Doctor Who dropped a big reveal on the Whoniverse this past weekend. The new episode “Fugitive of the Judoon” introduced Jo Martin as another version of the Doctor, although here she was going by the name of Ruth. Not only is this the first iteration of the character to be a woman of color, but it’s also apparently a version from the classic era of the character, just one we haven’t encountered before now.
I overflow with questions, and happily, showrunner Chris Chibnall spoke to The Mirror to answer some of them.
For example, is Martin’s Doctor really the Doctor, or is this a version of the Doctor from a parallel universe or something? That theory has taken hold among fans, but Chibnall is here to put our fears to rest:
"The important thing to say is – she is definitively the Doctor. There’s not a sort of parallel universe going on, there’s no tricks. Jo Martin is the Doctor, that’s why we gave her the credit at the end which all new Doctors have the first time you see them. John Hurt got that credit."
Okay, so if she is the Doctor, where does she fall in the timeline? Well, that’s very unclear at this moment, but we can make some observations based on the episode. Because Ruth did not recognize our Doctor’s version of the sonic screwdriver but did have a TARDIS (albeit one buried underground for reasons yet unknown), fans are theorizing that she may be between Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee, who played the second and third Doctors respectively.
But no matter where Ruth (wait, her name is Doctor Ruth? Is that on purpose?) falls in the timeline, why doesn’t the current Doctor remember her? What the heck is going on?!
“There will be answers to some of these mysteries this series,” Chibnall said. “But as ever with Doctor Who, answers often reveal new questions. It’s all very deliberate. […] We’re telling an ongoing story and there are plenty of things in Doctor Who that change all the time but I’m very aware of the history and very aware of the continuity.”
So far, Chibnall has not disappointed, so I think we’re in safe hands.
For example, thanks to him, we got to see Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) for the first time in 10 years! However, according to Chibnall, that will have to sustain us for a while. “You won’t see him again this series, I can categorically tell you that,” Chibnall says, breaking hearts everywhere. “But who knows when he might pop up again? We love Captain Jack, we love John Barrowman. I hope that won’t be his last appearance and that at some point he gets to meet the 13th Doctor.”
Captain Jack Harkness is finally back! Last seen in Torchwood: Miracle Day! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/eDfXT9VT3O
— Doctor Who Page (@dwpageofficial) January 26, 2020
The few fleeting moments we got with Captain Jack during Sunday’s episode were not enough, so I’m really hoping we see him again soon! And with Jodie Whittaker returning for at least one more season, there’s still time. Captain Jack and the 13th 14th Doctor may just meet yet!
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h/t Digital Spy, Geek & Sundry