The Time Lord will be confronting a long-time enemy in "Doctor Who" season 9, as the prologue footage for the series suggests. The clip marks the return of Clare Higgins as Ohila, the Sisterhood of Karn priestess who sees through the lies of the Doctor.
It feels like Ohila pops up every time a Doctor needs help in figuring out what to do in the face of a catastrophe. This is what exactly happened when she first appeared in the memorable episode titled "The Night of the Doctor," the 50th Anniversary Special prologue.
There, she helped stop the Time War and its undoable damage, not by brawling her way to victory but by making the only one that could stop it – that's the Eighth Doctor – realize he was the only hope of the universe's safety. Right then and there, Ohila talked the doctor into drinking the Elixir of Life.
In the season 9 prologue video, however, her convincing power does not shine through. Here, she warns the Time Lord not to meet this certain "he" because if he does, the Doctor would meet his "destruction." Sadly, it looks like he has made up his mind and leaves Ohila with the responsibility of taking care of the universe.
Who the enemy is is not mentioned. The only clue is that he is someone he has "known a long time." Media outlets surmise that the likeliest baddie broached in the prologue is the Dalek creator Davros.
The Daleks are extraterrestrial cyborgs. They are one of the most feared races in the universe. Rumor has it that Davros will appear in the "Doctor Who" season 9 opener. In a trailer for the new season premiere titled "The Magician's Apprentice," the Time Lord has gone missing and Missy and Claire are left to find him.
Screenrant also suggests that this villain is actually The Master who happens to be Missy. Assuming it takes place prior to her arrival, and Ohila is still unable to correct her gender signifier with the said villain who had been male for the majority of her existence, it is quite possible.
"Doctor Who" season 9 premieres on Sept. 19.
