Despite receiving mixed reviews from longtime fans, Doctor Who Season 14 took a surprising direction inspired by Star Wars, according to writer Russell T. Davies.
The eighth and final episode of Doctor Who Season 14 revealed the answer to the show’s central mystery, as the Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday discovered the true identity of Ruby’s mother.
Despite finally receiving answers to long-standing questions since the show’s debut, the reveal left many fans disappointed as it did not live up to their expectations.
Nevertheless, Davis supports the concept of Ruby’s mother and even elaborated on how the recent Star Wars trilogy heavily influenced the development of the reveal.
Be aware: there are spoilers for Season 14 of Doctor Who discussed below!
The Season 14 finale of Doctor Who unveiled that Ruby’s mother, Louise, was a typical human woman who left her on the steps of a church due to being just 15 years old at the time of giving birth.
The Doctor and his archenemy Sutekh were convinced that Louise must have some connection to the Time Lords or gods, as she was able to successfully hide her true identity for such an extended period of time.
During his guest appearance on Doctor Who: Video Commentaries, Davies revealed that Ruby’s origin story drew heavy inspiration from Daisy Ridley’s character Rey in the most recent Star Wars trilogy, particularly The Last Jedi.
“According to Davis, the second film stated that Daisy Ridley’s parentage was not exceptional and there was nothing remarkable about her. She simply acquired the Force and was an ordinary individual.”
Initially portrayed as a regular individual with the ability to harness the Force, the subsequent revision of her character transformed her into the offspring of the Emperor, granting her immense cosmic abilities and godlike powers.
“I was particularly drawn to the version where she was portrayed as a normal, ordinary individual. This is my response to that portrayal. She is not the offspring of Sutekh, the Time Lords, or Rassilon. Rather, her mother is Louise Miller, a 15-year-old who was pregnant and living in a dangerous and abusive household. Louise left her child on a doorstep, which is the basis for my perspective. I believe it makes for a more compelling and authentic narrative.”
Despite facing criticism from certain Doctor Who fans, the concept behind Season 14’s reveal remains clever, as the show had previously dropped multiple hints indicating that the character was simply a normal person all along.
The Doctor’s most significant discovery was the scan he performed on Ruby, which confirmed her to be entirely human and dispelled any possibility of her mother being a supernatural entity.
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