Doctor Who: The Legend of Ruby Sunday: Review

It's all been leading to this.

The first part of the season finale of Ncuti Gatwa's first full season as the Doctor puts the focus squarely on both Ruby Sunday and the woman who's constantly been seen through the series in various guises.

There's very much a feeling of set up in the first part of this, as the Doctor arrives at UNIT determined to find out who the woman is that he has been seeing in all of his adventures - and to also try to discover the parentage of Ruby Sunday. 

Reuniting with Rose and also Mel Bush, the Doctor soon finds out the woman he is looking for is about to launch a brand new technology free to the world - in all its consequence.

Doctor Who: The Legend of Ruby Sunday is a typical Russell T Davies season-ender = a build up of elements that seem disparate and a chance to potentially pay off some of the narrative threads from throughout the season.

But by digging deep into Doctor Who lore and picking up the breadcrumbs that have been sown through the season, Doctor Who: The Legend of Ruby Sunday pays off a lot of elements but also bizarrely, manages to feel more about the experience than the resolution.

An invocation of one of the greatest Doctor Who enemies (and his honeyed evil tones) proves to be thrilling, even if the action sweeps up any real plot beats and character moments. It feels a little rushed to get to the reveal, but as everything stacks up, it really does offer some menace - and recalls in more ways than one The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit.

There's no denying Davies would be thrilling himself writing this, and in large swathes, the audience is swept along. Certainly the last 10 minutes offers proof that the menace is real and the atmosphere of the episode really does kick in.

Gatwa and Gibson are good enough in the episode, but in truth, they're lost a little as everything unfolds around them. Hopefully the finale will offer them more as they take on The One Who Waits. because under examination, some of the threads don't quite yet pull together to offer neat resolutions but that's hopefully what a second part will do. For now though, Doctor Who: The Legend of Ruby Sunday offers a great start to a season-ender.

It's time for the Doctor and Ruby to get some answers... 👀#DoctorWho: THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY premieres on @BBCiPlayer 15th June and @DisneyPlus 14th June where available. pic.twitter.com/Cd5cISecxl

— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) June 13, 2024