Doctor Who Theory: Mrs. Flood Is Ruby Sunday From The Future

Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who clearly knows more than she’s willing to admit, and one theory posits that it’s because she’s an older version of Ruby Sunday. There are various hints and clues that suggest Mrs. Flood is the Fifteenth Doctor’s companion from a future point in time. Although this has yet to be confirmed, it would explain Mrs. Flood’s mysterious aura and inexplicable knowledge about certain facets of the Doctor’s life.

Played by Anita Dobson, Mrs. Flood makes her debut in the Doctor Who 2023 Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road.” The present-day version of Ruby Sunday is played by Millie Gibson, and the two actors interact on several occasions during the episode. Mrs. Flood is mostly shown observing her street and is especially vocal about the presence of the Doctor’s TARDIS. The intrigue surrounding her character could be addressed in Doctor Who season 14, but in the meantime, there are several details that back the theory that Mrs. Flood is Ruby from the future.

Mrs. Flood Lives Near Ruby And Her Family In Doctor Who

The Older Woman May Have Chosen To Remain Close By

Ruby has a close relationship with her adoptive family, with the bond between her, her mother, and her grandmother shown to be very strong. Ruby’s days of traveling with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor are only just beginning, but it’s possible she could stay with him for many years. If this happens, Ruby may return home to find all of her friends and family have either died or moved on.

As a parting request, Ruby could have asked the Doctor to leave her near her younger self, so she could be close to her family once again. Although the Doctor doesn’t seem to recognize Mrs. Flood, it wouldn’t be the first instance of the Time Lord being unable to recall his time with a companion. Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor experienced something similar when he lost his memories of Clara Oswald.

Mrs. Flood also seems to have an amicable relationship with Ruby, which would make sense if Mrs. Flood is fondly looking back on her younger years. She is equally warm towards the Doctor during their limited interactions, which also adds up if she indeed spent years traveling with him. While she may seem friendly, she does have a bitter side, as she is seen yelling at neighbors about things outside their control. Mrs. Flood has no requirement to be kind to Ruby and the Doctor, but her temperament towards both could be explained by a pre-existing relationship.

Mrs. Flood Is Aware Of What A TARDIS Is

The Doctor May Also Be Familiar To Her

For an unsuspecting neighborhood personality, Mrs. Flood seems to be perfectly comfortable with the concept of a TARDIS. Such familiarity with the Doctor’s ship would seem to imply that she has encountered one before. A TARDIS is not something that comes around too often, even in the world of Doctor Who. So, it’s most likely Mrs. Flood has seen the Doctor’s TARDIS before, asuming that she’s seen one before the events of “The Church on Ruby Road.”

The TARDIS also has a perception filter, which can divert attention away from the ship if the observer hasn’t come into contact with it before. However, perception filters are not always effective, especially against those who have traveled in the TARDIS before. Even if her days of traveling as Ruby with the Doctor are long gone, the memory of an alien time and space machine is unlikely to leave Mrs. Flood’s mind in a hurry. Therefore, the fact that Mrs. Flood can see the TARDIS at all suggests that she has been exposed to the perception filter fitted to the Doctor’s TARDIS.

When Ruby approaches Mrs. Flood near the end of the episode, she asks the older lady if she has seen the Doctor. Instead of looking confused, Mrs. Flood simply smiles and nods calmly in the direction of the TARDIS. Additionally, she wishes Ruby luck, apparently aware that the Doctor’s new companion has exciting adventures ahead of her. The scene is the most sedate Mrs. Flood is shown throughout the entire episode, implying that her desire to relive this moment is part of what has been keeping her going.

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When The Doctor Is In The Alternate Timeline, Mrs. Flood Seems Different

The Goblins’ Actions Trigger A Change In Mrs. Flood

When the Doctor and Ruby thwart the Goblins’ attempt to eat Lulubelle, the creatures take a different approach. Traveling back through time, the Goblins successfully abduct Ruby as a baby from the porch of the church where she was left by her birth mother. Changing the timeline in a way that meant Ruby never grew up led to reality changing around the Doctor and Ruby’s adoptive family. Carla Sunday, the woman who initially fostered Ruby, retains no memory of her daughter. Only the Doctor can recall Ruby in the alternate reality.

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On his way to rescue Baby Ruby from the Goblins, the Doctor’s TARDIS vanishing before Mrs. Flood’s eyes evokes a shocked reaction. While this may seem like a reasonable response, Mrs. Flood is not surprised in the least by the presence of the Doctor’s TARDIS in the main timeline. This backs the theory that Mrs. Flood is Ruby, as her history being toyed with would have disrupted or removed her memories of traveling with the Doctor.

The Goblins In Doctor Who Feed On Coincidence

Ruby Sunday’s Timeline Would Be A Big Pull

The villainous creatures in the Doctor Who Christmas special thrive under spells of bad luck, chance, and coincidence. For instance, they crave Lulubelle because of the fact she arrived on Christmas Eve just as Ruby had. Such a happenstance made the baby more desirable to the Goblins. The more unlikely instances tend to coincide, the greater the chances of a Goblin presence are. Mrs. Flood living on the same street as her younger self would certainly attract the attention of Doctor Who‘s Goblins, and this could explain their ubiquitous presence in Ruby’s life and provide a reason for her string of calamities.

When Ruby asks the Doctor why the Goblins targeted Davina McCall with their antics, he tells her they did so because they found it fun. With Ruby, the Goblins’ choice to torment her seems much more focused, as if there is something unknown pulling them in her direction. Mrs. Flood’s proximity to Ruby would likely be a strong incentive for the Goblins in Doctor Who, serving as further evidence that they are the same woman.