'Doctor Who' Series 12 Episode 4: Queen Skithra looks eerily similar to Racnoss but we are yet to find out why

The episode's main villain looks almost exactly like an old favorite from the time of the Tenth Doctor
Anjli Mohindra (L) as Queen Skithra and Sarah Parish (R) as Empress of the Racnoss (BBC America)
Anjli Mohindra (L) as Queen Skithra and Sarah Parish (R) as Empress of the Racnoss (BBC America)

This article contains spoilers for 'Doctor Who' Series 12 Episode 4 'Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror'.

'Doctor Who' has had a number of terrifying villains and monsters in its long and colorful history. So it'is understandable that some designs might repeat themselves. However, it looks like the production crew may have gotten extremely creative with old costumes and props in Series 12 Episode 4 'Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror' as the episode's main villain looks almost exactly like an old favorite from the time of the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant).

In yet another "Celebrity Historical", the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and her companions, Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh), Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), meet the brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla (played by Goran Višnjić) and his rival Thomas Edison (Robert Glenister). Unfortunately, Tesla is being hunted for his genius by a race of kleptomaniac alien scorpions, a fact that absolutely peeves Edison.

The Skithra (the alien scorpions) are revealed to be universal scavengers, stealing technology from the races they encounter (including the Silurians, apparently) instead of building anything of their own. That's all well and good but there's still a question that's bugging us (pun intended): Why does the Queen Skithra look so much like the Empress of the Racnoss?

For those who don't remember, the Empress of the Racnoss was the main villain in the 2006 Christmas special 'The Runaway Bride'. Her design seems to have been replicated with a few modifications to create the Queen Skithra (played by 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' star Anjli Mohindra) but there's no explanation given for the connection.

Perhaps the crew just ran out of money for new costumes or perhaps the Skithra and the spider-like Racnoss are related, though the Doctor doesn't offer any insight into the origin of the species. 

'Doctor Who' Series 12 Episode 5 'Fugitive of the Judoon' will air on BBC America on January 26.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Malik has no idea Hondo knows his secret, and Adain Bradley says their story is far from over.
2026-10-17T20:45:16.000Z
Jo’s resignation raises questions about her future as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ begins a new era in Season 23
2026-10-17T18:23:30.000Z
‘Tulsa King’ Season 4, starring Sylvester Stallone, streams every Friday on Paramount+
2026-10-17T10:36:40.000Z
Pavi and her long-lost twin Nisha hunt for their origins as the Havens cheer the last Avatar’s death
2026-10-17T08:37:00.000Z
Season 2 of the HBO Stephen King prequel jumps back to 1935 and a gang of bank robbers
2026-10-17T06:52:24.000Z
‘Fire Country’ season 5 episode 2 reveals Jake’s fate after the shooting as the team uncovers the attacker’s motive
2026-10-17T06:41:28.000Z
Wes ends ‘Sheriff Country’ Season 2 Episode 2 in the hands of Stoyanovs after exposing bakery bug
2026-10-17T05:35:47.000Z
Chad Lowe is the executive producer on ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ and has also directed many episodes
2026-10-17T05:07:28.000Z
Issa López returns as showrunner for a Jamaica Bay story with ties to ’Night Country’
2026-10-17T03:12:59.000Z
Oklahoma’s governor and Dwight’s love interest board a private jet in the first episode of Season 4
2026-10-16T09:30:07.000Z