Spoilers Mrs. Flood Theories

[The Wormhole]

Was writing this in the thread for The Well before realizing it might serve better as its own thread, in that we could discuss the theory I have and others can post their own theories as well. Anyway, Mrs. Flood, the mysterious enigmatic old woman who has been showing up these past two seasons who seems to know something about what's going on and has a habit of frequently breaking the fourth wall and making comments directly to the audience. Throughout the first season we see her as one of Ruby's neighbors. This season, she's been popping up in other places and times. We've seen her in modern London as one of Belinda's neighbors, amidst a crowd outside the theatre in 1950s Florida in Lux, and as the superior officer the soldiers in The Well report to.

My theory isn't necessarily about who she is, as RTD claims that has already leaked, though my Google searches have turned up a few contradictory results besides the usual "she's Susan/Romana/the Rani" that it appears every enigmatic woman on this show is automatically assumed to be these days. Though, by all means, if you thoughts on who she could be, feel free to share them.

Rather my theory regards what she might be. Specifically, I think she's something like a Leaper from Quantum Leap, her consciousness can jump around time and space temporarily inhabiting a pre-existing person. Only, unlike Sam Beckett or Ben Song, she can control the process, decide how long she wants to inhabit a particular person and choose when, where and who she goes to next. Which would explain how she conveniently lives in the same neighborhoods as Ruby and Belinda and is now showing up in the other places and time periods the Doctor is going. It would also explain the fact that in The Well she was someone rather important to those characters despite previously being someone who can blend in with the crowd. And so far, we haven't had anyone recognize her in the different locales she shows up in, meaning the characters may not necessarily see her as Anita Dobson. And even if they do, it's possible when she inhabits a person, that person's appearance changes to hers, and no one notices because of a perception filter.

So, thoughts? Theories of your own?

 

[David cgc]

Something I'm curious about is her tendency to quote and dress like past companions.

 

[Starkers]

I think for once a female character will turn out to be Susan/Romana/The Rani.

Heck she could even be another Master/Missy.

I lean more towards the Rani or Missy, she doesn't come across like an ally of the Doctor. If she is one of the two then she feels more Mastery/Missy than the Rani (though it's been decades since I actually watched a Rani episode!)

 

[Turtletrekker]

I want her to be Tecteun, because some people just want to watch the world burn.

 

[Qonundrum]

River Song, probably. Or Melody Pond. Cue the usual anagram of "rain" for anything wet and, because - why not, Flood could also be the Rani (albeit unlikely, for reasons of claimed obscurity and the likeliness of her not being able to return based on Pip and Jane Baker's estate. If she does return, you can guess what will happen*...)

Or Susan because the Doctor abandoned her with some human, who aged and died, and now she wants revenge or something else original.

Spoiler: *

* or if nothing else, it's more than likely the new incarnation will make the one in "Time in the Rani" that much better by comparison, which is needed as after her premiere story, the character never felt quite right

 

[Qonundrum]

Or it's the Meddling Monk, regenerated.

Or a mire beast that evolved.

Wouldn't it be neat if it were the Megara that were altering the Doctor's mind?

 

[Nerys Myk]

She is Sumani and her past regenerations include Susan, Romana and the Rani!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I suspect she'll be either Susan or The Rani, leaning more towards the latter for the same reasons as @Starkers.

That said, I also wonder if there's a curveball in the mix if only because a Time Lady reveal feels a little lowball considering the stakes of the two seasons. That's not to say a Time Lady couldn't be involved in a Reality War but I feel like Mrs. Flood's role serves a grander purpose, if you get my meaning. Especially if we're suppose take her fourth-wall breaking into account.

But ultimately I'm probably overthinking it, especially if Davies is telling the truth and that twist has already been leaked.

My theory isn't necessarily about who she is, as RTD claims that has already leaked, though my Google searches have turned up a few contradictory results besides the usual "she's Susan/Romana/the Rani" that it appears every enigmatic woman on this show is automatically assumed to be these days. Though, by all means, if you thoughts on who she could be, feel free to share them.

Rather my theory regards what she might be. Specifically, I think she's something like a Leaper from Quantum Leap, her consciousness can jump around time and space temporarily inhabiting a pre-existing person. Only, unlike Sam Beckett or Ben Song, she can control the process, decide how long she wants to inhabit a particular person and choose when, where and who she goes to next. Which would explain how she conveniently lives in the same neighborhoods as Ruby and Belinda and is now showing up in the other places and time periods the Doctor is going. It would also explain the fact that in The Well she was someone rather important to those characters despite previously being someone who can blend in with the crowd. And so far, we haven't had anyone recognize her in the different locales she shows up in, meaning the characters may not necessarily see her as Anita Dobson. And even if they do, it's possible when she inhabits a person, that person's appearance changes to hers, and no one notices because of a perception filter.

So, thoughts? Theories of your own?

That's a really neat idea...but I think it's too...simple?...for Davies' taste. I imagine the nature of Mrs. Flood will be more wild and crazy and overly complicated, much like the reveal for Susan Twist last season and why she was popping up everywhere with different identities.

I want her to be Tecteun, because some people just want to watch the world burn.

I approve of this message.

 

[Commander Troi]

I think she's another one of the Chaos Gods, but one more subtle and clever. Or maybe she is the Rani.

 

[Mr Awe]

It's really hard to say. I'm not sure that we even have enough information to determine whether she'd help, harm, or just watch the Doctor.

In The Well, we might have our best hints because she seems to be of that time, whereas the other times she's seems like a visitor. Also, IIRC, she was glad to hear that the Doctor survived in The Well. I don't recall the exact dialog though. All of that possibly indicates that she supports the Doctor but is unable to directly help . . . for reasons. That makes me lean towards Susan.

Of course, she might be glad that the Doctor survived so that she could use and abuse him for her own purposes! However, the subtle ways in which they're suggesting she's sinister with visual cues but no real substance makes me think they're red herrings.