After Sutekh Last Season, Doctor Who Season 15 Appears To Be Setting Up A Main Villain From The Fifth Doctor’s Era

Doctor Who’s fifteenth season is steadily approaching, and while certain aspects of the story remain shrouded in mystery, the show has been dropping some interesting hints about the direction it’s heading. A surprise trailer was dropped after Doctor Who’s Christmas special that offered a first glance at the upcoming episodes, and fans have already begun to theorize about what these clips could mean. After the huge surprises of last season, from Sutekh’s return to the truth about Ruby Sunday’s mother, there’s bound to be some huge shocks in the upcoming season too.

Doctor Who is famously very secretive when it comes to new episodes, and this new trailer is no different. Other than a few glimpses of familiar worlds and new creatures, the trailer didn’t reveal much about the plot of Doctor Who season 15 – but there’s enough to spark some curiosity. Despite the mixed reception of the show’s previous season, one aspect that was widely praised was Russell T. Davies’ dedication to bringing back an older feature of the classic show through Sutekh. Now, it seems as though he may be repeating that trick with his next season.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Trailer Teases Deadly Games – Is It The Eternals From “Enlightenment?”

The Classic Story May Be Making A Comeback

The recent trailer for Doctor Who’s 15th season makes frequent references to the idea of “deadly games” that are played by “forces outside of our universe.” This seems like very intentional language that’s teasing an overarching narrative thread for the season, rather than something purely metaphorical. Perhaps the Doctor and his new companion will literally have to compete in some dangerous games against these mysterious “forces” to protect the universe from their deadly plans. This seems like a fascinating angle for the season, and it would certainly be reminiscent of narratives that Doctor Who has explored before.

Throughout Doctor Who’s extensive history, many of the best stories and most iconic quotes belonged to the fifth Doctor. And now, there’s a possibility that RTD is finally drawing inspiration from this era again. One of Peter Davison’s best episodes was “Enlightenment”, in which the Doctor fought against an alien species named the Eternals who used humanity as a tool in their cosmic games. These could be the “games” that the Doctor is referring to in this trailer.

Doctor Who’s Pantheon & Eternals Are Essentially The Same Thing

There Are Many Similarities Between The Two Groups

The main evidence for the Eternals returning in Doctor Who’s upcoming season, beyond the language of “games” used in the trailer, is the introduction of the Pantheon in season 14. This was the concept that allowed Sutekh to make his return, retconning several of Doctor Who’s scariest aliens from the past into deities that exist within a Pantheon of Gods, with Sutekh as their supposed leader. Examples included The Toymaker, The Trickster, and another important villain from the fifth Doctor’s era, the Mara. However, there are still many unknown members of the Pantheon.

It’s entirely possible that the remaining members of Doctor Who’s Pantheon of Gods could end up being Eternals, and season 15 would be the perfect opportunity for them to make their return. Perhaps the Time Lord’s interactions with Maestro and the Toymaker brought him back into their sights, or perhaps they’re looking to claim the throne that Sutekh left behind. There are countless possibilities, but this certainly seems like an interesting path for Doctor Who to take. It would also be an excellent opportunity for the show to try something new while simultaneously incorporating elements from the classic era.

Mrs. Flood Could Be Another Of Doctor Who’s Eternals

The Enigmatic Character Definitely Has A Secret

The mystery surrounding Mrs. Flood is one of Doctor Who’s biggest question marks, and there are countless theories about her true identity. Perhaps she’s an older version of a character from previous seasons, like Susan Foreman or Ruby Sunday, or perhaps she’s an entirely new figure with ulterior motives against the Doctor. Her ability to break the fourth wall has even spawned theories about her somehow being from outside the Doctor Who universe, and she’s following the Doctor as a fan of the show. However, Mrs. Flood being an Eternal is one of the more sensible and likely possibilities.

The character’s knowledge of the Doctor suggests that she’s somebody he’s encountered before, and her awareness of Sutekh and the Pantheon could point toward her being another of the Gods. And yet, unlike the Mara and the Trickster, she looks entirely human – just like the Eternals. While this theory stops short of explaining how Mrs. Flood is able to break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience, everything else about her background and personality seems to add up. If RTD is truly bringing the Eternals back, it seems like this character is a perfect entry point.

Doctor Who Season 14 Could Be A Sequel To “Enlightenment” The Same Way Season 14 Followed “Pyramids Of Mars”

RTD Seems To Be Blending The Old With The New

Before the events of “Empire of Death”, many Doctor Who fans would have scoffed at the idea of the Eternals returning to the modern series. The idea of bringing back such an obscure villain from a single episode over forty years ago is something that’s not common in Doctor Who, but it worked excellently with Sutekh. The entire season ended up being a loose sequel to “Pyramids of Mars,” which was the perfect compromise to please new audiences while giving long-time viewers something to get excited about.

If Mrs. Flood does end up being the main villain of Doctor Who season 15, then revealing her to be an Eternal would pull off a similar trick. It would be an exciting twist that pays homage to “Enlightenment” while introducing new audiences to the serial for the first time, just like the previous season did with “Pyramids of Mars.” Davies has spoken extensively about trying to please both audiences with his stories, staying true to the show’s history while moving forward at the same time, and this potential twist would do exactly that.