Well, it looks like Russell T. Davies wasn’t exaggerating when he told us episode 6 of Doctor Who would blow fans’ minds this season. “The Interstellar Song Contest” debuted over the weekend, and it brought with it several major reveals, revelations, and surprises. (And I’m not just talking about hologram Graham Norton announcing the destruction of planet Earth.)
In addition to the Doctor having visions of his granddaughter Susan (Carol Ann Ford) in this episode, “The Interstellar Song Contest” finally revealed the identity of the mysterious Mrs. Flood. At the very end of the episode, a tag revealed Mrs. Flood to be a Time Lord herself. And not just any Time Lord – The Rani, now portrayed by none other than Emmy winner Archie Panjabi.
Who is the Rani?
Like the Doctor, the Rani is a Time Lord. Specifically, she’s a Time Lord exiled from Gallifrey, similar to the Master. Her exile from the planet explains how she’s survived the destruction of Gallifrey (and un-destruction, and re-destruction…) in modern Who. The character originates from the classic series, first appearing in 1985.
At her core, the Rani is a scientist. This isn’t just a profession or a hobby, but an essential personality trait. She values knowledge and scientific advancement above all else – and she’s not too concerned about any harm she causes in the pursuit of it. Unethical experimentation led to her exile from Gallifrey. However, she’s a different sort of exile (and potential villain) than the Master; the Rani isn’t specifically out to hurt, kill, and subjugate. She just believes her ends justify her means – and sometimes, that comes with a cost. While you could categorize the Master as “immoral,” it would be more accurate to call the Rani “amoral.”
The Rani’s Previous Appearances
“The Interstellar Song Contest” marks the Rani’s first appearance in modern Doctor Who. The character, initially played by Kate O’Mara, appeared in two serials from the show’s original run.
The Mark of the Rani
The Rani first appeared in this two-part serial in 1985, appearing alongside Colin Baker’s Doctor, Anthony Ainley’s Master, and companion Peri (Nicola Bryant). The serial sees the Rani on 19th century Earth, capturing local men and draining a specific fluid from their brains she requires for one of her experiments. Although this procedure doesn’t kill the men, they are left unable to sleep properly after the procedure, leading to violent outbursts across the town.
Time and the Rani
In the Rani’s second appearance, “Time and the Rani”, the character faces off against a newly-regenerated Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Mel (Bonnie Langford). In this story, the Rani catches the Doctor right after he regenerates, and injects him with something to cause amnesia. Then she impersonates Mel while trying to get the Doctor to help fix a machine that will allow her to harness the power of the world’s greatest minds to create a time manipulator.
Other Appearances
The Rani also appeared in “Dimensions in Time,” an anniversary special which saw Doctor Who cross over with… the soap opera EastEnders. (Yes, really.) The character also exists within the extended Whoniverse in Big Finish audio dramas and certain novels. Some of these expand on her background and connection to the Doctor, discussing how they were peers during their school days. More recently, Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor name-dropped the character in the episode “Space Babies.”
What Does The Rani’s Appearance Mean For Doctor Who Now?
So, now that the Rani’s returned, what does that mean for the Doctor? And for that matter, planet Earth?
As fans have watched Mrs. Flood trail the Doctor and Belinda this season (and Ruby the season before), we’ve caught just a glimpse at what she’s been seeding. In the latest episode, she indicated that she was waiting for the Doctor’s readings from the Vindicator to move forward with some kind of plot. And of course, now that we know the TARDIS has been bouncing off May 24 AND that planet earth is destroyed on the same day, it seems like a fair bet this has something to do with the Rani’s master plan. We also know she won’t be working alone – teaming up with her bi-generated self and Conrad from “Lucky Day” to form “The Unholy Trinity.”
Doctor Who also recently brought back Bonnie Langford’s Mel, who’s working with UNIT. Since her character has a history with the Rani, an on-screen reunion (showdown?) seems like a sure bet headed into the season’s final episodes. (Did you notice some of Mrs. Flood’s outfits seemed to mimic those of the Doctor’s previous companions? That now appears to be an intentional callback to the Rani’s impersonation of Mel in “Time and the Rani”!)
Personally, I’m excited to see the Rani appear in NuWho, and hoping that the show will use this opportunity to explore a different kind of villain. There’s a lot of potential to be mined from this character and where her dynamic with the Doctor could go. However, I don’t want to see her turn into just another version of the Master because she’s a Time Lord Big Bad. I want EXTREME SCIENCE! I want ETHICAL QUANDARIES! Give me THE Rani (the definite article)!
Will it happen? For now, we’ll all have to wait and see. Doctor Who returns with the season’s penultimate episode “Wish World” on May 24.
So, what do you think about the Rani’s return to Doctor Who? Let us know in the comments below.
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