The identity of Doctor Who‘s elusive Mrs. Flood has long been a topic of speculation, but the recent 2024 Christmas episode may have hinted at her true identity. Titled “Joy to the World,” this festive special featured the Doctor alongside a new companion, Anita Benn, with whom he spent a significant year while waiting to return to the Time Hotel. Although the episode may not rank as a top-tier Doctor Who narrative, it played a key role in unraveling a pivotal mystery concerning Mrs. Flood.
While the episode did not explicitly confirm a connection between Anita and Mrs. Flood, emerging theories within the fanbase have suggested that they might be one and the same. Throughout season 15, various clues hinted at Mrs. Flood’s true nature, yet none were definitive enough for fans to reach a consensus. However, “Joy to the World” might just bridge the missing pieces of this intriguing puzzle.
Doctor Who Teases Anita’s Future After the 2024 Christmas Special
Not the First Job Arrangement by the Doctor
In the episode, following the Doctor’s rescue of Joy, a mysterious employee from the Time Hotel approached Anita with a job offer. Recognizing the Doctor’s influence through an “Auld Lang Syne” card, Anita realized her career trajectory had been shaped by him. This scenario was not unprecedented; the Doctor has a history of securing jobs for old allies, much like he did for Martha Jones in the aftermath of the tumultuous events during season 3.
It is widely believed that Anita accepted this job. Additionally, viewers were treated to a glimpse of a shopfront named “Mr. Benn’s,” cleverly referencing her surname. Notably, the Time Hotel exists outside the traditional constraints of time, suggesting that Anita might have established a successful career there, possibly even before her own future child opened the shop. Yet, just like any character, Anita would eventually retire. Observing the physical resemblances between actresses Steph de Whalley and Anita Dobson, one might argue that Anita could visually represent a younger iteration of Mrs. Flood.
Theory: Mrs. Flood as Anita’s Future Self
A multitude of narrative details hint that Anita may eventually transform into Mrs. Flood. Although “Joy to the World” leaves Anita’s fate ambiguous after her acceptance of the job, several allusions reinforce the possibility of their identities being intertwined. Fans were already aware of Anita’s exclusion from the cast of Doctor Who season 15, with the introduction of Varada Sethu confirmed. But what if Anita’s character evolution led her to no longer be the same person?
Anita’s Career at the Time Hotel Eventually Comes to an End
Should Anita one day choose to retire, she would find herself in a world vastly different from the one she left. Even with her acclimatization to the bizarre surroundings of the Time Hotel, a longing for familiarity may compel her to search for her origins. Importantly, it’s likely she couldn’t exit through the Sandringham Hotel’s 2024 door due to the presence of her past self. Instead, Anita probably departed through an alternate exit earlier in her timeline, leading her on a quest to seek the one person who could assist her: the Doctor.
During the year they spent together, the Doctor likely mentioned Ruby, sparking an initiative in Anita to seek her out. Although the timeline of “Joy to the World” was yet to unfold for the Doctor, Anita’s prior familiarity with the TARDIS and the Time Lord’s name suggests she might have retained advantageous knowledge from their interactions.
Connections to Mrs. Flood Actress Anita Dobson
One of the clearest connections between Anita and Mrs. Flood is the shared name. The actress who portrays Mrs. Flood, Anita Dobson, further intertwines the characters. Notably, Dobson is married to the renowned guitarist of Queen, Brian May, who is also recognized for his achievements in astrophysics. In 2023, May participated in a NASA project related to an asteroid named Bennu, which bears striking similarity to Anita’s surname, Benn.
The Mystery of the Tiny TARDISes
During his time at the Sandringham Hotel, the Doctor amassed a collection of TARDIS figurines, further leaving Anita with her own model. It can be speculated that Anita accepted deliveries at the front desk, perhaps even recording a return address that could aid her in locating Ruby Sunday.
But who is the source behind these TARDIS models? It seems peculiar that small TARDIS collectibles were being sold online, as the Doctor claimed to have acquired them through that marketplace. This raises the intriguing possibility that Anita or Mrs. Flood could be the elusive creator who sold these items, thereby linking her past with her present.
Mrs. Flood’s Identity as Anita Doesn’t Equate to Friendship
Time and Resentment: A Shift in Anita’s Perspective
While the bond between the Doctor and Anita flourished during “Joy to the World,” that connection may not have endured. If Anita found herself trapped in a job at the Time Hotel, especially if her exit from that world was delayed until retirement, feelings of resentment towards the Doctor could easily arise. She might also feel aggrieved that he entrusted a mere hotel employee with her fate rather than saying a personal goodbye.
Despite numerous timelines and doorways available, the reality remains that not every era in human history featured an accessible exit for Anita. Consequently, she may be compelled to leave her time decades earlier than anticipated. This potential bitterness could explain Mrs. Flood’s increasingly cynical outlook seen in Doctor Who season 14 — if Anita felt abandoned by the Doctor, her frustration would be valid.
In all likelihood, if the Doctor, equipped with a time machine, never revisited her throughout the years, Anita’s sense of betrayal could fuel her transformation into the character of Mrs. Flood.
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