Doctor Who
Warning : This article contains spoilers for theDoctor Who2023 Christmas special , " The Church on Ruby Road . "
Summary
The new epoch ofDoctor Whois pushing the show forward , and it ’s not afraid to embrace the controversial Timeless Child plot line . The Timeless Child , introduce by Chris Chibnall during his time in the showrunner ’s chairwoman , was rejected by much of the fanbase following its reveal in 2020 . The story begin during season 12 , episode 10 , " The Timeless Children . " However , Russell T. Davies seems to be a sports fan of the game twist , and has already plow it legion times since his late take as showrunner .
The Timeless Child altogether changed the Doctor ’s backstory , build them a foundling who was forsake on Gallifrey rather being native to the planet . In accession , the Master also revealed to the Doctor thatthe show ’s titular character had many regenerations prior to William Hartnell’sFirst Doctor that they do n’t remember . Although the latter one-half of the reveal would be difficult to achieve with a human character , the newfangled associate forDoctor Whoseason 14would seem to be following the same framework as the Doctor ’s foundling inception .
Doctor of the Church Who showrunner Russell T Davies divulge the surprising germ of inspiration behind newest fellow traveler Ruby Sunday ’s backstory as a foundling .
Doctor Who Is Doubling Down On The Timeless Child Ahead Of Season 14
The controversial storyline is being thrust into the spotlight
A Dr. ’s associate often shares a feeling of solitariness with the Doctor , and this is often at least part of the rationality the pair terminate up traveling together . However , Ruby Sunday would seem to have something else in common with the Doctor rather . Although she is not lonely and has a loving family , Ruby and the Doctor are both foundlings . During a discussion regarding Ruby ’s adoption in theDoctor Who2023 Christmas special , " The Church on Ruby Road,“Ncuti Gatwa ’s Fifteenth Doctoralso volunteer the information that he too is " adopted . "
The abbreviated exchange confirm thatDoctor Whois not only recognize the macrocosm of the Timeless Child story , but take it to the foreground . By highlighting the Timeless Child , it ’s a sign that the twist will play a hefty role in the coming season or seasons ofDoctor Who . Russell T. Davies is adept at planting narration seedsthat only bloom much later , so this seemingly benign conversation will in all probability become something much more of import down the line .
Ruby Sunday’s Origin Parallels The Timeless Child
Ruby and the Doctor have similar origins
While the backstories of the Doctor andMillie Gibson ’s Ruby Sundaymay not be a direct comparing , there are some glary similarities that are impossible to disregard . For instance , both Ruby and the Doctor were abandonedduring their early years and are unsure of how far they are from their true home . Another similarity is that they were strike in and raised by those nearby as one of their own . have two Timeless small fry traveling together in the TARDIS is a nice parallel , as it help oneself go forward to ramp up the comparisons between Ruby and the Doctor .
Taking the same origin template from the Doctor and applying it to Ruby is a clever move by Russell T. Davies . Doing so allows the Doctor to travel with a companion who stands the fortune of understanding him better than any of Ruby ’s predecessors ever have . In addition , the knowledge of being a abandoned infant is still clean new to the Doctor , whereas Ruby has lived with the knowledge of her origins for her whole life and can offer him direction and support .
Russell T Davies Has Hinted Ruby’s Origin Is An Ongoing Mystery
The backstory of Ruby Sunday is currently shrouded in mystery
The returningDoctor Whoshowrunner has revealed thatRuby ’s occult backstorywill continue to be a focal spot throughout time of year 14 . However , he has also state thatRuby ’s origins will be explored beyond what has already been shownin " The Church on Ruby Road . " Ruby is intelligibly not an average associate , as her chronicle has just as much to offerDoctor Who ’s narrative as her future does .
doc Who has introduced Millie Gibson as the Doctor ’s novel companion , Ruby Sunday , and determine up a thrilling closed book - who is her female parent .. ?
During Davy ' first stretch asDoctor Whoshowrunner , the Doctor had a number of familiar . This was part due due to the net four special withDavid Tennant ’s Tenth Doctorjust after season 4 , where the show took on a companion - of - the - week format . However , for the absolute majority of Davies ' initial spell in charge , the Doctor travel with either Rose Tyler or Donna Noble . Both women went on to have enrapturing arcs , but all of their escapade lay ahead of them at the time . Ruby has the reward of also having a rich historyto turn over into .
The Goblins Thrived On Coincidence In Doctor Who’s 2023 Christmas Special
The meeting of Ruby and the Doctor proved irresistible to Doctor Who’s Goblins
The baddie in " The Church on Ruby Road " take the form of fairly traditional - looking goblin . The small creatures are pull in to chance , bad luck , and happenstance . For the duration of the sequence , the Goblins always seem to be in the vicinity of Ruby , causing her to make mistakes and to make her more appealing to their race . While the arrival of Ruby ’s foster babe on the same mean solar day as her own birthday would certainly fuel the Goblins ' desire for happenstance , her run - in with the Doctor would have the same impact .
The Doctor and Ruby having suchsimilar backstories could have contributed to the Goblins ' desireto travel back in time and attempt to snatch and eat Ruby as a baby . While the idea of a undivided foundling may not have been too sympathetic to theGoblins inDoctor Who , the fact that two people from different worlds would partake in such parallel stemma is probable to have added to their appetency .
Ruby’s DNA Couldn’t Be Found By Davina’s TV Show
The event made Ruby even more similar to the Doctor
" The Church on Ruby Road " open up with Ruby being interviewed by British video show host , Davina McCall . In an attempt to get her birth parents , Ruby has ostensibly applied to TV show that can aid her in her pursuance to track down her true lineage . However , Davina holler Ruby later in the episode to differentiate her that their lookup has been completely abortive . Although the Doctor may have once had data regarding their parentage , the Timeless Child reveal has altered their history , meaning boththe Doctor and Ruby are enduring the same battle .
Although Davina states that failure was always a hypothesis , Ruby is distressed and confused that no couple was foundanywhere . The lack of scientific clue regarding Ruby ’s ancestry only contribute to the comparisons between her and the Doctor in term of them both being foundlings . As a upshot , it could be contend thatthe Doctor ’s TARDISnow has two inhabitants that match the moniker of the Timeless Child . Despite being one of the least democratic storylines inDoctor Whohistory , the twist that go forth from " The Timeless Children " seems to be continuing to fly high rather than languishing in obscurity .
TheDoctor Who2023 Christmas special , " The Church on Ruby Road , " is available to stream now on Disney+ .
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