Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies on reinventing Omega in ‘The Reality War’

The writer speaks to Doctor Who Magazine about ‘tweaking the legend’ to bring back the deadliest Time Lord of them all…

Amongst the challenges the Fifteenth Doctor faced in his final episode, The Reality War, was the return of yet another dangerous Time Lord – Omega, the “first Time Lord”, last seen in 1983’s Arc of Infinity. After spending some time trapped in the Underverse, Omega has ascended beyond his humanoid form, into a great godlike creature surrounded in myth – which not even the Rani was fully prepared to face!

Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, showrunner and episode writer Russell T Davies discusses the legend of Omega, and how he reworked the character using the show’s pre-existing backstory…

Issue 618 of Doctor Who Magazine is on sale now. You can order it here. 

Russell T Davies on bringing back Omega…

"At one point, I sat there thinking I’d invent a new Time Lord… I thought I would create a Time Lord nobody has ever heard of, who was banished. But then that simply just becomes a shorthand for Omega. I love the fact that, as fans, discuss this show and that it must be new, and must move forward. And within another ten words, we mention the Rani! You have to accept that it’s a 62-year-old show, and this is part of its vocabulary.

"I used the Time War to tweak the legend of Omega. A lot of things said about Omega were not said in the original series. You have to accept that 40 years have passed. The Time War came along and everyone’s history got changed. So that’s what Omega is now. You can reinvent it.

"Our way of walking through the world is constantly being re-analysed. So I like to think it’s the same on Gallifrey. That’s happened, over the eons, Omega has been recontextualised, and the story gets bolder and changes over time. We don’t want to repeat the past, we want to push it forward…"

Read more in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine.

In this issue:

• “OH, HELLO…” We take a look at the jaw-dropping revelations in this year’s season finale!
   
• Plus – RUSSELL T DAVIES looks back at how the Fifteenth Doctor’s two seasons developed.
   
• VARADA SETHU speaks to DWM about her time playing Belinda Chandra.
   
• ACCESS ALL AREAS! Join us on the set of Wish World and The Reality War – including contributions from director ALEX SANJIV PILLAI and Melanie Bush herself – BONNIE LANGFORD.
   
• JUNO DAWSON, co-writer of this year’s spectacular The Interstellar Song Contest, talks about her Doctor Who journey.
   
• SCOTT HANDCOCK, UNA McCORMACK, JAMES GOSS and GARETH L POWELL discuss their new Target novelisations covering last year’s season finale and the first three episodes of Season 2…
   
• Ace! A preview of two books, curated by SOPHIE ALDRED, that tell the story of her character’s iconic jacket and collection of badges…
   
• JOHN LEVENE – aka UNIT’s Sergeant Benton – gets behind the wheel of Bessie at a special day at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.
   
• Doctor Who lands in San Diego! A report from the new Worlds of Wonder exhibition in the US.
   
• Gary Gillatt argues that France is the Doctor’s spiritual home…
   
• Back to 1985… Alan Barnes recalls the final role of Doctor Who super villain VALENTINE DYALL.
   
• THE FACT OF FICTION travels back to 1965 to scrutinise life on the planet Vortis in The Web Planet.

Regular features:

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN – our news round-up including a look ahead to spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.
   
• Reviews – featuring the latest audio and book releases.
   
• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe including the return of the Thirteenth Doctor!
   
• Prizes to be won – bag yourself copies of the new Target Books! 

Issue 618 of Doctor Who Magazine is on sale now. You can order it here.