Summary

• Mrs. Flood's mysterious character may be linked to River Song, as her name could reveal a new regeneration.
• Anita Dobson's knowledgeable Mrs. Flood hints at a possible connection to River Song through her TARDIS expertise.
• Bringing back River Song as Mrs. Flood would continue to blend the influences of past Doctor Who showrunners.

Doctor Who season 14 cast or beyond, the show could include a name-related revelation.

With Doctor Who's Pantheon wreaking havoc with the fabric of reality, it can be easy to forget the enigma that is Anita Dobson's Mrs. Flood. Her demeanor immediately raised questions after her Doctor Who debut in late 2023, with the story seemingly moving on from her quickly after her introduction. Little is known for sure about the character of Mrs. Flood, but the history of Doctor Who can be used to formulate a convincing theory about who Anita Dobson is actually playing.

Mrs. Flood's First Name Could Be Carol (Which Would Make Her A Regeneration Of River Song)

"Carol Flood" fits the formula of another "River Song" alias

There's a Doctor Who naming convention that means the character boasting one of a particular set of titles is actually River Song. Granted, the trend is only currently comprised of two names, but Mrs. Flood's surname meets 50% of the criteria. In Doctor Who season 6, episode 7, "A Good Man Goes to War," it's explained that River Song's name is actually a mistranslation of "Melody Pond," revealing River as a future regeneration of the daughter of Amy Pond and Rory Williams. Both "Melody Pond" and "River Song" are comprised of pre-existing English words that both reference water and music.

River Song is human, but she has the ability to regenerate due to much of Amy's pregnancy taking place in the TARDIS.

Mrs. Flood's surname ticks the water box, so a name like "Carol" would mean the musical criterion is also met. River Song's Doctor Who timeline is unique, as she dies in her first appearance in Doctor Who season 4 and progresses to know the Doctor less and less every time they meet. So, while Alex Kingston's River Song is currently understood to be the third and final iteration of the character, Anita Dobson's "Carol Flood" could fall somewhere else within the character's continuity.

Mrs. Flood Being River Song Would Explain Her TARDIS Knowledge In The Christmas Special

Anita Dobson's character is usually knowledgeable about the Doctor's ship

Mrs. Flood knew about the TARDIS in "The Church on Ruby Road." Not only was she not confused by the presence of the iconic blue box, but the fact she could see it at all suggests she isn't susceptible to the TARDIS' perception filter. This would seem extraordinary for a regular human character, but if Mrs. Flood is actually a regeneration of River Song, then the revelation becomes more expected than surprising. River has traveled in the TARDIS many times and can even pilot it more effectively than the Doctor, so it would make sense that she isn't bewildered.

Mrs. Flood also seems fully aware that Ruby is about to embark on a huge adventure when she bids her farewell at the end of "The Church on Ruby Road." Rather than warning Ruby to stay away from the strange box in the street, she merely tells Millie Gibson's character, "Good luck, Ruby." Mrs. Flood also watches with a straight face as the TARDIS vanishes before her eyes during the episode's post-credits scene. Her complete comfort with the situation is highly indicative of someone who has a strong history with the Doctor - which River Song does.

There aren't many characters who are so familiar with the TARDIS, let alone how comfortable they are around the Doctor's ship. While Mrs. Flood's knowledge of the blue box could be explained in ways other than her being River Song, the theory of Anita Dobson's character's full name being "Carol Flood" suggests the possibility is perhaps too strong to ignore. The fact that River's last appearance in Doctor Who also came in a Christmas special - 2015's "The Husbands of River Song" - would also create a poetic opportunity for her comeback in "The Church on Ruby Road."

"Carol" Is Also A Reference To Christmas (Which Is Central To Ruby's Character)

Maestro confirms Ruby's Christmas connection in "The Devil's Chord"

Whatever connection Mrs. Flood has to the larger Doctor Who universe, it will likely also tie into Ruby's story. Doctor Who's 2023 Christmas special and the episodes heading into season 14 all highlight the link between Ruby Sunday and Christmas. Not only was Ruby abandoned on Christmas Eve, but Maestro also discovers a traditional Christmas song buried deep within Ruby's soul during Doctor Who season 14, episode 2, "The Devil's Chord." So, the name "Carol," as well as fulfilling the musical requirement of a River Song pseudonym, is also a reference to Christmas - and, by extension, Ruby Sunday.

The Goblins are fascinated by Ruby, and River's lingering presence nearby would be a big contributor to that fascination.

The Goblins in the Doctor Who Christmas special also thrived on coincidence. So Mrs. Flood being River Song, living on the same street visited by the Doctor, which also happens to be home to a young woman whose history is just as enigmatic as the famous Time Lord, would be more than enough of a chance encounter to attract the creatures. The Goblins are fascinated by Ruby, and River's lingering presence nearby would be a big contributor to that fascination.

Bringing Back River Song Would Continue RTD's Steven Moffat Influence

Davies has borrowed some of Moffat's storytelling tricks for Doctor Who season 14

When Russell T Davies stepped back as the Doctor Who showrunner, he ed the baton to Steven Moffat - whose time in charge ran from 2010 to 2017. While Chris Chibnall then took over from Moffat, Russell T Davies was reinstalled to his previous position within the production in 2022. Since Davies' return, he has taken into the influence that his two previous successors have had on the show in order to continue the Doctor's story. However, of the two, Davies has turned more to the Moffat era to help influence the direction of Doctor Who season 14.

Steven Moffat was a writer for Doctor Who before he took over as the showrunner.

River Song was created during Russell T Davies' first stint as showrunner, but her debut came in an episode written by Steven Moffat for David Tennant's Tenth Doctor. So, Davies writing River back into the story would mean Moffat's influence on Davies has also already written Ruby Sunday as a "mystery girl" companion - a trope often used by Moffat with characters like Amy Pond and Clara Oswald. As such, River's return to Doctor Who in the form of Mrs. Flood would sit nicely within Davies' new run.