Since Millie Gibson is exiting after Doctor Who season 14, one massive fan theory will probably never get the conclusion it deserves. The 2023 Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” offered the first taste of what audiences could expect of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and their new companion, Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday – increasing the hype for what’s to come. Additionally, the episode introduced multiple questions about the identity of Ruby’s mother, Mrs. Flood’s backstory, and whether the Goblins will return in future episodes of Doctor Who.
After the 2023 Christmas special, fans began speculating that Doctor Who’s Mrs. Flood is Ruby Sunday from the future. This would explain why she knows about the TARDIS, lives close to Ruby’s family, and acts differently after the goblins kidnap baby Ruby from the past. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely the writers will directly address this theory after the announcement that Millie Gibson will depart before Doctor Who season 15.
The Mrs. Flood Doctor Who Theory Probably Won’t Ever Be Answered
With Millie Gibson leaving, the probability of the Mrs. Flood theory getting answered is slim to none. Doctor Who typically plays the long game, setting up storylines a good amount of time before they come to fruition. For instance, Bad Wolf started in Doctor Who season 1 but wouldn’t fully pay off until Doctor Who’s 50th-anniversary special. Similarly, the phrase “silence will fall” weaves in and out of the Eleventh Doctor’s storyline but doesn’t reach its climax until Doctor Who’s 2013 Christmas special. Addressing the Mrs. Flood tease in one season would seem unusual and rushed for the sci-fi show.
If Doctor Who didn’t conclude the Mrs. Flood storyline in Doctor Who season 14, it would feel out of place to confirm her as older Ruby after the companion leaves the show. There’s no reason to feature Ruby Sunday so heavily in a storyline without Millie Gibson. Additionally, it wouldn’t make sense to bring back Mrs. Flood without Ruby at least appearing briefly. After all, they are next-door neighbors with a seemingly good rapport. As such, there’s a good chance that Mrs. Flood’s identity will remain a mystery.
RTD’s Doctor Who Season 14 Is Continuing One Of The Moffat Era’s Favorite Companion Tropes
Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat both have distinct styles, but as RTD returns to Doctor Who for season 14, he’s borrowing a Moffat companion trick.
Other Doctor Who Companions Have Only Lasted One Season
While it’s sad Ruby Sunday won’t return for Doctor Who season 15, she isn’t the first companion to only last one season. During RTD’s first era, both Martha and Donna were Doctor Who companions for only one season. These two companions seemingly departed because of changes in the creative direction, though Martha’s leaving also could’ve been related to actress Freema Agyeman’s filming schedule. Ruby falling in the same category as Martha and Donna could be a good sign. Both companions return a handful of times after leaving the Doctor. Taking this into consideration, Gibson’s Ruby might still appear in Doctor Who a few times after exiting as a full-time companion.
Doctor Who
- Release Date
- November 23, 1963
- Cast
- Jenna Coleman , Jodie Whittaker , Alex Kingston , David Tennant , Matt Smith , Peter Capaldi
- Seasons
- 26
- Franchise
- Doctor Who
- Story By
- Sydney Newman C. E. Webber Donald Wilson
- Writers
- Mark Gatiss , Toby Whithouse , Neil Cross , Steven Moffat , Chris Chibnall
- Network
- BBC
