Matt Smith’s Surprising Doctor Who Cameo Explained

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Be advised! The season finale of Doctor Who season 15 is full of shocking twists, such as appearances by previous Doctors, and the transformation of the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, into beloved actress Billie Piper. Although it’s unclear whether Piper will take on the role of the sixteenth incarnation of the Doctor, her unexpected return wasn’t the only one that had fans thrilled. Jodie Whitaker made a cameo as the Thirteenth Doctor, and viewers got a sneak peek of Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.

The “Conflict over Existence” picks up right where episode 7, titled “Wish World,” concluded: with the Fifteenth Doctor appearing to plummet into the Underverse. However, he is saved by none other than Anita, the hotel clerk from the year 2024’s Holiday Special, “Joy to the World.” Now employed at the Time Hotel, Anita shares with the Doctor that she has been searching for him across various doors of his past. One such door reveals Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, a moment in the Doctor’s timeline that veteran series viewers should recognize.

Where Matt Smith’s Cameo In Doctor Who Season 15 Comes From

The Scene Is From Season 6, Episode 13 “The Wedding Of River Song”

In the thirteenth episode of season 6, titled “The Wedding of River Song,” Anita finds herself peering into the Doctor’s past and observes a captivating scene: the Eleventh Doctor is engrossed in a game of chess, donning a cowboy Stetson hat. This particular scene unfolds during a critical moment when the Doctor foresees his own demise, with the enigmatic Silence orchestrating it. In this unusual game, not only was the Doctor playing against one of the Silence’s minions, but the outcome held life-or-death stakes for his opponent. To uncover secrets about the Silence, the Doctor willingly conceded defeat in exchange for crucial information.

It’s not surprising that Russell T Davies selected this Eleventh Doctor scene from “The Wedding of River Song”, a highly significant and cherished episode in the Doctor Who series. This choice could hold additional meaning, as it relates to the connection between the Fifteenth Doctor and Poppy, daughter of Belinda. Notably, both Poppy and River were children of the Doctor’s companions, and each plays a crucial role within the Whoniverse.

Doctor Who’s Past Doctor Cameos Make Anita A More Important Character

Anita Might Have An Important Role In Future Doctor Who Episodes

In a characteristic fashion, much like how the Doctor often interweaves with others’ lives and makes an indelible impression, so too did this hold true for Anita. In “Joy to the World,” the Fifteenth Doctor drops by the Time Hotel, a unique establishment where each door opens onto a distinct time period or location. When the Doctor gets stuck in 2024, he must bide his time on Earth for a year before making his way back to the Time Hotel. To pass the time, he secures employment at the Sandringham Hotel in London, and it is here where he crosses paths with Anita, the hotel manager.

As the moment arrives for the Doctor to depart, Anita finds it difficult to bid farewell to her cherished friend. In one of the concluding sequences in “Joy To The World,” a lady from the Time Hotel unexpectedly emerges and proposes a job opportunity to Anita, who was apparently “highly endorsed” by the Doctor. Her return in “The Reality War” not only echoes back to the holiday special, but it also underscores Anita’s significance within the realm of “Doctor Who.

If Anita can access different incarnations of the Doctor, it could imply a more significant part for her in future episodes. Possible plots might involve the Doctor revisiting his past, or there could be additional backstory where Anita has already influenced the Time Lord’s history. However, these possibilities depend on whether Doctor Who is renewed for season 16.

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2025-06-02 21:37