Doctor Who — Series 14/Season 1 - Episode 8 — “Empire of Death” — A Review

22nd June, 2024: the introduction.

Yes: it’s officially Saturday, 22nd June.

And … ?

Once I’ve done a few things around the flat?

I’ll be plonking myself on a comfy chair: and watching the last episode of this series of Doctor Who.

I’m looking forward both to it … and finding out what others think.

I’ll be back … after a pause!

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

22nd June, 2024: “Empire of Death”.

Part One: The Summary.

Episode 8 — “Empire of Death” — opens with a summary of “The Legend of Ruby Sunday”.

Then shifts: to show us Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf) materialising around the TARDIS as Susan Triad (Susan Twist) starts to destroy all around her.

Post titles?

We see Susan Triad kill the UNIT team led by Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave): as the Doctor and Mel Bush (Ncuti Gatwa and Bonnie Langford) flee UNIT HQ.

To arrive at the Time Window: where Ruby (Millie Gibson) is still trying to see the ghostly image of her mother … and a replica of the TARDIS, one uninfected by Sutekh, still stands.

A replica that allows the three to jump ahead to a dead 2046, and check databases compiled by a villainous Prime Minister.

And to find the one thing they realise can distract Sutekh for long enough to once again trap him in the Time Vortex.

That one thing … ?

The name of Ruby’s mother … … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Two: Thoughts.

Now … what did I make of the fifty-four minutes of “Empire of Death”?

And the series it’s the climax of?

And associated other things, as well?

“Empire of Death”, itself, is a very good episode.

Granted, it resolves the Sutekh story around the thirty five minute mark: by having the Doctor trap the creature in the Time Vortex … again!

This part of the story is something I feel is beautifully done: well paced, nicely written, and beautifully performed.

As are the latter twenty minutes or so of the episode: it reveals Ruby’s much hidden birth mother, and introduces her both to us, Ruby, and Ruby’s adoptive family.

This is also an episode that sees seriously good performances!

Millie Gibson as Ruby?   Is great.

Ncuti Gatwa, as the Doctor?   Does as fantastic a job as I’ve come to expect from him: his “You bring life” line is simply joyous: his speeches, emotional!

The real star, as far as I’m concerned?

Is Bonnie Langford as Mel: her performance was as restrained as Ncuti’s was exuberant, and utterly bewitching to watch.

That, I think, is a benefit of some very good writing, equally good directing … and a competent, experienced actress who knows her stuff, and puts every last drop of it on screen.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Three: More Thoughts.

There’s possibly other things to mention.

I mentioned — in last week’s written and video reviews — that I have been watching this series through the iPlayer app, the BBC’s catch–up service, on my AppleTV 4K.

And that the subtitles on it were non-existent.

As you’ll know from those reviews?   I managed to check on a couple of muffled lines by watching the scene again: on my desktop Mac mini.

In the days since?   I’ve managed to check with owners of other Apple devices.

Everyone I asked who accesses iPlayer on a Mac with various browsers, and with various Apple mobile devices, can access the iPlayer’s subtitles.

Anyone using an AppleTV?

Can’t.

I don’t know if this is a problem at Apple’s end, or, as I suspect, at the BBC’s end.

But I think it needs solving: as soon as possible.

The BBC, and modern Dr Who, pride themselves on accessibility.

I don’t know if Russell T. Davies can put a word in the relevant ears, but it could help.

On other fronts?

At one point, after being told of the Doctor’s first meeting with Sutekh, Ruby asks the Fifteenth Doctor “… what was all that Egyptian stuff?”: the Doctor tells her it’s ‘cultural appropriation’.

I’m not sure that he’s right.

I get it: cultural appropriation is a bad thing, and that we need reminding of this.

But?

I don’t know that I need Russell T. Davies to tell me that!

And … ?

I am also aware that Tom Baker’s era of the show lifted inspiration from everywhere: Egyptian myth in Pyramids of Mars, Homer’s Odyssey for Underworld, Fu Manchu, Jack the Ripper, The Phantom of the Opera for the famously contentious The Talons of Weng Chiang, Frankenstein for The Brain of Morbius, and many others!

Pyramids of Mars lifted inspiration, in other words.

I think “Empire of Death” is seeing cultural appropriation where, maybe, there isn’t any.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Four: A Side Step.

Just as a thought, here: while we’re discussing Pyramids of Mars … 

You may not know it, but for last year’s anniversary celebrations, the iPlayer aired half a dozen Classic Doctor Who adventures: under the Tales of the TARDIS banner.

Last Thursday, Thursday, 20th June?

Saw the BBC release a version of Pyramids of Mars: under that same Tales banner.

I saw it, myself.

Granted, it’s an edited version: with a run-time of seventy-five minutes, compared to the original’s one hundred minutes.

But?

The story still hangs together well, the updated effects look good, and the frame story is well done.

It’s worth watching, I think.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Five: Finally?

Finally?

What did I make of “Empire of Death”?

Yes: I think “Empire of Death” makes for a suitable grand finale to a very good series of Dr Who.

One I know I’ve found very enjoyable: and one whose broadcast on iPlayer — despite the subtitle issue — has been very convenient for a hobbyist reviewer.

And one that leaves me looking forward to Joy to the World, the Steven Moffat penned 2024 Christmas special.

Between now and then?

I’ll be reviewing more stuff: including the copy of The Celestial Toymaker that got to me, this afternoon.

Frankly?

I’ll see you next time.

“Empire of Death”

★★★★

Series Ratings:

Episode 1 “Space Babies” — ★★★☆

Episode 2 “The Devil’s Chord” — ★★★★

Episode 3 “Boom” — ★★★★⁺

Episode 4 “73 Yards” — ★★★★⁺

Episode 5 “Dot and Bubble” —  ★★★☆

Episode 6 “Rogue” — ★★★☆

Episode 7 “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” — ★★★★

Episode 8 “Empire of Death” — ★★★★

Average — ★★★7/8th