Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road – 2023 Christmas special recap

It's unlikely that many folks would have predicted that in the year 2023, we'd witness events such as Jabba the Hutt Goblin King meeting his end by getting impaled on a church spire, or Doctor Who creating a holiday song about feasting on babies. But, that's exactly what happened as we were introduced to the Fifteenth Doctor (played by Ncuti Gatwa) and their new sidekick, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and it was a joyous occasion indeed.

When people saw previews of Gatwa dancing in a kilt at a club, they might have expected his portrayal of the Doctor to be very different from what came before. But throughout the special, he proved that he has all the qualities necessary to be a captivating and defining Doctor for the new era led by Russell T Davies. He was charming whether he was representing the strict health and safety department, leaping across rooftops, showing off his fancy gloves, or confidently proposing to his fiancee. However, he could also be serious when needed, reacting with concern when others didn't take time travel seriously and commanding the episode with ease.

In the blog section, it is mentioned that Gibson's Ruby has a positive outlook on life, even though things have not been easy for her. However, it is uncertain if RTD has created a companion that is relatable and down-to-earth or if her unknown background will have a bigger impact in the future.

When it comes to a Christmas Day TV episode, it's important to make sure everyone watching is happy. You want to keep casual viewers, die-hard fans, and newbies all entertained. The Doctor saving Davina McCall from a falling Christmas tree was a funny moment that could make anyone laugh - just like the character Cherry Sunday constantly asking for tea. Although, this brief encounter with McCall makes us wonder why the Doctor doesn't always quickly come back to help out with other situations. It's a bit confusing, if you think about it.

Condense It To 45 Characters?

Ncuti Gatwa assumes the role of the Doctor with great urgency, all while rescuing his young sidekick twice from mischievous creatures known as gremlins.

Living On The Tardis: A Journey

It was never very probable that he would change the storyline, but Russell T Davies has apparently reinforced Chris Chibnall’s Timeless Child and Flux storylines, mentioning them in three back to back episodes. It could be because the Fourteenth Doctor is dealing with his struggles while in retirement, but Gatwa's Doctor revealed to Ruby that he was an adopted foundling in an honest way that both David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker were never able to achieve.

The Goblins weren't really a serious menace, but just a bothersome presence – except if you were a newborn or Davina McCall. The most frightening part for grownups was when we caught a quick peek of Carla Sunday (played by Michelle Greenidge) in an isolated reality of her own, where she never knew the emotion of a mother's love.

Wow, Mrs Flood (played by Anita Dobson) really grabbed our attention with the way she broke the fourth wall at the end. She was already delivering some sharp one-liners and meaningful looks. And to top it off, she even knows what a Tardis is! Fans will surely be discussing and guessing for months on end whether she might actually be Susan, Rani, Missy, or the fugitive Doctor in regenerated form. But maybe we shouldn't overthink it and instead focus on the obvious question: who was the person that originally left the baby at the church?

Exploring The Vortex's Depths

Ncuti Gatwa was hit by a very big snowman that was connected to Henrik's, the store where Rose Tyler was employed in 2005 on the show Rose. The establishment, which is called Howell's in Cardiff, has been used as Henrik's on other occasions such as in The Runaway Bride and Planet of the Dead.

The Doctors who came after the Second one, namely the Third, Fourth, and Thirteenth, have hinted on encountering Harry Houdini in the past and gaining knowledge of some of his tricks. However, the fact that they met him during a scorching summer has never been mentioned before.

After rescuing Ruby, the Doctor seems to have a tendency to appear during his companions' childhoods. In "The Eleventh Hour", the Doctor made young Amelia Pond wait for ages before showing up, while in "The Rings of Akhaten", he decided to investigate Clara's past. Later on, Clara and Peter Capaldi's Doctor took a look at Danny Pink's childhood in an orphanage in "Listen".

Dobson is now following in the footsteps of previous Doctor Who actors who broke the fourth wall. Tom Baker once spoke to the audience and said, "Even the sonic screwdriver won't get me out of this one." Capaldi also gave viewers a long explanation about the bootstrap paradox in the beginning of Before the Flood. In 1965, William Hartnell even turned towards the camera and wished everyone at home a Happy Christmas at the end of one episode. This is a great fact to remember when someone argues that Doctor Who is not realistically believable nowadays.

Get ready for an exciting lineup of characters on the upcoming episode of the show! Look out for Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Jinkx Monsoon, Lenny Rush as Morris and Jonathan Groff. The episode is set in the 60s and most likely includes a performance by the Beatles. To add to the excitement, Bonnie Langford's character, Mel, returns and is seen driving a moped with Gatwa holding on to the end! Don't miss this upcoming episode!