The novelization of this season's most experimental and intriging stories is sitting on the table before me as I ponder its usefulness as a source of explanations for the more baffling moments in the episode. I think Russell T Davis has leaned as far in that direction as he wished to take, or give, the reader. I think what we saw, what we think we understand the story to be about, is as much as he ever intended to share with the viewer. Scott Handcock, who adapted his script for the episode, was not handed some secret blueprint to this Whoish head scratcher. It was a wise decision as to do so would have been to serve that story poorly, very much a case of taking the Who out of Who, so to speak. Not so much tmey-whimey as wavy Davy.Ruby is put front and center in the story of a life not lived, possibly caused by The Doctor disrupting a magical matrix held together by strings and possibility (String theory anyone?)Following this things proceed in a melacholy chain of events, stealing any chance the friends and family loving Ruby has of ever finding such contentment. Instead she plods hopelessly through a world that rejects her at every turn, inexplicitly closing the doors of earned intimacy and companionship. And yet in this story Russell finds a way to shape her life to purpose, building her character up in such a way that only she is capable of thwarting the will of a dangerous and twisted individual hellbent on seeing mushroom clouds bloom. Its a sad tale and a brave move to present this story midway through a season that is still only introducing Ruby herself and the current iteration of our beloved Doctor. Will the series ever be so bold again? Only Russell knows.
And hes not telling.
