An Open Letter to Russell T. Davies: The Church on Ruby Road

An Open Letter to Russell T. Davies: How “The Church on Ruby Road” Resonated with Me.

The new series of Doctor Who kicked off on Christmas Day with a scene where a baby (soon to be discovered to be the new Doctor Who Companion) was left on the doorstep of a church. Fast forward to 2023 and the new companion, Ruby Sunday, is on a TV show using DNA testing to look for her birth parents. That setup alone is deep and is beyond any kind of inclusiveness I’ve ever seen attempted on television – creating a companion that people like me can relate to tops the wheel chair ramp for the new TARDIS and that was hard to top!

For many orphans who were left on doorsteps, save havens, or other places, this is a question that they face at different stages in their lives. Showing that vulnerable moment in the scene with Davina McCall was brilliant writing at it’s best. For me, I was such a baby, left at an orphanage in Saigon, Vietnam during the Fall of Saigon Spring of 1974. I tried DNA tests but was unable to locate any close matches. Other avenues have come up short as well.

There is no documentation for me – I don’t know if I was a foundling or if there was a record kept but destroyed during the Vietnam war as the Viet Cong over-ran Saigon, killing hundreds of thousands. While I hope one day to find out the story behind me being left at the orphanage, I can’t wait to see what writer Russell T. Davies comes up with in terms of where Ruby Sunday came from and who left her – was it River Song, Jodie’s Doctor, Mrs. Flood? Pure brilliance!

Russell T. Davies in his brilliance has come up with a thread in the story line that may resonate with a great number of people – as it has with me. “Rejection” is a big theme with orphans from day one and being accepted by the 15th Doctor to travel with him in the TARDIS is sheer brilliance in terms of writing. He has my appreciation no matter where the wibbly wobbly timey wimey brilliance of Davies leads us.

Thank you Russell T. Davies for creating an amazing storyline and not being afraid to tackler some pretty big themes in Series One of the new Doctor Who. I’ve been a fan of the show since 1987 and Russell’s tackled deep issues before like Rose’s father on Father’s Day so I welcome his return to usher this show into even more amazing territory and doing so unafraid.

With appreciation,

Ron Hall

Doctor Who returns to Disney+, BBC Iplayer and BBC One in May 2024