Russell T Davies' latest era of Doctor Who is dripping in mystery and intrigue, with season 15 revolving around the mystery of Belinda Chandra. Doctor Who is a show that has always clung close to mystery, whether it be the secrets of the Doctor's real name, the Time Lord race, or simply unsolved mysteries from the past. However, in the latest season of the series, Doctor Who is leaning heavily into the idea that Belinda Chandra is someone important, and integrally tied to the Doctor in ways the show has yet to reveal.

Doctor Who leans into the mystery and intrigue in a way that is frequently fun and engaging for the audience, inviting speculation, guessing, and theorizing about what details are throwaways, and what is actually important. And of course, with the latest season in full swing after three new episodes, it's clear that the series is building towards another big reveal for the two-part season finale of Doctor Who season 15. And from what has been seen so far, I think there are some solid clues about Belinda's identity.

We Still Don't Know Who Told The Doctor About Belinda

The Doctor Was Following Belinda

From the first episode of season 15, the Doctor has made it clear that his meeting with Belinda was no accident. The Doctor was looking for Belinda in the hospital where she works, and again at her home when she was abducted. Then, due to some timey whimey circumstances, the Doctor was six months too early to the planet Miss Belinda Chandra, though it gave him time to prepare and make a plan. But even at this early stage, the Doctor was intentionally following Belinda, before the robot abduction, which implies she is someone special.

And when listening to what the Doctor had to say about his following Belinda, he notes that a "he" was the person who told him about Belinda. Evidently, something larger is afoot, and it likely ties in to why Belinda is now unable to return home before the Doctor sets up a series of Vindicators at various points in time and space. But the mystery of who told the Doctor about Belinda, what exactly they had to say, and why Belinda is unable to get back to her own time all remain ongoing mysteries that are yet to be properly explained in the show.

One Possibility Is That Belinda's Father Told The Doctor About His Daughter

Belinda Chandra's Father Could Have A Connection To The Fifteenth Doctor

Again, in the first episode of season 15, there is a scene that muddles the timeline and suggests that the Doctor may already have a connection to Belinda's family. When Belinda makes with her old ex-boyfriend Alan, the two have their certificates declaring ownership over the star touch. This results in a paradox which turns Alan back into a sperm, while the Doctor jumps in to take the aftershocks that could have transformed Belinda, and at this moment, he sees Belinda as a baby in his own arms.

This suggests that the Doctor met Belinda as a baby, and likely formed a positive relationship with her parents. If so, Belinda's father may have been the person warning the Doctor about his daughter being in danger. However, it's hard to imagine he had any idea a group of space robots from the planet Miss Belinda Chandra would be arriving to abduct his daughter. But, if, by some mysterious timey whimey mishap, the father does have greater knowledge about aliens, invasions, and robots, then it's possible he pleaded with the Doctor to save his daughter from the imminent harm that could be inflicted upon her.

Doctor Who Season 15's "The Well" Puts More Focus On Belinda's Father

Doctor Who Keeps Referring Back To Belinda's Family

Very few things happen in Doctor Who without a larger meaning or reason behind them. It's incredibly common for the show to include a larger, underlying mystery that is slowly unpacked over the course of a season or more. And Doctor Who frequently does this, especially with RTD at the wheel. After his debut in 2005, dropping hints about Bad Wolf that paid off in the season finale, it seems odd and unlikely to be a coincidence that the show keeps making references to Belinda's parents. With episode 3 in particular singling out Belinda's dad.

The cold open scenes where the Doctor and his companion appear in the TARDIS together have often been used to build on their relationship, as well as laying important groundwork for mysteries that will influence the direction of the show. And in both episodes 2 and 3, Belinda talks about her parents to the Doctor. Then, in the third episode, Belinda specifically talks about her dad, and the Doctor says how he would like to meet him one day. This could be a sweet moment between the two with no hidden reference, but the fact that it's happened twice in two episodes suggests the show may be hinting at something more.

Why & How Belinda's Father Might've Told The Doctor About Her

The Doctor Is Entangled In Belinda's Timeline

Here's where things get complicated. With the Doctor having inserted himself into Belinda's timeline in the season 15 premiere episode, it's very possible that he may have a long-standing relationship with Belinda's parents. As a person who regularly appears in their lives, and builds familiarity over time, the Chandra family and the Doctor may have a close bond. If this is the case, it's perfectly conceivable that Belinda's father ed the Doctor when he felt that his daughter was in trouble, or, the Doctor could have told him to warn himself after the events of season 15 took place. This may appear convoluted and overly complex, but the show has leaned into playing with time in this way more recently, as seen in the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special, "Joy to the World."

With the Doctor having inserted himself into Belinda's timeline in the season 15 premiere episode, it's very possible that he may have a long-standing relationship with Belinda's parents.

Otherwise, Belinda's father may have some hidden knowledge about why and how his daughter also appears to exist in the distant future, as the same actress, Varada Sethu, was cast to play a central character in the season 14 episode "Boom." While actors have occasionally appeared in the show in a minor role before becoming a central cast member, Doctor Who has connected this other version of the actress to Belinda by flashing on them in the flashback in season 15, episode 1. Somehow, Belinda's parents may have more information about who or what Belinda really is. And in times of crisis, they leaned on the Doctor to come and save the day, as he often does in Doctor Who.