Doctor Whohas been running for more than 60 years now, so it shouldn’t be surprising that so many supporting characters and recurring faces have appeared on the show throughout the years. But while some ofDoctor Who’s villains come back every few years, there are some others who’ve only been included once; these are the most interesting of the bunch, and it’s ironically these figures who leave such a potent impression.
Each incarnation of the Doctorhas faced these intriguing one-off villains - and even some standalone allies - throughout their time of the show. It’s a staple ofDoctor Who’s episodic format, but the show’s extensive history also means that writers can retroactively mold these charactersand offer new information without ever bringing them back. This is howDoctor Whomakes its universe feel so authentic and lived-in, but it also leaves huge gaps in backstory that audiences would kill to reveal.
10The Weeping Angels
First Appeared In “Blink”
The Weeping Angels are often cited as one ofDoctor Who’s scariest aliens, and much of that fear comes down to how little we know about their origins. They’ve only starred in a handful of stories throughout the years, with “Blink” marking their debut appearance. The episode worked so brilliantly because of just how mysterious and unknowable they are;everything was told from the perspective of one-off protagonist Sally Sparrow, who didn’t have any of the Doctor’s knowledge about the alien species. However, the show has used this trick on multiple occasions, and it’s now time for more backstory.
9The Fugitive Doctor
First Appeared In “Fugitive Of The Judoon”
Jo Martin’s so-called Fugitive Doctor is one of the show’s biggest mysteries at the moment, with her introduction in “Fugitive of the Judoon” sparking endless speculation about whether William Hartnell’s iteration of the Doctor was truly the first. Before the show’s rebooted era with Ncuti Gatwa,Doctor Whoseemed to be gradually heading in this direction by delving further and further into the Doctor’s past via the Flux storylines.It’s unclear whether Russell T. Davies will carry on this traditionnow he’s reassumed control of the show, but it would be a shame to let this fascinating character go to waste.
8The “Midnight” Entity
First Appeared In “Midnight”
Many long-time fans of the show will agree that “Midnight” is one ofDoctor Who’s best episodes ever- which may be surprising, as it doesn’t have any recurring characters or villains. The mysterious creature that terrorizes the Doctor and his fellow passengers isn’t even named, which has kept audiences guessing about its identity for the past 17 years. While this is part of the reason “Midnight” holds up so well (it’s not bogged down by existing lore or backstory),it would be amazing ifDoctor Whoreturned to this storyby offering more insight into the creature’s origins.
7The Reapers
First Appeared In “Fathers Day”
It’s best not to think about paradoxes inDoctor Who, but “Father’s Day” quickly raised that question by introducing the Reapers: supernatural creatures who police the timeline and rectify any paradoxes that arise.They appeared following Rose Tyler’s attempts to prevent her father’s death, forcing her to undo her actions and accept that she can’t control the laws of time. It’s a very powerful story, but the Reapers haven’t appeared since then - raising countless questions about where they’ve been during the show’s many other paradoxes. Another episode featuring the Reapers would be a perfect solution to this plot hole.
6Jenny
First Appeared In “The Doctor’s Daughter”
The character of Jenny is another ofDoctor Who’s biggest mysteries - she was created using the Doctor’s DNA during a dangerous trip to the planet Messaline, but quickly forgotten about following David Tennant’s departure from the show.This absence is made even more confusing by the teaserat the end of “The Doctor’s Daughter”, which reveals that she’s alive and well.Doctor Whowould hugely benefit from giving long-time fans an explanation of where Jenny has been for all this time, developing her backstory and paying off this long-standing narrative thread.
5The Enemy
First Appeared In “Alien Bodies”
The Enemy is one ofDoctor Who’s most fundamental mysteries. Despite never appearing in the show, the creatures have been constantly mentioned throughout the extended universe ofDoctor Whonovels.The name “Enemy” refers to an unnamed species or collectivewhofought against the Time Lords in the War In Heaven, which is remembered as a foundational conflict in Gallifrey’s history. But for such an important event inDoctor Who’s history, the backstory of The Enemy has never been expanded beyond these pieces of prose.Doctor Whomay be trying to forget about this particular storyline, but fans certainly won’t.
4The Face Of Boe
First Appeared In “The End Of The World”
Despite Captain Jack Harkness’ proclamation at the end of “The Last of the Time Lords” that he is the Face of Boe, manyDoctor Whofans remain unconvinced that this is true. Beyond the obvious question of exactlyhowCaptain Jack would end up as a disembodied head in a tank, not enough is known about their respective backstories to confirm this for definite. Unfortunately,it’s unlikely thatDoctor Whowill bring the Face of Boe backany time soon - not just because of the plot holes it could cause, but because it’s more fun to leave his backstory unconfirmed.
3The Beast
First Appeared In “The Impossible Planet”
Despite only appearing in a single (two-part) episode, The Beast is one ofDoctor Who’s most important creations. It’s said thathe was the inspiration for human religious figures such as the devil, which leads the Doctor to fear him more than most aliens he comes across on his adventures. The implications of this statement are immense, and there’s so much thatDoctor Whocould do with this monster in the future. If he’s truly some kind of religious figure that humanity came to understand as the devil, he could end up being one ofDoctor Who’s scariest villains.
2The Woman At The End Of Time
First Appeared In “The End Of Time”
Though technically unnamed, the figure thatDoctor Whofans have come to know as The Woman at The End Of Time is a huge mystery whose true identity could have fundamental consequences on the show’s future.The character appears in David Tennant’s final moments as the Doctor, guiding him towards his defiance of the Time Lords at reconciliation with The Master. It’s widely accepted that she’s supposed to be the Doctor’s mother, though this was never confirmed. But if it’s true, there’s so much interesting backstory to explore in the future.
1The Valeyard
First Appeared In “The Mysterious Planet”
The exact order of the Doctor’s regenerations has been a huge talking point amongDoctor Whofans since the reveal of Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor (or perhaps as long as “The Brain of Morbius”), and The Valeyard is arguably the biggest gray area in this enormous mystery. The character was introduced alongside the Sixth Doctor in “The Mysterious Planet”, wherehe was suggested to be a villainous future version of the Doctorfrom “somewhere between his twelfth and final incarnation.”
Audiences have been expecting the Valeyard to make his return ever since the Eleventh Doctor regenerated in “The Time of the Doctor”, but the show hasn’t made this bold jump yet.
The Valeyard remainsDoctor Who’s biggest unsolved mystery, not just because of how little information exists about the character, but because of what it suggests about the character’s future. Audiences have been expecting the Valeyard to make his return ever since the Eleventh Doctor regenerated in “The Time of the Doctor”, but the show hasn’t made this bold jump yet. It seems inevitable thatDoctor Whowill have to explain the Valeyard’s backstory and identity at some point, but there’s lots of pressure riding on the shoulders of whichever writer decides to solve this 40-year-old mystery.
Doctor Who
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An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
