Doctor Who: The Boneless, Explained

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Doctor Who: The Boneless, Explained

Key Takeaways

  • The Boneless are 2D creatures from Doctor Who that can transform victims into 2D images.
  • They can drain energy from the TARDIS and were sent back to their dimension by the Doctor.
  • They seek to understand 3D life forms and can return to the series at any time.

As a seasoned gamer who has dabbled in the vast universe of Doctor Who, I can attest that the Boneless are one of the most intriguing and chilling creatures to have graced our screens. Having grown up with the Weeping Angels and the Cybermen, the Boneless have managed to carve out a unique niche for themselves in this already terrifying pantheon of villains.

Throughout its extensive duration, Doctor Who has populated its cosmos with numerous creatures. Ranging from the Daleks and Cybermen to the enigmatic Weeping Angels, the Doctor Who universe is teeming with terrifying monsters that leave a lasting impact on viewers. The series has an uncanny ability to create villainous creatures that viewers can empathize with, despite their malevolent actions. One such creature is none other than the Boneless.

In the realm of ‘Doctor Who’, the enigmatic creatures known as the Boneless are still fresh faces. Although their screen time is limited, they’ve managed to make a lasting impression within the franchise. They’ve made an appearance on the show once, but have resurfaced in comic books and novels. Dive deeper into the intriguing lore of the Boneless, as we explore who they are and where they originate from.

Who Are the Boneless in Doctor Who?

Doctor Who: The Boneless, Explained

Aliens known as the Boneless originate from a universe with only two dimensions. These extraterrestrial beings were introduced in Season 8, Episode 9, titled “Flatline.” In this episode, it was the Twelfth Doctor who named them. The Boneless possess an extraordinary power to transform both living creatures and solid objects into flat, two-dimensional images. Interestingly, they can also reverse this transformation, changing two-dimensional items back into their original three-dimensional form.

The Boneless creatures could traverse and strike on various level surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings), using direct contact to assault their victims. This attack would cause the victim to adhere flatly against the surface, usually resulting in death, leaving lifeless forms resembling flattened artwork. However, what made matters worse for the Doctor was that these creatures could also siphon energy from the TARDIS, leading to its gradual shrinkage, making it impossible for him to leave his time-traveling vessel.

In “Flatline,” Clara Oswald, the Doctor’s companion, cleverly makes the Boneless reactivate the TARDIS, restoring its normal size and rescuing the Doctor. Initially trying to negotiate with the Boneless, she found them hostile and reluctant to cooperate with the Doctor. Consequently, he sent them back to their realm, vowing to safeguard the universe from these creatures.

The Boneless In Other Media

So far, after the Doctor sent the Boneless back to their dimension, they haven’t shown up in the series yet. This doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t return at a later stage though. Although their storyline in the series was brief, it doesn’t rule out their appearances in other Doctor Who stories. In fact, the Boneless have been featured in various Doctor Who narratives beyond the series. They made an appearance in the comic books “The Fourth Wall” and “The Faceless Two,” as well as the novel “The Monster Vault.”

“The Fourth Wall” is the ninth installment in the “Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor” comic book collection. This issue marks the return of the eerie Boneless characters. As a precaution, the story starts with a warning from the Twelfth Doctor to readers not to flip the pages, for the Boneless might be lurking among them. The TARDIS lands in London and guides our heroes towards a quaint comic book store, where an unusual energy source is emanating. Inside, the Doctor recognizes a comic series called “Time Surgeon,” which seems to mimic his actual adventures with Clara. However, while perusing this comic, the Doctor gets sucked into its narrative, leaving Clara to safeguard the others in the shop from being drawn in as well. This predicament forces the Doctor to battle the Boneless within the 2D world of the comic book, while Clara attempts to prevent further absorptions by overturning the “Time Surgeon” comic rack. Eventually, they find a means to send the Boneless back to their dimension and depart the store to uncover the originator of the enigmatic “Time Surgeon” series.

What Was It the Boneless Sought?

In the book titled “The Monster Vault“, readers delve deeper into one of the most intriguing creatures from the world of “Doctor Who“. The Boneless characters were on a quest to master the art of existing in three-dimensional space, having conducted extensive studies on three-dimensional lifeforms. Despite their efforts, they failed to fully succeed in this transformation, resulting in them possessing characteristics of both three- and two-dimensional beings. This inability to fully transform gave rise to their unique physical appearance, which is characterized by the lack of bones in their bodies, hence their name.

The Boneless were curious about humanity and the workings of their physical form. They aimed to create three-dimensional replicas, regardless of the effort required. This relentlessness made them a dangerous species, willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals. Although they were sent back to their dimension by the Doctor for a time, they resurfaced in the comics titled “The Fourth Wall” and “The Faceless Two“. Despite being defeated, they remain unconquered and have the potential to reappear in the Doctor Who series at any moment.

In a solitary episode, The Boneless have proven to be captivating entities, even though they may not strike fear as deeply as the Weeping Angels or leave an indelible mark like the Cybermen. However, their unique ability to transform a three-dimensional being into a static mural with just one touch makes them incredibly potent agents of disorder. What’s more, their method leaves behind minimal traces, making it challenging to trace their destructive activities.

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2024-09-06 19:04