June 21st 2024.
I must admit, I am feeling a bit disappointed. Ncuti Gatwa's first season as the Doctor has been filled with some of the show's finest moments and heartfelt episodes. However, there is a flaw that cannot be overlooked. Under the direction of returning showrunner Russell T Davies, Ncuti stars as the Fifteenth Doctor with Millie Gibson by his side as his companion, Ruby Sunday. Together, they have been traveling through time and space, fighting against terrifying monsters. But amidst their adventures, they have noticed strange occurrences. From the same face appearing in different places, to snow falling from the night Ruby was left outside a church as a baby, something peculiar is happening.
In the first part of the season finale, fans discovered that all of these strange happenings were connected to the return of the 1975 Classic Who villain, Sutekh, also known as the God of Death. However, how Ruby's mysterious birth ties into Sutekh's return is still a mystery. As we approach the thrilling conclusion of the season, I must admit that I am struggling to care.
Despite all the merits of the new season – including Ncuti's powerhouse acting and a groundbreaking gay romance – there is one fundamental flaw. The connection between the Doctor and Ruby feels forced and shallow. The show has completely abandoned any effort to nurture their bond. From the very beginning of the show in 1963, the relationship between the Doctor and their companion has been the heart of the show. This has only become more important since the reboot in 2005.
We all remember the heart-wrenching moment when Rose Tyler was sent to a parallel universe in the season two finale with the Tenth Doctor. It was devastating because we had taken the time to become invested in the romantic connection between the two. The sudden death of Amy Pond and Rory Williams at the hands of a Weeping Angel in season five was soul-crushing because the show had spent ample time making us believe that they were truly the Eleventh Doctor's family. And when Donna Noble finally regained her memories of her time with the Doctor in the 60th anniversary episode, it was all the more special because of the chemistry they shared on screen.
These pivotal friendships between the Doctor and their companions all worked because we were given plenty of moments in the TARDIS and away from the main plot to build their dynamic outside of life-and-death situations. However, this has been lacking in the current season. The Christmas special, The Church on Ruby Road, started off strong with the Doctor and Ruby bonding over their shared lack of identity. But since then, any effort to nurture their connection has been abandoned. Instead, they went from strangers to best friends in the blink of an eye when the full season premiered in April.
The lack of investment in the characters was evident in episode six, Rogue, where the Doctor spent more time building a rapport with the titular bounty hunter than he did with Ruby. Even the end of the episode felt rushed and abrupt, with no time for reflection in the TARDIS after their adventure. This is in stark contrast to the end of season two episode, The Girl in the Fireplace, where Rose and the Doctor had plenty of time to process everything after defeating the main villain.
Now, it almost feels comical when the Doctor refers to Ruby as the closest person in his life, when we have little evidence aside from his constant proclamations. Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Furthermore, the limited number of episodes has resulted in a rushed finale, leaving us with little time to fully invest in Ruby's story. It is no secret that Ncuti's shooting schedule for Doctor Who overlapped with filming for the final season of Sex Education, and this is evident on screen. The TARDIS arrives at a new destination as the episode begins and ends moments after they narrowly escape with their lives. In essence, the finale came out of nowhere.
One moment, the Doctor and Ruby are leaving 19th century England, and the next, they are urgently trying to solve the mystery of the recurring face while in UNIT headquarters, without any explanation as to why. It's a shame because all I want is to be fully invested in the season finale and terrified at the thought of losing Ruby for good. But beyond the fact that she is adopted and a musician, we know very little about her as a person and why the Doctor cares for her.
Perhaps we will never know. Don't miss the season finale of Doctor Who airing this Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.email. And be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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