic pod, seeming flustered and panicked as she asks Gary (Charlie Condou) and Mike (Kadiff Kirwan) if “he” is gone, referring to The Doctor. She reveals her double brainstem froze when ejected from the arena, which is lethal for a Time Lady, though she has her own knack for survival as she comes up with some famous last words… “Let battle begin!”
Mrs Flood, the Time Lady, begins to regenerate until she bi-generates into two versions of herself, Anita Dobson’s iteration on the left, with a black shirt and red pants, and Archie Panjabi appearing on the other side – reminiscent of how Fourteen bi-generated during The Giggle. Archie Panjabi confirms herself as the definitive article The Rani, whilst Mrs Flood’s version is only A Rani, now, almost appearing as the comedic sidekick of a more villainous, nefarious Rani. The Rani requests Mrs Flood’s Vindicator readings as they make for a date with The Doctor.
Who is The Rani?
The Rani is a renegade Time Lord and a contemporary of both the Doctor and the Master. Introduced in the 1985 serial The Mark of the Rani, she is portrayed as a brilliant but unscrupulous scientist, conducting experiments without regard for ethical considerations. Her appearances in The Mark of the Rani and Time and the Rani established her as a formidable adversary, distinct from The Master due to her scientific motivations rather than a desire for conquest. The Rani was originally portrayed by Kate O’Mara.
The Rani later appeared as the principal villain in Dimensions in Time, a 1993 Doctor Who charity television special for BBC Children in Need. The character has since been featured in multiple Doctor Who audio dramas and novels. The Rani is an amoral biochemist who experiments on humans and other species and considers everything secondary to her research.
What is The Rani and Mrs Flood’s Plan?
“I have a date to arrange, and as for The Doctor, oh, I will bring him absolute terror.” The Rani’s final lines perfectly mirror the words spoken by Mrs Flood on the rooftop in Empire of Death, where she teases The Doctor’s story will end in “absolute terror,” but what are The Rani and Mrs Flood up to? Historically, The Rani is known as an amoral scientific genius, often conducting experiments without regard for ethical considerations. Her interest in the Vindicator readings, which The Doctor has been monitoring throughout the season, suggests she is gathering data for a significant experiment or manipulation of time. Mrs Flood’s comment in The Well about the Vindicator being “exactly what I needed to know” reinforces this notion.
The bi-generation of The Rani into two – Anita Dobson’s version and Archie Panjabi could be seen as a strategic move, allowing them to operate on multiple fronts simultaneously. While The Rani pursues her scientific endeavours, Mrs Flood can manipulate events more subtly, perhaps influencing key individuals or gathering additional intel. For all we know, “The Boss” who we’ve been hearing about for so long could be The Rani, and with this more dominant, powerful regeneration in charge, things aren’t looking so good for The Doctor and Belinda in the aftermath of that explosion…
Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 7, “Wish World”, premieres on Disney+ worldwide and on BBC iPlayer in the UK on May 24 at 12am PT / 3am ET / 8am GMT.
