Doctor Who followers reward ‘chemistry’ throughout sequence’ first same-sex kiss

Doctor Who fans praised the ‘electrifying chemistry’ between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff after the series aired its first same-sex kiss during Saturday’s show. 

Episode six of the series took on a historical theme, with the Doctor (Ncuti) and his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) take a trip to 1813.  

While attending a ball in Bath, England the duo cross paths with a handsome bounty hunter named Rogue (Jonathan) as they try and track down the shape-shifting Chuldurs who are murdering the guests. 

To begin with, both the Doctor and Rogue accuse one another of being the killer after realising neither are from the Regency Era or Earth. 

After convincing the bounty hunter that he is in fact a Time Lord from Gallifrey, the pair work together to find the Chuldur. 

As the episode progresses the pair flirt and shock the guests with same-sex ballroom dancing, initially deciding to create a scandal to unearth the Chuldur. 

Their plan sees Rogue get down on one knee and ‘propose’ to the Doctor, after he exclaimed: ‘Tell me what your heart wants, or I shall turn my back on you forever.’

In the final moments, the trio learn that they aren’t  just search for one killer but actually a whole family of Chuldurs, but unfortunately both the Doctor and Rogue realise this when its too late for Ruby.

The emotional last scene saw the Doctor in tears as he battled with the idea of sacrificing his best friend Ruby to save the world. 

‘Can you lose your friend to save the world,’ Rogue asked the Doctor as Ruby stood alongside the Chuldurs inside a tri-form. 

‘Doctor! Press send!’ he shouted. 

The Doctor hit back: ‘I can’t. It’ll send Ruby straight to hell!.’ 

In a twist of events, Rogue sacrificed himself, pushing Ruby out of the way, replacing her with himself in the tri-form, but not before giving the Doctor a kiss first. 

‘Find me,’ Rogue whispered before disappearing into the void. 

Following the episode fans shared their delight on social media, with one posting to X: ‘Rogue, the subject of the episode’s title, delivers an electrifying chemistry as Jonathan Groff and Ncuti Gatwa bounce off each other with flawless alignment, a fine-tuned, choreographed battle of wits, charm and sexual tension.’

Others agreed: ‘Ok I’m going to need Rogue to return bc I really need to see more of him and the doctor their chemistry is fire and their connection undeniable’; ‘Well, that was just marvellous! So clever! I do hope we see more of Rogue. Great chemistry.’ 

‘Loved ‘Rogue’ #DoctorWho and please can we see Jonathan Groff again soon?’; ‘I NEED Rogue to be a recurring character in Doctor Who!’; ‘I would love, love, love to see Jonathan Groff here again.’; ‘Getting proper Captain Jack Harkness vibes from Rogue. The Doctor is in love.’

Ncuti is the first queer Doctor Who and the first black Time Lord for a full series. 

Others have included married Victorian couple Jenny Flint and Madame Vastra (Catrin Stewart and Neve McIntosh), trans woman Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble and Torchwood’s Jack Harkness played by John Barrowman, who was the first openly non-heterosexual character in the franchise. 

Ncuti told Variety: ‘I feel like anyone that has a problem with someone who’s not a straight white man playing this character, you’re not really, truly a fan of the show. You’ve not been watching!’

He continued: ‘Because the show is about regeneration, and the Doctor is an alien — why would they only choose to be this sort of person?’

Showrunner Russell T Davies echoed the actor’s thoughts: ‘They weren’t exactly the straightest men in the past.

‘You’re talking about someone who does have a lightness and a joy about him that, to me, chimes with queer energy.

‘It’s very rarely driving the story vehemently, but you will see moments exploring it. We’re not delivering a neutered Doctor.’