In the huge ex-Doctor cameo from the Fugitive Doctor, but it also sees the return of Captain Poppy from season 14’s “Space Babies.” Because the Spooky Kid is only seen by Belinda from a distance, it’s easy to miss this unexpected appearance.

However, this character is definitely Poppy, and not just another with the same name, as the episode’s credits confirm that Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps is portraying the role once again. Even though “Space Babies” isn’t considered one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time, it is an important one because it’s Ruby Sunday’s first full-blown TARDIS adventure. It’s strange that Poppy has returned, but why is this? And most importantly, how is she appearing in Lagos in 2019?

The "Spooky Kid" Belinda Sees In Doctor Who Season 15 Is Captain Poppy From "Space Babies"

Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps Reprises Her Role From Season 14's Premiere

Captain Poppy is from Doctor Who season 14, episode 1: “Space Babies.” As the captain of Baby Station Beta, a baby farm space station in the year 21506, Poppy tries her best to keep her fellow infants safe and protected. The episode’s narrative is driven by Poppy and the ship’s carer, Nan-E, trying to help baby Eric, as well as the other children on board, against the fearful Bogeyman. However, Poppy can talk in “Space Babies,” yet she doesn’t demonstrate this ability in “The Story & the Engine.”

Perhaps there is a reason for this, or maybe Belinda simply doesn’t keep her attention on Poppy long enough to engage in a conversation with her. Of course, audiences scream at Belinda for doing this, but considering the companion’s focus on locating the Doctor, you can’t blame her. When Belinda finally finds Omu’s Barbershop, she discovers a young child by herself in the desolate and enclosed area. Poppy giggles and waves at Belinda, but after she turns away for one second to look at the missing persons poster nearby, the little girl vanishes into thin air.

Belinda sees signs that warn her of danger, and it’s assumed that is because of the missing men and the barbershop, but maybe it’s about Poppy instead and foreshadowing an disaster.

The Fifteenth Doctor’s companion and Doctor Who audiences alike find this very strange, but ultimately move on to the more important issue at hand. However, after seeing the credits, it’s worth asking why Captain Poppy is there. Belinda sees signs that warn her of danger, and it’s assumed that is because of the missing men and the barbershop, but maybe it’s about Poppy instead and foreshadowing an disaster.

Poppy gets a happy ending in “Space Babies,” and the adventure wraps up in a way that makes it feel like a self-contained story. That is, until “The Story & the Engine.” With the rest of her cohorts and Nan-E, better known as Jocelyn Sancerre, Poppy flies off to their new home, the planet of Mondo Caroon. Somehow, someway, Poppy makes it from somewhere in space (considering the possibility that the babies don’t make it to their new world) in 21506 all the way to Earth in 2019.

Was Captain Poppy The Pantheon's God Of Stories All Along?

Maybe The "Space Babies" Character Is More Than Meets The Eye

While the God of Stories isn’t one of Mrs. Flood could be the God of Stories, but what if it’s the Spooky Kid from “The Story & the Engine” instead? Or perhaps, what if they’re both the same person? When he faces the Doctor, the villainous and ambiguous Barber recounts his work on behalf of Gods such as Loki and Anansi.

There are currently 11 confirmed Pantheon Gods in Doctor Who, the most recent being Lux Imperator, the God of Light, in season 15's "Lux."

However, the fact that Barber lies about his identity proves that there must be a reason he is keeping whoever the current (or at least his most recent) Story Lord is under wraps. The Barber explains that “The Gods needed to strengthen their bonds with humanity,” and what better way to do so than to take on the form of a small child? This is a figure that humanity would naturally be drawn to, especially if this child is wandering around by themselves, in an area that is known as the location of four missing local men.

Is Captain Poppy A Past Version Of The Doctor?

The Fugitive Doctor's Cameo Could Be A Massive Hint

“The Story & the Engine” features a shocking cameo in the form of Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor. This moment is groundbreaking for the Whoniverse, especially as the Timeless Child storyline in Doctor Who now appears to be less retconned than previously believed. It has been a little unclear in this new era of Doctor Who just how much of the Timeless Child is still canon or not, but Martin’s sudden appearance as her incarnation of the Doctor proves that there is more to this storyline to be revealed.

The Timeless Child storyline allows for a seemingly unlimited number of versions of the titular Time Lord, so why couldn’t Poppy also be the Doctor? The Fifteenth Doctor talks about his current body being the first Black incarnation, but this is in the context of the “standard” cycle of regenerations, so perhaps he isn’t counting the blurred memories of being the Fugitive Doctor.

The Thirteenth Doctor’s tenure also shows off several versions of the Doctor as a child, in bodies of various races, too. There are dozens of possibilities, but it isn’t impossible that the Spooky Kid is the Doctor, and this wouldn’t be the first time a childhood version of the character has made an appearance.

Several incarnations of the Doctor in Doctor Who cross paths at various points in the show’s run, and it’s not uncommon for the titular character to misplace the memories of their former selves during these events. Considering Poppy is a child, and the Thirteenth Doctor is none the wiser when learning about the Timeless Child, it would make sense that Fifteen wouldn’t being the baby captain. Plus, the original Timeless Child is randomly discovered injured and alone, so what if Baby Station Beta crashes with only Poppy on board?

Why Else Captain Poppy Might Have Returned In Doctor Who Season 15

What Else Could Doctor Who Be Setting Up?

There are several other reasons that could potentially explain Poppy’s return in “The Story & the Engine.” For example, the Doctor children in Doctor Who are referenced in “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” but the Time Lord establishes that his offspring haven’t been born to him yet in his timestream. The children in “Space Babies” initially believe the Doctor and Ruby are their parents, but what if Poppy is the only one who is semi-correct?

This, of course, raises the question of who Poppy’s other parent could potentially be. A natural assumption would be Doctor Who’s River Song, but perhaps the Doctor could be Poppy’s sole biological parent, like he is to Jenny in “The Doctor’s Daughter.”

At the end of “Space Babies,” Poppy, the other infants, and Jocelyn head off for Mondo Caroon. Perhaps the planet is in danger and needs the Doctor’s help, or that their final destination isn’t what they expected. Maybe Jocelyn is hurt or in trouble, and because Poppy doesn’t know anyone else, she seeks out the Doctor. This could potentially be linked to what happens to Lindy’s homeworld in Doctor Who’s “Dot & Bubble,” seeing as season 15 is including these callbacks to season 14.

The Doctor mentions that stories are leaking from the barbershop, so perhaps Poppy isn’t really there, and it’s a vision or projection of the infant.

There’s a small possibility that Belinda is the only one who can see Poppy, but because she is alone in this scene, it’s difficult to say. It’s apparent that there’s something different about the companion. There are many theories about Belinda Chandra and Mundy Flynn’s true connection, and as “Boom” features Doctor Who’s Villengard, perhaps their technology is involved with Baby Station Beta. There are still plenty of unanswered questions throughout Doctor Who seasons 14 and 15, and audiences still need more evidence to start forming their final theories.

Maybe the link between Poppy and the Doctor isn’t anything exciting. Considering how Doctor Who wraps up the story surrounding Ruby’s biological mother, it isn’t impossible. However, Doctor Who doesn’t do things for no reason, especially when it comes to returning characters. Poppy is a rather random figure to suddenly reintroduce without it paying off in a big way later on, and I can’t wait to see why Doctor Who is bringing her back.