How Ruby Sunday Has Changed Since Doctor Who Season 14 Explained By Millie Gibson

As Doctor Who season 15 prepares to return to Earth, returning star Millie Gibson explains how the former companion’s life has changed in the time since she left the TARDIS. While season 15 has focused on Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and new companion Belinda (Varada Sethu) in their attempts to return to Earth, “Lucky Day” will see Ruby take charge as an alien stalks her. Outside a brief cameo in the 2024 special, Ruby last appeared in Doctor Who season 14, as she left the TARDIS behind to spend time with her family.

While speaking with ScreenRant, Gibson teased how Ruby has evolved since her last appearance on the show. According to Gibson, Ruby may have found the family that she had always desired, but has been left waiting for the moment that the Time Lord will return. Additionally, Ruby is grappling with the trauma of her adventure’s worst moments, leading her to be a more cautious individual. Gibson also teases how similar to “73 yards,” season 15, episode 4, “Lucky Day,” does not have as much of the Doctor in it. Check out Gibson’s comments below:

She’s complete. She’s got her two moms and her beautiful gran, who are just comedy gold as always. We see them back in the Sunday household again. But I do think that she’s never happy. Now, she’s got her two moms, but she’s waiting for the Doctor again.

But I also think, on top of that, she’s on edge from her whole year beforehand and everything that went down. It was the end of the world at every moment. She’s got a bit of PTSD going on, as you would if you faced off against Sutekh. But that’s where she’s at right now; reeling from past events.

“73 Yards” was my first episode where I was by myself. I’d just moved to Cardiff after living in Manchester my whole life, and I was still really young. And it worked for all the scenes, like the pub scenes. It was like, “Oh no, I don’t know where I am. I don’t have any friends.” It was just a really easy way to introduce myself to Ruby, and it was a great acting opportunity. I’m so proud of that episode.

And then again, when I come back, it’s Millie coming back. I’m coming back to Whoniverse, and I’ve grown from my experience in season 1, same as Ruby. I think there’s a lot more of a mature layer to her that I really wanted to explore. I want to say she’s monotone, but it’s not so much that she’s just really glum all the time. She’s a bit more reserved. I don’t think she trusts people as much. In season 1, she was like, “Hi, how are you? What’s your favorite color?” But now she’s like, “Hi, I don’t know if you are going to kill me.”

She’s different, but she still has those glimmers of humor and love for everyone around her. I think that’s what’s special about her character.

What Ruby’s Adventure Means For Doctor Who Season 15

Ruby’s Journey May Shine A Light On Season 15’s Biggest Mystery

Though Doctor Who season 14 seemingly ended with Ruby preparing to take on a new chapter of her life, season 15 has already proved that life without the Time Lord is far from peaceful. The status of Earth within the universe is currently nebulous at best, as the planet no longer exists in the future, presumably after the unreachable date of May 25th. As such, Ruby may be one of a handful of people who can determine just what happened to the planet.

Furthermore, trouble seems to already be set to find Ruby, as her new boyfriend, Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King), may not be all he appears to be. While he has been teased as a loving partner wanting to live up to the Doctor’s example, promotional clips and on-set photos have revealed that Conrad may be part of a larger movement who are opposing the actions of the Doctor’s allies at UNIT. As such, Ruby’s trust may be further tested by her new love’s potential role in opposing all her friends stand for.

Our Take On Ruby’s Solo Doctor Who Season 15 Adventure

Ruby’s Adventure Revisits A Little-Explored Story Format In The Whoniverse

Gatwa’s era of Doctor Who has acted as an accessible entry point, meaning that, alongside continuing the Doctor’s adventures, it has also had the task of introducing elements to the Whoniverse for newcomers. As such, Ruby’s upcoming adventures in “Lucky Day” will give a key example as to how life must go on for companions who choose to walk away. Though Ruby may be without the Doctor or TARDIS, Gibson’s tease promises that the companion has the experience to fend off any alien foe by herself.

Doctor Who

5/10

Release Date

December 25, 2023

Directors

Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie

Writers

Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat

Franchise(s)

Doctor Who