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“The Church on Ruby Road” gave us a really cute Christmas special starring the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday. We met Ruby’s delightful family, including her loving adoptive mum Carla and her witty gran Cherry. Her neighborhood is also delightful, including her neighbor Mrs. Flood, played by Anita Dobson. The special teases an ongoing mystery about Ruby’s biological family but something strange is also going on with Mrs. Flood, too. She breaks the fourth wall at the end of the Christmas special as well as the season finale and it makes us all wonder what’s going on with her.
We may discover something wild about her in season two (more on that later) but we probably won’t get an explanation for why she’s breaking the fourth wall. As RadioTimes reports, Russell T Davies spoke with SFX and said that Mrs. Flood breaking the fourth wall does have a reason but he may decide to keep it under wraps. “That hasn’t been explained, and it might never be, frankly,” said Davies. “It’s very interesting, within the Doctor Who offices, we know exactly why that happens and yet I’m showing no sign of putting that on screen.” He said an early draft of “The Star Beast” explained why, but he doesn’t feel the need to explain it at this point. Well, that sure is something…
Who is Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who? Let’s dig into how she appears throughout season one and what we could see in season two.
Near the beginning of the Christmas episode, Ruby Sunday comes home with two handfuls of groceries. We watch her neighbor Mrs. Flood argue with Abdul, another neighbor, about a large object that she’s sure he put on the sidewalk. That object is none other than the TARDIS. Abdul insists he knows nothing about this blue box. Ruby comes up and Mrs. Flood, who calls her Rubes, complains to her as Ruby looks at the box with lots of curiosity. She asks Mrs. Flood what it is and her neighbor says it is a police box. She admits she hasn’t seen one on the streets of London in around 50 years… and doesn’t want to see one now.
Later in the episode, Mrs. Flood is walking home when she witnesses the TARDIS dematerializing. Of course, she’s in shock and drops her shopping bags. After the Doctor returns from saving baby Ruby in the past, he parks the TARDIS on the other side of the street. Mrs. Flood is rather chipper and waves hello to him. When he comes back out, they have a short conversation, including Mrs. Flood asking who he is. Predictably, the Fifteenth Doctor just says he’s passing through and she tells him to take care. At the end, Ruby comes out to inquire about the Doctor and Mrs. Flood points her to the TARDIS. Strangely, she calls her Ruby and wishes her good luck. Mrs. Flood is even nice to Abdul, who is shocked to see the TARDIS disappear. She then turns directly to the camera and says “Never seen a TARDIS before?”
Further along in the season, we see Mrs. Flood in “73 Yards.” Ruby returns home after the Doctor’s disappearance and devises a plan with her mom to figure out who the mysterious lady is and why she’s following Ruby around. Mrs. Flood comes out of the house, asking Ruby if she’s “having a good time” and questioning why she’s standing in the street talking to her mom on the phone. She says “nothing to do with me” and then scurries away. Again, she doesn’t seem to be perturbed by anything weird going on around her.
Her last appearances in the final two episodes are even stranger. Mrs. Flood volunteers to look after Ruby’s grandmum while Carla goes with her to UNIT to figure out more about Ruby’s birth mom. While there, she’s quirky until everyone leaves. Then, she goes dark, saying that she will not be getting Ruby’s grandmum a cup of tea. She tells Mrs. Sunday that she’d be very careful because there’s a storm coming in. She breaks the fourth wall again and says “he waits no more,” which we now know is Sutekh.
As they disintegrate, Mrs. Flood says that she has been hiding away and had “plans.” What kind of plans?!
Does Mrs. Flood Have a Connection to Clara Oswald or Others Like the Rani in Doctor Who?
When Fifteen saves everyone, she calls him a “clever boy,” which is a phrase that fans recognize from back when Clara Oswald was his companion. She called him a clever boy and that’s interesting considering Mrs. Flood’s wardrobe with sweaters and collared shirts looks a lot like what Clara would wear. Quite a few fans are picking up on this.
What Is Going on with Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who?
In the very final scene of the finale, she turns into a narrator of sorts, saying Ruby was having a happy ending but the Doctor’s end would be full of absolute terror. She’s wearing a white fur jacket with a hood and gives us a menacing “night night” before the episode ends. This outfit looks a lot like what Romana, a Fourth Doctor companion who was a Time Lady, wore before. Mrs. Flood hints that she’s been hiding herself away. Is she the Rani (an anagram of “rain,” which can cause a flood)? She’s been hinting at hiding herself away and the Rani, a renegade Time Lady and nemesis of the Doctor, hasn’t been seen in a long time.
So, what’s up with this lady? Is Mrs. Flood is a villain? Maybe. She could be yet another god that this Doctor must face. And that would make Ruby’s story all the more interesting considering a great threat lived next door to her. Who knows what Russell T Davies has in store.
Mrs. Flood Returns in Doctor Who Season Two
In the Doctor Who season two trailer, we saw Mrs. Flood (or at least someone who looks and sounds just like her) at an interstellar song contest. She’s sitting beside an alien and says that she loves a good show. So it is pretty clear that she’s much more than just some friendly and weird old lady next door.
Speaking of being the old lady next door, the first episode of Doctor Who season two features Mrs. Flood, who also seems to be Belinda Chandra’s neighbor. She seems to be shocked by the robots abducting Belinda but then switches gears and wishes her a cheerful “bye-bye.” The Doctor arrives and Mrs. Flood purposely hides, breaking the fourth wall again and saying “You ain’t seen me!”
In the next episode, she appears at the end after Belinda and the Doctor save a theater full of people (and the world) from Lux. She encourages a few of them to watch the TARDIS disappear, saying that it’s a great show that will end in May. This certainly means that she has something to do with why Belinda and the Doctor cannot return to Earth.
And, in episode three, which takes place many thousands of years in the future, she appears on a screen at the end. She’s supposedly Squadron Leader Chinchappa, the commanding leader of the research team they encountered. During a debrief, a survivor of the events speaks to Mrs. Flood and tells her what happened and about the Doctor’s TARDIS. Mrs. Flood even asks about the Vindicator, which thickens the plot. In the following episode, Mrs. Flood appears in a flashback/vision of a hard day in Belinda’s life, but doesn’t really do anything.
Why is she so hellbent on following the Doctor and taking him down. How is she everywhere? Welllll….
Mrs. Flood is the Rani in Doctor Who Season Two, Actually
Mrs. Flood is the Rani, that’s how. She’s a renegade Time Lady who is back after many years away. To read more about her, check out the below article.
Originally published December 25, 2023.
The post Who Is Mrs. Flood in DOCTOR WHO? Her Appearances in Season Two Are Sinister appeared first on Nerdist.
“The Church on Ruby Road” gave us a really cute Christmas special starring the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday. We met Ruby’s delightful family, including her loving adoptive mum Carla and her witty gran Cherry. Her neighborhood is also delightful, including her neighbor Mrs. Flood, played by Anita Dobson. The special teases an ongoing mystery about Ruby’s biological family but something strange is also going on with Mrs. Flood, too. She breaks the fourth wall at the end of the Christmas special as well as the season finale and it makes us all wonder what’s going on with her.
We may discover something wild about her in season two (more on that later) but we probably won’t get an explanation for why she’s breaking the fourth wall. As RadioTimes reports, Russell T Davies spoke with SFX and said that Mrs. Flood breaking the fourth wall does have a reason but he may decide to keep it under wraps. “That hasn’t been explained, and it might never be, frankly,” said Davies. “It’s very interesting, within the Doctor Who offices, we know exactly why that happens and yet I’m showing no sign of putting that on screen.” He said an early draft of “The Star Beast” explained why, but he doesn’t feel the need to explain it at this point. Well, that sure is something…
Who is Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who? Let’s dig into how she appears throughout season one and what we could see in season two.
Near the beginning of the Christmas episode, Ruby Sunday comes home with two handfuls of groceries. We watch her neighbor Mrs. Flood argue with Abdul, another neighbor, about a large object that she’s sure he put on the sidewalk. That object is none other than the TARDIS. Abdul insists he knows nothing about this blue box. Ruby comes up and Mrs. Flood, who calls her Rubes, complains to her as Ruby looks at the box with lots of curiosity. She asks Mrs. Flood what it is and her neighbor says it is a police box. She admits she hasn’t seen one on the streets of London in around 50 years… and doesn’t want to see one now.
Later in the episode, Mrs. Flood is walking home when she witnesses the TARDIS dematerializing. Of course, she’s in shock and drops her shopping bags. After the Doctor returns from saving baby Ruby in the past, he parks the TARDIS on the other side of the street. Mrs. Flood is rather chipper and waves hello to him. When he comes back out, they have a short conversation, including Mrs. Flood asking who he is. Predictably, the Fifteenth Doctor just says he’s passing through and she tells him to take care. At the end, Ruby comes out to inquire about the Doctor and Mrs. Flood points her to the TARDIS. Strangely, she calls her Ruby and wishes her good luck. Mrs. Flood is even nice to Abdul, who is shocked to see the TARDIS disappear. She then turns directly to the camera and says “Never seen a TARDIS before?”
Further along in the season, we see Mrs. Flood in “73 Yards.” Ruby returns home after the Doctor’s disappearance and devises a plan with her mom to figure out who the mysterious lady is and why she’s following Ruby around. Mrs. Flood comes out of the house, asking Ruby if she’s “having a good time” and questioning why she’s standing in the street talking to her mom on the phone. She says “nothing to do with me” and then scurries away. Again, she doesn’t seem to be perturbed by anything weird going on around her.
Her last appearances in the final two episodes are even stranger. Mrs. Flood volunteers to look after Ruby’s grandmum while Carla goes with her to UNIT to figure out more about Ruby’s birth mom. While there, she’s quirky until everyone leaves. Then, she goes dark, saying that she will not be getting Ruby’s grandmum a cup of tea. She tells Mrs. Sunday that she’d be very careful because there’s a storm coming in. She breaks the fourth wall again and says “he waits no more,” which we now know is Sutekh.
As they disintegrate, Mrs. Flood says that she has been hiding away and had “plans.” What kind of plans?!
Does Mrs. Flood Have a Connection to Clara Oswald or Others Like the Rani in Doctor Who?
When Fifteen saves everyone, she calls him a “clever boy,” which is a phrase that fans recognize from back when Clara Oswald was his companion. She called him a clever boy and that’s interesting considering Mrs. Flood’s wardrobe with sweaters and collared shirts looks a lot like what Clara would wear. Quite a few fans are picking up on this.
What Is Going on with Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who?
In the very final scene of the finale, she turns into a narrator of sorts, saying Ruby was having a happy ending but the Doctor’s end would be full of absolute terror. She’s wearing a white fur jacket with a hood and gives us a menacing “night night” before the episode ends. This outfit looks a lot like what Romana, a Fourth Doctor companion who was a Time Lady, wore before. Mrs. Flood hints that she’s been hiding herself away. Is she the Rani (an anagram of “rain,” which can cause a flood)? She’s been hinting at hiding herself away and the Rani, a renegade Time Lady and nemesis of the Doctor, hasn’t been seen in a long time.
So, what’s up with this lady? Is Mrs. Flood is a villain? Maybe. She could be yet another god that this Doctor must face. And that would make Ruby’s story all the more interesting considering a great threat lived next door to her. Who knows what Russell T Davies has in store.
Mrs. Flood Returns in Doctor Who Season Two
In the Doctor Who season two trailer, we saw Mrs. Flood (or at least someone who looks and sounds just like her) at an interstellar song contest. She’s sitting beside an alien and says that she loves a good show. So it is pretty clear that she’s much more than just some friendly and weird old lady next door.
Speaking of being the old lady next door, the first episode of Doctor Who season two features Mrs. Flood, who also seems to be Belinda Chandra’s neighbor. She seems to be shocked by the robots abducting Belinda but then switches gears and wishes her a cheerful “bye-bye.” The Doctor arrives and Mrs. Flood purposely hides, breaking the fourth wall again and saying “You ain’t seen me!”
In the next episode, she appears at the end after Belinda and the Doctor save a theater full of people (and the world) from Lux. She encourages a few of them to watch the TARDIS disappear, saying that it’s a great show that will end in May. This certainly means that she has something to do with why Belinda and the Doctor cannot return to Earth.
And, in episode three, which takes place many thousands of years in the future, she appears on a screen at the end. She’s supposedly Squadron Leader Chinchappa, the commanding leader of the research team they encountered. During a debrief, a survivor of the events speaks to Mrs. Flood and tells her what happened and about the Doctor’s TARDIS. Mrs. Flood even asks about the Vindicator, which thickens the plot. In the following episode, Mrs. Flood appears in a flashback/vision of a hard day in Belinda’s life, but doesn’t really do anything.
Why is she so hellbent on following the Doctor and taking him down. How is she everywhere? Welllll….
Mrs. Flood is the Rani in Doctor Who Season Two, Actually
Mrs. Flood is the Rani, that’s how. She’s a renegade Time Lady who is back after many years away. To read more about her, check out the below article.
Originally published December 25, 2023.
The post Who Is Mrs. Flood in DOCTOR WHO? Her Appearances in Season Two Are Sinister appeared first on Nerdist.
Tucked inside of Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District, is Vista Parkside Market, a dynamic multi-concept space that’s home to standout brands like Sip & Sonder, the trailblazing Inglewood-born coffeehouse, and Seoul Sister, a bold Korean-fusion eatery that defies expectations. Together, these concepts are doing more than serving great food and drinks, they’re reshaping what inclusion looks like at one of the most iconic destinations in the world.
Sip & Sonder, the beloved Black women-owned coffeehouse rooted in the soul of Inglewood, has arrived, bringing with it more than just expertly crafted coffee. Its presence at Disneyland isn’t just a business expansion; it’s a statement. Blending rich flavors with even richer heritage, Sip & Sonder is amplifying Black excellence in a space where joy, imagination, and storytelling reign.
Lindell Skinner, General Manager for Downtown Disney spoke with media at a private event to discuss not only the milestone celebration the park is having right now, but also immense transformation Disney has had and how it’s impact has continually evolved to reflect the world around it.
“One of the most exciting reflections of that progress can be found right here at Vista Parkside Market, a vibrant, multi-concept space that celebrates culture, innovation, and community. From the rich brews of Sip & Sonder — led by two dynamic Black women redefining coffee culture — to Seoul Sister’s Korean-style patisserie and GG’s Kitchen’s crave-worthy comfort food, this space is a microcosm of modern creativity. With views of the Southern California sky, flyovers in the evening, and music that fills the patio, it’s more than a market, it’s a movement. And with new concepts on the horizon and more Black-owned excellence making its mark, now’s the time to show up, sip slow, and celebrate what’s next.”
Sip & Sonder’s presence at Disneyland is more than a business milestone, it’s a cultural statement woven into the fabric of a space that has long been seen as a symbol of dreams. By bringing Black excellence, community-rooted entrepreneurship, and authentic storytelling into the heart of the magic, Sip & Sonder reminds us that representation matters in everyday experiences like grabbing your morning coffee. As Vista Parkside Market and Downtown Disney continue to evolve, this moment marks a meaningful shift: where inclusion isn’t a trend, but a standard. So next time you’re here, take a moment to slow down, savor something bold, and recognize the power of what’s brewing.
The post Sip & Sonder and Seoul Sister Redefine the Disneyland Experience appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
By Noel Walker
Visionary entrepreneur Johnny Mack has transformed the Trinidad Carnival experience through an innovative solution to one of the island’s biggest tourism challenges: severe accommodation shortages during the world-famous festival. As CEO of EPIC Carnival Experience, Mack has pioneered the first “all-inclusive floating hotel” in Trinidad during the island’s famed Carnival celebration.
The concept is brilliantly simple yet revolutionary: a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that sails on a 9-day journey from a neighboring Caribbean island, then remains docked in Port of Spain for five of those days during Carnival. Having completed its second year in March 2025, EPIC has quickly become a game-changer for Trinidad Carnival tourism.
“Trinidad only has 2,500 hotel rooms in the entire country,” Mack explained, his eyes lighting up with passion. Forty thousand to 50,000 people travel to Trinidad for Carnival, creating a critical need for an elastic lodging supply. I created EPIC not only to offer an enhanced experience but also to address an economic necessity due to insufficient accommodations.”
A Carnival Baby with Music in His Soul
Born in Trinidad on Carnival Monday morning in 1980, Mack describes himself as a “real bona fide carnival baby.” His heritage reflects Trinidad’s diverse cultural makeup—his father is first-generation Chinese-Trinidadian, and his mother was born in Morocco.
Mack’s journey took him from playing rugby for Trinidad’s national team at just 17 to attending UC Berkeley on scholarship. In the early 2000s, he began producing concerts for Caribbean artists like Sean Paul and Damian Marley in California before establishing himself in Hawaii’s music scene.
“When I did my first music festival, I was 23 years old, and I had like 4,000 people,” Mack recalls with a nostalgic smile. “From there, I started evolving music festivals in Hawaii and then on the West Coast.” By 27, he had produced a three-island music festival featuring Lauryn Hill that attracted 12,000 attendees.
His reputation in the industry continued to grow exponentially. His events would go on to showcase artists like Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, and Usher, drawing enormous crowds exceeding 35,000 people, experiences that gave him invaluable insights into creating immersive events he would later apply to EPIC.
Overcoming Industry Barriers
Creating EPIC Carnival Experience required overcoming significant hurdles, particularly convincing a major cruise line to dock in Trinidad for an extended period.
“No cruise liner wanted to come to Trinidad & Tobago because they were on a global security hazard list,” Mack revealed. “They refused to port more than one night. From 2015 until just before COVID, I kept knocking on everybody’s doors. Just before COVID, Royal Caribbean opened up and said they were willing to do this.”
The persistence paid off, but the financial commitment required was substantial. “The average cruise ship is gonna be at least $3.54 million just to charter. Then on top of that, you have insurance, which is like $50,000. Then the cruise ship also wants you to hit on-board revenue figures… that’s another $1.2 million.”
As a Caribbean promoter in an industry dominated by major corporations, Mack operates with a different approach. “We handle business with a little bit more cultural family nuances and leniencies. We live more in the gray area than in the black and white. We’re open to making things work.”
The Caribbean entertainment industry maintains its independence in ways few other sectors have managed. “In the Caribbean diaspora, someone like Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Capleton, or Buju will come to North America, and Live Nation will not own their tour. It will be someone from the diaspora owning the culture.”
Economic Impact and Cultural Mission
EPIC isn’t just a business venture—it’s an economic engine for Trinidad and a platform for cultural exchange that comes straight from Mack’s heart.
“Based on the last budget, we spent about $500,000 U.S. on local Trinidad production, labor, transportation, marketing—all our needs. We spent about $1.2 million buying tickets to fetes, and then the average person spent about $1,000 on their carnival costume,” the EPIC CEO details. “Let’s say 1,000 people bought carnival costumes, that’s about $1 million there immediately.”
The business model solves multiple problems simultaneously. It provides affordable accommodations when hotel prices surge and flights become prohibitively expensive.
“Flights during Trinidad carnival time are outrageous because of high demand; they have surge pricing. A flight that would have been $300/$400 is now $1,500,” Mack explains, gesturing animatedly. “For EPIC’s first year, we flew into Barbados, and for our second year, we flew into Puerto Rico. The numbers made sense. Flying into Puerto Rico from anywhere along the East Coast is like a $300 round-trip. We’re saving everyone at least $800-$1,000 on flights.”
The carnival entrepreneur continues, “The average hotel room in Port of Spain during Carnival per night is about $800 U.S., which is crazy. When I priced what it cost for one of the lower-tier rooms on EPIC, it’s about $400 U.S. a night, which to me is a steal when you’re getting food, drinks, and events.”
Trinidad’s Unique Economic Landscape
Unlike many of its Caribbean neighbors, Trinidad’s economy isn’t built on tourism—a fact Mack explains with the insight of someone who truly understands his homeland.
“Trinidad is not built on tourism like Jamaica, Barbados, and these other islands. We’re built on natural gas and oil, and resources,” Mack explains with pride. “We have something called the Pitch Lake. It’s a never-ending asphalt lake; we have a never-ending supply of it. So we’ve never built infrastructure.”
This resource-rich economic foundation explains the country’s limited hospitality infrastructure. “It makes no sense to build a new hotel, but it did make sense to bring a cruise ship that could come in and be a viable opportunity for Trinidad.”
Future Growth and Vision
The venture’s rapid growth is evident in its early ticket sales for the upcoming February 11-20, 2026 voyage.
“Right now, for the upcoming year three, we’ve sold 426 cabins, which we weren’t even able to launch this early for year two. We’re already halfway to our goal mark in March/April—one month since we launched EPIC this year,” notes the founder, excitement evident in his voice.
For Mack, this venture represents just the beginning of a larger vision that connects deeply to his personal story. “This is just the first step. I’m building an empire and a legacy where I can export my culture and share it with the world,” he declares. “The goal of EPIC is to expose pop America, pop Europe, to our culture, and make them feel at one with us.”
His ambitions extend beyond personal success to creating opportunities for his community. “Growing up in the Caribbean, we didn’t learn about 401(k) plans, life insurance, or having a trust for kids. Everything we have, we had to build ourselves. If I could help my community have a leg up, I want to do that for my family, and Trinidad.”
As our interview concludes, Mack’s phone rings with the distinct sound of soca music—a fitting reminder of the rhythm that drives both the man and his mission. “Carnival isn’t just an event for us—it’s who we are. And now, we’ve found a way to share that with the world.”
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