All of the episode titles for Doctor Who Series 1 have been revealed! What can we expect from Ncuti Gatwa’s first full season aboard the good ship TARDIS?
Space Babies
The first episode of Doctor Who Series 1 is written by Russell T Davies and involves Ruby Sunday’s first trip in the TARDIS. From the few brief trailer clips we’ve seen, it looks like this episode is set on a spaceship of some kind and (as you may well have deduced from the title) involves babies. The episode’s teaser trailer also hinted at a toothy, dragon-like monster, reminiscent of the creature from the movie Alien.
SPACE BABIES
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) March 31, 2024
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: Julie Anne Robinson#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/mDgmS3Rytk
Typically, Russell T Davies’ season openers have been more comedic than dark (such as ‘New Earth’ and ‘Partners in Crime’) so there will likely be a few giggles in the first episode of Doctor Who Series 1. But will the eponymous space babies be creepy or cute? Well, if they’re anything like the Adipose from ‘Partners in Crime,’ probably both…
The Devil’s Chord
The next episode of Doctor Who Series 1 appears to be set in 60s London and features The Beatles recording an album at the famous Abbey Road Studios. And yes, the episode includes the infamous zebra crossing.
Intriguingly, ‘The Devil’s Chord’ also stars the American drag queen Jinkx Monsoon as the episode’s baddie, and even though we have seen little footage of her in action thus far, she promises to deliver a suitably camp and creepy performance. Presumably, her character will be using music to some sinister end, and there is a brief clip of Ruby Sunday entwined in some sort of musical stave.
This episode is also written by Russell T Davies.
Boom
BOOM⁰Writer: Steven Moffat
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) March 31, 2024
Director: Julie Anne Robinson#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/4LowSa4HzP
Steven Moffat returns to Doctor Who! He is one of the series’ great masters and has written some of the most popular episodes of all time, so it’s exciting to see that he has penned an episode for Doctor Who Series 1. Historically, his one word episode titles have been some of the cleverest and most cerebral in the show’s history (such as ‘Blink’ and ‘Listen’) so we’re expecting something of a head-scratcher from ‘Boom.’
It’s also worth bearing in mind that it’s been some seven years since Steven Moffat last delivered a Doctor Who script, so he’s had plenty of time to cook up something clever. This promises to be one of the true highlights of Doctor Who Series 1.
73 Yards
73 YARDS
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) March 31, 2024
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: Dylan Holmes Williams #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/QUmbmtabnY
The next episode of Doctor Who Series 1 is penned by Russell T Davies and looks to be one of the season’s true ‘hide behind the sofa’ moments. The teaser trailer shows a wooden sign on a dark and snowy night – the kind that you might find hanging outside a pub or ‘ye olde’ inn, and gives off some true Hammer Horror vibes. But as for what the episode is about, or what the title means, we’re… uh, in the dark.
Interestingly, Russell T Davies mentioned this episode in a Digital Spy interview way back in March 2023. “I sat here and I watched episode four last night and I think it’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever made in my life,” he said, “so I’m very, very happy with it.”
The director Dylan Holmes Williams also chimed: “As the lucky man who got to direct this incredible script, I’ve got to say I’m very excited about what we created.”
Colour us intrigued…
Dot and Bubble
This is another offering from Russell T Davies, although little is known about it. The teaser trailer had a digital air, with the title appearing on the screen like a smartphone notification, so it’s possible that the fifth episode of Doctor Who Series 1 is some kind of modern day adventure, possibly involving the internet or phones or personal data – or none of the above! Certainly, dots and bubbles are the kinds of things you might find in messaging apps, so perhaps the episode is to do with texting…?
Rogue
The sixth episode of Doctor Who Series 1 introduces a pair of brand new writers to the show, Kate Herron and Bryony Redman, and we’re fascinated to see what they’ve cooked up. They are also the only other writers contributing to Doctor Who Series 1 aside from Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, so ‘Rogue’ will doubtless offer something fresh and different.
In this case, this is one of the season’s historical adventures. According to the teaser it’s set in 1813, presumably at some sort of classy party hosted by the Duchess of Pemberton. It would be unwise to draw too many comparisons, but there are some ‘Girl in the Fireplace’ vibes with this one (or Bridgeton if you’re Ruby Sunday) and we’re intrigued to find out who, or what, the eponymous ‘Rogue’ is…
The Legend of Ruby Sunday
THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) March 31, 2024
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: Jamie Donoughue #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/NMJWOP4KQ1
In ‘The Church on Ruby Road,’ it was established that Ruby had been abandoned as a baby outside a church on Christmas Eve night. Her mother (or the person we take to be her mother) simply strolled away into the darkness. Presumably, Doctor Who Series 1 will delve deeper into this plot point, and it’s possible (although we’re only guessing) that ‘The Legend of Ruby Sunday’ will solve some of the mysteries surrounding her identity, or complicate them further. This is Doctor Who, remember, so probably the latter!
Also, this one is written by Russell T Davies, and if his previous episodes are anything to go by, this instalment will provide a dramatic build-up to the Doctor Who Series 1 finale. All we have to go on is the teaser trailer, which looked to be set in a TV studio…
Empire of Death
EMPIRE OF DEATH
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) March 31, 2024
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: Jamie Donoughue #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/LJC0dPk1dC
This is a ground-breaking moment… the first ‘of death’ title of New Who! Following in the trail blazed by such classics as ‘The Robots of Death’ and ‘City of Death,’ we know nothing about what this empire is, who’s running it, or who’s dying. All we have to go on is a brief shot of the TARDIS, with the classic police box text having been replaced with the episode’s name.
Now, Russell T Davies’ previous season finales have involved Daleks, Cybermen or the Master, so it’s possible that the last episode of Doctor Who Series 1 will involve a returning baddie of some kind. After all, there were hints that the Master would be returning after his gold tooth was retrieved in ‘The Giggle,’ but we’re taking a random shot in the dark; simply put, all bets are off as to what Russell T Davies will deliver for his first season finale since 2008. Perhaps it will see the return of former companion Mel Bush, who we know is appearing in the series at some point.
In the meantime, tell us – what are you hoping for from Doctor Who Series 1 / Series 14 / Season 40 / Season Fnarg? And which episode are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.
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From what I,ve read and see the last episode features the Daleks, I could be wrong.