Skip to main content

Doctor Who continues to excite sci-fi fans. Season 12 Episode 4 of the show, “Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror” left us with some questions to ponder. Considering these questions might give us a clue about where Doctor Who is going.

It’s time for a spoiler warning. If you have not seen season 12 episode 4 of Doctor Who, “Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror”, stop reading now. If you have seen the episode or don’t mind spoilers, keep reading and explore these questions with us.

What did the Skithra really want in ‘Doctor Who’ season 12 episode 4?

In season 12 episode 4 of Doctor Who, we are introduced to a new foe: the Skithra. These aliens look similar to scorpions and they seem to want nothing besides to have Tesla repair their ship and their weapons. While they would likely use that ship and those weapons to conquer the universe, it’s not clear who they’d be fighting against in the episode. The Skithra queen does say something about Tesla preparing them “for battle,” but she does not give away who her people would be battling with.

Are they just conquerors? Do they just take over other planets and then steal their resources? In season 12 episode 4 of Doctor Who, the Doctor notices that all of their technology is taken from other alien races. So did they want to conquer Earth and take all its resources?

Or was there another, even more sinister motive? It could have been either one. Or, they could have just wanted Tesla to fix their ship and weapons and then they would have left. It’s hard to tell.

Will the Thirteenth Doctor’s companions ever go back to a normal life?

Tosin Cole, Jodie Whittaker, and Mandip Gill of Doctor Who season 12 episode 4
Tosin Cole, Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill at a Doctor Who screening & panel | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

During season 12 episode 4 of Doctor Who, Ryan Sinclair bonded with Tesla’s assistant Dorothy Skerritt over how their respective eccentric geniuses changed their lives. Ryan spoke about how he was just living his life, going to work, “then, boom, the Doctor.” Dorothy said that she was the same pre-Tesla, wanting a normal, “steady” career until he showed her “impossible things.” That makes us wonder: will Ryan, Graham, and Yaz ever go back to their normal lives?

Could they? After traveling time and space with the Doctor, it would be hard for anyone to just go back to their normal life. That’s probably why a majority of Doctor Who companions don’t just end up leaving the TARDIS when they’re ready. They are often either forced to leave somehow or sometimes even die.

As for what Ryan, Graham, and Yaz will do it’s hard to know. It’s possible that they will be different from the typical companions and will go through their time in the TARDIS and then leave when they want to. It is also possible that one or more of them will die or be forced to leave for whatever reason.

Will the Thirteenth Doctor ever tell Ryan, Graham, and Yaz the truth about Gallifrey?

During season 12 episodes 1 and 2 of Doctor Who, the Doctor’s home planet of Gallifrey is mentioned. Her companions are eventually curious about where exactly she comes from and she tells them. When Yaz asks if they can visit, however, she quickly changes the subject. During season 12 episode 3, the Doctor’s friends notice that her mood is down and try their best to cheer her up.

However, they still don’t know the full truth during season 12 episode 4 of Doctor Who. Will they find out? Will the Doctor tell them what happened to Gallifrey and who did it? Or will she keep her friends in the dark?

It’s hard to say, things could go either way. The Doctor doesn’t always seem to want to deal with her own problems. Yet she also doesn’t seem like the type of person to keep secrets from her friends. It has to be hurting her.

And secrets this big do have a way of getting out.

Best in Entertainment