3 Incredible Doctor Who Villains Who Only Appeared Once

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For over six decades, the Doctor from ‘Doctor Who’ has faced some truly formidable adversaries, yet most of these terrifying antagonists have only graced our screens once in the show’s long-running history. Although familiar foes like the Daleks, Cybermen, Master, Weeping Angels, and others have recurring roles, many of the Doctor’s scariest enemies have made a single appearance. The brevity of their appearances often amplifies their terror, but it would be thrilling to see them return for more chaos in future episodes.

Many characters from “Doctor Who” during its classic run (1963-1989) made a single appearance as villains, including the Mechonoids, Tereleptils, Raston Warrior Robots, and others. Similarly, several adversaries in the revived series (starting in 2005), such as the Gelth, Abzorbaloff, Family of Blood, Dream Lord, and more, have also appeared just once. It’d be exciting to see some of these villains reappear when “Doctor Who” comes back again, but among those battled only once, the Mechonoids, Tereleptils, Raston Warrior Robots, and their kind are particularly chilling and memorable foes for the Doctor.

3) The Beast

On the far-off world Krop Tor, where it eternally revolves around a black hole, the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) encounter a being calling itself the Beast, claiming to predate the universe’s birth. The Doctor speculates that this creature might be the origin of the iconic horned Satan imagery and other terrifying legends. Though his physical form is imprisoned on the planet, the Beast managed to shift its consciousness into various creatures, such as the Ood and Toby Zedd (Will Thorp), nearly allowing it to break free.

In the second season of Doctor Who, the menacing character known as The Beast made its appearance in a two-part story titled “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit.” Although it was only glimpsed for a short while in the latter episode, its intelligence managed to control the Ood and Toby during their expedition on Krop Tor. In the end, The Doctor and Rose Tyler successfully vanquished both parts of this monster by hurling the planet into a black hole, albeit it would have been fascinating to witness a more detailed portrayal of this formidable villain. Regrettably, we never got to see its physical body and consciousness merged together, which could have solidified The Beast as one of Doctor Who’s most indomitable adversaries.

2) The Flood

Over the years, Mars has been the setting for some of the Doctor’s most fearsome adversaries, such as the Ice Warriors, Gandorans, Martians from “War of the Worlds,” and others. Yet among these formidable foes, none are quite as unsettling as the Flood. This viral lifeform, first encountered in “The Waters of Mars” (2009), was accidentally unleashed by the team at Bowie Base One, the first human settlement on Mars. As a result, members of the crew were gradually taken over and controlled by the Flood, leading to the devastating destruction of Bowie Base One. The release of the Flood presented a challenging ethical dilemma for the Tenth Doctor.

One tiny droplet of contaminated floodwater was powerful enough to take control of its victims, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of farmer Andy Stone (Alan Ruscoe), engineer Margaret Cain (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), doctor Tarak Ital (Chook Sibtain), technician Steffi Ehrlich (Cosima Shaw), and mechanic Roman Groom (Michael Goldsmith). Ed Gold (Peter O’Brien) bravely gave up his life to prevent the Flood from reaching Earth, a move necessary due to its potential catastrophic consequences. Although the Flood appears to have been left behind on Mars, it is still alive and could potentially cause more destruction in the future.

1) Vashta Nerada

Known as the “air piranhas,” the Vashta Nerada represent one of the most unique, engaging, yet underdeveloped villains in the world of Doctor Who. These creatures played a crucial role in introducing River Song (Alex Kingston) to the Doctor, who later became significant in his life and even his spouse. The battle against the Vashta Nerada unfolded in 2008’s two-part event, “Silence in the Library” and “Forest of the Dead.” Here, these tiny swarms of carnivorous organisms lurked in the shadows of a library, endangering its patrons. Ultimately, they were responsible for the “rescue” of all those within.

Typically, the Vashta Nerada are considered harmless by the Doctor, residing on over a billion other planets, including Earth. Yet, those in the Library exhibited unusual aggression. The books on this planet were made from trees native to the Vashta Nerada’s forest, and they sought to reclaim their home. Although they have featured in various audio stories, they only appeared once in Doctor Who, despite being an antagonist with a rich history and capable of inducing terrifying nightmares.

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2025-09-01 20:11