Doctor Who: Flux offers viewers plenty of action and mystery, but the series needs to bring back Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor. The series’s 13th season entitled Flux tells one epic sci-fi story spread across six episodes. In Doctor Who: Flux, The Doctor’s origin has once again been put under the microscope, this time offering answers to many of the lingering questions created in the previous season.
The Fugitive Doctor was introduced in season 12, episode 5, “Fugitive of the Judoon” and was immediately a fan favorite. Initially disguised as an ordinary human named Ruth Clayton, she was quickly revealed to be one of the most commanding incarnations of The Doctor to date. The character has returned in Doctor Who: Flux and the show is almost certain to reveal the details of the regeneration’s mysterious past, but so far viewers have been left only with snippets and glances.
While Doctor Who: Flux looks to offer closure on Chibnall’s Timeless Child retcon, Doctor Who needs to seize the opportunity to give the Fugitive Doctor her own time in the spotlight. The story around the Fugitive Doctor has been one of Chibnall’s most intriguing creations, with many viewers citing “Fugitive of the Judoon” as a high point of season 12. Doctor Who should recognize the character’s promise and bring her back to the show.
While the Fugitive Doctor has captivated viewers, so far her character has only been given minimal screentime. She spends most of her biggest episode thinking she’s Ruth, with only a few scenes for Jo Martin to show off her vision of The Doctor. Beyond that, she has mostly been seen as a vision or hallucination by Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor. The character is too interesting and the performance is too strong to be left playing second fiddle.
Casting The Doctor is incredibly tricky. It’s a demanding role that takes a rare set of skills and a deft touch to bring to the screen, but Jo Martin has shown that she has what it takes. With her stylish outfit and assertive presence, she commands the screen. Ripping off a Judoon’s horn in her first scene as The Doctor made for a one-of-a-kind Doctor Who moment and shows that she has what it takes to portray the iconic Time Lord. It would be a shame if she was only ever a footnote in Whittaker’s story.
The Doctor Who canon is absolutely packed with opportunities for exciting stories, but the Fugitive Doctor still stands out. In a recent interview, former and future Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies spoke of the show’s spin-off potential saying, “There should be a Doctor Who channel now.” While Doctor Who: Flux might feature enough of the Fugitive Doctor to resolve a mystery or two, RTD should those words and consider giving Jo Martin her own spin-off.