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Ruby Sunday’s Struggle: How Doctor Who Changed Her Life Forever

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In the fourth installment of Season 2 titled “Lucky Day” from Doctor Who, the narrative momentarily halted on the tale of Belinda Chandra to catch up with another of the Doctor’s travel companions, portrayed by Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday. After her departure from the TARDIS, we find Ruby resuming her life. Alongside Ruby, the episode welcomed back her adoptive mother, Carla (Michelle Greenidge), and grandmother, Cherry (Angela Wynter). The narrative continuity was maintained by including Faye McKeever, who appeared in the final episode of Season 1. While not everyone was a familiar face, “Lucky Day” introduced a crucial new character into Ruby’s personal circle.

In the show “Lucky Day,” we see how Ruby’s relationship with Conrad Clark, who was recently revealed as her boyfriend, was influenced by her past experiences with the Doctor. Despite Conrad’s true intentions not yet being fully understood, Ruby struggled to adapt to life with a new partner, offering a glimpse into how the Doctor had both positively and negatively affected her. The episode took advantage of its format where the Doctor is less prominent, enabling multiple episodes to be filmed at once. “Lucky Day” used this setup to delve into a companion’s life post-Departure with the Doctor, highlighting how time in the TARDIS had transformed Ruby.

“Lucky Day” is New Territory for a Doctor-Lite Doctor Who Story

The Episode Takes the Familiar Doctor Who Format in a Significant New Direction

Ever since Doctor Who made its comeback on TV in 2005, there have been a consistent number of episodes where the Doctor or the Doctor and their companion are less prominent, often referred to as ‘Doctor-lite’ episodes. This is due to the requirements of contemporary television production that necessitate filming while the main actors are engaged with other scenes. For instance, the Series 1 episode “Father’s Day” from 2005 showcased a less conspicuous Doctor-lite structure by shifting focus away from the Doctor. However, as time passed, these episodes became more apparent, typically featuring the Doctor in just two or three brief scenes.

In the year 2006, the series “Love and Monsters” introduced two new characters: Elton Pope and the London Investigation ‘N’ Detective Agency (LINDA), who were on a mission to find the Doctor. The Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, and Rose appeared only briefly in this episode, as it primarily focused on characters who had interacted with the Doctor previously. The following year, “Blink” continued this trend with Sally Sparrow, a character who was tasked with helping the Doctor retrieve his TARDIS after he and Martha Jones had been separated. In 2008, there was a shift in approach “Turn Left” featured Donna Noble on a solo adventure without the Doctor, while “Midnight” showcased the Tenth Doctor in a story that minimally involved his companions.

Russell T Davies‘ comeback as showrunner for Doctor Who has brought back the concept of episodes without the Doctor being heavily present. In Season 1, an episode like “73 Yards” put the focus on the companion, Ruby Sunday, when the Doctor inexplicably disappeared, leaving her to confront a chilling stalker and corrupt Prime Minister alone. The subsequent episode also featured a reduced role for the Doctor and Ruby, with attention shifting towards a new character named Lindy Pepper-Bean, whom the Doctor and Ruby advised from afar. However, Season 2 introduced yet another twist in this format. In “Lucky Day,” both the Doctor and Belinda stepped back, but instead of introducing a new character, a previous companion reappeared to spin a fresh yarn within the universe of Doctor Who.

Previously, the show ‘Doctor Who’ didn’t often feature a past companion for a single episode. In 2008, Freema Agyeman reprised her role as Martha Jones, but she appeared alongside both the Doctor and Donna in a supporting capacity. With Ruby’s return in Season 2, though, ‘Doctor Who’ has been able to delve into the story of a companion who has returned to ordinary life. Although the spin-off series ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’ had a similar theme by focusing on Sarah Jane Smith’s post-Doctor lifestyle, “Lucky Day” marks the first instance where this narrative unfolds within ‘Doctor Who’.

Ruby Sunday Struggles to Adjust to a Life Without Aliens

“Lucky Day” Shows Leaving the TARDIS Isn’t Easy

The adventure “Fortunate Day” initiates by briefly transporting the Doctor and Belinda back to Earth in 2007. In this period, they encounter a young lad named Conrad who develops an association with them. Skipping forward to the present, much like Elton Pope did earlier, Conrad has been on a quest to locate the TARDIS. A significant breakthrough occurs when he discovers one of the Doctor’s previous companions, Ruby Sunday, whom he interviews for his podcast. Following the interview, their bond deepens, and they enter into a relationship, signaling what appears to be the start of a fresh phase in Ruby’s existence.

In “Lucky Day,” it’s evident that Ruby has significantly matured from her days with the Doctor. Compared to the Ruby we see with Ncuti Gatwa’s Time Lord in the flashback, this Ruby appears much more grown-up. Her updated wardrobe, complete with a smart shirt and pinstripes, suits her perfectly when she’s later seen at UNIT HQ. Ruby exhibits the Doctor’s allure and confidence when discussing the Shreek with Conrad, administering an antidote to protect him. However, it’s also apparent that Ruby is finding it challenging to adapt to a life without monsters and excitement once again.

When Ruby begins dating Conrad, it’s not just their joy at seeing Ruby happy that fills her family – Carla, Louise, and Cherry. They are also relieved to see Ruby moving on, indicating that she may not have fully left her past with the Doctor behind. This becomes more evident when Ruby encounters flickering lights during a visit to Conrad’s village, a sign of the Shreek’s presence. Upon reaching out to Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, she is reminded that maybe Ruby has been on high alert since leaving the TARDIS due to her adjustment to a life filled with danger. After this call, Ruby reveals to Conrad that she can’t seem to stop dwelling on her terrifying adventures with the Doctor and now finds herself in a continuous state of fight-or-flight.

Doctor Who Needs to Continue Exploring Companions’ Lives Beyond the TARDIS

“Lucky Day” Leads Doctor Who Into Important New Territory

In the episode “Lucky Day” of “Doctor Who”, Ruby Sunday’s reappearance introduced a unique spin on episodes with less Doctor involvement, and significantly, provided a fresh perspective on the Doctor’s companions. It’s common to see past companions who have departed from the TARDIS revisit “Doctor Who”. The 2023 60th anniversary specials welcomed back Donna Noble and Mel Bush. Previously, classic companions like Sarah Jane Smith, Tegan Jovanka, and Ace also made a comeback in modern “Doctor Who”. During Russell T Davies’ initial tenure as showrunner, both Rose Tyler and others left the TARDIS but returned to “Doctor Who”. However, “Lucky Day” focused on a former companion in her current life, emphasizing that a journey with the Doctor leaves an indelible impact.

In this modern phase of Doctor Who, there’s been a greater emphasis on expanding the vast Whoniverse, thereby opening up chances for old friends of the Doctor to make reappearances. Shows like UNIT and spin-offs such as “Tales of the TARDIS” provide platforms for these past companions to feature in fresh adventures. The episode “Lucky Day” underscores that these tales don’t have to sugarcoat the risks associated with traveling in the TARDIS, alongside its benefits. When Ruby starts to fear she might be paranoid and can’t shake off a persistent sense of dread, her experiences with the Doctor become even more tangible for viewers. Episodes like “Lucky Day” remind us that the perils the Doctor’s companions encounter linger with them, even when they’ve parted ways with the TARDIS.

You can catch new episodes of Doctor Who streaming every Saturday on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom. If Disney+ is accessible in your region, you can also watch them there.

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2025-05-05 23:07

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