Who Is Ruby's Mother In Doctor Who? 7 Biggest Theories After The Christmas Special

Introduction

The Doctor Who Christmas Special, 'The Church on Ruby Road,' introduced Millie Gibson as the new companion Ruby Sunday - and set up an intriguing mystery surrounding her mother. Doctor Who has changed a great deal since Russell T. Davies relaunched the BBC's top sci-fi TV show back in 2005, and companions have become rather more complex.

Doctor Who Timeless Child

Davies' successor Steven Moffat introduced the idea of companions who were mysteries in their own right, enigmas for the Doctor to solve - the most prominent being Clara Oswald, the Impossible Girl. Davies has returned in what is generally being called the RTD2 era, and he seems to have picked up a few tricks from his successors. Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday is introduced as another mystery company, because the truth of Ruby's origin is an enigma - deliberately paralleled with the Timeless Child retcon, which turned the Doctor's entire backstory into a jigsaw puzzle.

Doctor Who's the Timeless Child as a little girl wearing yellow, on a planet with a purple sky

Ruby Sunday was abandoned at the doors of a church on Ruby Road, explaining her name. 'The Church on Ruby Road' deliberately avoided dropping any real clues about her true identity - the mother was shrouded in shadow, although she seems to have stayed to watch the Doctor tackle the Goblins. But who could she really be? Here are all the top theories.

Timeless Child in Doctor Who

Theory 1: Ruby Is Another Timeless Child

The Timeless Child retcon was one of the most shocking in Doctor Who history, upending decades' worth of continuity to reveal the Doctor is not a Time Lord at all. Instead, she is in fact the Timeless Child, a being who originates from beyond this universe, and who became the base genetic code for every Gallifreyan who lives within the Citadel. 'The Church on Ruby Road' deliberately parallels the Doctor's status as a foundling with Ruby's, raising the intriguing possibility Ruby is in fact a Timeless Child as well. That would be a smart narrative approach, because the mystery of the Doctor's origin would dovetail neatly with the enigma of Ruby's.

Timeless Child First Regeneration in Doctor Who

There's just one problem with this theory, though; the episode itself seems to go to great lengths to make it rather unlikely. Davina McCall is given a sample of Ruby Sunday's DNA, and attempts to trace her family origins. What's notable, though, is that she doesn't notice any of the telltale genetic anomalies that would indicate this person was not human. If Ruby Sunday is a Timeless Child, there's more to this story than just that - her DNA must have been deliberately cloaked, using something similar to a Time Lord Chameleon Arch.

Doctor Who Timeless Child Jodie Whittaker

Theory 2: Ruby Sunday Is A Time Lord

In 'The Giggle,' the Toymaker - a being of almost infinite power and knowledge - claimed the Doctor is the last of the Time Lords. The Chameleon Arch, though, means that isn't necessarily the case; the Time Lords could have concealed themselves by scattering members of their race throughout time and space, using the Chameleon Arch to conceal them. They could even have hidden infants, a new generation of Time Lords. If this is the case, the Doctor has stumbled on the future of the Time Lords - a coincidence so vast it would provide tremendous sustenance to the Goblins, making it very possible indeed in 'The Church on Ruby Road.'

Gallifrey from Doctor Who

Theory 3: Ruby Is The Doctor's Own Daughter

One surprising theory circulating in the fandom suggests that Ruby is the Doctor's own daughter - and that the mysterious woman is in fact Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor, or another incarnation of the Doctor (given the Timeless Child confirmed previous female regenerations, including Jo Martin's tremendous Fugitive Doctor). This possibility can't be ruled out, and it would establish a tremendous bond between the Doctor and Ruby Sunday. It would also be another way to tie the Timeless Child retcon into Ruby's story. At the same time, though, it seems rather a stretch given Davina McCall's DNA tests - a Chameleon Arch would still need to be involved.

An image of Jodie Whittaker holding a sonic screwdriver in Doctor Who

Theory 4: Ruby's Mother Is Missy / The Doctor's New Master

Davies is clearly tapping into his inner Moffat with Ruby Sunday, meaning he could bring back one of the most popular incarnations of the Doctor's greatest nemesis - Michelle Gomez's Missy. Alternatively, he could follow Moffat's pattern by introducing another female version of the Master, whose return was clearly set up at the end of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special. This would be a fun twist, with the Master potentially planting Ruby as a trap, but again - a Chameleon Arch would need to be involved. All these Timeless Child and Time Lord theories hinge on the same technology.

A hand picks up the Master's tooth in The Giggle

Theory 5: Ruby's Mother Is The One Who Waits

Next, it's possible Ruby Sunday's mother is The One Who Waits. This being was teased by the Toymaker in 'The Giggle,' who cryptically hinted The One Who Waits is so powerful even he wouldn't dare challenge them. Significantly, the Toymaker suggested The One Who Waits' identity is 'somebody else's game,' hinting at a Machiavellian game-player - which could certainly fit with planting a child in the Doctor's path.

Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker in Doctor Who dancing

Theory 6: Ruby's Mother Is Tied To Folklore

'The Church on Ruby Road' sees Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor go up against goblins, confirming that the RTD2 era is headed in a fantastical direction. Given that's the case, it's surely no coincidence Ruby's origin feels like something from a fairytale - a foundling abandoned on the steps of a church at Christmas. Davies has confirmed the Fifteenth Doctor will battle the Toymaker's minions, godlike beings - and more. Speaking on Doctor Who: The Video Commentaries, he noted:

Doctor Who Goblins

'Every so often we get a chance to do an episode that’s kind-of supernatural, not exactly supernatural, but where all the rules are suspended... And we’re going to keep doing it, aren’t we? We love it.' Given this comment, Ruby Sunday could be tied to something quasi-supernatural, Toymaker-like - perhaps providing another explanation where her DNA tracks as human. This theory feels like one of the most probable, fitting in with the current direction of Doctor Who, and setting up almost infinite story possibilities.

Theory 6: Ruby's Mother Is Tied To Folklore

Theory 7: Ruby's Mother Is No One

This final option could be referred to as 'The Last Jedi Solution,' named after a controversial decision made by Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi. There, Johnson attempted to subvert fan expectations that Daisy Ridley's Rey was part of an important bloodline, instead revealing she was the daughter of two people of no galactic significance. In story terms, it was an attempt to move away from the Great Man of History motif so common in Star Wars, by confirming Rey as a true everyman hero. Davies could be trying to do something similar.

Star Wars the Last Jedi Rey Talks to Kylo Ren

There's just one problem with this theory; Davies would have to be a very brave man indeed to risk it. The Rey revelation was so divisive Lucasfilm hurriedly walked back on it in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, instead revealing Rey was the granddaughter of Palpatine itself. Fandom reacted badly to Star Wars: The Last Jedi's bait and switch, and there's no reason to assume Doctor Who's viewers would be any more positive. This last theory feels very unlikely indeed, given the context.

Rey's dark side mirror scene in Star Wars: The Last Jedi