Mummy On The Orient Express is a fascinating story on many levels and one of the more enigmatic elements is the man known as the Conductor. We know very little about him yet his obvious intelligence and wisdom lead to a warm, rich dynamic every time he and the Doctor share the screen. The Doctor is drawn to him from the start and quick to offer a place on the TARDIS. The Conductor is a character defined by his lack of backstory. In order to make that work his actions and reactions are layered with depth and nuance and hints of past experience that lend him a quiet charisma. While the Conductors decision to decline the Doctors offer of a ride in the TARDIS is an interesting story choice and understandable from the point of actor availability, it is disappointing nonetheless. How fun it is to imagine the Conductor wandering around the TARDIS like a resident mechanic and popping up occasionally to lend an interesting twist to ongoing story lines.