I’ve got some catching up to do here for “Doctor Who,” though I’ve been actively covering these season on our TikTok account, which you should follow. “Doctor Who” has a lively following there and it’s clear that there’s a lot of excitement for this season.
As such, here are my thoughts on Episode 6 “Rogue” and Episode 7 “The Legend of Ruby Sunday.”
Episode 6 “Rogue”
“Rogue” takes place in a “Bridgerton”-inspired 19th century setting, in which Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) find themselves in the middle of some ball. I haven’t watched “Bridgerton,” but according to my girlfriend who does, the references were pretty spot-on.
The twist is that there are evil shapeshifting aliens on the loose who kill people after they take on their appearances. I’m not sure how much of a threat they are or why they’re trying to invade the human race at this point in time, but I suppose this is the easiest way for them to get into a position of power.
The real star of the episode if Jonathan Groff, who plays a bounty hunter named Rogue who initially mistakes the Doctor for one of the shapeshifters, whom he has been hired to kill. Gatwa and Groff have instant chemistry as their characters fall in love. Rogue comes off as a less self-centered Jack Harkness, making him an ideal candidate for a future companion. Whether or not Russell T. Davies will follow through on this, I don’t know. Modern “Doctor Who” is littered with great would-be companions who never got their chance.
Groff elevates this episode, but it is otherwise unremarkable. Its villains are generic and underdeveloped and I honestly don’t think I’ll remember them when the season ends.
“Doctor Who” Season 1: Episode 6 “Rogue” gets a 7.5/10
Episode 7 “The Legend of Ruby Sunday”
Now it’s time to get into the season’s endgame; at last “The One Who Waits,” whom the Toymaker and Maestro alluded to in past episodes, is here.
Also, as the episode’s title suggests, we start to delve deeper into who Ruby’s mother is. As such, her and the Doctor visit UNIT to borrow its time window (a crude way to watch the past), when our series villain shows itself.
We also finally get an answer to who Susan Twist is, who has played background characters since “Wild Blue Yonder.” Her frequent appearances have led to fun fan theories, though I admit the series’ actual payoff is nowhere near as satisfying as I thought it would be.
This is essentially the first of a two-parter, so don’t come in thinking you’re getting a complete story. In true Davies fashion, it ends on a cliffhanger.
This feels like a classic, corny early 2000s Christopher Eccleston/David Tennant storyline from Davies’ original run on the show. Some might not like how cheesy it is, but to me, it reminds me of why I was drawn to the show in the first place. It’s not as cleanly written as a Steven Moffat finale, but that’s fine. Davies is clearly having fun with the material, and honestly, that’s the tone the show needed after the drab and overly serious tone of Chris Chibnall’s era.
We’ll see soon if Davies is able to close out the season on a strong note in the series finale.
“Doctor Who” Season 1: Episode 7 “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” gets a 7.5/10
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