RTD's Timeless Child Inspiration For Doctor Who Season 14 Is A Big Worry

Summary The Timeless Child storyline could cause more issues if not handled carefully by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies.

Fans may be concerned if Davies introduces another lore-breaking twist akin to Chibnall's divisive additions to the show.

Davies should focus on fleshing out the Timeless Child story for Doctor Who season 14 rather than introducing another unrelated groundbreaking revelation.

Doctor Who's returning showrunner Russell T Davies has recently spoken with Entertainment Weekly about his plans for the coming season, and the mention of the divisive Timeless Child storyline could be cause for concern. Doctor Who season 14 is Ncuti Gatwa's first full run of episodes as the Fifteenth Doctor, and it'll be the first season since Davies stepped in to replace Chris Chibnall as showrunner. Chibnall made some additions to the Doctor Who universe that didn't quite align with the canon at the time, and the most notable of these introductions was the Timeless Child storyline.

Doctor Who's Timeless Child twist meant existing lore had to be adapted for the plot to make sense, which was a process that even overflowed into Davies' 60th-anniversary episodes. If the current Doctor Who showrunner is planning to use his second spell in charge to make another change of a similar magnitude, the continuity of the entire franchise could once more be thrown into jeopardy. Davies has written some of the best Doctor Who stories of all time, but even the show's most talented writers need to be careful.

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RTD Comparing Ruby Sunday's Doctor Who Season 14 Story To The Timeless Child Is Concerning

The Timeless Child was a polarizing addition to Doctor Who lore

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Davies' enthusiasm for Chibnall's Timeless Child story could mean he is getting ready to install an equally momentous turning point in Doctor Who canon that relates to Ruby's origins. On paper, this should be an exciting prospect, but Chibnall's ambitious overhaul hugely backfired. While there were portions of the fanbase that appreciated the former showrunner's efforts to make an impact on Doctor Who lore, others weren't so enthused. The Timeless Child creates big plotholes up and down the Doctor Who timeline that Chris Chibnall either didn't account for or simply ignored.

If Davies does try something as bold as his predecessor, it could be disastrous for Doctor Who's future if he fails to pull it off.

Doctor Who had already been going through a rough patch under Chibnall's reign, and the issues highlighted by his Timeless Child storyline didn't do much to reassert the show's popularity. Although David Tennant's return for the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials steadied the ship ahead of Gawta's debut, the show is still only just finding its feet again. If Davies does try something as bold as his predecessor, it could be disastrous for Doctor Who's future if he fails to pull it off.

Doctor Who Doesn't Need Another Lore-Breaking Twist After The Timeless Child & Bigeneration

More big changes to Doctor Who canon would be surplus to requirements

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The Doctor's backstory was forever changed by Chibnall's twist, for better or for worse. In isolation, it's just one big alteration that could be left in the past if left unaddressed for long enough. Although ignoring the story wouldn't make it non-canon, this could have settled down the fans who disagreed with the move. Soon after the uproar subsided, Davies made another big addition by revealing the concept of bigeneration at the end of the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials. A third huge introduction to Doctor Who lore so soon risks being too much within such a short space of time.

There's no denying that Ruby's enigmatic backstory should be addressed in Doctor Who season 14, but the revelation doesn't have to be groundbreaking to be effective. Not only would an overly ambitious storyline present the possibility of alienating new fans, but it would make the fictional universe far less recognizable to those who have watched the show for years or even decades.

1 Way RTD's Timeless Child Inspiration Can Make Sense For Doctor Who Season 14

Ruby Sunday could be the same species as the Doctor now it's confirmed he isn't from Gallifrey

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In the interview referenced earlier with Entertainment Weekly, Davies stated the Timeless Child storyline will be the, "Spine of the whole show" for the upcoming season. The similarities between Ruby's origin and the Timeless Child plot twist are impossible to ignore, with both the Doctor and Ruby Sunday being unaware of where they really come from. Instead of introducing a new story to take Doctor Who canon by storm, Davies should instead focus on fleshing out the Timeless Child and explaining where both of season 14's main pair originated.

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The Timeless Child still has many unanswered questions that Davies should address before moving on to an unrelated storyline. Not only could the answers account for where Ruby Sunday really comes from, but information on the Doctor's true species could also be provided by delving deeper into Chibnall's divisive addition to the show's canon. So, if Russell T Davies does have huge plans going forward, it would be more beneficial to Doctor Who for them to tie into the Timeless Child story instead of opening up yet another loose end.

Doctor Who Season 14 Release Schedule Episode Number Title Written By Release Date (2024) 1 Space Babies Russell T Davies May 11 2 The Devil's Chord Russell T Davies May 11 3 Boom Steven Moffat May 18 4 73 Yards Russell T Davies May 25 5 Dot and Bubble Russell T Davies June 1 6 Rogue Kate Herron & Briony Redman June 8 7 The Legend of Ruby Sunday Russell T Davies June 15 8 Empire of Death Russell T Davies June 22

Doctor Who season 14 begins on May 11, 2024, with a double episode premiere on Disney+.

Source: Entertainment Weekly