What is The Midnight Entity? (Doctor Who's Biggest Unsolved Mystery)

[@dwfan91-]

I hope you all enjoy the video!

[@needacharger3054]

At 5:54 when you’re showing the shadow person if you look at the top right there’s movement like a person as well.

[@endme1654]

i think that what makes the midnight entity so terrifying is that we know NOTHING. even if we learn a single bit of information we lose its scare factor i hope it never comes back for its own sake

[@dwfan91-]

I don't think it ever will, as I mention in the video, it really is a genius piece of work

[@IN-pr3lw]

And the doctor loses

[@tennenyt5311]

Or it did and it was one of the two entities in Silent including what was clearly a Floof

[@Snuzzled]

The fact that it was revealed the Midnight entity eats into the brain of the victim.... Skye was long dead by the time she was pushed out of the airlock. That's crushing. I've seen this episode so many times and I always assumed Skye was just possessed and could have been saved. 😢

[@cunningsmile4166]

And that's why you shouldn't let people who just had a divorce with an Abusor on trips

[@sonicmaster047]

​@@cunningsmile4166 🤨

[@acex222]

The idea that the entity makes people more aggressive really ruins the metaphor of the episode.

[@TheBlazingNeon]

​@connortheandroidsentbycybe7740 it shows just how evil people can act when they act out of fear

[@ChrisVillagomez]

​​@@TheBlazingNeon To be fair, the Doctor's whole thing in NuWho is that he was so terrified for the universe's continued existence that he committed quite possibly the worst genocides in pop culture. Like in my mind, only the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion of the Star Wars Galaxy is comparable, and the Vong killed hundreds of trillions of sapient beings of all kinds, from Hutts to Humans to Wookies. The Doctor killed untold billions or even trillions of sapient beings, including over 2 billion children on Gallifrey itself, his home planet. They do kind of hammer the point in all the time but you can't really blame them, that's an insanely difficult thing to do personally, like taking your entire extended family off life-support when some could be absolutely be saved

[@Demortixx]

Yeah except he didn’t cause it’s not cannon it’s stupid

[@Rynewulf]

@@ChrisVillagomezwhen did that happen? Was that a Chibnall thing?

[@Mauricio0973]

​@@RynewulfTheyre probably talking about his battles during the Time War, plus the casualities of the destruction of Gallifrey

[@AiRsTrIkExXzZ]

One of the greatest episodes. Spooky and terrifying without a hint of knowing what’s even happening or what the doctor is up against. All normal doctor who stuff weaponised against the doctor. Absolutely splendid episode

[@dwfan91-]

it truly is one of those 'perfect storms' of an episode. everything working out to create one of if not the best episode of the series, I really like this one

[@video-luver769]

I've known for years that the shadow is actually visible on screen, but I have literally never been able to see it.

[@invisi-bullexploration2374]

It seems like there is something... actively stalking the Doctor and toying with him throughout the later series. I always felt like it was a slow burn to a big bad reveal.

[@sbilldmilk]

Reminds me of the entity from Listen as well

[@WhatInTheDeepestShadeOfFeck]

We all fear the unknown, and that's why it should never be revealed what the Midnight entity is

[@lithramel]

legit when people say they show friends blink as a first episode I always question why when this episode exists. it's so much scarier to me and includes the doctor without a companion and see why he might need one like Donna with him.

[@dwfan91-]

Donna being mostly out of this episode works so well, not only on a meta level with it giving her time to work on Turn Left but also in universe the story makes sense because the Doctor is being ganged up on. If Donna was there the passengers would not be able to so easily overwhelm the Doctor

[@gekozilla7339]

I think cause it's cause of how they're experienced. Blink is a doctor lite story and is completely unrelated from the rest if the series. With midnight, the same is true, it is slightly more tied to the series plot with the rose cameo. But part of what makes midnight work is how out of the blue it is. The second half of series 4 is already dark but this just comes out of nowhere. It works best when you watch series 4 for the first time and it takes you completely off guard. The part whic makes it a bad first episode most imo is the doctor, with blink he's barely in it and if you're a new viewer you get just enough of him forgetting have a basic idea of him and to want more. With midnight it works better to have seen tennant in other episodes, to see how he can take control of a situation and use his own wit and charisma to do it. But in midnight it's turned in its head and doesn't work. So having those previous cases in your head and expectations of the doctor to solve things adds to the fear and horror aspect when it doesn't work And also when paired up with turn left right after. Watching it as an introductory episode takes away from what makes it special

[@samc64]

I love midnight, but I don't think it works as an introductory episode. Part of the reason midnight works so well is that it subverts the standard structure of a DW episode, which wouldn't make sense of you've never seen one before

[@mburg33]

Come to think of it, this reminds me of the twilight zone so this would be a nice episode to share with those fans.

[@rileyobrien8349]

I genuinely think learning more about this beastie would take away my enjoyment of the episode. It uses the framing of perspective and negative space so well! I didn’t even realize the script was made out of restrictions, cool!

[@glencollins2395]

Midnight is incredible. It is, without doubt, my favourite episode of Dr Who, classic series or new. I know that, back in the day, the show was getting super high viewing figures week by week - seven, eight, nine million - but even so I've always thought that Midnight was wasted as just another episode. It should have been that year's Christmas special so even more casual viewers could have seen what they were missing.

[@adamfreddo5703]

Schezro (my all time favourite doctor who story) has similar elements of psychology horror. An awesome Paul Mcgann audio story and an absolutely terrifying atmosphere. Literally lost years of my life after those audio jumpscares.

[@dwfan91-]

Scherzo at no1 is so respectable honestly

[@zo0bit]

After Wild Blue Yonder my headcanon is that the Midnight Entity is a Not-thing that took a different approach to learning and copying people.

[@StardustLegacyFighter]

Wasn't the spacecraft on WBY at the edge of the universe? It doesn't seem like Midnight would be located there.

[@slateoffate9812]

There might be more than just two not-things.

[@EgburtEgg]

Duude I was so excited when I first saw this episode cos I was obsessed with Merlin at the time haha This is still one of my favourite episodes. I just love the concept of the Midnight Entity and the horror aspect it's so cool aguaughghgh

[@cillianennis9921]

I like how all the information you use is just the things from the show itself. I feel like the affecting there mood is only really evident on the Doctor but I like it better if you take it as an analyse on how humans can quickly turn against each other under stress. The video essay by Harbo Wholmes made me really appreciate this episode that as a kid I kinda didn't fully understand its themes.

[@dwfan91-]

I have not heard of that guy but, watching the episode for myself, in my opinion you can see how the creature is influencing them all and making them more hostile. The aspect of tribalism is definitely still there just with the added sci-fi element

[@ludbud57]

Just want to say I appreciate your continued use of the smiley capaldi image.

[@dwfan91-]

I love that image sm

[@Linkolnverse]

What fucks me up about finally seeing that shadow...? Comparing it mentally to The Spot in the Spiderman animated movies that came out recently. It gives off that appearance.

[@DerrylHopkins]

Fun to think about if this entity is connected to the Doctor or not. It could be a prototype of the Valeyard or the Dream Lord, or it could have nothing to do with the Doctor. Either way, it's beyond his comprehension, at least at that point in his timeline.

[@piedpiper814]

great timing lol, I just rewatched it last night. What a fantastic episode

[@strawberry_gary]

i wish this channel was more popular; or maybe that more people loved this kind of content. been binging your vids, love it sm!! have a great week

[@dwfan91-]

Thank you so much! you have a great week too

[@corrinflakes9659]

Doctor Who cosmic horror makes for my favourite episodes, they just get extra creative. Bad Wolf complaints make sense though, I feel this entity got more explanation in comparison, and Bad Wolf is more important.

[@MrPsyJak]

I always referred to it as an echoform, but the beauty of it was that it was unexplained.

[@Just_Tim91]

Literally SO READY FOR THIS HOLY SHIT

[@zarrg5611]

Wild Blue Yonder may a be a bit Midnight-y, although I also feel like the toymaker may be the thing the TARDIS is running away from, and the space station (or whatever it is) is built to contain him (a la Half Life Alyx).

[@alyxleaf]

I'm sorry I just had to mention that ALYX IS MY NAME I've never seen it anywhere in the wild before

[@zoebrugg7594]

Holy! You caught the tiny movement! I thought there was no movement in the clips at all!

[@I-OGameDev]

insane how midnight and turn left were the result of tight production schedules and they're 10/10 bangers

[@michaelknasel1641]

Rewatching Capaldis era, the episode Listen made me think the midnight entity could have easily been the that same creature

[@nicko1710]

The episode listen is not related to midnight... The creature in listen is not implied at all to be anything however it fits the description perfectly to be the floof which is a creature in the comics. It's too bad that is not confirmed because nothing really proves it isn't a floof which are also creatures who can hide perfectly.

[@KimPossibleShockwave]

@@nicko1710 The irony is that an entity was there and watching/listening, just not the hypothetical one seen in this episode. Sutekh was there all along.

[@nicko1710]

@@KimPossibleShockwave haha

[@sbilldmilk]

I agree, if not the same creature, it's at least used to push the exact same type of plot point/horror effect.

[@Mayeur000Donz]

Never knew there was an actual shadow you can see. That's so cool!

[@spencerestes7563]

This was actually my first Doctor Who episode and my favorite!

[@icemccoolfrost127]

It’s just wild to think with how they stopped the creature it’s still alive and out there, if it was on the planet to begin with then why would the sun affect it now right?

[@SolOfRev]

0:39 The History of Midnight Doctor Who World Record

[@rebornonyt]

😭😭😭

[@andrewbanks1175]

Honestly, I had blocked out this episode for a long long time, and only remembered it in this video, and I have to say… one of the best episodes ever. I couldn’t grow up with the original doctor who so this series was my absolute favorite, and I kept watching all the way until Peter capaldi finished playing the doctor. I had watched some episodes of the more recent series but, I just didn’t feel the same sense of wonder in it that I did when I watched this episode. This episode is what I think it means to be the doctor, and what I mean by that is in the episode, as dwfan explained, the world is gorgeous and is fully diamond, but nothing can live on the surface because of the sun. The doctor comes here for a vacation, when everything goes awry. Not wanting to skip a beat he goes to talk with the drivers and we are “introduced” to the midnight entity. Now, there are plenty of theories as to what the entity actually is, but I have to say, that the one I believe is the most believable, is some version of a weeping angel. One of the drivers sees it but it isn’t noticeable at all because its physical body has stopped from being seen. It is also able to withstand the radiation from the sun because it is a weeping angel, an inter dimensional assassin that can survive almost any climate or situation. When the window blast door closes, the angel makes its way to the bus, wanting to learn more about the inhabitants of the bus. I believe that this version of a weeping angel is one that kills the host and other people by taking their mind, and what I can use as proof for this is the scene where the doctor finds out the drivers are dead. The angel took the mind of one of the drivers and had them open the blast door that blocks the sun, and has them break the window while either fighting the other driver, or the driver that was taken over had already knocked them out. After the two were taken care of, the angel makes its way to the door to the bus and knocks. And then the events of the episode take place. The reason why I say this episode is what it means to be the doctor is because there is mystery, both as to why they were the ones to be targeted (it could be because of the doctor, but we don’t know), and what that entity actually is, and this episode also has grief when the drivers died, not because they were dead, but because they couldn’t get back home. Another theory for this episode I have is kinda hinted in this episode, but I believe the entity, or the angel, has the ability to affect other’s minds, if they are close enough, which brings in the biggest twist of the episode. The doctor’s mind being “taken”. This episode has everything, both the show and the titular character of the doctor, puts up front and center. It is a mystery as to what the doctor may find, and it is also a mystery if anyone survives. But one thing we know, is that the doctor will figure something out. (I know this makes no sense. I tried very hard to make it as understandable as I could, but my brain isn’t the best at explaining things. I hope I got my point across at least)

[@cinnamontoastcrunch5665]

I understood it perfectly you did well

[@piedpiper814]

ok when the driver said he thought he saw a shadow, I always thought he meant the shadow at the top right on the ledge at 5:53 I didnt know there was another one, holy shit!

[@kieran9541]

I think it's a tardis and I will explain. You see the interior of a tardis is invulnerable compared the outside which is not, so due to the suns rays it had to take the form of the midnight entity to ensure it's existence as the light does not touch it or interact with it. But when it sensed the doctor it came out as I believe there was no other attacks before then in order to capture him. Therefore it destroyed the front of the ship to take as it's new exterior form, attacked the most vulnerable member of the ship to bait the doctor in order to possess him and compelled the crew to thrown him out therefore completely it's goal. The midnight entity solely wanted the doctor to become a complete tardis as only a time lord can use a tardis.

[@kieran9541]

IT also knocked four times like the heartbeat of a time lord

[@dwfan91-]

Nice!

[@Odd_Bunny]

What still fucks me up is how it survived on Midnight, how great are its defenses? Would you even be able to destroy it if you physically had it trapped outside of a host? How did it get there? How long was it there? So many questions about this one episode

[@kimbo31415]

Another great vid my man!!!!!

[@dwfan91-]

Thank you so much!

[@kimbo31415]

Yo man, just wondering, how do you get the doctor who clips you need for your vids?@@dwfan91-

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

This is a wild theory, and I'm probably completely wrong, but I think it's possible that the Midnight entity might be a Kastrian. It's evident that crystals (diamond at least) can resist the sun, and as seen in "The Hand of Fear," Kastrians are crystalline life forms. They thrive in high radiation environments and even use high radiation to heal themselves (as seen when Eldrad reconstitutes itself by absorbing the radiation from a nuclear power station) and Eldrad at least, if not all Kastrians, can psychically control people. It's probably best narratively if the Midnight entity remains a terrifying nameless something, though.

[@thecircleoft.e.d2121]

What makes the Midnight Entity work so well is how little about it we know about it; we don't see or concretely know anything about it (aside it being able to physically knock on solid objects and possess organic organisms like Humans and Time Lords, and repeat and in-sync say what they're about to say) it is a complete unknown; which feed into the most primal human fear: the unknown. The Doctor couldn't even best it, as whatever it was, saw him as the most powerful host to drain like a parasite, and if not for the hostess catching on and paying attention, would've won. It is an example of cosmic horror; incapable of understanding and capable of driving people mad.

[@hugoplayz8013]

The 2 seconds of rose calling out for the doctor in a screen after crashing really scared me

[@Notrealmang]

Remember when I first watched this series as a teenager this episode along with the Mars episode stuck with me

[@tylerboothman4496]

This episode sets up that you can block the sunlight with enough glass. They’re on a planet makes of glass. So, what’s underneath the surface?

[@chineseobama6043]

Oh my god, I caught this episode when I was incredibly young, but I've akways remembered the shot of the two stepping off the bus to kill the entity

[@TheSandwhichman108]

People may say there’s something roaming the surface of Midnight. Sometimes someone might claim to see a figure…a shadow moving across the planet’s surface. There’s nothing out there… Nothing can survive on the surface.

[@Hannah-t4g]

This was one of my fav episodes cus its so unexplained

[@gengarvenom1180]

The answer here is obvious. The Midnight Entity is the Doctor.

[@dwfan91-]

SO TRUE

[@JoshPinder92]

And still 15 years later people think WBY was related to midnight entity soon ...the irony is that side by side RTD has lost his touch because midnight was incredible ....I genuinely get claustrophobic whenever I see it ...very effective whilst I'm not a huge RTD fan this one was such a highlight ....we will never get that quality again

[@CNYTE]

I don't think he's lost his touch just yet, I think we need to give him some more time before making judgements like that. WBY was quite freaky and I quite liked it, although it was nowhere near midnight.

[@JoshPinder92]

@@CNYTE there was nothing freaky about WBY it was a light fluffy cartoon .... People acting like it's scary makes no sense to me, it was terrible and wasted an hour on what should've been a 60th special not a series 4 part 2

[@melysoer7482]

Midnight is my favourite episode (and turn left is also a grat episode) finding out it was a low budget, filler episode makes it even better

[@TheLankieMidget]

the shadow you circled is just the twinkle of the diamond, it shifts across the corner so you can see the same shadow more clearly when they first open the window, the same is happening on the corner of the right side of the screen in your slow mo version, which I think is a more obvious shadow, but is clearly the corner again... I always imagined the creature to look like little goblins like the nursery rhyme Dee Dee sings, it kind of fits too with the whole diamond planet, and other depictions of goblins being obsessed with money and wealth, the pokemon Sableye literally has diamonds for eyes, and were inspired by the "real" encounter with the Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblins

[@dwfan91-]

I like that

[@nicholaskane69]

Didn't realize Midnight and Turn Left were filmed at the same time, that's clever.

[@nicholasprakash3411]

Sometimes the best horror is not knowing what the horror is.

[@OliverCatford]

I enjoyed the video, however I don't think the shadow was intentional. if you look at 0:13 when he sees it the first time, you see the full shadow in the glint go by. the second time he sees it is probably just a repeat of the first shot

[@eddos8303]

HI! Great Video btw, i just wanna ask for the Song you used in the Beginning?

[@radkid17]

I think the creatures from the episode "wild blue yonder" are the same creatures as the midnight entity if you watch the episodes back to back it makes sense

[@Batman-ro9mj]

I think it’s better if it isn’t. That there’s just some random creature that is unfathomable. But to its own devices. Like some random SCP

[@VeracityLH]

You know how much respect RTD has for Leslie Sharpe to cast her as Skye. That was a belly a part to play and good gracious, the number of lines to learn! Sharpe was RTD's original "Rose" in his earlier series "Bob & Rose" with Alan Davies as Bob. The actor playing Jethro's dad (Biff?) Was also in it as Rose's boyfriend Andy.

[@auricprophet7106]

Plot hole - the spa building isnt attacked for years while its there neither are the tour busses. Hey Dr who must be the centre of everything

[@ryloky6115]

I instantly liked that video when I hear some fnaf OST in the background Keep the good work man that video was great

[@Demortixx]

This is way better than the recent episode where the creatures copy Dona and Dr on the space ship

[@dominickeijzer5844]

5:54 If you look to the right, at that little ledge, there seems to be an almost Humanoid silhouette . Give it a second and the light starts to get blocked out. Are there *multiple* Midnight Entities?

[@jennikifm2]

for some reason, this unknown and unseen entity reminds me of a the unseen entity from the movie "It Follow."

[@BigBrosFilms]

Nice I just rewatched this episode

[@-K7JJ31]

I was watching this and got jumpscared by a Amazon add at 6:02 😔

[@eggyolk2643]

I had always seen the entity as appearing just between the support beam(?) of the window and the ridge, not where you highlighted it. You can even see it there if you rewatch this video at around 5:53.

[@piedpiper814]

I have a question abt the membership tier. I can only afford the OGs tier rn, is access to the discord server a higher tier perk?

[@dwfan91-]

nah dw its available at any tier :) the higher tiers only give smaller more exclusive perks so everything I say at the end of the video is available to anyone at any level

[@piedpiper814]

@@dwfan91- great! for some reason it doesnt say so in the tiers info, but then again the yt app is weird in my country. Thanks for the clarification!

[@aconcernedcommissar6261]

I believe it's a gaint tardigrade

[@zodiaccowboy2131]

5:30 i love the idea of humans with the wrong brain. The existential crisis that comes with that you were thinking differently you were no longer you, The base instincts that you were born with are different now. Mind control is similar in the fact that the entity is trying to control, but whoever is mind controlling the body has ultimate control over what the body says or dose. Imagine trying to pick up a cup but your body is telling you I must smash that cup. Ps isekai/reincarnation is weirdly similar.

[@Dootalt]

SO THAT’S WHY THEY INSTANTLY WANTED TO THROW HIM OUT OF THE AIRLOCK, TO FEED THE ENTITY! It simply hijacked their minds and made them resort to that as soon as possible. They didn’t even win, they just fed the entity and distracted it.

[@rogue_2k374]

Less of a theory and more of a possible connection, but this episode reminded me way too much to “The Wild Blue Yonder” to not draw any connections. Think about it, the entity has no known form, can in a way read human thoughts, mimics us, comes from a place no life can possibly exist, and is the one entity with no real explanation as to how it exists, not even what it is, but how, much like the Not Things. I’m not saying the two are the same being, but potentially have a similar origin. Food for thought you know.

[@alfronzocragimo-spicerini3828]

Always imagined it to look like a dalek without its shell

[@Oisin5555]

Great video ❤❤❤ i love this episode

[@whatsmolly5741]

Tge way hes staring at the guy saying "look right there" instwad of looking at the thing being pointed at makes me feel so uncomfortable.

[@BlindGirlUK]

I firmly believe this episode should be studied in sociology and psychology classes.

[@ClaireSunshine]

I don't know if I like the idea of the monster being responsible for the aggression through manipulation, I think that kinda hollows out the point of the episode as a cautionary tale about what people will do when they're scared.

[@dwfan91-]

it can be both. Additionally your username is awesome

[@ClaireSunshine]

@@dwfan91- Thanks :)

[@Linkolnverse]

1:40 Lmao I never noticed that.

[@TheSandwhichman108]

Why is there an N64 and a playstation option in the security cam mainframe? That’s the real question we should all be asking.

[@ktl4854]

Anyone else see two moving shadows?

[@CaptainSensibleJr]

Most terrifying Doctor Who episode ever !!!

[@poisonpotato1]

5:52 theres another shadow just to the right of of the window frame

[@britishpivotanimator]

A shadow… EAT??? The ones who turned out the lights. They have evolved. THEY HAVE EVOLVED INTO CREATING SHADOW IN LIGHT. AND ITS STUCK AT MIDNIGHT. KILLED IN THE EPISODE…

[@mikastrae]

Why would anyone build a resort on Midnight?

[@Hazurt_]

What is the song in the first part of video

[@arielhamm-flores6893]

the best new dr who was the stuck in traffic one

[@jonathancampbell7798]

I don’t think it affects people that way but they meant manipulating people to turn on each other

[@TheToymaker0]

After about 12years of seing this episode i have never EVER seen that

[@hollowvolocaloid6062]

My question would why did attack now was it because it sensed the doctor or for another reason?

[@hollowvolocaloid6062]

*be

[@drnemo4820]

If it was modern who, it’s probably the 19 master created through a Death/birth happening inside the tardis that’s its own god or something.

[@Th3-Captain]

I refer to this episode (the other passengers ) what people have turned into these days

[@cunningsmile4166]

Could the Midnight Entity retroactively be something that 14 gave acces to the universe

[@jennikifm2]

Both are very terrifying

[@GothAtheist]

I hope actually that it's all set up for the 60th so that there can be an undefined amount of time between the first and the last special, so that we can get 14 and Donna Big Finish or something. I mean, whether 14 is distinct enough or not it's more Doctor Who content. Are we really against that?

[@dwfan91-]

Oh definitely not, and tbh I'm not too fussed. I'm kind of thinking that the 'Minisodes' are the Tales from the TARDIS series we're getting on wednesday, which is all good from me. my wish for a 'separate 14th dr era' is just a me thing lol and a pipe dream that is definitely not coming true. But a man can hope

[@barthotymous]

1:42 is this real??

[@Kaptime]

I hope we never get any more information, after what happened to the Weeping Angels.

[@dwfan91-]

what happened with them?

[@Kaptime]

@@dwfan91- Too many appearances with contradictory lore (are they Timelords? can they move when looking at each-other now? Why do photos/drawings of them come to life now?) and most importantly they broke the don't move when the audience sees them aspect that made them so scary in the original serial. Keeping the Midnight monster confined to the limits of the original appearance is better than diluting the impact.

[@miscstuff1238]

​@@KaptimeFair remark, too many appearances from the angels made them very heavy with abilities, and too high in number. Realistically they should control the universe by now, how does anything stop a healthy group of 10-20?

[@DeadedGamers]

Midnight is in my top 5 doctor who episodes

[@anthonygarland8839]

So is this thing an ghost or something kind of alien when i think of entity i think of ghost even though ive never watched dr.who but damn some of these monsters are creepy

[@SimpleLuckyness-pg9zx]

Maybe the mid night entity was the bay harbor butcher all along

[@dragonlord7987]

5:53 THERES ANOTHER SHADOW ON THE FAR RIGHT

[@TimSlee1]

I'm imagining the creature looks something like SCP 096, but that's just my take.

[@StardustLegacyFighter]

That shadow entity was Chris Chibnail.

[@dwfan91-]

cringe

[@MrSkillns]

There was more than one shadow.

[@ST0orz]

I'm starting to think it was an LLM

[@slateoffate9812]

Seemingly formless, reads and copies thoughts... Could the Entity be a Not-thing?