Rogue (Doctor Who)

"Rogue" is the sixth episode of the fourteenth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode was first released in the United Kingdom on BBC iPlayer on 8 June 2024 and was broadcast on BBC One the same night. It was released simultaneously on Disney+ in the United States on 7 June. The episode was written by Kate Herron and Briony Redman, and directed by Ben Chessell.

In the episode, the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and his companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) travel to 1813 where they meet a mysterious bounty hunter named Rogue (Jonathan Groff), who is trying to hunt and kill a criminal member of the shape-shifting Chuldur species.

"Rogue" was filmed in Wales in May 2023 and shared similar themes to the period drama Bridgerton in terms of production design, costumes, music, and choreography. The episode is dedicated to former Doctor Who star William Russell, who died in the week prior to its first broadcast. It received a positive reception from critics, with praise towards Gatwa and Groff's performances.

In 1813, the Doctor and Ruby visit Bath, England to attend a ball. The Doctor encounters a mysterious bounty hunter named Rogue, and the pair go outside to talk to each other. Ruby meanwhile finds a woman named Emily, and accidentally interrupts a proposal of marriage between her and another man, who rejects her. Ruby comforts Emily, while the Doctor and Rogue discover the dead body of the Duchess. Rogue captures the Doctor and traps him in a sealing device on his ship.

Rogue scans the Doctor, believing him to be a Chuldur (because the scan says the Doctor is a shapeshifter), a member of a race of shape-shifting avian humanoids. Rogue threatens to send the Doctor to an incinerator, but the Doctor convinces Rogue to spare him by showing him his Time Lord biology and past incarnations. The Doctor reconfigures Rogue's sealing device to send the Chuldur to an alternate dimension so that Rogue will not kill it, while also offering Rogue the opportunity to travel with him.

Ruby and Emily discover the dead body of a housekeeper and meet up with the Doctor and Rogue. The Doctor deduces that, like Ruby, the Chuldur are fans of Bridgerton and can be lured away by scandal. The Doctor accordingly asks Rogue to dance and stages an argument with him, with Rogue professing love and offering a ring. The pair storm off as part of the act, causing the Duchess to follow. The Doctor and Rogue realize there are actually four Chuldur and not just one, and flee from them. They reconfigure Rogue's sealing device to account for more Chuldur. Emily reveals herself to be a Chuldur and apparently kills and shapeshifts into Ruby.

The Doctor interrupts the Chuldur's mock wedding and uses the sealing device on them. Ruby reveals she was able to escape Emily, but is unable to escape the seal. Rogue arrives and knocks Emily into the seal. Rogue kisses the Doctor, but also steals the device used to activate the seal from him while doing so. Rogue jumps into the seal and throws Ruby out. Rogue asks the Doctor to find him as he and the Chuldur are sent to an unknown alternate dimension.

The Doctor sends Rogue's ship into an orbit around the Moon and tells Ruby that he may not be able to find Rogue due to the infinite number of alternate dimensions. He puts on Rogue's ring before departing.