Is Poppy the Shocking Mother of Doctor Who’s Susan?

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Caution: Upcoming episode of Doctor Who season 15, titled “Wish World,” features a surprising reappearance of Captain Poppy, portrayed by Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps. This has led me to speculate that her character might be connected to the return of Carole Ann Ford’s character, Susan. Known for her role as Doctor Who’s first companion, Susan joined the First Doctor, played by William Hartnell, from 1963 to 1964 and made over 50 appearances during this time. Her comeback in “The Interstellar Song Contest” is expected to resolve significant plot points and answer lingering questions.

Despite making her first appearance in 2024’s “Space Babies,” Susan has been absent from the screen since the classic era of Doctor Who. The introduction of Ford in season 15 of Doctor Who, as orchestrated by showrunner Russell T. Davies, reflects a growing trend towards exploring the rich history and lore of the series. One aspect that makes Susan intriguing is her status as the Doctor’s biological grandchild, offering a unique perspective on the genetic lineage of the Doctor Who protagonist. The parentage of Susan remains unknown, but the return of Poppy in Doctor Who might be hinting at some revelations about this mystery.

Doctor Who Season 14 Cast Doubt Over Susan’s Mother

Fifteen discusses the children he is yet to have a couple of times during Gatwa’s first run

In the world of Doctor Who, the character portrayed by David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor, has only had one on-screen offspring that we know of – a character named Jenny, played by Georgia Tennant. This was introduced in the fourth season’s sixth episode titled “The Doctor’s Daughter.” However, since then, the show hasn’t explored this connection further, despite Jenny seemingly surviving the events of the episode. It’s been speculated that she might be Susan’s birth mother, but I find that unlikely. Previously, the Doctor hinted at having been a father during Tennant’s first season. However, the more recent portrayal by Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor has made things less straightforward and more complex due to the show’s time-travel aspects in its fourteenth season.

Essentially, on multiple instances during Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as the Fifteenth Doctor, he hinted that although Susan is indeed his granddaughter, he himself has never had any children. This creates an intriguing scenario unique to Doctor Who, where the Doctor has formed a connection with his grandchild before ever becoming a parent. He explicitly acknowledges this in episodes “The Devil’s Chord” and “The Legend of Ruby Sunday.” In “The Devil’s Chord,” the Fifteenth Doctor even refers to Susan by name while explaining the complexity of his timeline to Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).

In the latest season 15 of Doctor Who, events that seemed trivial in season 14 are now being tied together, suggesting a heightened significance for the Doctor’s references to Susan’s parents. Previously hinted at, but only casually discussed over the series, the topic of the Doctor’s children is gaining more prominence, making it increasingly difficult to overlook.

The Doctor Says Poppy Is “Real” At The End Of “Wish World”

Poppy could genuinely be the Doctor’s daughter

In episode 7 of Doctor Who’s season 15, titled “Wish World,” we find Earth undergoing a whimsical transformation. It’s not just the futuristic vibe that’s different; everyone’s memories on this home planet have been subtly rewritten to fit a utopian storyline being crafted by the returned Conrad Clark (played by Jonah Hauer-King) and the newest addition to Doctor Who’s pantheon, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), who is now married to the Doctor (Fifteen) and they have a daughter named Poppy.

In Conrad’s reimagined world, it seems that Poppy being the Smiths’ daughter might be an effect of some magical influence exerted upon them by the God of Wishes. However, when the Rani frees the Doctor from the Bone Palace, his jumbled recollections begin to resurface. As he falls, Fifteen starts to recall his true identity more precisely, asserting that Poppy is genuine, implying she might indeed be his daughter instead of a mere illusion. This is plausible since Poppy herself addressed him as “Daddy” when they first met in “Space Babies.

If the Doctor suggests that Poppy is his biological child, it could mean that Poppy might one day become Susan’s unseen mother in the future. This revelation would certainly be intriguing, but it wouldn’t clarify who Susan’s or Poppy’s other parent is. Since we don’t know how long the Doctor and Belinda have been affected by the Rani’s scheme, they might not even remember their true identities accurately. Thus, it could be that Belinda shares the role of Poppy’s mother equally with the Doctor as her father.

Poppy’s Return After “Space Babies” Feels Too Significant To Ignore

The Doctor’s reunion with Poppy is too conveniently timed

In simpler terms, the finale of Space Babies didn’t seem to hold much importance initially, just wrapping up the episode. I assumed I wouldn’t encounter those baby characters again. However, when Poppy appeared briefly in “The Story and the Engine,” I sensed something significant was brewing. Now that she has returned more prominently in “Wish World,” it’s clear to me that Poppy’s reappearance is not just a casual reference to Space Babies, but rather a crucial part of the storyline.

It seems Susan’s reappearance in Doctor Who is more than just a coincidence, given the connection with Carole Ann Ford and the character Poppy. The mystery surrounding Susan’s ancestry provides an excellent opportunity for these two characters to reunite, potentially revealing something significant. While Susan’s return would be significant for the show at any time, it would be unusual for Russell Davies to bring back a seemingly minor character like Poppy simultaneously without a clear purpose, as Poppy’s comeback might become overshadowed.

There’s a concern that, much like how Russell T. Davies didn’t explore an intriguing backstory for Ruby in Doctor Who season 14, he might not delve into a satisfying origin story for Poppy/Susan in season 15. Ruby’s mother was hinted to be extraordinary during Millie Gibson’s tenure as a main character, but instead of revealing her as a powerful or unique being, Davies chose to make her an ordinary human who wasn’t ready to be a parent. Fingers crossed there’s more to Ruby’s story arc, but it seems there may not be any unexplored details left to uncover. This leaves us apprehensive about how season 15 might conclude.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode Title Release Date (2025)
1 “The Robot Revolution” April 12
2 “Lux” April 19
3 “The Well” April 26
4 “Lucky Day” May 3
5 “The Story and the Engine” May 10
6 “The Interstellar Song Contest” May 17
7 “Wish World” May 24
8 “The Reality War” May 31

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2025-05-25 15:38