The Church on Ruby Road Is the Reboot Doctor Who Needed

It’s a Plunderful Life (HOT TAKE on Doctor Who's “The Church on Ruby Road”) If Ncuti Gatwa didn't win you over as the Fifteenth Doctor in his debut in The Giggle, he has scene after satisfying scene in The Church on Ruby Road to do the job. From his first moments twirling in his kilt in a London club, Gatwa is in full command of the role, talking his way past policemen and ready to do battle with baby-devouring goblins. But it's his connection with Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday, a fellow "foundling," where the story really shines - maybe even brightly enough to get us to overlook the breaking of the fourth wall. Let's unwrap this gift...
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[@k.nataliedegraff9423]

We haven't had a fashionista Doctor since Pertwee was at the helm. Go Gatwa!

[@DamnDealDone]

You have never watched a single Pertwee episode so stop lying.

[@k.nataliedegraff9423]

@@DamnDealDone I was a Whovian since 1980. I’ve met Pertwee. Most of those smoking jackets he wore were from his own closet. He changed out his velvet smoking jackets and ruffled shirts. He had cloaks that he wore on occasion. Keep in mind that this was a different era. Not every Who fan is young kid that only discovered show when RTD brought it back. Stop being a triggered little snowflake.

[@theauthor1238]

Although I felt that some of the dialogue was a tad sloppy, I did like the idea of the Goblin's having their own fantasy-type science. Its actually reminiscent of the Carrionites from the Shakespeare Code.

[@kathycook3024]

If the Doctor had stopped the mother, he would have been changing things. What if he had caused her to change her mind and she had gone back to retrieve Baby Ruby? While that might or might not have worked out well for mother and baby, it would have caused the same devastating result for the Sunday family.

[@PullToOpen]

That's the simplest explanation.

[@stephengriffiths3302]

As much as it is a good jumping on point equally it's a great jumping off for true Dr Who fans!!

[@Dinosaur_T]

I love that they use Mavity instead of gravity

[@paulshorney3465]

I expected to hate it, but fair play I was pretty good! ☝️. Hope the new series will triumph 🤞🤞🤞

[@paulhammond6978]

Someone noticed (or made a theory) that a lot of Ncuti's outfits resembled those of earlier Doctors - in the scene where he talked to the policeman he was wearing Chris Eccleston's leather jacket, in the club he had a broad-brimmed hat which resembled one of Tom Bakers. I'm not sure how deliberate that was, but I thought it was interesting and possible.

[@PullToOpen]

Interesting. If it wasn't deliberate, I'm sure there was unconscious influence. The leather/Eccleston connection seems too obvious to be a coincidence, though.

[@ethanmelton576]

I have a theory about Ms. Flood. In her youth, she was a companion of the Fifteenth Doctor that he hasn't met yet.

[@stephaniepage4334]

Could she be Susan?

[@PullToOpen]

Interesting idea. Wouldn't mind that.

[@PullToOpen]

Why not just cast Carole Ann Ford then?

[@curtwall7089]

So she could be older ruby

[@DoctorWhoManiaProductions23]

⁠@@PullToOpenCarole Ann ford is too old to play her

[@willadeefriesland5107]

We also don't know how deep Ruby's connection is with the disturbingly knowing Mrs. Flood...

[@PullToOpen]

Yep, though I'm not sure if they've done enough to make use care who Mrs. Flood even is.

[@kemmdog4444]

RIP Richard Franklin.😢

[@PullToOpen]

😢

[@seannyhan2254]

"Who's Line is it", I see what you dis there.

[@PullToOpen]

😁

[@NootOfRoses]

Solid review! Really fair! Loved your commentary!

[@PullToOpen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@seannyhan2254]

"Overall liked it" is about right. I enjoyed the new Doctor, but the musical sequence took me right out of the story. A goblin pirate ship cruising the timestream stealing babies was kinda cool. Should have been scarier, in my opinion.

[@PullToOpen]

Yeah, it was a fun moment, but you definitely felt like you were watching a show.

[@curtwall7089]

Reboot? Thought it was the next series

[@henrycamb6593]

You must be joking. RIP Dr. Who.

[@NootOfRoses]

Cry about it mate. People can enjoy things.

[@DamnDealDone]

Agreed. It was terrible. Simpletons and children might enjoy it though.

[@DamnDealDone]

​@@NootOfRoses you seem to be crying about his comment. People are allowed to not like it as well. Dumbarse.

[@kemmdog4444]

We haven’t had a good monster impalement since State of Decay.

[@PullToOpen]

You didn't like the Cybermen being transfixed by the Raston Warrior Robot?

[@MrM-u3h]

Breaking news! Gay KZbinrs like Gay TV show! More at 11.

[@juliansymons565]

if this is the doctor we needed and the terrible scripts from the 60th anniversary specials & now xmas specials then it will be the last doctor we see. the fans dont want to hear the message RTD trying to peddle..the ratings are the worst with new reboot and will get worse. sad to see dr who die a horrible death...it really died after capaldi & even tennant couldnt save it .

[@_k_n_]

How many times will this show "die a terrible death"? How many seasons will be the last? With all the access we have to all kinds of content, maybe its just time for you to watch a different show that suits your taste.

[@DamnDealDone]

@@_k_n_ so you needed a show you didn't like or watch to be changed in to a LGBTQIBLM+++ trans indoctrination message for you to watch it. And it's the real fans that need to find a show they like? What a weird comment. You are a clown.

[@juuunebug]

I haven’t watched Doctor Who in 10-ish years, but the man babies crying in the comments make me want to pick it up again with this special

[@DamnDealDone]

A man not wanting to watch this garbage aimed at babies is a man baby? That is really bad logic. Also your lying is obvious.

[@paulmorris5166]

ROFL. You guys need to stay off the soy milk and start eating meat again. It was total garbage. Even worse than that one with her "Fam".

[@duncanmaclachlan7177]

I must of watched a different doctor who because it was absolutely shite.

[@DamnDealDone]

It's the same awful writing as the last few seasons. Ruby Road is possibly the worst Doctor Who episode of all time. Could not find a single good aspect of the writing, poor emotional development, no sense of peril, no fun, no excitement, no mystery. Compare it to Christopher Eccleston's first episode immediately after to see the contrast between good writing and this garbage episode.

[@51gan788]

I can appreciate you didn't like it, but "no fun" is a really strange criticism - its an extremely "fun" episode. Just Gatwa on his own is a big ball of infectious energy and enthusiasm

[@4creilly128]

Shes talking to the guy

[@stephaniepage4334]

Will we find out where doctor who came from?

[@PullToOpen]

Depends. Will we ever finish the jigsaw?

[@iambored8214]

I thought it was boring af and a cheap ripoff of starwars lol

[@mmarshfairc3]

The hell did you watch ?

[@iambored8214]

@@mmarshfairc3 the new doctor who episode, the goblin fella was a b-tech jabba the hutt lmao

[@celestialtoystore]

LOL

[@danforrest7765]

It was alright. Ncuti is a definite improvement on Whitaker but nowhere near as good as Capaldi or Smith. As a first ep for a new Doc is was weak. With Tennants Doctor still out there Ncuti just feels like a discount Doctor, like he’s not the real deal. The Bi Generation was an awful idea. I’m open to being more impressed by Ncuti as the season develops

[@InverseFlash]

Jesus Christ

[@Tony-1971]

Unwatchable rubbish.