Doctor Who's most divisive era still birthed a character that was outstanding in Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor, but her magnetism was not taken advantage of enough by the show. Martin's Fugitive Doctor made her debut in season 12, episode 5, "Fugitive of the Judoon," and she was instantly compelling. Martin's performance brought a toughness that Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor did not, making them a fun pairing throughout the Fugitive Doctor's short involvement.
Martin's Ruth was a tremendous character that won the viewers over with her unique take on The Doctor, combining the flair of Colin Baker with the ferocity of Christopher Eccleston. Unfortunately, her involvement has become scarce throughout the Chris Chibnall run after the mixed reception of Doctor Who's entire Timeless Child arc. The attempted course correction in Doctor Who: Flux, the show's 13th season, veered the story elsewhere, and it now looks as though the Fugitive Doctor's story will have to continue in comics or Doctor Who's Big Finish audio drama series, basically throwing aside a character who had so much more potential.
How Doctor Who Wasted Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor
The look and personality of the Fugitive Doctor had already won over viewers after Martin's debut appearance in "Fugitive of the Judoon." Essentially, Martin's Fugitive Doctor is one of the Doctor's many unnumbered regenerations from before William Hartnell's First Doctor era. The decision retcons nearly 60 years of continuity about the Doctor's established history, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of many, and the response to her significance in the series caused quite a stir.
Rather than having Martin's Fugitive Doctor play an important role in the season-long arc on her own terms, she merely served as a revelation that there are several regenerations that The Doctor cannot remember. She becomes a cheap plot device rather than a nuanced character with agency. With Chibnall's run as showrunner officially ended and Russell T. Davies taking over Doctor Who once again, it stands to reason that Martin's Fugitive Doctor may never get her due.
The Fugitive Doctor's Story Will Continue - But Not On TV
Luckily, for fans of audiobooks, there is some hope that Martin's Fugitive Doctor gets to have some real adventures and possibly a satisfying ending. Big Finish Productions frequently partners with Doctor Who to produce audio plays featuring past Doctors. There are recorded adventures for the 2nd Doctor through to the 10th Doctor. They've recently managed to get Christopher Eccleston to return as the 9th Doctor for audio plays, as well as enlisting Game of Thrones' David Bradley to play the 1st Doctor in place of the late Hartnell; the latter a trend both Chibnall and Stephen Moffat both turned to in the TV show.
Though there may never be another on-screen appearance from Jo Martin as The Fugitive Doctor after her final arrival in the Centenary Special The Power Of The Doctor, the legacy she left is an impressive one. Fans had hoped for more and may be able to get it with Doctor Who's ongoing audio play series, and Whovians await their next glimpse of her round yellow glasses in Doctor Who. But not capitalizing on Martin's terrific performance and the character's popularity will continue to feel like a massive missed opportunity.