Doctor Who Series 10: 7 Big Questions We're Asking After 'The Eaters Of Light'

4. What Was The Monster Of The Week?

Doctor Who has often turned to myths ancient and modern for inspiration, sometimes transposing them into alien environments (Underworld, The Horns of Nimon) but for the most part presenting an alternative explanation as to their existence (Nardole tells a tall tale about the Mary Celeste, though you’ll hear many a Doctor Who fan tell you it was really the Daleks).

The Eaters of Light are inspired by an ancient symbol known as the Pictish beast. The beast is one of several intriguing symbols that have been found on various monuments in Scotland, though there isn’t as far as we know, one that resembles a 1950s police box.

The beast represents around 40% of all the Pictish animal symbols but despite its importance to their mythology and culture we have little clues as to what the creature symbolised. It’s an odd looking thing – and has been variously described as a dragon, elephant and a seahorse. Whilst the Picts themselves have inspired countless fantasy and adventure tales from the likes of Howard, Pratchett, Ransome and Rice, surprisingly the beast itself has rarely been brought to life.

The Eaters of Light are just as mysterious as their Pictish inspiration. We know nothing about their natural habitat other than the fact that they consume the light. But similarly to the Cheetah People from Munro’s other Doctor Who episode – Survival, what matters here is how they affect human beings. In this case instead of possessing them, they cause ‘death by Scotland’.