Ncuti Gatwa's doctor Who stint, recognized as the series' most inclusive for LGBTQ representation, leaves a significant, unresolved plot point lingering.
Hey there! Let's dive in the world of Doctor Who, shall we? So, it seems Ncuti Gatwa departed from the series after a rather short but significant stint as the Fifteenth Doctor. But, a piece of unfinished business lurks in the corners of Whovian hearts - ol' Rogue, the bounty hunter who charmed us all with his antics and, well, that passionate kiss.
Rogue first appeared in Season 1, teaming up with the Doctor to take down those pesky Chuldur. Their mission ended with a price – Rogue was sent to an ominous dimension in place of Ruby Sunday. Before he vanished, he left the Doctor with a heartfelt request: find him. That was it, folks. Just a simple line hinting at more Rogue adventures to come. Unfortunately, the sequel to Rogue's cliffhanger cameo happened in Season 2's penultimate episode, "Wish World", where he sent a cryptic message to the Doctor.
I find myself growing restless, hoping for more from Rogue's storyline. With Gatwa's departure, there are only two options for Rogue's resolution: either he remains trapped or another incarnation of the Doctor saves him. The latter is a bitter pill to swallow, as it means the Fifteenth Doctor's queer storyline might not receive the resolution it deserves. To put it bluntly, Rogue and the Doctor's kiss was a historic moment for Doctor Who, a much-needed representation that I was eager to see more of.
Now, I'm not turnin' up my nose at Rogue and another Doctor gettin' cozy, but I can't help feelin' a pang of sadness that Gatwa and Rogue didn't get more time to build upon that connection. I wasn't expectin' a multi-episode arc, but a few more episodes would've been grand. And, let's face it, a female Doctor and Rogue romancin'? I'd rather we didn't revert back to another heteronormative relationship for our beloved Time Lord.
I’m not sure where we go from here, and it seems neither is showrunner Russell T Davies. The future of Doctor Who and Rogue remain uncertain, but fans and actors alike have expressed their desire to see more of Rogue. Here's hopin' we'll get more info on that front soon!
Now, let's talk about some other cool tidbits I found while researchin' ol' Rogue:
- In the Doctor Who Season 1 episode "Rogue", Rogue mentioned that he was chasing a bounty on the head of a member of the Chuldur, an avian-like shapeshifters.
- Rogue's kiss with the Doctor was historic. It was the first time the Doctor actively pursued a romantic connection with someone of the same sex.
- Rogue's line "Find me," coupled with the Doctor still possessing Rogue's ring, suggest there may be more to explore with this character in the future.
- Both Jonathan Groff and writers have expressed hopes for Rogue's return in future episodes.
Movies-and-TV and entertainment enthusiasts are hoping for more of Rogue's storyline, given his significant on-screen chemistry with the Doctor in Doctor Who, setting a historic precedent and adding much-needed representation within the show.
Fans and actors alike have expressed their desire to see more of Rogue in the future, as his unresolved cliffhanger and the promise of more exploration with this character have left somewhat of an unfinished business in the entertainment realm of Doctor Who.
