Doctor Who’s Rani Plans to Revive the Iconic Villain Omega

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A notable characteristic of ‘Doctor Who’ during the 1970s and ’80s was the introduction of countless other Time Lords and Ladies. The planet Gallifrey and its inhabitants were often central themes during Tom Baker’s era and beyond, introducing a variety of intriguing characters such as the Rani, who was the antagonist in two stories titled “The Mark of the Rani” and “Time and the Rani” from the mid-80s. Interestingly, we now know that the Rani is currently the main villain in the second season of the Fifteenth Doctor, and in “Wish World,” she mentioned another infamous Time Lord she intends to resurrect: Omega.

Who Is Doctor Who‘s Omega?

Regarding visual presence, Omega doesn’t occupy much space on screen. However, in the universe of Doctor Who, Omega is considered the first Time Lord, although this isn’t entirely accurate as revealed in “The Timeless Children”. Instead, it seems that The Doctor is the originator of regeneration energy. What is known is that Omega mastered and refined time travel technology, a key aspect of Time Lords’ almost limitless power. In parallel with another significant figure in Time Lord history, Rassilon, Omega is often depicted as a contemporary.

Initially thought to have perished while tapping a supernova for Time Lord time travel abilities, Omega actually survived and disappeared instead. In the 10th anniversary serial “The Three Doctors,” we discover this during his initial appearance. The truth is that he didn’t die; rather, the supernova pushed him into a pocket dimension – an anti-matter universe. With immense willpower, Omega was able to manipulate and construct this universe. He harbored resentment towards the Time Lords for leaving him behind, and lived on with the intention of exacting revenge.

When Did Omega Appear in Doctor Who?

In the television series “Doctor Who,” Omega made his debut in the episode titled “The Three Doctors.” In this storyline, Omega encountered both the Second and Third Doctors, along with members of the Third Doctor’s UNIT team, within an antimatter universe. Throughout the narrative, Omega came dangerously close to escaping his prison in the antimatter realm and returning to the pro-matter universe (which isn’t its official name, so don’t worry, astrophysicists). However, the Doctors deduced that Omega was not biologically alive. Instead, much like the pocket universe itself, Omega persisted only because his willpower sustained him.

Ten years on, during the TV series “Arc of Infinity,” marking the beginning of the 20th season for “Doctor Who,” Omega reappeared. His appearance was rather unimpressive, being an angry Time Lord composed of antimatter. He aimed to reenter the correct universe by merging with the Doctor, causing great concern due to the potential catastrophic fusion of matter and antimatter. To prevent this impending destruction, the Time Lords summoned the Doctor back to Gallifrey, threatening him with execution. Managing to escape that predicament, it fell upon the Doctor to thwart Omega once more.

Did Omega Ever Turn Up Again?

He didn’t appear on TV in “The Timeless Children,” but we did catch glimpses of him during the prolonged flashbacks. However, Omega has featured in various Big Finish audio dramas, books, and comics and may reappear in the upcoming “The Reality War” set to air on Disney+ on May 31. With The Two Ranis also present, our beloved Doctor is definitely in for some serious trouble this time!

Kyle Anderson serves as the Senior Editor at TopMob, where he also manages the popular weekly pop culture discussion podcast titled “Laser Focus.” His insightful reviews of films and television shows can be found on this platform, and you can keep up with him by following him on Letterboxd.

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2025-05-24 10:03