Doctor Who episode six, Rogue, centred a heartwarming LGBTQ+ storyline as the Doctor fell in love. The latest episode, written by Kate Herron and Briony Redmon, saw the Time Lord, played by Ncuti Gatwa , and companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) land in 1813 to attend a Bridgerton-style ball hosted by the Duchess of Pemberton (Indira Varma). But in a classic twist of events, chaos ensued when the high-society event was targeted by destructive shape-shifting aliens.
The Doctor and Ruby get separated after Ruby goes after distressed debutante Emily Beckett (Camilla Aiko) who appeared caught up in a lovers feud. Meanwhile the Doctor is captured by a mysterious man on the balcony, Rogue ( Jonathan Groff ). After a tension-filled back-and-forth on the balcony the pair headed outside.
As they tried to ascertain who the real enemy is, the Doctor was brought to Rogue’s ship and discovered he is a bounty hunter with a penchant for Kylie Minogue ’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head. After a truly camp boogie to the tune, both soon lowered their guards and went to the TARDIS for some deeper conversations. It’s here we discovered Rogue is grieving the loss of his partner and as both bond over their shared trauma – we see the first spark of something more.
In times gone by this might have been the furthest the show took a gay romance involving specifically the Doctor. Previously, aside from a brief kiss with Captain Jack (John Barrowman) in season one and a ill-fated sapphic romance .