10 Biggest Doctor Who Conspiracy Theories

It’s not unusual for episode order to change between production and transmission.

As shot, Planet of the Ood was the second episode of Series 4, but aired as the third. Later, Night Terrors was meant to broadcast during Series 6A, but ultimately swapped places with The Curse of the Black Spot.

When it comes to the 2024 season, no one can deny that Space Babies was always the opener and The Legend of Ruby Sunday/Empire of Death was always the finale. However, some fans are convinced that the intervening episodes were meant to go out in a different order.

This conspiracy theory has its origins in The Devil’s Chord: specifically, the moment Ruby says she’s from June/July 2024, despite having left home just one episode previously, when it was Christmas 2023. Was this an intentional time skip, or a hint that The Devil’s Chord was supposed to come later in the season, when Ruby could conceivably have been travelling with the Doctor for six months?

There's also the fact that Maestro says The One Who Waits is almost here, which would've made a lot more sense if this episode aired closer to the finale.

All that said, why would the powers-that-be even need to reshuffle the episodes in the first place? There's definitely something that feels off here, but what it all means – if anything – is anyone's guess.