Doctor Who spoilers: Why the Fugitive of the Judoon’s biggest surprise affects the whole mythology

Fugitive of the Judoon had a few major surprises. But the biggest of them all might change the whole of Doctor Who history itself. (Spoilers follow.)

Well, that was unexpected! (See, I told you I’d use it a second time.) Ordinarily, something as big as a major character returning for the first time in over a decade would be the biggest surprise in any series, let alone Doctor Who. But then we found out who the titular Fugitive of the Judoon really was. And it’s big. Mythology shaking big. And we need to talk about that major spoiler.

Initially, we were being lead to believe that it was Lee Clayton. He seemed ordinary enough at first, but he was clearly keeping a few secrets. Even from his wife, Ruth. For instance, he was panicking about the Judoon the moment they arrived, and he had kept hidden a small box – one Ruth had no idea about.

However, as the episode went on, it was clear that he wasn’t who the Judoon were really looking for. In fact, while Lee wasn’t human, neither was Ruth – even though she believed otherwise. She remembered living a whole life on Earth. How could she be anyone else?

The answers were revealed at a lighthouse where she remembered growing up. Behind emergency glass and buried in an unmarked grave. And those answers were huge. Not just for Ruth, or even for the Doctor, but quite possibly for the whole of Doctor Who history…

The Fugitive of the Judoon is pictured in this image. But who is it?

Photo Credit: Ben Blackall/BBC Studios/BBC America

A new Doctor…or is she?

The whole time, Ruth Clayton was in fact the Doctor. Using a Chameleon Arch to disguise herself as human, she had buried the TARDIS and hidden herself from the Time Lords – who for some reason she was working for.

With so many clues – including coming from a time when Gallifrey still existed and not recognizing a Sonic Screwdriver, the implications were clear: the Doctor who disguised herself as Ruth isn’t from after the Thirteenth Doctor, but before.

There may be other explanations. Perhaps she’s from an alternative timeline or a parallel universe. But the Doctor – our Doctor – is convinced that Ruth is from before all the ones we know.

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This is risky, to say the least. Really, really risky. Especially as the other Doctor’s TARDIS is clearly much older – closer to the one that the First and Second Doctors traveled in, both inside and out. What makes that particularly problematic is that the TARDIS didn’t look like a police box until the First Doctor – the one we know for sure, as played by William Hartnell – landed on Earth in 1963, where it remained stuck in that form due to a faulty chameleon circuit.

So what’s going on? Is this new Doctor really from before all of the ones we know? Or is she something else? Is she connected to the ongoing mystery of “the Timeless Child”? And if so, how?

I’m hoping that there are great explanations for this. Really, really great explanations. Because Chris Chibnall is definitely taking a huge risk here. Will it all pay off? I’m looking forward to finding out, that’s for sure.

What did you think of Fugitive of the Judoon‘s biggest twist? Are you for it? Against it? Did it confirm the best or worst about Chibnall’s era for you? Or are you too excited about the return of Captain Jack right now? Let us know in the comments below.