Since May 11, Doctor Who marked its return with great fanfare with a 14th season that resembles a reboot. Presented as a new generation series – like the episodes launched in 2005 – this first burst of episodes proves to be devilishly effective. In addition to special effects finally up to par thanks to Disney’s investment, or even international distribution on a major streaming platform, this revival works above all thanks to its characters. Still, longtime fans know that relaunching Doctor Who has never been an easy task. Each change of actor, whether the Doctor or his companions, represents a major risk-taking.
The synergy between the protagonists is a key element of the program, generally going hand in hand with the quality of the storyline. What would this franchise be without memorable duos like Nine and Rose, Ten and Donna, Eleven and Amy or even Twelve and Clara? Starting from scratch with a new Doctor and a new human friend, the latest season was going to have to work hard to convince viewers. But a month after the launch of the first episode, it is clear that the series has met the challenge with flying colors. If Ncuti Gatwa’s acting talents were in no doubt, young Millie Gibson also stood out as quite a revelation in the role of Ruby Sunday. This season has not yet come to an end, but the young adventure companion already has all the makings of a cult character.
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The Rose of Gen Z
If magic happens easily with Ruby, it is above all thanks to its familiar characteristics. More than one spectator has undoubtedly noticed that this character borrows greatly from his predecessors, and more particularly from the famous Rose Tyler. The desire to reboot is clear: Doctor Who once again focuses on what made the series successful in 2005. Blonde hair, strong character, modest London family, banal life until the arrival of the Doctor… These are the ingredients that the program applies again 19 years later.
Just like Rose in her time, Ruby’s charm is undeniable and her repartee against the Doctor results in an electrifying duet that reminds us of the series’ heyday. The comparisons also continue in terms of the mystery surrounding the heroine. The show’s most popular protagonists all benefited from a direct and well-crafted connection to the storyline at hand. Rose with Bad Wolf, Amy (and Rory) with Pandorica or even Clara and her label of “impossible girl”: these characters and their stories are not “fan favorites” for nothing.
Between her mother’s secret identity, snow phenomena and her dance with death in each episode, Ruby Sunday ticks all the boxes to keep us in suspense every week. Some will be of the opinion that this summary of past successes is not very original. Nevertheless, this reworking of the series’ clichés results in one of the most effective seasons in a long time. Thirteen, Yaz, Graham and Ryan had their standout moments, but never managed to achieve the depth and emotion of Doctor Who.
The grand finale of season 14 will air this Saturday, June 22, and we can’t wait to discover the ins and outs of Ruby’s character. Will we have to wait until season 15 to get an answer? One thing is certain: the British series has regained its letters of nobility thanks to Fifteen and Ruby. Nothing really surprising since these characters came from the imagination of the legendary Russell T. Davies.
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