Doctor Who fans ‘disappointed’ at iconic villain’s return after 30 years
What did you think of how the epic twist was revealed?
Doctor Who viewers have shared their disappointment over how the show decided to reveal the return of one of its most memorable villains – The Rani.
The BBC sci-fi series finally revealed the identity of the mysterious Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) in the latest episode, The Interstellar Song Contest, during a mid-credits scene of epic proportions.
Originally introduced as Ruby Sunday’s neighbour, Mrs Flood has since popped up in every episode of season two in some guise or another, seemingly stalking the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and his new companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), from one location to another.
But at the end of the latest episode the Doctor and Belinda discovered the Earth was destroyed on May 24, 2025 (the same day Belinda was whisked away) and after running back into the Tardis and attempting to return, the doors exploded off their hinges.
Oh and the Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan Foreman (Carol Ann Ford) who last fully appeared in the 1960s era of the show, has also reappeared on the scene in the form of desperate visions.
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This would have been dramatic enough but during the credits Mrs Flood reveals she is a ‘Time Lady’ whose double brain steam froze which is lethal, prompting a bi-generation in which Archie Panjabi pops out as a regenerated self.
The Mrs Flood reveal happened mid-way through the credits (Picture: BBC) Some have called the reveal of the twist ‘underwhelming’ and hope there is more to come for Mrs Flood (Picture: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf/PA Wire)Archie then dramatically confirms what everyone had been waiting to find out. Mrs Flood and herself are both versions of the Rani hellbent on bringing ‘absolute terror’ to the Doctor, the Earth and likely the universe.
Oh and Mrs Flood is now subservient to this new version of her character.
The Rani is a Classic Who villain last portrayed by Kate O’Mara in the 1985 story, The Mark of the Rani, 1987 episode, Time and the Rani and finally she reprised the role in the 1993 Children in Need special Dimensions in Time.
For those good with maths, that makes it 32 years since this fearsome foe last graced our screens. And now the 15th Doctor will face her down in the two-part finale, Wish World and Reality War (with the dramatic conclusion coming to cinemas at the end of the month).
Those not in the know, the Rani is an ‘amoral, scientific genius’ who is a renegade Time Lord whose plans have been foiled by the Doctor more than once.
Kate O’Mara played The Rani in the 80s and 90s (Picture: South West News Service/REX/Shutterstock) Now Archie Panjabi is taking over the role over 30 years on (Picture: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf/PA Wire)Since her last appearance, she has been hiding and plotting… until now. However, Whovians have expressed their sheer discontent at just how the twist was delivered, especially as it was shoved into a mid-credits scene.
‘Nice to see her again but it just felt too casual. The execution of how they did the reveal just kinda undermines Mrs Flood to me . The whole thing has been about her and now it’s just “nah! Move over, now it’s new actress …kinda,’ Ryuk128 explained on Reddit.
‘I like the dynamic between the two Rani’s. But I felt like the name drop was done so casual. Would have been better if she said something like. “I’m Mrs flood, or at least i was, no time for hiding now. My true name is the Rani.’ Mangafan_20
‘I don’t really like how they kind of skimmed over Mrs Flood actually being The Rani herself as well. Even Anita Dobson said in Unleashed that she “gave birth to The Rani”. But she still IS The Rani as well. All the times we saw her in previous episodes she was THE (only) Rani.
‘The reveal of her identity was kind of overshadowed by the introduction of Archie Panjabi as the new Rani. Flood immediately become her minion,’ supertalies agreed.
The Rani has even faced down returning companion Mel Bush played by Bonnie Langford (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)And Augustine Blackwater shared hopes that Mrs Flood’s fourth-wall breaking would be addressed otherwise ‘I feel they wasted almost a whole season on meta references when it amounts to nothing but a normal character.’
Over on X, Straw Hat Sean wrote: ‘I’m excited the Rani is back, but I’m disappointed that Mrs Flood turned out to be her. I was hoping for a not so obvious much larger shocking reveal of Mrs Flood. Everyone pretty much knew from day 1 who Mrs Flood was.’
‘The way that the Rani reveal happened in front of two random characters we’ll probably never see again and not the Doctor,’ The Susan Guy added.
‘The reveal was weirdly underwhelming but also I’m SO INTRIGUED because why does one Rani suddenly become subservient to the other?? Something weird going on here… If that really is it for Mrs Flood then that’s lame but I feel like there’s more to this,’ kkthedoctor added.
Ultimately, there’s plenty of excitement to see how all of these threads will come together in the finale.
‘The Rani is my favourite Doctor Who villain having her back is a dream come true,’ tenebrix22 shared.
The (as yet incomplete) Unholy Trinity are set to wreak havoc in the two-part finale (Picture: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)‘It’s too early in the morning for me to mentally process how monumental this is. Susan and the Rani returning in one episode??????,’ VickyStone2001 echoed.
And the cast and crew have hinted at wild twists and turns to come.
‘Kate O’Mara’s portrayal was brilliant, ruthless and unforgettable. Now, under Russell T Davies, she’s back- and I’ll ask… what in the WHOniverse will we bring to her? Let’s just say, you might not be ready!’ The Good Wife star said in a statement about her return.
Showrunner Russell T Davies added that it is ‘the greatest threat the Doctor has ever faced’.
In the finale, it looks as though she’ll be teaming up with Lucky Day’s Conrad (Jonah Hauer King), Mrs Flood and one other as yet unknown entity to form the ‘Unholy Trinity’ (with some speculation that Michelle Gomez may return as Missy).
Meanwhile, given its slot just before Eurovision with iconic cameos from Rylan Clark and Graham Norton, the overnight ratings for the episode have been the best of the season with a whopping 2.6 million viewers.
Doctor Who returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Saturday with Wish World.
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