5 Biggest Theories For Doctor Who Season 14's "The One Who Waits" Mystery

Summary Jinkx Monsoon's Maestro could be the new Master in Doctor Who Season 14.

Omega, the Time Lord society co-creator, might be "The One Who Waits."

Davros, the creator of the Daleks, teases a return in the upcoming Doctor Who season.

With the upcoming Doctor Who season nearly here, it’s worth considering who exactly “The One Who Waits” is. This mysterious figure, teased by the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) in the episode “The Giggle,” will likely appear in the upcoming Doctor Who season 14, which is also known as the new season 1. With Ncuti Gatwa taking the reins as the latest incarnation of the Doctor, anything is possible, and the same likely applies to the mysterious identity of "The One Who Waits."

Doctor Who audiences worldwide have been theorizing about who this person could possibly be. In past storylines, Doctor Who has famously brought back some of the Doctor’s best villains and companions, and with showrunner Russell T. Davies returning to the show for the first time since 2010, there's a good chance that his first full-length season will be full of explosive twists. With such an array of incredible characters in the Whoniverse, good and bad, “The One Who Waits” could be any number of Doctor Who characters.

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Relevant Doctor Who Characters Actor The Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa Ruby Sunday Millie Gibson Maestro Jinkx Monsoon The Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor David Tennant The Rani Kate O'Mara The Saxon Master John Simm Mrs. Flood Anita Dobson Davros Julian Bleach

5 The One Who Waits Is Jinkx Mansoon's Character

Could Maestro Be The Master And The One Who Waits?

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After the announcement that Jinkx Monsoon, the only Queen to win RuPaul's Drag Race twice, will be part of the Doctor Who season 14 cast, viewers now eagerly anticipate the revelation of the character she will play. Recent Doctor Who promotional material has confirmed that the name of Monsoon’s character will be “Maestro,” an Italian phrase that translates as “creative master” – an apt title for the actress. However, this also suggests that this character is the latest incarnation of the villainous Master, the Doctor’s oldest friend and greatest enemy from their home planet of Gallifrey.

Although there is no confirmation, a few factors imply that Monsoon is the Master. For example, Doctor Who released images of her in a camp and a bold piano-themed outfit, a look that the Master would likely wear. In the trailer, Jinkx Monsoon’s character has already demonstrated some very suspicious behavior. Audiences know that the Master will probably return to Doctor Who at some point soon, especially as the Toymaker had the unhinged Time Lord in his gold tooth.

It’s not unusual for Doctor Who to use a double meaning with a specific phrase.

It’s not unusual for Doctor Who to use a double meaning with a specific phrase. For example, “YANA” in season 3 refers to “You are not alone,” the Face of Boe’s warning to the Doctor. But it was also a heads up to Professor Yana (Derek Jacobi) being the Master in disguise. “Bad Wolf” is another, which warns the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) about the impending doom at Satellite 5, and also becomes a key phrase in Rose Tyler’s (Billie Piper) reappearance. Whether Jinkx Monsoon is the Master or not, this new character could easily be “The One Who Waits.”

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Jinkx Monsoon's character debuts at the one minute mark of the Doctor Who season 14 trailer.

4 The One Who Waits Is A Returning Omega

An Engineer From The Anti-Matter Universe Could Be Coming Back

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The co-creator of the Time Lord society and the only resident of the anti-universe, Omega, is another Doctor Who villain that could be “The One Who Waits.” Because Omega spent centuries in isolation, his mind warped and caused him to spiral into insanity and become a massive threat to the universe. Considering that Omega hasn’t been seen on-screen since the Doctor Who 1983 serial “Arc of Infinity,” there’s a chance that he has been awaiting the Doctor this whole time. However, another instance suggests Omega’s return, although no official confirmation exists.

It wouldn’t be surprising for Russell T. Davies to bring Omega back, especially as he has frequently voiced his love for the classic era of Doctor Who.

In the season 12 episode, “The Timeless Children,” the founding Fathers of Gallifrey gather. Out of the three figures, one is the second incarnation of Tecteun (Jake Nwogu), but the identities of the others are unclear. However, in the official script for the episode, there is an action line that states: "We can assume [the other two] are Rassilon and Omega" (via BBC Writers Room). Although the show has changed showrunners since then, it wouldn’t be surprising for Russell T. Davies to bring Omega back, especially as he has frequently voiced his love for the classic era of Doctor Who.

Omega is another Doctor Who villain that has been greatly underappreciated.

Omega is another Doctor Who villain that has been greatly underappreciated. Since the show’s reboot in 2005, several iconic threats from the classic era have been brought back to the show, such as the Macra in season 3 and the Sontarans in season 4. With Doctor Who having yet another form of reboot through its new connection with Disney+, now is the perfect time for Omega to reintroduce himself to a younger audience and a new generation of viewers.

3 The One Who Waits Will Team Up With The Master

The Doctor's Oldest Frenemy Might Align With The Mysterious Character

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If Jinkx Monsoon’s Maestro isn’t the Master, that doesn’t mean the Doctor’s rival won’t still appear. In the climax of “The Giggle,” a mysterious hand with painted red nails picked up the Toymaker’s gold tooth, a fascinating parallel to the episode “Last of the Time Lords.” If the “One Who Waits” isn’t the Master, it seems likely that they will know them in some capacity. Therefore, there are several theories as to who the Master’s current ally is. The Master has been saved from death while trapped inside a small object before.

In “The End of Time: Part 1,” the Saxon Master (John Simm) is resurrected from a DNA sample taken from his wife, Lucy (Alexandra Moen). This storyline is a product of Davies’ imagination, so seeing Lucy Saxon return wouldn’t be a surprise. Although she dies in this episode, Doctor Who often brings characters back from the dead, and it’s sure to happen again. However, the Master’s newest supporter may be a brand new Doctor Who character rather than a returning one.

Little is known about Groff’s character currently, but this might have been done on purpose in order to keep his connection with the Master under wraps.

The Doctor Who season 14 cast includes an array of exciting performers. However, it’s unknown as to who some of these characters are. For example, Jonathan Groff will star in the upcoming episode "Rogue,” a Bridgerton-inspired story. Little is known about Groff’s character currently, but this might have been done on purpose in order to keep his connection with the Master under wraps. The same can also be said for Nicola Coughlan’s mysterious character, who is due to appear in the upcoming season. The Master is a top-notch manipulator, so anyone could possibly be under his spell.

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2 The One Who Waits Is Mrs. Flood

Ruby Sunday's Neighbor Might Be Patiently Awaiting The Doctor's Return

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One character that audiences have been focusing on is Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson), who first appears in “The Church on Ruby Road.” There are few details about Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who other than the fact that she is Ruby Sunday’s (Millie Gibson) neighbor. Throughout the episode, Mrs. Flood complains about the TARDIS sitting in the middle of her street. But later on, she reveals to the audience that she is aware of exactly what the Doctor’s famous spaceship is. Several Doctor Who theories suggest that the mysterious Mrs. Flood is a Time Lord.

However, the Time Lords are a large species with all manner of suspicious personalities. If Mrs. Flood is a Time Lord, a bigger mystery opens up: which Time Lord is she? Jodie Whittaker famously portrays the first female incarnation of the Doctor, but the first female Time Lord to appear in the show is the Rani (Kate O'Mara). Even though it is established that the Time Lords can regenerate into a different gender, the Rani may still be female, and she is another character classic Doctor Who audiences would be happy to see return.

If Mrs. Flood is guarding Ruby, watching her closely and awaiting the return of whoever left her on the church doorstep, the older woman could be “The One Who Waits.”

“The Church on Ruby Road” set up a fascinating mystery surrounding Ruby’s parentage after being left out in the cold as a baby by a hooded figure. One theory about Mrs. Flood in regard to this also crosses over with “The One Who Waits.” If Mrs. Flood is guarding Ruby, watching her closely and awaiting the return of whoever left her on the church doorstep, the older woman could be “The One Who Waits.” Regardless of Mrs. Flood’s true identity, there is no doubt that she is a character worth keeping a close eye on.

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1 The One Who Waits Is Davros

The Creator Of The Daleks Was Teased With A New Look Before The 60th Anniversary Specials

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In the lead-up to Doctor Who’s 60th-anniversary specials, the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) finds themself at the creation of the Daleks in the Children in Need Doctor Who charity special “Destination: Skaro.” This is a notable moment in Doctor Who’s history as it reveals the new appearance of the iconic villain Davros, who Julian Bleach portrays in the skit. However, Davros’ sudden reappearance, for the first time since the season 9 episode “The Witch's Familiar,” implies he may be returning. Davros famously appears in one of Russell T. Davies’ best episodes, the two-part story “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End.”

Davros is a dangerous threat, but his intelligence and manipulation make him even more concerning.

This adventure includes the Tenth Doctor (Tennant) reuniting with some of his very best companions from over the years, including Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Martha Jones (Freema Aygeman), and Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen). Davies proves he enjoys combining classic and modern Doctor Who worlds in these episodes and throughout his original tenure as showrunner. Davies bringing Davros back is another way the writer can ensure that the first season airing on Disney+ will be as impactful and dramatic as possible. Davros is a dangerous threat, but his intelligence and manipulation make him even more concerning.

One criticism of Russell T. Davies’ first Doctor Who era is that he relies too heavily on the Daleks.

One criticism of Russell T. Davies’ first Doctor Who era is that he relies too heavily on the Daleks. Of the four seasons and the 2010 specials that Davies wrote, the Daleks and the Master are the only main villains in each story arc. While it would be a mistake for Davies to launch straight back into the Daleks, there’s no doubt that the show’s most recognizable villains can help re-engage audiences. As “Destination: Skaro” retcons Davros’ original design, it seems likely that this tease is setting up for him to return in a groundbreaking way.