Herbert's Crucifix

A tarnished brass crucifix on a frayed twine-wrapped wooden handle, used by Herbert as both a talisman and improvised weapon

5 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

5 moments

S22E10 · Timelash Part 1

Vena pleads for aid against pursuit

Herbert’s crucifix becomes a tool of performative defense as he brandishes it against perceived supernatural intruders—first Vena, then the TARDIS. Its symbolic weight shifts from superstitious talisman to temporary shield against the unknown, embodying Herbert’s improvised resistance despite his ignorance of true threats.

Before: Clutched as a personal relic, used more as a good-luck charm than a functional weapon.

After: Gripped forward in a ritualistic stance at the open door, now treated as a barrier against unwelcome spirits—including the TARDIS’s sudden emergence.

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S22E10 · Timelash Part 1

Vena demands Herbert’s aid for the amulet

Herbert wields the crucifix as a symbolic weapon against perceived spirits, brandishing it defensively as Vena asserts the amulet’s peril. Its tarnished brass and frayed twine highlight his amateur spiritual defenses juxtaposed with the intrigue of the TARDIS.

Before: Clutched in Herbert’s hands, a relic of personal superstition.

After: Still gripped, now held aloft with performative urgency near the TARDIS.

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S22E10 · Timelash Part 1

Doctor and Herbert clash over Vena

Herbert brandishes the crucifix as a symbolic weapon against the Doctor, who he perceives as a supernatural threat. The crucifix’s religious significance is repurposed by Herbert into a tangible defense, reflecting his superstitious worldview and escalating fear into aggression.

Before: Clutched in Herbert’s hand, treated as a protective talisman

After: Still in Herbert’s grip, now raised in confrontation but ineffective

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S22E10 · Timelash Part 1

Doctor and Vena first meet under duress

Herbert brandishes the crucifix as a weapon against the Doctor, using it both as a physical object to keep distance and as a symbolic ward against supernatural forces. The crucifix's tarnished brass and frayed twine emphasize its superstitious rather than functional use in this supernatural confrontation.

Before: Held firmly by Herbert as a protective talisman before the Doctor's arrival

After: Still held by Herbert briefly after the Doctor's entry, then lowered as the confrontation escalates to physical violence with the spiritualist book

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S22E10 · Timelash Part 1

Doctor warns Vena of danger

Herbert wields the crucifix as both symbolic talisman and physical implement of aggression, brandishing it at the Doctor with his superstitious incantations to repel the perceived spirit. The object’s presence escalates the scene’s tension by materializing his fear into a tangible barrier, however ineffective it proves to be.

Before: Clutched tightly in Herbert’s hand as a symbol of protection and ritual power

After: Still held by Herbert, now slightly battered from his swing at the Doctor, its spiritual efficacy unproven

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