Doctor Who Returns Original Character Susan After 40 Years Hidden in the Episode!

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Beware: Major plot twists lie ahead in Doctor Who season 15, episode 6 titled “The Interstellar Song Contest.” This episode features a significant return of a character not seen in the show since 1983 and plays a crucial role in the series’ early history. The fast-paced storyline includes occasional appearances of Carole Ann Ford’s Susan, the Doctor’s granddaughter, to Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. Susan was initially the Doctor’s companion during William Hartnell’s First Doctor tenure, appearing in more than 50 episodes from 1963 to 1964. She made a comeback for “The Five Doctors” when Doctor Who marked its 20th anniversary, but has remained absent since then.

Ford’s portrayal of Susan in Doctor Who’s audio adventures isn’t new, but her inclusion in season 15’s live-action cast signifies her first appearance since the show’s classic era. Though Susan is crucial to the Doctor’s past as his only known biological family member, the series has held off on bringing her back until now. Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal of the Fifteenth Doctor hinted at Susan in season 14’s “The Devil’s Chord,” but this reference feels more significant now than it initially did. What’s exciting is that Ford’s return to Doctor Who might not be a one-time event.

What Happened To Susan When She & The Doctor Parted Ways

Susan settled down on Earth after leaving the TARDIS, but also continued her adventures

1964 marked the instance when audiences had to bear the emotional turmoil as The Doctor bid farewell to his initial companion, Susan. As the first character to traverse in the TARDIS with The Doctor, Susan found herself entangled in a romantic relationship with Peter Fraser’s David Campbell, which necessitated her departure from her grandfather. The Doctor reluctantly sealed Susan out of the TARDIS, understanding that she would attempt to accompany him and forgo any chance at a regular life. Hartnell delivered an emotional monologue, vowing to reunite in the future.

As a passionate fan of the timeless series, ‘Doctor Who’, I’ve always wondered about Susan’s future with David after the Doctor predicted their path together. And lo and behold, their bond proved strong enough to lead them down the aisle, eventually expanding their family by adopting three lovely children. The intriguing tales of Susan’s life post her 1964 exit from the small screen have been beautifully woven in various audio adventures, novels, and other Doctor Who spin-offs.

Some captivating stories hint at Susan residing in 22nd-century London, the city where the Doctor had bid his farewell, while others propose that she somehow managed to rewind her life back to the 1960s. The sheer abundance of stories written about Susan has led to some intriguing discrepancies within the show’s canon.

Indeed, when it comes to the core storyline of the Doctor Who franchise, I wholeheartedly agree that the live-action series takes precedence. Thus, allow me to rephrase that sentence for you: “Certainly, in terms of providing insights into Susan’s post-Doctor life, ‘The Five Doctors’ stands out.” This special episode sheds light on Susan’s encounters with her grandfather following the First Doctor, portrayed by Richard Hurndall after William Hartnell’s passing in 1975. It is exciting to anticipate Carole Ann Ford’s return in this special, and we can only wonder which other stories might be woven into the main narrative, should any indeed be chosen.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Cameo Proves Susan Wasn’t Killed When The Master Destroyed Gallifrey

The Master killed all the Time Lords near the end of Jodie Whittaker’s era as the Thirteenth Doctor

Similar to The Doctor, Susan is a Time Lord. However, since Sacha Dhawan’s Master wiped out all other Time Lords during the Timeless Child arc, it seems logical that she should no longer be alive. This is a point that The Doctor, portrayed by Gatwa, also acknowledges in “The Devil’s Chord,” a story primarily set in 1963. During this time, both The Doctor and Susan resided in London. Interestingly, Fifteen suggests to Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) that the genocide carried out by The Master may have led to Susan’s demise.

It appears that despite the Master’s mischievous deeds, they were unable to claim Susan’s life, unlike other Time Lords. I’m intrigued by her survival and my current hypothesis is that, being one of the Doctor’s descendants, she isn’t a full-blooded Time Lord. Since Chris Chibnall has reworked the Doctor’s origins, making the character not native to Gallifrey but rather from another dimension, this could also influence Susan’s genetic makeup, potentially explaining her resilience against the Master’s plot.

The Doctor’s Visions Suggest Susan Is Trapped Somewhere & Needs The Doctor’s Help

It must take something very serious for Susan to reach out to her grandfather after all this time

As a dedicated moviegoer, it strikes me that Susan’s message to the Doctor appears far from casual. Her tone is filled with concern, fear, and an urgent plea for help, which suggests she might be in trouble. Given her estrangement from her grandfather, it seems plausible that she has found herself in a precarious situation, one that she believes only the Doctor can extricate her from. It’s possible she’s reaching out for aid from a place of confinement, but “The Interstellar Song Contest” doesn’t provide enough context to definitively confirm this theory.

It is uncertain from a writing standpoint if Carole Ann Ford’s brief appearance will result in an immediate resolution or pave the way for a future plot development, given the already complex web of twists and intricate storylines in Doctor Who season 15. With only two episodes left, this overstuffed narrative may not allow enough room for Russell T. Davies to provide Ford with a fitting return to the series amidst the anticipated climactic action. The Doctor himself seems skeptical about whether what he’s experiencing is genuine.

There’s concern that Susan might not return until the 16th season of Doctor Who, which could mean that the show might end after the finale of season 15, as there are whispers it may go on hiatus following “The Reality War” if it doesn’t improve viewer response. Fingers crossed that “Wish World” or “The Reality War” somehow incorporate Susan into the plot, or else Doctor Who might not be renewed for another season.

How Susan Is Speaking To The Doctor’s Mind

Doctor Who occasionally remembers the Time Lords’ telephatic powers

As I find myself immersed in “The Interstellar Song Contest,” it’s Carole Ann Ford who makes her much-anticipated comeback as Susan. However, unlike the usual appearances where she is present physically, this time around, she isn’t. Instead, an intriguing scenario unfolds where she communicates directly with the Fifteenth Doctor by somehow imprinting her message onto her grandfather’s mind. In essence, I’m the only one who has the privilege of perceiving or listening to her in this episode. This might seem peculiar for human characters, but Time Lords, as we know, possess a certain level of psychic prowess.

On various occasions, the Doctor has employed this talent to exchange or alter memories. Yet, it’s not a common occurrence. Given that the Doctor is usually the sole Time Lord in the narrative, it decreases the likelihood of telepathic interaction. Although it works with humans and Time Lords, its reliability and consistency are less consistent compared to interactions between two or more Time Lords. Moreover, depicting telepathic contact for a live-action TV show like Doctor Who can be challenging, so it’s typically reserved for special instances.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode Title Release Date (2025)
1 “The Robot Revolution” April 12
2 “Lux” April 19
3 “The Well” April 26
4 “Lucky Day” May 3
5 “The Story and the Engine” May 10
6 “The Interstellar Song Contest” May 17
7 “Wish World” May 24
8 “The Reality War” May 31

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2025-05-18 00:19