Have the Doctor and Ruby landed in Bridgerton? It looks that way as they arrive at a duchess’ party.
Then someone is killed….and some of the guests are aliens…and another guest has a ray gun.
This is an episode where the Doctor is truly tested….or rather smitten. If you ever thought a Time Lord couldn’t fall in love, this episode could change your mind.

SPOILERS BELOW

This is a meet-cute between the Doctor and a bounty hunter named Rogue, played by Jonathan Groff. They accuse the other of being part of the Chuldur, a shape-shifting race who take bodies as if they were the latest fashion from H&M. In Bath 1813, they’re already hard at work body-snatching so they can be in a real-life version of a certain Netflix show. The Doctor and Ruby are there, too, but don’t know about the Chuldur…yet.

The episode has an interesting structure. It pairs off the Doctor and Rogue in what becomes a budding romance, while Ruby spends her time with Emily Beckett (Camilla Aiko), who’s worried about her prospects. Ruby accidentally teaches Emily slang like “cushy” 75 years too soon.
Rogue and the Doctor learn a lot about each other, even tours of each other’s space ships. It’s also revealed Rogue lost a lover (“I lost them” hints the lover may have been trans, but it’s not clear). Anyway, it’s amazing how well they get along, even more than you’d think from a Time Lord. This may upset fans of the old days, but Ncuti taking this risk is interesting, It has to be shown the Doctor is not strictly male or female, straight or gay. He is what he is, a Time Lord free of labels. After all, there was an example of another male Time Lord turning to female, and being happy about it.

As for the Chuldur, it’s agreed they should be sent away to a desolate dimension, but they have to be placed in a trap to do that. The Doctor and Rogue decide to entice the aliens by acting out a scandalous scene. First, they dance together, then the Doctor asks Rogue what he should give up everything for him. It’s clearly Romance Novel Plot Twist 101, but Rogue takes it seriously. He even proposes to the Doctor, who almost accepts. What would River Song think?

The Chuldur is more interested in getting the full Romance Novel experience. They plan to get Ruby married to Lord Barton, who is a Chuldur, too. She is elsewhere, forced to tell Emily she’s from the future. Emily has a secret, too…she’s a Chuldur, and seems to have stolen Ruby’s body.

The wedding is about to happen, when Rogue captures the Chuldur with Ruby with them. However, it’s the real Ruby who escaped from Emily thanks to Lady Gaga and fast moves. However, she’s trapped with the Chuldur, about to be sent to a desolate dimension. She’s willing to die, though, if it means saving the world.
The Doctor can’t do it, so Rogue gives him one heck of a kiss….and steals the trap button. Rogue decides he’ll be the sacrifice, and shoves Ruby out. His last words, “Find me”. Now that’s an ending to a romance novel. Both of the Doctor’s hearts are breaking.

The final scene tells a lot about the Doctor and Ruby. While he tries to shake off the heartbreak, she gives him a hug because he needs it. She knows what it’s like.
The Doctor is left, with Rogue’s ring and hopes maybe they’ll find each other again.

This episode has been one of the most romantic ones in a long time, and maybe a break from last week’s comment on social media. Some may be stunned by the love story between the Doctor and Rogue, but sometimes a risky story adds new life into the series.

Oh, and the Recurring Woman (Susan Twist) appeared in a painting as the mom of a Duke. There must be some reason she keeps showing up, and that might come soon.
Next time, UNIT says it can determine Ruby’s real origins. It finds out even more than that…like a certain something at the end