Doctor Who fans have had the interplanetary adventures of their dreams in recent weeks, owing to the 60th anniversary specials, which saw David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprise their roles as the Time Lord and Donna Noble, respectively.
Then, on Christmas Day, Ncuti Gatwa debuted as the 15th Doctor in his first complete episode, while also introducing Millie Gibson as his new companion, Ruby Sunday.
While Whovians have praised the episode, which begins a new era for the BBC series with Russell T Davies back at the helm as showrunner, one specific figure has piqued the interest of many.
Anita Dobson appears in the latest installment as Mrs Flood, Ruby’s inquisitive next-door neighbour.
Mrs Flood is annoyed when The Doctor’s Tardis emerges on their street, causing a blockage.
However, in a mid-credits scene, she implies that this isn’t the first time that she’s caught sight of the Doctor’s mode of transportation, saying with a wink: ‘Never seen a Tardis before?’
This tiny remark aroused the curiosity of many Doctor Who watchers, some of whom quickly concluded that Mrs Flood is a figure we’ve encountered before… The River Song.
River, played by Alex Kingston in the series, is originally presented as the Doctor’s future companion.
River ultimately marries the Doctor’s 11th incarnation, played by Matt Smith, and it’s revealed that she was actually Melody Pond, the daughter of companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill).
You may have noticed a similar thread amongst the titles Melody Pond, River Song, and Mrs Flood – allusions to bodies of water.
So it seems to reason that Doctor Who fans who enjoy conspiracy theories would speculate that Mrs Flood is an earlier version of River Song, an idea we would not dismiss.
#FTN Given the crack in the ceiling in last night’s episode of #DoctorWho immediately made me think of the crack in the 11th Doctor’s story along with Amy Pond and the fact that this lady is called Mrs Flood, I’m going to guess she’s a version of… River Song. pic.twitter.com/acM8MhEcwR
— Following The Nerd (@nerdfollowing) December 26, 2023
Mrs Flood is River Song I tell you! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/wZJzX5gAvs
— MonsterPanPan (@MonsterPanPan) December 25, 2023
Amy POND
RIVER song
Mrs FLOOD#JustSaying #AnitaDobson #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/9Hw99zmiqx— JanBarrrker (@eltbusglob) December 25, 2023
Right I’m calling it now mrs flood is river song pic.twitter.com/MNUWC4Yb0L
— ferret mom (@ferretmom2543) December 25, 2023
‘Melody Pond. River Song. Mrs Flood. Calling it now,’ one person wrote on X.
‘Ok hear me out… but I think that “Mrs Flood” is actually “River Song”, especially that wink at the end and mentioning a “Tardis”, of course it could all be a coincidence… Unless You Don’t Believe In Those…’ another said.
One viewer affirmed that the connection simply ‘can’t be a coincidence’, while another stated: ‘My theory about Mrs Flood (that nobody asked for) after a rewatch: Flood – Pond – River, we know River regenerated multiple times, what if she bigenerated too and Mrs Flood is just River Song got old?’
We definitely think this theory could have legs!
Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Source My Celebrity Life.