Entertainment prophesied the future more often than you might believe.

We expect that from science fiction shows, but more often than not, comedy predicts events that come to pass.

TV has often gotten there first, whether it’s political events, global catastrophes, or which couples might split for drama. It creates a fictional future that later turns out to be uncannily accurate.

Science Fiction Often Is Intended As Social Commentary

Shows Like The Twilight Zone Warn Of Dangerous Futures

Unsurprisingly, both The Twilight Zone and Doctor Who were ahead of their time, predicting current events fifty or more years ago.

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The Twilight Zone ran in the late 1950s and early 1960s when the 21st century seemed extremely far away. When this sci-fi anthology began, humans began to explore space, and neither the US nor Russia put a man on the moon.

Many authors’ imaginations ran wild, but Rod Serling had a larger purpose.

He wanted to say things about society without running afoul of censors.

Using sci-fi as his medium, he could provide entertainment prophesied the future. It warned people where the human race was headed if it didn’t change its ways.

Serling’s stories rarely used tired TV tropes, which is one of the things that makes them memorable.

Twilight Zone stories are high quality, and most have withstood the test of time. One that will always stick in my mind is “Midnight Sun.”

This 1961 story predicted climate disasters that many people are worried about now. It’s about the last two people on Earth struggling to stay alive to finish their art after everyone else has been evacuated from the planet due to the extreme heat.

It seems shocking that he was able to create such a relevant story about climate issues in 1961. However, the media has been discussing these issues for a long time.

Doctor Who also addressed this issue from a different angle in 1970’s “Inferno.” In this episode, the Doctor is plunged into an alternate universe. There, he finds an evil version of the Brigadier who is determined to keep drilling through the Earth’s core even though it will cause the outside world to rise to unbearable temperatures.

This story was about corporate greed’s role in blocking climate-saving measures, and it is a nearly perfect parallel to real-world issues now.

The iconic British show provided entertainment that prophesied the future fight over fracking, drilling for oil and other activities that would cost companies substantial profit margins if they stopped doing them.

Classic Doctor Who is more famous for the Fourth Doctor’s declaration about powerful people trying to alter facts:

You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don’t alters their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit the views, which can be uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.

– The Fourth Doctor, Face of Evil Part 4

There is a proliferation of “fake news” and arguments over what’s true and what isn’t. This 1977 story prophesied the future and issued a dire warning about the dangers of authoritarianism.

Why Comedies Are As Likely As Science Fiction To Predict The Future

Some Jokes Are Based On What The Writers See In Everyday Life

It might seem strange that more comedies than science fiction shows have predicted future events, but it makes sense when you think about it.

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Many comedies are based on observations of everyday life. Some are also bitter satires of the world around them, which explains why The Simpsons has predicted so many world events.

The seemingly immortal cartoon could win records for entertainment that prophesied the future, having done it on so many occasions.

Its most famous example is the time in 2000 when it alluded to Donald Trump having won a Presidential election.

The episode revolved around a future version of Lisa being the first female President and having to clean up the mess Trump left behind.

Ironically, if Kamala Harris wins in November, it will predict something else. Many Simpsons fans calculate that Lisa will become the first female President sometime before 2028.

It’s less surprising that The Jetsons, set in a futuristic society, predicted several technological advances, such as flat-screen TVs and the ability to make video calls.

What about seemingly more realistic comedies such as Friends?

These shows are supposed to be about everyday people (though people who live in huge Manhattan apartments on a barista’s salary or have so much free time to hang out aren’t like most of our real-life friends!)

Friends And Other Realistic Comedies Sometimes Predict Things Accidentally

Other Times, Jokes About The Future Come From Astute Observation

Some throwaway lines merely meant for entertainment prophesied the future by accident.

That time that Scrubs predicted where Osama Bin Laden was hiding probably falls into that category.

The Janitor, who is always saying random weird stuff, said that Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan several years before that turned out to be the case.

That kind of joke doesn’t need lots of thought behind it. Someone thought that was the kind of thing the Janitor would say, that’s all.

Conversely, when Friends predicted the invention of Facebook, that was probably more of an observation-based joke.

It happened only a year before Facebook was first introduced, with Ross telling Chandler that their college alum site allowed people to post status updates.

This episode aired only a year before Facebook was introduced as a site for college students and alums to connect. Still, Myspace was already a thing.

It wasn’t a massive jump for the writers to imagine a similar site for college students and alums. They got a great joke out of it with Chandler’s sarcastic response.

Over to you, TV fanatics. What are some of your favorite times when entertainment prophesied the future? Do you think comedies are uniquely suited to do this?

Hit the comments and let us know!

The post Ahead of Their Time: When Entertainment Prophesied the Future appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Dramas often include moving stories about people’s challenges with PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other mental health issues, and many comedies also center around the maladaptive ways characters deal with life.

Sadly, some characters — just like people in real life — don’t realize they need help. They screw themselves up during episode after episode, breaking our hearts.

Mental Health Should Always Be Treated Seriously on TV

Characters’ Need for Therapy Shouldn’t Be A Joke

There are as many comedic characters who desperately need therapy as there are dramatic ones, but let’s be clear about one thing: having a mental health condition isn’t a joke.

Related: Days of Our Lives: Why Social Messaging Matters

Every character’s mental health issue is one that someone in real life has, and it’s important that shows avoid stereotypes or mocking mental health conditions for a cheap laugh.

Fortunately, there are plenty of shows that handle issues sensitively — even if sometimes the characters’ unhealthy behavior can lead to entertaining situations.

Kevin Pearson Had Multiple Mental Health Issues

His Low Self-Esteem And Unresolved Issues Led To Alcoholism And Other Destructive Behavior

This Is Us’ Kevin Pearson was severely underused, especially considering his mental health issues.

Kevin’s low self-esteem and belief he wasn’t good enough were exacerbated by his father’s untimely death. He got married at 18 only to blow up the relationship, after which he jumped from one woman to another without thinking about what he really wanted in a partner.

His alcoholism led to him sobering up without having any real sense of what to do with his life, and his lifelong resentment of Randall led to the two not speaking for a year.

If anyone in TV Land desperately needed therapy, it was Kevin, but sadly, he never got it throughout the course of the series, even though Randall’s mental health issues were explored in depth.

Days of Our LIves’ JJ Deveraux Didn’t Get Therapy Even After A Suicide Attempt

The Soap Missed An Opportunity For Strong Drama

When JJ Deveraux returned to Salem in 2013, he’d been kicked out of boarding school for weed possession and was acting out in all sorts of ways because of his father’s death.

Related: 7 Ways Days of Our Lives Could (And Should!) Be Using JJ Deveraux

JJ was spiraling out of control and unintentionally repeating history by acting destructively out of guilt over disappointing the people he loved — something Jack Sr had spent most of his adult life doing.

Even after JJ’s pain and anger culminated in his arrest for throwing a chair through a bookstore window, nobody even suggested therapy. Instead, JJ was treated as a criminal who acted out for no good reason.

The Fourteenth Doctor Was So Worn Down He Had To Retire

His Final Episode Indicated That Bigeneration Would Allow Him To Heal

Doctor Who‘s post-2005 Doctors have all seen a lot of disturbing stuff, so it’s no wonder this character desperately needs therapy.

Companions have died, worlds have ended, and the Doctor has to deal with the fact that their own people are dead, and they are largely responsible.

The Fourteenth Doctor was so worn down with guilt and depression that when he bi-generated instead of regenerated, Fifteen suggested that he needed to take some time to rehabilitate himself.

Fourteen is living the retired life, hanging out with the Nobles and taking Rose on unauthorized joy rides, but he could probably use some therapy — if he can find a therapist who can understand his dilemma as a time-traveling alien who is thousands of years old.

The Good Doctor’s Shaun Murphy Had A Traumatic Childhood

Shaun Could Also Use Some Help Dealing With Relationships

The Good Doctor’s Shaun Murphy ran away from his abusive father at a young age, only to see his older brother die right in front of him.

Related: The Good Doctor Renews Debate About TV’s Portrayal of Autistic Characters

That would mess anyone up, autistic or not. No wonder Shaun attached himself to Dr. Glassman.

As an adult, his stubbornness and insistence on having everything his own way annoyed others and nearly derailed his relationship with Lea. The series attributed these behaviors to his autism, but therapy could have helped him change them.

Law & Order: SVU’s Amanda Rollins Resisted Therapy

The Atlanta Transplant Had A Gambling Addiction

To be fair, Rollins tried therapy… sort of. After testifying in a rape trial, she got as far as the waiting room in a therapist’s office before deciding it wasn’t for her.

Related: Law & Order: SVU Season 25 Episode 11 Review: Did SVU FINALLY Pave the Way for Rollins to Return Full-Time?

Sadly, Rollins left SVU without having dealt with her past trauma, her dysfunctional relationship with her family, or anything else that contributed to her gambling addiction and other destructive behavior.

When she returned for a guest spot, she was in a happy marriage, but she couldn’t figure out what to do with herself now that she’d quit her job. Therapy could help her figure it out.

All In The Family’s Archie Bunker’s Worldview Was Shaped By His Upbringing

The Iconic Character Satirized Bigoted Views But Was Utterly Relatable

While politics might have ruined many modern shows, All in the Family offered America Archie Bunker: a blue-collar worker who held many absurd and narrow-minded ideas yet was still a three-dimensional character who came across as sympathetic at times.

In one famous scene, Edith explains to Mike that Archie was forced to drop out of high school to help his family and that his antagonism came from jealousy that Mike can do things that Archie will never get to do with his life.

Additionally, a lot of Archie’s prejudices and anger came from feeling like the life he’d always known was slipping away and that life in America was changing too rapidly — something modern audiences can identify with, as well.

Archie would never have willingly seen a therapist, which is unfortunate because this character desperately needs therapy. His issues deserve understanding and resolution rather than condemnation.

Sheldon Cooper Most Likely Had Undiagnosed Autism

His Annoying Behaviors Could Have Been Modified By Therapy

When The Big Bang Theory began, many autistic viewers were thrilled by Sheldon Cooper.

Related: The Big Bang Theory Cast: Where Are They Now?

Sheldon’s difficulty understanding sarcasm and social cues, his hatred of change, and his need to cling to routines at all costs felt familiar to those of us on the spectrum.

Young Sheldon suggested that Sheldon was assessed and found to be neurotypical, but autism understanding in the late 1980s and early 1990s was nothing like it is today, so it’s likely someone like Sheldon would not be diagnosed until adulthood, if at all.

Therapy would have helped him learn how to function better in a neurotypical world and how to detach from his mother, but then the series wouldn’t have been nearly as funny.

Will Trent Went From a Traumatic Childhood To A Traumatic Career

Growing Up In Foster Care Set Him Up For A Lifetime of Trauma

Will Trent’s experiences in foster care were so traumatic that he blocked out many of the memories until recently.

In some ways, he’s been very successful as an adult — neither his dyslexia nor his trauma has stopped him from working with the Georgia Bureau Of Investigation, where he deals with horrific cases that add to his trauma.

Still, he fits the tired TV trope of the brilliant detective whose personal life is a mess. suggesting that this character desperately needs therapy.

His relationship with Angie, whom he’s known since childhood, is a case in point: that’s been ruined, and he could use some help understanding what went wrong and what to do differently in the future.

Stella Walker Has Been Through The Wringer

The Teenager’s Resentment of Her Dad’s Absence Is The Least Of Her Problems

If there ever was a character who desperately needs therapy, it’s Stella.

Related: Walker Renewed for Shortened Season 4 at The CW

Throughout Season 3, Violet Brinson delivered a layered performance, showing Stella’s PTSD and guilt when she believed she and Sadie had killed Witt.

To make matters worse, Witt wasn’t dead. He’d disappeared because his mother had threatened him. Learning that was even more shocking and upsetting for Stella.

Chicago Med’s Crockett Marcel Needs Therapy During His Leave of Absence

He Was In Bad Shape Before He Decided To Leave

Crockett Marcel is leaving Chicago Med, likely because he is having such a hard time dealing with the death of both a patient and the patient’s father.

Marcel has always been a complex character. When he first joined Gaffney Medical Center, he was flirting with every woman imaginable to hide his fear of intimacy, and that fear nearly ruined his first serious relationship.

His infant daughter died of leukemia, which fueled his desire to make a difference for his patients but also turned him into a workaholic who was constantly trying to distract himself from his pain.

Any healing he does now will be off-screen, but he definitely needs some therapy.

The Bear’s Carmy Berzatto Is A Character Desperately In Need of Therapy

Anxiety and PTSD Are Only The Tip Of The Iceberg

Profound grief, crippling anxiety, and a traumatic childhood is a recipe for disaster. At least that’s the case with Carmy.

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Since we met him, Carmy has been struggling and barely keeping his head above water and emotions in check.

But with the increased stress of kicking off The Bear, his personal relationships have hit a new low as his self-destructive ways have gotten the better of him. Carmy may need a little one-on-one couch time.

Hailey Upton Has Been Falling Apart At The Seams

This Cop Was Addicted To Dangerous Situations

Hailey Upton is perpetually in crisis mode, so it’s no surprise that she left Chicago PD at the end of season 11.

This character desperately needs therapy. She’s been falling apart for at least three years while doing everything she can to pretend she’s fine.

It’s shocking that she didn’t get department-mandated therapy for any number of slip-ups and related issues, especially when they affected her job.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that after nearly dying, losing Voight, and still struggling with Halstead abandoning her, she’ll consider it wherever she lands after her exit.

Harper Stern May Have A Personality Disorder

A Difficult Childhood Contributes To Her Problems

Harper Stern is someone who very well could have a personality disorder.

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She’s certainly a narcissist, calculated, and manipulative, and she doesn’t exactly play well with others.

We know there’s more to her past and that she had a rough background. All of that and more is enough reason for us to think this character desperately needs therapy.

Maybe His Bad Luck Is Due To His Mental Health Issues

Does it matter who we ship on The Summer I Turned Pretty when the best ship of all is Conrad and therapy?

He battles a great deal of that First Child Syndrome, where he tends to put so much on his shoulders and the welfare of others ahead of his own. Usually.

His mother died, and he hasn’t coped with that in the best way, and now he lost his first real love to his brother.

Maybe things will fare better for Conrad if he has the space to work on himself.

The Rookie’s Tim Bradford Deserves A Real Therapist

He Has a Ton Of Regrets That Are Getting In His Way

Technically,  Tim did consult a therapist through the department and genuinely embraced the process after a bit — but she turned out to be a plant who was working with the villainess Monica.

Related: 13 Television Characters With Evil In Their Veins

We’d love for Tim to have another shot with a legitimate therapist to unpack some of his regrets regarding his military days and make peace with his difficult childhood because of his father.

Maybe it will lead him back to Lucy.

Yellowstone’s Jamie Dutton Needs Therapy Even More Than His Sister

Being The Black Sheep For Years Has Left Him Broken

Where do we start?

Yellowstone‘s Jamie Dutton is a bastard child of addict and abusive parents, taken in by John Dutton, who held him to different standards than his own kids (the whole family could use therapy, honestly!)

Jamie never felt like part of the family because he wasn’t. His coping mechanisms have ranged from bad decisions to murder, with every possible level in between.

Although this character desperately needs therapy, the reality is that it’s probably too late for it to set him straight, though it wouldn’t hurt to try.

When Calls The Heart’s Henry Gowen Is Dealing With The Aftermath of a Disaster

He Seems To Be Coping Better Than He Actually Is

While it seems like Henry has finally found his place in Hope Valley, he’s still withdrawn and suffering in the wake of Coal Valley’s devastating mining disaster that he could have done more to stop.

Related: When Calls the Heart Season 11 Report Card: A Lackluster Season With a Few Bright Spots

Like others on this list, Henry coped with various misdeeds that further alienated him from his community and fueled his self-hatred. Henry has come a long way, but the community can only do so much to help him reconnect.

Unfortunately, even though this character desperately needs therapy, we’re not sure that the field of psychology had come far enough in his time for him to seek help.

SEAL Team’s Jason Hayes Needs To Get Back Into Therapy ASAP

He Stopped When He Was Deployed, But He Is Not Okay

SEAL Team began with Jason seeing a therapist, but deployments, family matters, and the belief he was above it cut into the process.

As an active “operator” in the war on terror, Jason has seen more than most. He’s also lost his wife, which is almost unfathomable when it was she who believed every tour might be his last.

Irony aside, Jason might want to revisit the notion that talking with someone removed from his daily strife could point him in a different direction.

(Honorable mention: All of Bravo Team need similar treatment!)

Criminal Minds: Evolution’s David Rossi Is A Character Desperately In Need Of Therapy

His Refusal To Leave The FBI Despite Advanced Age Is Only One Issue

As an FBI agent, Rossi is long in the tooth. He’s in his mid-70s and still operating in the field. WHAT?

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After being kidnapped and left for dead in one of Elias Voit’s underground bunkers, Rossi began hallucinating about Voit.

Rossi’s psyche is constantly plagued by the diabolical mastermind, which was exacerbated when Voit became a functioning member of the BAU. You can’t make this stuff up, but you can go to therapy to work through it.

Over to you, TV fanatics.

Which characters do you think could use a couple of sessions on a therapist’s couch?

Hit the comments and let us know!

The post These 19 TV Characters Desperately Need Therapy appeared first on TV Fanatic.

TV is full of fun examples, and there are also several movies that make this their central premise.

[Note: This discussion may contain spoilers, so keep that in mind before you read.]

What Is Breaking The Fourth Wall?

It’s More Than Having An Inner Monologue

Many TV shows and movies are narrated by the protagonist, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Breaking the fourth wall means that the show or movie acknowledges in some way that it’s fictional or talks directly to the audience.

Related: The Art of the Opening: What Makes TV Title Sequences Captivating?

Closely related: in-jokes that make references to other shows in a franchise or other parts the actors have played.

Meta and fourth-wall-breaking entertainment has been around forever.

Characters talking directly to the audience can be traced back as far as Shakespeare, and the idea of meta-comedy transferred over to one of the earliest TV shows.

George Burns Was One of the Earliest TV Examples of Meta Comedy

Long Before Seinfeld, This Comedy Giant Had A Show About His Life

Jerry Seinfeld’s 1990s mega-hit owes a huge debt to George Burns. Forty years before Seinfeld, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show featured Burns and his wife playing fictionalized versions of themselves and their lives as a comedian and his wife.

Burns often began episodes with monologues in front of a curtain addressed to the audience.

Sometimes he also had a monologue during the show in which he discussed what was happening in the story, and often he’d be interrupted by Gracie or another character calling him and tell the audience he had to go.

In later episodes, Burns also watched the show’s events unfolding on a TV set in his study, which led to some of the earliest and best meta performances on TV.

Days Of Our Lives Characters Watch A Soap Opera

Abe Carver Trying To Buy The Rights Is One of TV’s Best MEta Performances

The Peacock soap is known for experimental storylines, including one in which half the town was “killed,” only to be resurrected on an island named Melaswen (New Salem spelled backward!), and in the past few years, it’s taken things a step further.

Related: Days of Our Lives: 13 Things That Only Happen In Salem

Days of Our Lives introduced a fictional soap opera for characters to watch called Body & Soul. Several of the same actors starred in the soap opera, leading to some of the best meta performances in the series’ history.

Abe Carver realized he was being lied to when he saw the guy who claimed to be his son, Theo, guest-starring in an episode.

Unlike DAYS, which moved to Peacock rather than being canceled in 2022, Body & Soul has recently gotten the axe. This leads to Abe commenting on crazy storylines that are also taking place in Salem while he and Kate try to buy the rights to the defunct fictional soap.

Doctor Who Season 1 Specialized In Breaking The Fourth Wall

The Mysterious Mrs. Flood Kept Talking To The Audience

Doctor Who Season 1’s ending didn’t resolve one mystery: who is this woman who keeps saying cryptic, vaguely threatening things to the audience?

At the end of the Christmas special, Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) made it clear she wasn’t merely another neighbor when she turned to the camera and told the audience she’d seen a TARDIS before.

She appeared sporadically throughout the eight-episode season, often breaking the fourth wall or otherwise acting strangely.

Her soliloquy at the end of the season finale was one of the best meta performances because it not only threatened The Doctor but left audiences wondering who or what she really is.

Carlton Runs Through The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Set

The Famous Sequence Was An Accident

A 1994 episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air ends with Carlton running all through the set, even crawling on his hands and knees out of the kitchen — but this was not a scripted moment.

Related: How Technology Changed TV Tropes Forever

The hilarious sequence is one of the show’s best meta performances, involving a freaked-out Carlton running all over the set after he thinks he killed Lisa. Carlton was only supposed to run out of the kitchen but actor Alfonso Ribiero decided to do something extra to entertain the live studio audience.

His fourth-wall breaking performance was so funny that the producers decided to keep it in when they edited the episode for broadcast.

Amazon Prime’s Fleabag Regularly Talks To The Audience

Her Fourth Wall-Breaking Often Creates Comedic Or Touching Scenes

Fleabag is a British comedy about a quirky single woman living in London. Part of the series’ charm is the main character’s habit of talking directly to the audience.

Related: Does the Death of Syndicated Reruns Mean the End of Catchphrases and Cult Shows?

Unlike other shows that occasionally use this gimmick, Fleabag has fourth-wall-breaking baked into its winning concept. Fleabag constantly talks to the audience, while, for the most part, the people around her don’t notice.

This not only leads to some hilarious situations but makes audience members feel like they are part of the show’s universe.

ABC’s Moonlighting Was An Experiment In Fourth Wall-Breaking

The Iconic Series Experimented With Talking To The Audience From Season 2 On

Moonlighting epitomized the now-tired TV trope of the couple that might or might not get together.

For five seasons, Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd butted heads while working together as private detectives, and sparks flew… but they never crossed the line into romance.

Starting in Season 2, Moonlighting had another claim to fame: it began breaking the fourth wall, leading to some of Shepherd and Willis’ best meta performances.

During the second season, the stars appeared as their characters to introduce some episodes, talking directly to the audience for the first time, and when the series ended after five seasons, the crew broke down the sets on camera.

The New Version of Matlock Will Reference The Original

The Series May Make It Clear It Knows It’s A Reboot

Kathy Bates is set to star in a new version of Matlock on CBS during the fall of 2024.

Related: Prequel Problems: Why Are TV Execs So Fixated On The Past?

From the trailer, it appears the reboot is very different than the original, which starred Andy Griffith as a country lawyer turned modern-day Perry Mason.

However, it has no plans to forget where it came from and will make references to the original Matlock. This might lead to breaking the fourth wall, especially if the characters acknowledge that they are living in a reboot of a popular series.

Michael Scott Meets David Brent

The Two Versions Of The Office Manager Come Face-To-Face

The Office is based on a British series, so when the American and British versions of the same character met, it led to a hilarious in-joke, which is why we included it on our list of best meta performances.

Michael asked David for help with an English character he was working on, and the two parted as best friends after discussing how seemingly offensive comedic caricatures are not meant to be so.

The characters didn’t acknowledge that they were each other’s alternate-universe selves, but the in-joke only works if you’re aware that this is the case.

Movie: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Nicholas Cage Must Reprise Iconic Roles To Save Himself From Ruin

Nicholas Cage plays an alternate-universe version of himself who is completely broke in this film, which is a masterclass in breaking the fourth wall.

Related: Is Netflix Leaving Its Cancel-Happy Ways In The Past?

Not only does Cage play himself AND play himself playing past roles, but the movie itself is a parody of many of the action-adventure films he has done.

After accepting a million dollars to attend a wealthy fan’s birthday party, Cage is recruited by the CIA and must reprise his previous roles as part of a mission to save the world.

Movie: Deadpool Continues The Comic Book Tradition

The Marvel Anti-Hero Has Always Spoken To The Audience

The Deadpool film is, of course, based on the comic book character, who often broke the fourth wall to speak to his readers.

Related: How Much Should Showrunners Rely on Audience Reaction For Their Storytelling?

The movie is no different.

Ryan Reynolds’ version of Deadpool likes to comment on ridiculous scenes or real-world events, continuing the tradition of interrupting the action to speak to the audience.

Movie: The Truman Show Is The Ultimate Meta Film

The Film’s Premise Was All About Breaking The Fourth Wall

Who else remembers The Truman Show? The iconic Jim Carrey movie offers one of the best meta performances in the medium.

The central premise is that Carrey’s character is the star of a reality show but doesn’t know it. He thinks his life is real.

The audience knows it’s fake, and he doesn’t, so in a way, it’s the opposite of breaking the fourth wall.

Still, the idea of a reality star believing his fake life is real while the audience is waiting for him to discover the truth is as meta as it gets.

Movie: Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles Used Meta-Humor

The Comedian Continued This Trend In Other Movies

Comedian Mel Brooks is known for his meta humor, spoofs of popular culture, and dry wit. Blazing Saddles was one of his first movies, and breaking the fourth wall was a big part of the film.

Related: The Age Of Nostalgia: Why Young Audiences Are Seeking Out Old TV

This film is a spoof of Westerns starring a Black sheriff — however, it is the same type of anti-racist story as Huckleberry Finn, which means that it uses racial slurs as part of its effort to make racists look bad, especially at the beginning of the movie.

Brooks softens the blow by having characters speak directly to the audience and explain what’s going on in the film at various points.

Movie: Goodfellas’ Final Scene Was One Of The Most Effective Uses of The Fourth Wall

The Final Twist Made The Movie’s Ending Powerful

If you love Law & Order: Organized Crime or The Sopranos, Goodfellas is the movie for you.

The movie is about the rise and fall of a notorious mob boss who grows up in an organized crime family and seems unaware of the pain he causes others by committing the types of crimes that are normal to him.

The film is narrated by mobster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), but the final scene suggests that the entire movie has been his explanation to the jury of his crimes.

Without this fourth-wall-breaking plot twist, the film would have been a less memorable story rather than the classic it is considered today.

Over to you, TV and movie fanatics.

What is your favorite fourth-wall-breaking series or film?

Hit the comments and let us know!

The post Blending Reality: TV and Movies’ Best Meta Performances appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Doctor Who Season 2 promises to answer some of the questions left over from the end of Season 1 and will likely stir up some brand-new mysteries.

Whether you’re looking for info about who will be traveling in the TARDIS or when the new adventures are coming, we have you covered. Bookmark this post; it will be updated as new information becomes available.

Doctor Who fans are divided about the Season 1 finale because it didn’t answer all their questions. The answers it did give disappointed some people but made perfect sense to others.

If you were one of the people who was confused, frustrated, or annoyed by the season finale, the good news is that Season 2 will likely address most of your concerns.

Doctor Who Review: The Doctor Faces Off With a Deadly Enemy

As always, the producers are playing it close to their chest and haven’t released many official spoilers yet.

Still, we know a fair amount about Doctor Who Season 2. Read on to see if we’ve answered your burning questions yet!

Has Doctor Who Been Renewed?

Yes! Doctor Who Season 1 was filmed so long ago that the second season had already started production long before the first one finished airing.

If you’ve heard rumors that the series is in danger of cancellation, don’t panic. It’s true that Doctor Who Season 3 has not been commissioned yet; however, the BBC has not ordered any shows to begin production in 2025 yet.

This is similar to how most American series are renewed for only one year at a time, so there wouldn’t be any news about whether your favorite show is returning in 2026.

While we’re waiting for news about Season 3, Season 2 is definitely on its way.

What Happened at the End of Doctor Who Season 1?

Season 1 ended with one of the most exciting and horrific stories to date.

At the end of the first part of the two-part season-ender, the Doctor learned that Susan Twist’s character was not his granddaughter, as he had hoped — she was Sutekh, the ancient god of death that the Doctor had stopped from escaping once before.

Related: Doctor Who Season 1 Ending Explained: How Did the Doctor Defeat Death?

Sutekh was determined to destroy all life in the universe.

He explained that he had infiltrated the TARDIS 49 years earlier when the Doctor tried to banish him into the Time Vortex and had used the machine’s memory banks to create replicas of a woman similar to the Doctor’s granddaughter wherever the Doctor went.

Thus, Sutekh had an army of “angels of death” all over the universe who could spread his deadly dust and kill everyone it came in contact with. However, the Doctor could undo the damage once he overcame his guilt over what he had unleashed.

The Doctor tied Sutekh to the back of the TARDIS and flew backward through all the areas Sutekh had attacked, forcing the god to restore life. Once this was done, he cut Sutekh loose while lamenting that he hated being like him and killing anyone.

Once Sutekh was disposed of, the Doctor returned to UNIT, where he ran a DNA test to help Ruby learn who her birth mother was.

Ruby’s birth mother had been a scared teenager who abandoned Ruby on the church doorstep because she felt it was the safest situation for her baby.

This revelation upset some fans, as they expected Ruby to be related to the Time Lords or another powerful race of beings.

In any case, the Doctor convinced Ruby to leave the TARDIS behind so she could get to know her birth family. Still, after he dematerialized, the mysterious Mrs. Flood broke the fourth wall to tell the audience that the Doctor’s story would “end in terror.”

Could Sutekh Appear Again On Season 2?

Sutekh supposedly died when the Doctor threw him into the Time Vortex, but since the Doctor was wrong the first time he thought he destroyed him, there’s a slim possibility that Sutekh is alive and biding his time.

Related: Doctor Who Review: THAT’S Who Susan Twist Is Playing?

If Sutekh is alive, the next battle is unlikely to happen during Season 2.

Showrunner Russell T. Davies has stated unequivocally that Sutekh is dead, making it clear he has no intention of resurrecting him for a new story any time soon.

However, Sutekh was one of the most feared gods of the Pantheon of Discord, so Davies could change his mind in the future, or a different showrunner could decide to bring Sutekh back for a third round.

Additionally, there is likely to be some aftereffects of having died at Sutekh’s hand and been resurrected, especially since Kate Lethbridge-Stewart said she couldn’t fully remember what happened to her after she turned to dust.

What Storylines Can We Expect on Doctor Who Season 2?

While we don’t know yet what specific adventures the Doctor will have, the new season will address a big mystery: who Mrs. Flood really is.

Mrs. Flood was introduced in the 2023 Christmas Special as Ruby’s eccentric but kindly neighbor. However, she soon proved she was anything but. 

She knew what the TARDIS was and encouraged Ruby to go inside, and that was only the beginning of her strange behavior.

She was the only person not bothered by the mysterious apparition following Ruby during “73 Yards,” and during the finale she seemed to turn evil while alone with Cherry.

Actress Anita Dobson, who plays Mrs. Flood,  has said that she is being kept in the dark about her character’s true identity; however, she also noted that a lot more will be revealed during Season 2 and that she’s been enjoying learning more when she receives each script.

Since Ruby left the TARDIS to be with her birth family but is expected to travel with the Doctor again during Season 2, an early storyline will likely revolve around her reasons for reuniting with her time-traveling friend.

Related: Doctor Who Review: Ruby’s Strange Adventure

There has been wide speculation that her grandmother will also play a more significant role this time.

So far, Cherry is the only one who knows that Mrs. Flood isn’t the sweet woman she pretends to be, and once Ruby and Carla find out the truth, they’ll want to do anything to protect Cherry.

Finally, Russell T Davies has said there’s more to Ruby’s birth family than it seems.

Although her birth mother is “ordinary,” we don’t yet know about her father.

Sharp-eared viewers have wondered if there is a connection between his name being William Garnet and the evil Roger Ap GWilliam, the fascist politician whose rise to power in 2046 appears to be a fixed point in time.

In addition to solving these mysteries and the question of who picked up the Master’s gold tooth at the end of “The Giggle,” the Doctor and his companions will probably face the monster of the week, as they do in most episodes.

The Daleks, Cybermen, and Master were all absent from Season 1 to give them a rest after being overexposed during the Thirteenth Doctor’s tenure, but any of them could appear in brand new stories. It’s also likely that UNIT will make at least one appearance.

The headquarters is now within driving distance of the Sunday home, and Ruby has struck up a friendship with Rose Noble, so it’s logical to include them in whatever happens with Mrs. Flood. UNIT could also appear to help the Doctor investigate various other alien phenomena.

Which Cast Members are Returning for Doctor Who Season 2?

Doctor Who has the unique feature of recasting its lead character occasionally when the Doctor regenerates after being mortally wounded. However, Ncuti Gatwa will continue to play the Doctor during the new season and probably any third season that may be commissioned.

Although Ruby (Millie Gibson) decided to leave the TARDIS after the season finale, she has been confirmed to appear during Season 2. However, whether she will be back full-time or on a recurring basis is unclear.

Related: Doctor Who Season 2 Character and Cast Guide

Actress Verada Sethu, who guest starred as Mundy Flynn during “Boom,” is also joining the cast as a not-yet-named companion. While she could be playing Mundy again, it’s more likely that she’s playing a new character.

Doctor Who often recruits guest stars to join the main cast as different characters — Colin Baker, who played the Sixth Doctor, was one such guest star! Additionally, it wouldn’t make sense for Mundy to leave the orphan she’s responsible for to travel the universe with the Doctor.

Anita Dobson will also be returning as Mrs. Flood.

Many characters are possibly recurring:

• Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday
• Angela Wynter as Cherry Sunday
• Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart
• Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush
• Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble

None of these characters have been confirmed, but all are logical possibilities. Ruby’s family must be involved with her new storyline, especially if it intersects with Mrs. Flood’s true identity. If UNIT is involved, Kate and Melanie will likely appear.

Rose was established to be working for UNIT but didn’t have much to do during the season finale. That could have set the stage for her to have a more significant role next time UNIT is involved with a story.

When Will Doctor Who Season 2 Premiere?

The Doctor Who Christmas Special will air on Christmas Day 2024, and actress Nicola Coughlan will guest star rather than the episode featuring a regular companion.

The exact date for the return of the new season after the Christmas special has not yet been announced. However, if the schedule is anything like the schedule for Season 1, it will premiere in early May 2025.

Season 1 premiered on Disney+ 24 hours before it was broadcast on the BBC and streamed on the BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, so the new season will likely follow the same schedule.

How Many Episodes Will There Be of Doctor Who Season 2?

Doctor Who Season 2 is expected to have nine episodes, counting the Christmas special, two less than Season 1, considering three specials aired before the season began.

This is disappointing news. Previous seasons have had 12 – 15 episodes, which gave the stories more time to develop, and Season 1 of the soft reboot felt somewhat rushed because of the short episode count.

The good news is that while the season is equally short, we will likely have no more Doctor-Lite episodes.

Ncuti Gatwa was mostly absent from two episodes of Season 1 because he was still filming the final season of Sex Education, but he no longer has that scheduling conflict.

Is There a Doctor Who Season 2 Trailer?

A dialogue-free trailer showcases Vedara Sethu’s inclusion in the cast, although it does not show much.

A full trailer will likely be released closer to the air date, so bookmark this page and check it regularly. We will post the trailer as soon as it is available.

In the meantime, hit the comments and tell us what you’re hoping will happen during Doctor Who Season 2 and who you think Mrs. Flood is.

Doctor Who Season 2 will stream on Disney+ during the spring of 2025.

The post Doctor Who Season 2 – Everything We Know So Far appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Still, we know a little about what the cast looks like for Doctor Who season 2.

At least one character has to return so that we can finally solve a mystery surrounding her, and one seeming exit is a fake-out. Our Doctor Who Season 2 cast and character guide has all the info.

Doctor Who’s Cast Always Changes Periodically

Cast changes are baked into Doctor Who’s format for most of its 60-year run. 

As many long-time fans know, the Doctor regenerates periodically, usually when they are mortally wounded. The humans who travel with them leave for a variety of reasons and are replaced with new friends the Doctor meets on their adventures.

Related: Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 Ending Explained: How Did The Doctor Defeat Death?

That’s one of the factors making it hard to predict what will happen on Doctor Who’s newest season, though the cast this time seems like it’s mostly stable.

Ncuti Gatwa As The Fifteenth Doctor 

Each incarnation of the Doctor has a slightly different personality. So far, the Fifteenth Doctor (sometimes called Fifteen in fan circles to distinguish him from other incarnations) has an energetic, fun, larger-than-life one. 

Gatwa’s Doctor is often loud, not afraid of rejection, and unapologetically himself.

He enjoys making grand entrances, such as sliding the TARDIS into UNIT headquarters.

Despite his infectious laughter and high energy, FIfteen has a more serious side.

He still feels isolated and alone, and this Doctor has been more overtly emotional than any other Doctor, often crying openly when he fails to save someone, especially Ruby.

The Doctor is such a cultural phenomenon in the UK that playing the role changes each actor’s life, putting them more firmly in the public eye than ever before.

Although this is as true for Gatwa as it is for anyone else, he had already achieved a certain level of fame before he began working on Doctor Who, as he played Eric Effiong on Sex Education for four years.

However, shortly before he landed that role, he ran out of savings and was couch surfing because he had no money or home.

Related: Doctor Who Season 1 Trailer Introduces Ncuti Gatwa as the Most Fun and Confident Version of the Time Lord Since the Reboot Began

Gatwa is originally from Rwanda; his family escaped to Scotland during the Rwandan genocide when he was two years old. 

He is openly gay, making him the first LGBTQ+ actor to play the Doctor and the first Black Doctor. He also had a role in the Barbie movie as Artist Ken.

Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday

Although Ruby Sunday had the perfect exit story, she’s not entirely done yet. 

Throughout the short first season of Doctor Who, Ruby was by the Doctor’s side for every adventure.

She also had a strange Doctor Who adventure on her own after the Doctor stepped on a fairy circle, catapulting her into an alternate universe where he didn’t exist. She was being followed by a strange, ghostly woman who made everyone reject Ruby.

On the season 1 finale, the Doctor encouraged Ruby to stay home and get to know her new family after she was reunited with her birth mother, and Ruby tearfully left the TARDIS.

However, her story is far from over, as Russell T Davies has confirmed that she will be back during Season 2 and will be traveling in the TARDIS again.

Millie Gibson is best known outside of Doctor Who for her role as Kelly Neelan on the British soap opera Coronation Street.

Interestingly, the actresses who play Cherry Sunday and Mrs. Flood are alums of one of Britain’s other popular soaps, Eastenders.

Related: 17 Times Soap Stars Guest Starred on PrimetIme Shows

Gibson won the Best Young Actress Award at the 2022 British Soap Awards, analogous to the award young American soap stars can win at the Daytime Emmys).

Gibson has been in several stage productions as well as on the ITV miniseries Butterfly, in which she plays the cisgender older sister of a transgender child who tried to protect her sister from bullies post-transition.

Verada Sethu as A Not-Yet-Named Companion

Verada Sethu is confirmed to be joining the Doctor Who cast as a companion, but it’s not clear yet who this character is.

Sethu appeared in “Boom,” the third episode of the previous season. She played Mundy Flynn, a soldier who adopted an orphaned girl, Splice, at the end of the hour.

Could Sethu be playing Mundy again? Possibly, but that wouldn’t make much sense, as she’s supposed to play a full-time companion to the Doctor.

Mundy couldn’t easily leave Splice behind to go gallivanting around the universe, although enough time could have passed since the Doctor’s last visit that Splice has grown up now.

In any case, she and Ruby are supposed to work together, but will Ruby warm to this character, whoever she is, right away? Doctor Who could easily go for the tired TV trope of enemies-to-friends, considering that Sethu’s character has taken Ruby’s place in the TARDIS.

Sethu and her twin sister are of Indian descent. Like Ncuti Gatwa, they emigrated to the United Kingdom at a young age.

She studied veterinary medicine and physiology at the University of Bristol, though she was acting on the side.

Related: With Representation Declining Industry-Wide, Is TV Failing Its LGBTQ+ Viewers?

Besides Doctor Who, she is best known for starring alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Michael Caine in Now You See Me 2, an American heist film.

She was also a regular in the six-episode BBC series Hard Sun, a pre-apocalyptic series about two detectives who discover proof that the world will end in five years.

Anita Dobson As Mrs. Flood

Mrs. Flood’s identity is a mystery that has kept Doctor Who fans talking all season long and beyond.

Although the first season dropped hints that Mrs. Flood wasn’t who she claimed to be, such as her knowledge of the TARDIS and seemingly evil demeanor when she was alone with Cherry, it didn’t answer the question of who she is.

If you found this frustrating, the good news is that Anita Dobson has promised that a lot more of the truth about her character will be revealed during Season 2.

Hopefully, that’ll start with an answer to whether she’s good or evil. She could be the amoral Rani, a fellow Time Lord who will do anything for the sake of experimenting on humans.

The Rani has not been seen in 40 years, primarily because of a dispute about who owns the rights to the character, but the Doctor mentioned her in his first episode, so the chances are she will return at some point.

Anita Dobson is a well-known British actress who got her start on Eastenders, a long-running soap opera.

She starred on the series from 1985 to 1988; after she left, she rejected numerous offers for her return and her character was reported to be dead on a 2002 episode.

Related: 17 Best Soap Recasts

Dobson has appeared in many British comedies, most notably the sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, and was in several episodes of the children’s show “The Worst Witch.”

Dobson is also a singer and is married to Queen guitarist Brian May.

Angela Wynter As Cherry Sunday

Ruby’s grandmother was a minor character with a punny name during the first season.

However, she’s now the only one who knows that Mrs. Flood isn’t who she claims to be. Thus, she’s likely to play a more significant role during Season 2.

It’s unclear if Cherry remembers how Mrs. Flood treated her, but it’s sure to come out at some point, and when it does, Ruby will want to confront her neighbor — or somehow get in touch with the Doctor so he can do so.

Cherry might also be able to shed light on some other mysteries, such as why Carla abandoned Ruby in the alternate timeline during “73 Yards.”

That wasn’t a split for the sake of drama — something weird was going on with that apparition that supposedly turned out to be an older version of Ruby.

Angela Wynter is also an Eastenders alum, although she first appeared in 2003, a year after Anita Dobson’s character was finally written out permanently.

She is originally from Jamaica but emigrated to the UK and worked alongside her future Eastenders costar in the play Meetings, her first role.

Related: Lessons Days of Our Lives Can Learn From Australia’s Neighbours

She based her character on Eastenders on her sister, who is no longer alive.

Besides Eastenders, she’s best known for her work on the British soap Doctors.

Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday

Carla is Ruby’s adoptive mother. She fiercely loves her daughter. She has a big heart and always fosters babies, though Ruby is the only one she has raised through adulthood.

Carla is as courageous as Ruby is. She doesn’t bat an eye at most Doctor Who monsters and insisted on accompanying Ruby and Rose back to UNIT headquarters after learning that Rose’s mother works there.

She would be upset if she knew how close Ruby came to death more than once while with the Doctor, as he had promised Carla that he would keep her daughter safe and return her in one piece.

In the alternate timeline in 73 Yards, Carla tried to help Ruby find out who the mysterious woman following her was, but after approaching the apparition, she rejected her without explanation.

Her total rejection was Ruby’s worst fear, and the reason for it in that episode is still a mystery.

Outside of Doctor Who, Michelle Greenidge is well-known as a comedy actress.

She appeared in the Netflix comedy After Life and later on the BBC-2 series Mandy.

Related: Doctor Who: RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner Jinkx Monsoon Lands Major Role

She also appeared as PC Williamson on the comedy-drama Code 404.

Greenidge has also acted in several stage plays throughout her career, including The Distance Between Us and People Who Need People.

Who Else Might Appear on Doctor Who Season 2?

Doctor Who made a point of reestablishing UNIT.

Kate Lethbridge-Stewart usually appears at least once a season, continuing the tradition started by her father during the Pertwee years. Now that she has a full UNIT team, she has even more reason to appear.

Other UNIT members may also have cameos. Hopefully, Rose Noble will have a bigger part and not just be doing busywork if she returns.

Legacy character Melanie Bush could also appear again since she’s also part of UNIT now.

Finally, there’s no telling yet which monsters from the past might make a comeback. The Master and the Daleks were rested after overexposure during the Thirteenth Doctor’s run, but that doesn’t mean one or both couldn’t return on Season 2.

Over to you, fellow Whovians!

Which characters are you most looking forward to? Is there anyone you would add or subtract from the main cast?

Hit the comments and let us know!

Doctor Who Season 2 will stream on Disney+, premiering in the winter or spring of 2025.

The post Doctor Who Season 2 Cast and Character Guide appeared first on TV Fanatic.

You have to play fair, giving the audience enough clues to figure out the truth but not so many clues that the answer is obvious.

Some TV mysteries were so well done that we kicked ourselves for not realizing the solution before it was revealed, and we're celebrating those mysteries today.

Ideally, all shows should have a bit of mystery, so some of the best ones are shows you wouldn't expect, such as cartoons or comedies.

Every genre of show can keep certain things secret, teasing viewers with clues so they think they know what's going on but have to tune in to find out if they're right.

Related: Elsbeth Backlash: Has CBS’ Lighthearted Murder Mystery Lost Its Way Already?

Please scroll down to check out our top nine mysteries. Some of these we solved ourselves, while others we couldn't believe we missed.

[NOTE: This list contains spoilers, as it reveals the solutions to mysteries, so keep that in mind if you haven't watched all the shows on our list.]

1. The Identity of the Mother – How I Met Your Mother

Although How I Met Your Mother is often associated with Neil Patrick Harris's Barney, the show's premise rested on a season-long mystery: who was the mother the main character told his kids about?

The Mother, eventually revealed to be named Tracy, was hinted at as early as the first season, with what seemed to be a joke about Ted meeting a stripper named Tracy. 

Clues were sprinkled throughout the remaining seasons, most famously when Ted spent a lot of time with the Mother's roommate, Cindy, who was constantly jealous of her roommate.

After the series ended, fans were outraged by the Mother's random death, which meant that Ted and Robin could get together rather than the Mother turning out to be any of the main characters.

Nevertheless, there were enough clues that sharp-eyed viewers could have figured out this plot twist before the end.

2. Who Rose Quartz Really Was – Steven Universe

Steven Universe was a quirky Cartoon Network series about a boy who lives with the Crystal Gems, mineral aliens with magical powers, and whom he helps on various adventures.

Throughout the series, Steven learns more about the Crystal Gems and that the alien race has a questionable past. He has to solve various mysteries along the way, one of which involves the identity of Rose Quartz.

Rose Quartz is a Crystal Gem originally introduced as a leader who led a successful rebellion against the Gem Empire.

Related: Why Aren’t You Watching These Excellent Shows?

Throughout the series, Steven learns more about the war between the Crystal Gems and the Empire, including that his mother was assassinated by someone named Pink Diamond — who turns out to still be alive and, in fact, is Rose.

Rose was often depicted as a nonconformist who strongly believed in making one's fate rather than accepting the identity given to one. She often dressed in pink, which was another clue to her identity.

3. Who Killed Laura Palmer? – Twin Peaks

Thirty years before the Showtime reboot, Twin Peaks was a quirky series about a small town full of secrets. It revolved around the mystery of who killed local teenager Laura Palmer.

The series combined standard clues with supernatural and other strange happenings throughout the first season and a half.

This should have tipped viewers off that the solution to the mystery would be anything but traditional!

One early sequence had Laura's father, Leland, develop a head full of white hair overnight, suggesting something was wrong with him. 

This foreshadowed the idea that Leland was possessed by BOB, an evil entity that drove him to kill his daughter in a fit of rage.

4. Henry Thorpe Is the Main Antagonist – Sugar

Jason Butler Hamber's presence might have given away his character's true identity for some viewers. This actor is gifted at playing seemingly lovely guys who turn out to be evil.

Henry Thorpe was precisely that kind of character on Sugar.

He seemed incapable of hurting anyone, first appearing at Ruby's party and seeming so timid and inconsequential that almost nobody noticed him.

Related: Cliffhangers That Made Our Jaws Drop to the Floor

Throughout the season, however, Henry became increasingly consequential to the story.

By the end, the reveal that he was an alien who tortured human women as part of sinister experiments is both shocking and completely logical.

5. Crowley's True Intentions – Rabbit Hole

Jason Butler Hamber also appears on Paramount+'s Rabbit Hole, a one-season series in which Kiefer Sutherland plays an espionage agent framed for murder, but he's not the main villain.

He again plays a guy who seems to be a good guy but is helping Crowley, the main antagonist.

Crowley's evil intentions were again more apparent in retrospect than upon first viewing, especially for viewers familiar with Peter Weir, who played him.

Weir almost always plays a villain, so why should this character have been an exception, especially with a name like Crowley?

6. Patrick Lloyd is An Overly Obvious Villain — Designated Survivor

I know Terry Serpico as Law & Order: SVU's Chief McGrath, who recently resigned after years of being an annoying department head.

However, he also played the villain in the first season of Netflix's Designated Survivor.

Designated Survivor is, as the name implies, about the only survivor of a deadly attack on the Presidency ascending to the top position while trying to find the culprit.

Related: When Going Off The Rails Makes Excellent TV

Serpico's character, Patrick Lloyd, was the CEO of a now-defunct military firm who would have had access to poison gas and a strong motive to kill the President.

This was a case of classic misdirection, in which the solution to the mystery was so obvious that viewers thought it couldn't possibly be correct.

7. Lily Kane's Killer – Veronica Mars

The first season of Veronica Mars focused on the title character's search for answers after her best friend was murdered.

Lilly Kane's killer was played by Harry Hamlin, which was one major clue. Hamlin is best known for L.A. Law but often plays villains, and this role was no exception.

This season-long mystery included false leads and red herrings before revealing who killed Lilly and why.

Each episode contained enough clues that sharp-eyed viewers could figure out the mystery, even though it wasn't necessarily easy.

8. Who Susan Twist Was Playing – Doctor Who

The newest season of Doctor Who involved two mysteries, and one of them was more solvable than it seemed.

Throughout the eight-episode season, actress Susan Twist appeared in bit parts in each story.

Showrunner Russell T Davies purposely led viewers to believe she was playing the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan, only for it to be revealed that she was a vessel for Sutekh, the god of death who had last appeared 50 years earlier.

Related: Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 Ending Explained: How Did The Doctor Defeat Death?

This mystery was easier to solve if you were a long-time fan familiar with the original story, but there were references to Sutekh throughout the episodes.

Episode 7 also contained an anagram fakeout that also included the real answer. Susan Twist was revealed to be Susan Triad, and her company was Sue Tech, a homonym of Sutekh.

9. The Identity of the Erinsborough Poisoner – Neighbours

The Australian soap Neighbours recently offered a compelling mystery with a solution under our noses.

Ever since Dr. Gavin Bowman came to Erinsborough, he seemed shady and was soon revealed to be a serial sexual harasser who threatened Remi when she reported him to HR.

However, Holly's theory that Bowman was poisoning people so he could play the hero at the hospital and get out of trouble seemed like yet another wild speculation on her part, especially after she was wrong twice before and nearly got arrested for attacking a podcaster she thought did it.

Yet Holly was correct, and the clues added up once she laid them out for her friends, not that anyone listened to her.

Disappointing and Downright Offensive Character Departures

Open List

Over to you, TV Fanatics.

Which TV mysteries have you solved lately?

Hit the comments and let us know!

The post Nine Mysteries We Should Have Been Able To Solve appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The jury's still out on whether the ending was effective. Some fans found it underwhelming, while others thought it was brilliant.

If you have questions about how Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 wrapped up the season, don't worry. We're here to explain it all!

How The Doctor Defeated Sutekh

Sutekh was supposed to be one of the most dangerous villains in Doctor Who history.

He was first established in 1975's "Pyramids of Mars" (available on Britbox for those who would like to watch or rewatch it) as a powerful being from the planet Osiris who brought death and destruction before being retconned into one of the gods of the Pantheon during the current season.

Related: Doctor Who Review: The Doctor Faces Off With a Powerful Enemy

At the end of "Pyramids of Mars," the Doctor supposedly rid the universe of Sutekh by imprisoning him in a time tunnel that was too long for him to escape, but Sutekh secretly latched onto the TARDIS, allowing him to try again to destroy humanity.

Despite Sutekh's supposed omnipotence and practical immortality, the Doctor was able to set a trap for him involving Ruby's birth mother.

It had already been established that Ruby's birth mother didn't show her face at all when she left her baby on the church doorstep, which frustrated Ruby when she tried to use the Time Window to learn who this woman was. It also frustrated Sutekh.

This and everything that followed required leaps in logic, but a show featuring a time-traveling alien whose ship looks like a 1960s-era police box can get away with just about anything.

(If nothing else, this show did not rely on the same tired TV tropes we're used to on science fiction series!)

Sutekh was frustrated because he couldn't kill this woman without knowing who she was, so the Doctor used learning her identity as bait to use intelligent rope to attach Sutekh to the back of the TARDIS.

19 TV Characters Who Don’t Know How to Chill on Vacation

Open List

The Doctor took a triumphant journey through time and space, declaring that Sutekh would put death to death and restore the lives of all those his deadly dust had killed.

Afterward, he reluctantly cut the rope, ejecting Sutekh into the Time Vortex without the TARDIS' protection.

Doing so supposedly killed Sutekh, and showrunner Russell T Davies has stated that Sutekh is "gone forever" now.

However, there's plenty of room for Sutekh to return for a third time if Davies changes his mind or a different showrunner takes over in the future.

Sutekh is a powerful god, after all, and he escaped death by latching onto the TARDIS once, so who says he couldn't have found something else to attach himself to in the Time Vortex?

Plus, the Fourteenth Doctor's TARDIS is still parked in Donna's garden; if there are two TARDISes, there could be two Sutekhs!

Doctor Who Solved The Mystery Of Ruby's Origins

Russell T. Davies predicted that no one would guess who Ruby's birth mother was — and he was right because she was just an ordinary woman whose story mirrored many other teenage and young adult mothers'.

Related: Doctor Who Review: Ruby's Strange Adventure

The Doctor and Ruby traveled to 2046 in the makeshift TARDIS to get the DNA sample from the database they needed to discover the identity of Ruby's mother, which led to the discovery that Sutekh had possessed Melanie and was among the dead. 

During this sequence (one of the scariest moments of the hour!), Ruby stared at the DNA test results in shock, unable to believe what she saw, which suggested that she was the product of something extraordinary, such as having given birth to herself or being part Time Lord.

However, this was a red herring, and Ruby's mother turned out to be a 15-year-old girl who was terrified of getting pregnant and who lived with her abusive stepfather. Ruby soon reunited with her as an adult.

Some fans were underwhelmed with this reveal, but it underscored a point Doctor Who often makes: everyone is important, no matter how ordinary they are.

According to the Doctor, Ruby's focus on finding her mother triggered Sutekh's obsession, believing she must be someone with extreme powers if she was so important to Ruby. Thus, he became determined to find her, which led to his downfall.

The Doctor: She was important because we thought she was important. That’s how everything happens. Every war, every religion, every love story. We invest things with significance. So while the whole of creation was turning around her, it made her sheer existence more powerful than Time Lords and gods. In the end, the most important person was the most ordinary. A scared little girl making her baby safe.

_{🔗 permalink: In the end, the most important person was the most ordinary. DW S1 E8}

It also led to Ruby leaving the TARDIS. Millie Gibson has been confirmed for Season 2, so Ruby will be back, but for now, she and the Doctor shared a sad goodbye before what looked like a disappointing character exit.

After Ruby told him that she wanted to leave again with him, she learned that her family had contacted her birth father, who never knew she existed.

The Doctor told her that her place was with her family but promised he would return to visit.

His promise that he would be ironic, considering Ruby's fear that he would abandon her as he did his granddaughter, Susan.

Related: Has Doctor Who Set Up a Possible Torchwood Return?

In 1964, when the Doctor locked Susan out of the TARDIS because he felt she belonged on Earth with the man she fell in love with, he promised he would be back "one day."

The similarities between that ending and Ruby's apparent exit suggest that the Doctor may be leaving her temporarily to fulfill that long-ago promise to Susan.

Doctor Who's Final UNIT Scene Explained

After everyone was resurrected, the Doctor returned to UNIT to check on his friends and to run the DAN test so that RUby could learn the truth about her birth mother.

This short scene set up future UNIT stories.

Rumors have been circulating about a UNIT spinoff, and this scene established who would star in such a show.

In addition to Kate, Rose, Melanie, Donna (presumably, since Rose said her mother also works for UNIT), and Colonel Ibrahim, Kate recruited Susan Triad.

The most confusing part of this scene was the reveal that Susan Triad was a real person with real memories, as Sutekh had explained that he used the TARDIS' memories of the Doctor's granddaughter to create duplicate versions of Susan wherever the TARDIS landed.

However, if you listen carefully to his explanation, he also reveals that each of these people was real, fitting into history wherever the TARDIS landed.

He merely possessed them all so that when the time was right, they became the living dead, spreading his fatal dust throughout the universe.

The Internet is abuzz with whispers about Colonel Ibriham taking Kate's hand at the end of the scene. This could indicate that love was in the air, but most likely does not.

19 Characters Responsible for the End of a Great Love

Open List

Colonel Ibriham also ran to hug Rose after everyone was resurrected, so he may have been extra affectionate because he was so relieved everyone was all right.

It's also too bad that Catherine Tate was unavailable for a short cameo during this scene.

I'd have loved for her to yell at Kate about how UNIT was supposed to keep her daughter safe, but Rose was briefly turned to dust while doing her job.

Colonel Ibrahim also shares a name with someone Sutekh possessed during "Pyramids of Mars," but hopefully, that's a red herring. Since Sutekh is gone for the foreseeable future, there's no reason for Ibriham's name to mean anything.

Doctor Who Set Up Some Mysteries for Season 2

The episode's ending was noteworthy for what it didn't tell us. Many viewers were frustrated and disappointed that Mrs. Flood's true identity had not yet been revealed.

She told Cherry Sunday that she had had "such plans" for her right before the fatal dust got them both, suggesting that she was someone evil.

Related: Cliffhangers That Made Our Jaws Drop To The Floor

At the end of the hour, she broke the fourth wall, informing the audience that she was sorry to say that the Doctor's story would end in absolute terror.

These are the strongest clues to her identity so far, and Russell T Davies has already promised we will learn more about her during Season 2.

There is already a ton of wild speculation online around who Mrs. Flood is, with fans guessing everybody from Clara Oswald to River Song.

Mrs. Flood could also be the amoral Rani (a renegade Time Lord who has not appeared in years due to questions over who owns the rights to the character) or Missy, the female version of the Master.

Over to you, Whovians!

Are there any lingering questions from the finale we haven't explained yet?

29 TV Characters Who Were Too Good to Last

Open List

Who do you think Mrs. Flood is?

Do you think there's more to Ruby's origin story than we've gotten so far?

Hit the comments and let us know!

Doctor Who Season 1 streams on Disney+.

The post Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 Ending Explained: How Did The Doctor Defeat Death? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 did what Doctor Who does best, but some fans are bound to be highly disappointed.

Sutekh left a grim trail of death and destruction all over the universe, and the Doctor managed to set everything to rights, which should be cause for celebration. However, a season-long mystery ended without fanfare, and another one still hasn't been solved.

Is Sutekh Gone for Good This Time?

Fifty years ago, the Fourth Doctor thought he banished Sutekh forever, only for it to turn out that he had an unwelcome stowaway ever since who was using the TARDIS to slowly destroy all life.

(The original episode is called "Pyramid of Mars" and is one of the best classic Who episodes. It's on Britbox and is well worth watching if you haven't already.)

Related: Doctor Who Review: THAT'S Who Susan Twist is Playing?

So why should we believe he's dead this time?

The Doctor tied him to the TARDIS for a triumphant journey through time and space, resurrecting everyone he had killed with his deadly dust and then cutting him loose, which should have killed him.

Considering his last Hail Mary, that's hard to trust. Sutekh could have latched himself onto someone or something else so he could try again another time.

Plus, isn't he the Pantheon's most powerful god? Gods are usually immortal, especially those at the top of the hierarchy.

Still, Sutekh is gone for now, and the Doctor's triumphant restoration of life made this epic adventure worth it.

Doctor: Sutekh, god of death… you win. This is how you win. Because I pride myself on being better than you. Because if you are death, I must be life. I am life! And yet because of you, I must bring death.

_{🔗 permalink: If you are death, I must be life. DW S1 E8}

The Doctor was at his most Doctorly throughout the hour, leaning on his sense of guilt and desire to do the right thing while being determined to stop Sutekh one way or another.

There Was No Way Doctor Who Would Let Everyone Stay Dead

The hour began with the tired TV trope of Sutekh killing everyone the Doctor loved. Kate's death speech was one of the most beautiful parts of the hour, but come on!

Kate: Doctor, it’s Kate signing off with thanks and love. Send this monster back to hell. Because one day there will be birds. I must believe there will be birds again.

_{🔗 permalink: Doctor, it’s Kate signing off with thanks and love. Send this monster back to hell. Because…}

There was no way all those people were staying dead. It was a question of how the Doctor would reverse everything, though I was afraid he might not be able to save EVERYBODY.

Related: Doctor Who Review: Ruby's Strange Adventure

My theory was completely wrong. I thought that since Sutekh began his reign of terror the night the Doctor visited Ruby Road at the same time as Ruby's mother did, he could somehow use time travel to change the timeline so that he would not unwittingly release Sutekh into the universe.

Instead, the Doctor made Sutekh blow his death dust on a dead universe, which brought it back to life. It was a triumphant, brilliant moment, even though it doesn't fully make logical sense.

Still, it brought everyone back to life, even those who Sutekh had possessed, so I'm not complaining. 

The Battle With Sutekh Led to Genuinely Scary Moments

Despite my fervent belief that all would be restored in the end, Melanie's death — and subsequent possession — was scary as hell.

I was rooting for Melanie to successfully fight Sutekh's attempt to possess her, and I was also glad that the Doctor sent her out of the room before searching for Ruby's birth mother's identity.

I suspected he did so to protect Ruby and her birth mother's identity. Still, the Doctor's response to realizing Melanie was dead had me in tears… less than a minute after she made me jump by showing up looking like Sutekh.

Thanks to the bigger special effects budget, all of the deaths were far scarier than on "Pyramid of Mars."

As great as the original was, the 1970s special effects made Sutekh's original threats seem more silly than scary, and I'm glad this sequel episode rectified that.

That dust, especially coupled with the green light, was super creepy, as were all the Sutekh clones wandering around hoping to kill Ruby's birth mother.

Ruby's Seeming Sacrifice Was a Great Plot Twist, But What About The Resolution of Her Mystery?

I bought that Ruby was giving in to Sutekh until she dropped the screen on the floor, shattering the only proof of her birth mother's identity.

That was one of the best plot twists in an episode with many of them!

That scene offered a gigantic red herring.

When Ruby stared at her mother's name, saying that it made no sense, I thought that it must be something really weird — like a popular fan theory that Ruby was somehow her own mother or was part Time Lord.

Instead, it turned out her mother was an ordinary human being: a teenage girl who gave up her baby because she feared her stepfather.

The Doctor: She was important because we thought she was important. That’s how everything happens. Every war, every religion, every love story. We invest things with significance. So while the whole of creation was turning around her, it made her sheer existence more powerful than Time Lords and gods. In the end, the most important person was the most ordinary. A scared little girl making her baby safe.

_{🔗 permalink: In the end, the most important person was the most ordinary. DW S1 E8}

I understood what Doctor Who was trying to do here, but I couldn't decide whether it was brilliant or a letdown.

Related: Doctor Who Review: A Strange Allegorical Tale

The mystery of Ruby's origins has been such a massive part of the season that everyone expected her to be something other than purely human.

That was done on purpose to misdirect the audience, but for some fans, I'm sure that the truth was extremely anti-climactic.

Doctor Who has always had the core message that every life is important, and the truth about Ruby's mother reinforced that theme. 

Ruby's mother was a survivor who made the most out of her life after getting pregnant at 15. Maybe having to decide to give her baby up for adoption caused her to take a harder look at her own situation and do what it took to protect herself, too.

During Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 7, Ruby wished she could tell her birth mother that she grew up to travel the universe, and now her birth mother's existence helped the Doctor and Ruby to save everybody from Sutekh.

That was beautiful, even if it wasn't what anyone expected.

Ruby's Exit Story Was Well Done, But Too Soon

The final scenes, in which the Doctor told Ruby she needed to be with her family now that she'd reconnected with her birth mother, made it clear that the purpose of her meeting the Doctor was to find out the truth about herself.

Still, I shared her upset when he suggested she shouldn't travel with him anymore.

Millie Gibson has done an amazing job bringing Ruby to life. There is so much chemistry between her and Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor. I hate to lose her.

Related: Disappointing and Downright Offensive Character Departures

Supposedly, she will appear on a recurring basis on Doctor Who Season 2, so the Doctor will make good on his promise to see her.

Still, I wish she could still travel with the Doctor and come home occasionally to her family, as previous companions have done.

I especially liked her burgeoning friendship with Rose, who was also woefully underused in this episode, and I was hoping to see more of it.

Doctor Who Left One Mystery Open

Not telling us who Mrs. Flood really is gives viewers a reason to tune in for the next season, but it's still annoying.

I'm still leaning toward her being the Rani since she has a cold, heartless streak and had plans for Cherry that were interrupted by the dust of death.

Still, that's the only clue we got to her real identity, that and her claim that the Doctor was about to face absolute terror.

It's not as frustrating as if Doctor Who abruptly disappeared forever so that we would never get answers, but it's still annoying.

Stray Thoughts

• If Sutekh created Susan Triad to be his angel of death, then how is she a real person with real memories who can now work for UNIT?
• Did Cherry ever get that cup of tea she's been asking for since Christmas?
• Did it strike anyone else as weird that the Doctor didn't tell Ruby that the "man with the curls" was his previous incarnation? He made it sound like both Sarah and the Fourth Doctor were companions.

Your turn, Doctor Who fanatics!

Was the finale as epic as you expected? Were you frustrated by the lack of clarity around Mrs. Flood? What did you think of the truth about who Ruby's parents were?

Hit the comments and let us know!

Doctor Who Season 1 is streaming on Disney+.

The post Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Empire of Death appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The Doctor and Mel escape, but UNIT is not so lucky. They try to fight Sutekh with their guns but run out of ammo and eveyrone appears to be killed, even Kate who says goodbye to the Doctor before she dies.

At the Sunday house, Cherry asks Mrs. FLood who se really is but Mrs. Flood is turned to dust before she can answer. Cherry too. Carla is killed outside.

The Doctor arrives at UNIT HQ. Ruby is the only one safe because she was in the Time Window. The Doctor goes into the TARDIS in the Time Window and realizes something. He comes out and tells Ruby the TARDIS is made of her memories — remember harder.

Ruby is able to remember the TARDIS on the night of her birth, but then Sutekh shows up on top of it. Sutekh says that when the Doctor supposedly banished him in the Time Tunnel during Pyramids of Mars, he attached himself to the TARDIS and learned all its secrets while evolving into a god, proving one fan theory right. He looked into the Time Vortex and learned its secrets. He learned who Susan was to the Doctor and created a copy of Susan Triad every place the Doctor landed — his army of angels of death.

The Doctor taunts Sutekh about not killing him. When Sutekh lashes out, he, Ruby, and Mel run into a makeshift TARDIS made from memory. The Doctor doesn't know if it'll fly but demateralizes anyway. He explains what Sutekh did but realizes the dust of death is spreading over the Earth and there is nothing he can do — everyone is dead.

The Doctor balmes himself. Every planet he ever traveled to is dead. The universe is completely dead. Mel and Ruby try to tell him it's not his fault but he won't listen.

The TARDIS lands somewhere and he puts on a monk's habit and goes out. There's a woman still alive. She says her memory is fialing. She doesn't know who or where she is and can't remember the name of her husband or her child. She says the death wave takes facts away too. She gives the Doctor a spoon, then realizes she forgot that her daughter is dead and says she's ready to die. She says he has a nice face. He swears as she turns to dust that he will save the universe with this spoon. (!)

The Doctor uses the spoon to plug into the TARDIS scanner so he can stabilize the TARDIS. It shows Ruby's memories but won't show them to him. Ruby keeps seeing the hooded figure who is supposedly her mother pointing. The Doctor says Sutekh is frustrated that he can't see her face so he can't kill her. The memory device suddenly shows the evil prime minister from 73 Yards, whom Ruby doesn't remember meeting. The Doctor realizes the guy ordered compulsory DNA testing so Ruby's mother should be in the registry even if the planet is dead. He takes the TARDIS to 2046 to see what he can find out, while Sutekh appears to be trying to use Melanie to get to the Doctor and find out the name of the woman he can't kill.

The Doctor does a finger stick and puts Ruby's blood into the DNA database, while outside Sutekh keeps calling to Melanie. It begins to snow and Ruby's cloister bell carol starts playing. Melanie starts freezing while Sutekh demands Melanie submit. Just as Ruby finds her mother's name, a Sutekh-possessed Melanie shows up and the Doctor says he loved Melanie and is so sorry she is dead.

Sutekh demands to know the name of Ruby's mother so that he can kill her, Ruby, and the Doctor. The Doctor pleads with him but he immobilizes him with a torturous green light. Ruby says she will give him the name. The Doctor says no! Ruby pretends she will do it but at the last second breaks the screen with the information and calls Sutekh the god of nothing.

Sutekh is angry and he and his minions go after the Doctor, who uses his whistle and the intelligent rope to tie Sutekh to the end of the TARDIS while he and Ruby retake their machine. The Doctor says the death of death is life so as he travels through time and space, life is restored! Melanie and Susan Triad and Rose and Kate and the rest of UNIT are resurrected. All the planets are restored and the Doctor sees the kind woman from before playing with her infant daughter in the grass. However, he must become a monster now. He must kill Sutekh. He opens the door and tells Sutekh that Sutekh has won as the Doctor wants to be better than him but cannot be. He cuts the rope and Sutekh tumbles into the nothingness of space.

At UNIT, the Doctor and Melanie have returned, along with Susan Triad, who asks is she still herself? The Doctor says she is. Kate invites her to work at UNIT. She says she will make the tea. Colonel Ibriham does not like the tea she has made.

Morris finishes Ruby's DNA analysis and learns that her mother was a 15-year-old girl named Louise Miller. Ruby doesn't understand. She is so ordinary, a teenage girl who got pregnant and was scared of her stepfather so thought it was best to give up the baby. The Doctor says that them believing how important she was made her able to defeat Sutekh. Ruby says she was pointing at you though. No, she was pointing at the sign. She was naming her baby Ruby after Ruby Road. Ruby cries.

The Doctor takes Ruby in the TARDIS to find her mother. He doesn't think talking to her is a good idea but Ruby doesn't listen. She goes into a coffee shop where Louise is and orders a cappcuino with the name Ruby and tells Louise she was named after Ruby Road. Louise cries and says she's so sorry. RUby tells her not to be.

Everyone celebrates at Ruby's house, but the Doctor is in the TARDIS. Ruby wants to go on more adventures with him but learns that they have found her father, who never knew she existed. The Doctor tells her her place is here at home. Ruby cries. Will she ever see him again? He promises he will come back to visit. Ruby has taught him to think of family in a different way and he now knows that abandoning his granddaughter was a mistake. Ruby says she loves him. She leaves and cries that he is gone.

Mrs. Flood narrates, saying that Ruby's story has a happy ending but she's sorry to say the Doctor's ends in absolute terror…

The credits inform us DOCTOR WHO WILL RETURN.

The post Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 Recap: Empire of Death appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 7, The Doctor turned to UNIT for help, putting people he cared about in danger, before learning the heartbreaking truth about the woman following him everywhere.

There were plenty of lighthearted moments in what was a scary first half of the season finale, making this story one of the strongest and most on-brand episodes in a while.

Some Great Reunions for the Doctor

Despite the Doctor's protests that he doesn't want to ruin any more lives, he was happy and excited to spend time with his friends in UNIT and the surrounding areas.

I especially enjoyed Rose Noble (Yasmin Finney)'s appearance. She didn't have much to do, but she and Ruby quickly bonded over being two young women around the same age who shared a sense of adventure.

Rose must have felt so validated as a trans woman when Carly called her gorgeous. Those are the kinds of small moments that might not mean a lot if you aren't someone who had to fight to be seen as the gender you are but mean the world to transgender viewers.

Related: Why Doctor Who's Introduction of Rose Noble Is So Important for Transgender Viewers

It was also great for Ruby to have a friend her age, and I loved that the women bonded so quickly. They spent most of their time at UNIT together, and when the Doctor sent Ruby into the Time Window, Rose hugged her — another small moment that spoke volumes.

I also enjoyed Carla. Her determination to accompany Ruby to UNIT and her compassion for Ruby's birth mother were both strong scenes, and Ruby had to push her away so that she could do what she had to do to help save the universe.

The Scenes With Ruby's Birth Mother Were The Most Emotional Part of Doctor Who

Ruby didn't get many answers about who her birth mother was. The woman (if she was even human) never showed her face and must have seen the Suketh since she pointed at a spot beyond the Doctor that he mistook for her pointing at him.

Still, these were some of the most heartbreaking moments on TV.

Carla: I think she’s crying. She just gave up her child. It’s okay, darling. We got her. Ruby’s safe.

Ruby: I wish she could see me now. I made it, Mum. I’ve traveled all over the universe.

_{🔗 permalink: wish she could see me now. I made it, Mum. I’ve traveled all over the universe. – DW S1E7}

Ruby's longing to see and talk to her birth mother was emotional enough. She had such high hopes that the technology would finally give her answers, only to come away with none.

The Big Reveal Has Implications for The Whoniverse

It was equally sad that the Doctor thought Susan Triad might be his long-lost granddaughter, only to find out that she was housing the supremely evil Suketh.

I figured Suketh was some demon based on how it looked when it first revealed itself and what the UNIT guard said after he disappeared.

The creature also confirmed a popular Doctor Who theory about what's been happening: the Toymaker, Maestro, and other villains are part of the Pantheon, a set of nearly omnipotent, god-like creatures, and Suketh, aka The One Who Waits, is the most powerful of all of them.

Related: Doctor Who Review: Devil's Chord

Heartbreakingly, it also means that Susan Triad is NOT Susan Foreman. Russell T Davies knew viewers would assume she was and played with our expectations, demonstrating his mastery of telling a supernatural mystery full of red herrings.

That's how you create a jaw-dropping cliffhanger: lead viewers carefully down one path, only for everything to turn out to be completely different than it seems.

The episode ended in the perfect place, too, with Suketh declaring that it is here to destroy the Doctor and everyone he loves, which is the Doctor's worst fear. With no preview scenes at the end of the hour, I was left even more eager to find out how the Doctor will defeat Suketh.

Suketh Has Tangled With the Doctor Before

Suketh, who is named after the Egyptian god of death, appeared in the classic series episode "Pyramid of Mars," in which he was trapped in a pyramid and hoped to be freed so he could bring death to all.

At that time, Suketh used mind control to force the Doctor to use the TARDIS to help free him, but the Doctor was able to move the opening to a space-time tunnel so that Suketh could never reach it and was trapped.

Given that the last battle involved the TARDIS, I have to wonder if Suketh was attached to it all this time and what Susan Triad has to do with things.

Did he possess her, or was that his human form?

Related: Has Doctor Who Set Up a Possible Torchwood Return?

Who is Mrs. Flood?

It's possible that Russell T Davies did a bait-and-switch, making us think Susan Triad was Susan Foreman when the real Susan was under our noses all this time.

The Doctor mentioned that Susan might have regenerated to "hide away" and Mrs. Flood used that exact term to refer to herself, but this could be another red herring.

That cryptic comment Mrs. Flood made to Cherry about not getting what you want made her seem evil. Yet Cherry could also have been possessed by one of Suketh's minions, in which case Mrs. Flood could still be on the right side.

Cherry constantly says the Doctor is trouble and that Carla should stay away, so what does she know and how does she know it?

Mrs. Flood, on the other hand, is familiar with the TARDIS, and we need to know how that has come to be.

This Season Has Been All About Fear

From the beginning of the season, Ncuti's Doctor was a happier, more lighthearted Doctor than those who came before, but he still carries the same fear that everyone he loves will die because of him.

When he stepped on the fairy circle, Ruby experienced her deepest fear: an alternate reality in which everyone who loved her was repelled by her and refused to speak to her again.

It seems like the Doctor and Ruby came together because their fears complement one another. Their whole relationship is a metaphor for healing.

Related: Doctor Who Review: Ruby's Strange Adventure

I wondered several times if anyone remembered Ruby's adventure. She'd met Kate during it, and the mysterious figure who stayed 73 yards away, from what glimpses we got of either of them, looked like her birth mother.

How Do Time Paradoxes Play Into These Strange Events?

The Doctor explained to Rose and Ruby that he couldn't take the TARDIS back to the scene of Ruby's birth without causing a massive time paradox, but Suketh appeared to have possessed a second TARDIS in the vicinity.

It seems like the Doctor's presence in the area might have already triggered a paradox. Additionally, the similarity between the 73 Yards woman and Ruby's birth mother suggests that Ruby herself was present at her birth, which is impossible.

I can't wait to find out how this all plays out! How about you, Doctor Who fanatics?

Hit the comments with your thoughts!

Doctor Who Season 1 streams on Disney+. Classic Doctor Who streams on Britbox.

The post Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 7 Review: The Legend of Ruby Sunday appeared first on TV Fanatic.