Doctor Who series 7’s mysterious fourth episode sheds another enigmatic layer with the release of three new promo pictures.

Amy and Rory’s penultimate adventure with the Doctor sees Earth invaded by mysterious black cubes, leading to the Time Lord temporarily moving into the Ponds’ home. Apart from those tantalizing yet scarce plot points, little else is known about “The Power of Three” other than the fact that it will guess star legendary writer Steven Berkoff and feature the return of Mark Williams as Rory’s father Brian. But if three new stills and the episode’s cast list are anything to go by, Brian may not be the only character making a re-appearance…

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As well as the (standard) sonic screwdriver pointing, and the Doctor comforting Amy, the images depict a potentially crucial character. Guest star Jemma Redgrave is billed as playing Kate Stewart – a name Classic Doctor Who fans may recognize. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is the daughter of the recently deceased Brigadier, one of the Doctor’s oldest and fondest recurring companions (a tribute to the character was included in “The Wedding of River Song,” following the death of actor Nicholas Courtney). When we compare the appearances of Redgrave and Beverly Cressman – who played Kate in a run of Reeltime Production episodes – it becomes apparent that the characters share more than a name…

If Redgrave is indeed playing an aged Kate Stewart (and we’re certainly leaning that way), could this herald the return of UNIT? The Brigadier was one of the organisation’s founding members, and it would make sense to use his daughter to revive UNIT three years since their last cameo in 2009’s “The Planet of the Dead.” If the synopsis’ mention of “the international community” hints at anything, it’s the revival of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce – or as they’re now known: “Unified Intelligence Taskforce.”

“The Doctor and the Ponds puzzle an unlikely invasion of Earth, as millions of sinister black cubes arrive overnight, almost like presents falling from the sky. But what are they, what’s inside them and most importantly, who sent them? With the international community at a loss, it’s left to the Doctor to unearth who is behind the mystery.”

 

“The Power of Three” airs on Sept. 23 in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

Do you think Jemma Redgrave could be playing a returning Kate Stewart? Would you like UNIT to return?