The Vlinx will be a recurring character in the future of Doctor Who. First introduced in the third 60th Anniversary special, the Vlinx is an alien ally of UNIT, working under Chief Scientific Officer Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave). The Vlinx is far from the first extraterrestrial ally to UNIT. The organization has worked with aliens since Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart befriended the space-faring Doctor in the classic era of the show.
As Russell T Davies continues his return as showrunner in Doctor Who season 14, he will be giving the Vlinx the chance to become a reappearing hero. During a discussion on the Doctor Who: Video Commentaries, regarding the third Anniversary special, “The Giggle”, David Tennant, Davies, and producer Phil Collinson walked through the Vlinx’s future. They also mention potential upgrades in store for him. Check out their quotes below:
TENNANT: Is the Vlinx a recurring character?
DAVIES: You will see the Vlinx in the future, slightly upgraded from what…
TENNANT: Oh!
DAVIES: I like the Vlinx.
COLLINSON: Well, I think this is the Vlinx when they’ve just fished him out of the wreckage of a spaceship. He’s been polished up.
DAVIES: He’s king of chrome now, which is just a little bit… But he was always meant to be. It always said chrome and then that was just forgotten.
Who Is Doctor Who’s Vlinx?
![Doctor Who’s New UNIT Alien Character Will Return, Confirms Showrunner](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/doctor-who-unit-spinoff-vlinx.jpg)
Unlike the Doctor, who is a flesh-and-blood alien, the Vlinx is different. It is a robotic entity with an extraordinary intellectual capacity. It was capable of developing a device that could disrupt the Toymaker’s ability to torment humanity, and it dubbed the device “The Zeedex” seemingly on a whim. While the Doctor was still struggling to uncover the Toymaker’s schemes, the Vlinx was already prepared to act.
The Vlinx’s true motivations remain mysterious. There have been many alien allies in the history of the show, but robotic men tend to be of villainous origin in Doctor Who. The Cybermen, for instance, have been recurring threats that routinely attempt to take control of humanity to convert them. The Vlinx has shown no signs of an interest in dominating humanity, but its origins are largely unknown. Even the fact that it was rescued from a crashed spaceship is brand-new information.
![Meep from Doctor Who, inset David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/david_tennant_fourteenth_doctor_and_meep_in_doctor_who_exclusive_header.jpg)
The Power Of Russell T. Davies Doctor Who Seasons Explained By Ncuti Gatwa
EXCLUSIVE: Fifteenth Doctor actor Ncuti Gatwa explains the strength of Russell T. Davies’ seasons of Doctor Who, calling his writing “full.”
Fortunately, the Doctor has shown no reluctance to work with the Vlinx, indicating that it could very well be the friend that UNIT believes it is. Its origin will likely be revealed in the upcoming UNIT spinoff, starring Redgrave as Kate Stewart. While the Vlinx’s next appearances are a certainty, its true nature remains to be seen in future episodes of Doctor Who and its various Whoniverse shows.