Culture

“I feel seen”: Fans go wild over Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff’s Doctor Who kiss

By Jordan Robledo

9th June 2024

BBC

Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff shared a steamy kiss in the latest Doctor Who episode, and fans are obsessed.

In May 2023, Russell T. Davies revealed that the Looking star would play a “key role” in the show’s 14th season.

“This is an incredible coup, and a great honour, to get such a huge star striding on to our set. So strap on your space boots, this is going to be a blast!” he said in a statement.

Groff echoed similar sentiments, adding: “I am so thrilled to jump into the extraordinary mind of Russell T Davies and watch the incredible Ncuti Gatwa soar in this iconic role!”

Over the past year, fans of the Spring Awakening star have been eager to learn more about his role.

Fortunately, on 8 June, the wait finally came to an end when season 14’s sixth episode premiered on BBC and Disney Plus. 

Titled “Rogue,” the episode follows the Doctor (Gatwa) and his companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) as they travel back to 1813 England to attend a fancy Regency-era party.

However, before the pair can live their Bridgerton fantasy, Ruby’s earrings pick up some sonar interference, resulting in the Time Lord using the sonic screwdriver to find the culprit.

After a brief scan, the Doctor spots Rogue (Groff), a bounty hunter from the future who’s looking to capture and burn a shapeshifting Chuldur – which uses its abilities to cosplay the lives of its victims.

While the episode was jam-packed with action, comedy, and an incredible music score, it also featured the Doctor having an enemies-to-lovers romance with Rogue, which ended in a passionate kiss.

Shortly after its premiere, hordes of fans took to social media to praise the episode’s LGBTQIA+ storyline and the electric chemistry between Gatwa and Groff.

One fan on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote: “God, if I had seen the Doctor kiss a bloke when I was 14 it would have made a hell of a difference. To think that this show is watched by 14 year olds in the closet now is masterful. what a show. #DoctorWho.“

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, tweeting: “Okay, just watched Rogue and let me tell you, THIS IS FOR ME!!! THIS IS MY DOCCY WHO!!!! eeeeek I’ve never felt more gayyyyyy! long live the queers !!!! #DoctorWho.“

A third fan added: “This is going to be so incredible for so many younger fans to see. This is normal. This is life and love and happiness. This is their hero. This is Pride.”

While Rogue’s future is unknown – due to him sacrificing himself to save Ruby from being sent to another dimension – Groff has expressed an in interest in reprising his role.

“I hope we’re seeing Rogue again. Rouge tells the Doctor at the end of the episode to find him, so it’s totally up to the Doctor. So, the ball is in his court, so to speak,“ the Frozen star revealed on the recent episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed.

The episode’s co-writer, Kate Herron, echoed similar sentiments in a separate interview with TV Insider.

“I think me and Briony are just cheeky. We just put in the script, ‘Find me,’ and the Doctor has his ring, and we were like, maybe they’ll take it out, but Russell let us keep it in there,” she explained.

“So, no. Look, we were excited, and we love Rogue, obviously, the character. So if Russell decides to bring Rogue back, that would be extremely flattering.”

The first six episodes of Doctor Who season 14 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney Plus in the US.

Check out more fan reactions below.