“The Church on Ruby Road” is episode four of the 2023 specials of the new Doctor Who.
The episode opens with some narration about how a stranger came to the church on Ruby Road and left a newborn daughter on the steps. The daughter was named Ruby and the mother was never seen again. No-one even knew her name. Then a time traveller came to call. The Doctor.
December 1st, 2023, 19 years later and Ruby is telling Davina McCall her history. This is for a television show, which is briefly paused due to whispering being picked up. Davina says the show hopes to help; by tracing Ruby’s DNA to find her birth family. As this is happening, a small hand moves some coffee. When the woman reaches to take it, she ends up knocking over several lights. And Davina gets hit in the back of the head with a plug.
December 22nd, and Ruby is playing instrument on stage in a band. The Doctor is watching as a small hand unplugs something.
December 23rd and Riby is watching the Doctor dance in a club. The arm moves a glass and Ruby nearly knocks it off, but the Doctor catches it. Ruby says it happens a lot; she’s clumsy and is always knocking things over. The Doctor says she’s not. It’s something worse. Merry Christmas!
Ruby and her three friends get into a taxi; she’s telling them about all the bad luck she’s had. The arm is loosening the head of a giant snowman above the taxi. The Doctor changes the traffic light, then sees a woman heading under the snowman with a pram. He runs over telling her to move. And the snowman’s head lands on him. Fortunately, it’s hollow. And the pram contains shopping. A policeman comes over wanting details. The Doctor gives some, heads to the TARDIS, tells the man his girlfriend will say yes when he proposes and explains the reasoning.
December 24th and Ruby returns home. The TARDIS is on the pavement. This Doctor seems to leave it in the way. Ruby’s shopping bag is tampered with and things fall out. Inside her home, her adoptive mother says they’re having a baby. A newborn. Right now; it’s on its way. The baby, Lulubelle, is brought from the hospital by a woman who says that it will probably be for 5-6 days. Ruby’s mother heads out to get some things and tells her not to lose the baby.
Davina calls Ruby; there’s no trace of her mother and father. And is Ruby having bad luck? Davina is in a wheelchair with an injured leg. Ever since she met Ruby, it’s been one bad thing after another. And she’s worried that sooner or later there will be something she can’t avoid. The call ends when a Christmas tree with a pointed star falls towards Davina.
The call ended, Ruby hears voices on the baby monitor. She heads to check and Lulubelle is gone. And there’s a photo of a small creature left behind. The baby has been taken to the roof and is going to go up on a ladder, carried by some small creatures. Ruby follows, climbing on the ladder. The Doctor appears, suggests what’s she’s doing is dafter, then joins her. He has some special gloves. The creatures are goblins and want to eat the baby.
Some parts are light-hearted, such as the musical number, and others are a lot darker. And the goblins can move through time to a degree, changing the past. And just who is Ruby’s mother? That may well be important.