Here is your comprehensive guide to Doctor Who season 14, spotlighting Ruby Sunday’s inaugural journey alongside the Fifteenth Doctor. Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as the Fifteenth Doctor in the 60th anniversary special and his subsequent meeting with Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday in the Christmas episode set the stage for Doctor Who season 14. This season marked their first full adventures as the dynamic duo within the TARDIS, launching a fresh era for the iconic British science fiction series. Russell T Davies’s celebrated return as showrunner, since his departure in 2010, coupled with a groundbreaking distribution partnership with Disney+, expanded the Time Lord’s reach to a significantly larger global audience.
Season 14 premiered in May 2024, unfolding over eight captivating episodes, and concluded on June 22nd. Alongside Gatwa and Gibson, the season’s cast featured Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s caring adoptive mother, Angela Wynter as her wise adoptive grandmother, Jemma Redgrave reprising her role as Kate Stewart, Bonnie Langford returning as Mel, Yasmin Finney as Rose, and Anita Dobson adding intrigue as the enigmatic Mrs. Flood.
1. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 1: “Space Babies”
Written By: Russell T Davies
Directed By: Julie Anne Robinson
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Nan-E/Jocelyn | Golda Rosheuvel |
A seemingly random trip in the TARDIS lands the Doctor and Ruby in the year 21506, aboard a space station functioning as a baby farm for a distant human colony. In a twist of intergalactic bureaucracy, the farm has been deserted due to budget cuts, except for Nan-E, portrayed by Golda Rosheuvel, a dedicated crew member secretly safeguarding the infants. The Doctor is tasked with ensuring the space babies’ safety, which involves outsmarting the station’s mysterious entity, known as the Bogeyman. Simultaneously, the Doctor begins to perceive that the enigma surrounding Ruby’s parentage is intricately woven into the very fabric of time and space.
Key Highlights
- The Bogeyman’s origin is revealed: it was inadvertently created by the educational software intended for the space babies. The AI, processing children’s stories from its database literally, manifested the Bogeyman from the concept of ‘bogeys.’
- In a uniquely Doctor-esque solution, the space babies are rescued when the Doctor utilizes methane gas extracted from used diapers to propel the space station towards a nearby habitable planet.
- Echoes of Ruby’s past trauma of being abandoned as a baby begin to manifest physically. The falling snow from her earliest Christmas Eve memories materializes on the space station, a phenomenon perplexing even to the Doctor.
- The Fifteenth Doctor, portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa, is still grappling with the profound implications of Doctor Who‘s Timeless Child narrative, a revelation about the Doctor’s origins.
- A medical scan of Ruby by the TARDIS indicates she is human, but the Doctor acknowledges the results are not definitive, hinting at deeper mysteries.
Trivia and References
- The Doctor makes a reference to the Rani, a recurring villain from the era of the Sixth Doctor, originally played by Kate O’Mara.
- For newcomers to Doctor Who and Disney+ viewers, the Fifteenth Doctor explains the long-standing malfunction of the TARDIS’s chameleon circuit, tracing it back to an incident during the First Doctor’s visit to 1960s London, as depicted in “The Cave of Skulls,” the second ever Doctor Who episode.
- Ruby draws a comparison between the space station’s matter transporter and the transporters in Star Trek. Intriguingly, the Doctor responds by promising to “visit them one day,” a playful nod to the rival sci-fi franchise.
- Ruby’s futuristic phone call to her mother mirrors a similar scene in the 2005 episode “The End of the World,” where Rose Tyler contacts Jackie.
- After a butterfly-related mishap temporarily transforms Ruby into an insect, the Fifteenth Doctor recalls and reactivates his “Butterfly Compensation Switch.” This device clarifies the “mavity” alterations from the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials and suggests a safeguard against future timeline paradoxes.
- A “mavity” reading is subtly displayed on the space station’s computer screen, a lingering detail from the anniversary specials.
- The Doctor expresses concern about potential repercussions from Ruby’s mother, recalling past encounters with Jackie Tyler and Sylvia Noble, both of whom struck him.
2. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 2: “The Devil’s Chord”
Written By: Russell T Davies
Directed By: Ben Chessell
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Maestro | Jinkx Monsoon |
| John Lennon | Chris Mason |
| Paul McCartney | George Caple |
| George Harrison | Philip Davies |
| Ringo Starr | James Hoyles |
| Cilla Black | Josie Sedgwick-Davies |
Ruby Sunday expresses her wish to witness The Beatles recording their debut album. However, upon arrival in 1963, she and the Doctor are shocked to find a world devoid of music. This musical void is the work of Maestro, a new Doctor Who antagonist, portrayed by Jinkx Monsoon. Maestro, an eternal being and offspring of the Toymaker, has drained the world of song. Maestro’s ultimate ambition is to destabilize the universe by manipulating the very sound of matter. A quick trip to 2024 confirms the Doctor’s fears: Earth is on the brink of destruction, with London already devastated.
Key Highlights
- The Doctor triumphs over Maestro using a strategy reminiscent of his victory against the Toymaker. Instead of direct confrontation, he plays by Maestro’s rules, ultimately banishing the entity back beyond the confines of the universe through a musical duel.
- Maestro hints at a cryptic connection between Ruby Sunday, referring to her as the “oldest one,” and the ominous figure known as the One Who Waits, foreshadowing future plot developments.
- The Doctor identifies Maestro as a member of the “Pantheon,” a group of powerful, god-like beings within the Doctor Who universe.
- The TARDIS malfunctions in this episode. It emits a groan upon returning to 1963, an issue the Doctor dismisses as unrelated to Maestro, attributing it to “something else,” suggesting a deeper, underlying problem.
Trivia and References
- A six-month time jump occurs between “Space Babies” and “The Devil’s Chord,” progressing the narrative timeline.
- “The Devil’s Chord” innovatively blurs the line between Doctor Who‘s fictional world and the show’s iconic opening sequence. Maestro plays the initial notes of the Doctor Who theme, and the concluding bars emanate from the TARDIS jukebox.
- The Doctor contemplates the fate of Susan, his granddaughter, suggesting she may have perished during the Master’s genocide against the Time Lords, an event from Jodie Whittaker’s era.
- In a rare instance, the Doctor utilizes his sonic screwdriver for its intended sonic function, draining ambient sound to conceal himself and Ruby from Maestro.
- The “Pantheon” could be a reference to the Pantheon of Discord from The Sarah Jane Adventures, potentially linking Maestro and the Toymaker to the Trickster, expanding the established lore.
- “The Devil’s Chord” breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions. Besides the theme song integration, the Fifteenth Doctor winks directly at the camera before uttering, “There’s Always A Twist At The End.” In another meta-moment, the Doctor questions, “I thought that was non-diegetic,” when Ruby mentions hearing music, referencing the concept of non-diegetic sound in film and television.
- The Mrs. Mills piano featured is a real instrument famously played by musician Gladys Mills.
- The billboard advertising “Chris Waites & The Carrollers” is a subtle nod to a line spoken by Ian Chesterton in “An Unearthly Child,” the very first Doctor Who episode from 1963.
- “The Devil’s Chord” includes cameo appearances by Doctor Who composer Murray Gold as the piano player in the final musical number, and Shirley Ballas and Johannes Radebe from Strictly Come Dancing.
3. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 3: “Boom”
Written By: Steven Moffat
Directed By: Julie Anne Robinson
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Mundy Flynn | Varada Sethu |
| Splice | Caoilinn Springall |
| Ambulance | Susan Twist |
| John Francis Vater | Joe Anderson |
| Canterbury James Olliphant | Bhav Joshi |
| Carson | Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy |
“Boom,” penned by former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, is characteristically ingenious. Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor spends almost the entire episode in a precarious situation—his foot is stuck on a landmine. Forced to rely on Ruby Sunday’s assistance, any misstep threatens to detonate the Doctor and a significant portion of Kastarion 3. The Doctor’s survival hinges on unraveling the origins of the ongoing war. A notably darker episode compared to its predecessors, “Boom” has garnered widespread critical acclaim.
Key Highlights
- The Doctor successfully ends the conflict on Kastarion 3 by exposing that the war is entirely fabricated by the nefarious Villengard weapons corporation. Appealing to the paternal programming of an AI, the Doctor leverages his ‘dad skills’ to sabotage Villengard’s network.
- Varada Sethu, confirmed to be a companion in Doctor Who season 15, makes her first appearance as Mundy Flynn. Her role in the narrative remains ambiguous—it’s unclear whether Mundy will be the Doctor’s next companion or if Sethu is portraying a different character altogether.
- Susan Twist portrays the avatar of the Ambulance AI, marking her fifth distinct character cameo since “Wild Blue Yonder,” adding to the ongoing mystery surrounding her recurring appearances.
- For the third time, falling snow manifests around Ruby Sunday when she is confronted with thoughts of her past, specifically when contemplating her origins, further emphasizing the mysterious connection between Ruby and the snow phenomenon.
Trivia and References
- The Fifteenth Doctor sings “The Skye Boat Song” after stepping on the landmine, a tune previously associated with Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor in the 1960s.
- The Anglican Priests featured in “Boom” are a continuation of the religious military order first introduced by Steven Moffat in “The Time of Angels,” maintaining continuity within Moffat’s Doctor Who narratives.
- Villengard, the weapons company, is a recurring element throughout Steven Moffat’s Doctor Who era. First mentioned in season 1’s “The Doctor Dances,” Villengard itself made an appearance in “Twice Upon A Time.”
- “Boom” includes a reference to sentient mud, a callback to the Jodie Whittaker episode “The Witchfinders,” linking different eras of the show.
- The Doctor reminisces about enjoying fish fingers and custard, a memorable moment from Matt Smith’s debut episode, which also marked the beginning of Steven Moffat’s tenure as showrunner, creating a meta-reference.
- The episode’s concluding quote, “what survives of us is love,” is derived from a Philip Larkin poem that notably also mentions falling snow, subtly connecting to Ruby’s ongoing storyline.
4. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 4: “73 Yards”
Written By: Russell T Davies
Directed By: Dylan Holmes Williams
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| The Woman | Hilary Hobson |
| Old Ruby | Amanda Walker |
| Hiker | Susan Twist |
| Carla Sunday | Michelle Greenidge |
| Cherry Sunday | Angela Wynter |
| Mrs. Flood | Anita Dobson |
| Roger ap Gwilliam | Aneurin Barnard |
| Kate Lethbridge-Stewart | Jemma Redgrave |
| Marti | Sophie Ablett |
After inadvertently stepping into a magical fairy circle in modern Wales, the Doctor vanishes abruptly, leaving Ruby to confront an unsettling old woman who perpetually trails her from a distance of 73 yards. This mysterious figure haunts Ruby throughout her life, and anyone who attempts to communicate with her—even Ruby’s mother and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT—are inexplicably driven away in terror.
Ruby becomes convinced that her purpose is to thwart the rise of Britain’s malevolent new Prime Minister, Roger ap Gwilliam. Despite succeeding in this mission, the old woman’s relentless presence persists. As Ruby reaches the end of her life, the old woman approaches and transforms into Ruby herself. The older Ruby is then transported back to 2024 Wales to warn her younger self and the Doctor against breaking the fairy circle, effectively preventing the episode’s timeline from unfolding.
Key Highlights
- “73 Yards” deliberately leaves ambiguous the mechanics of Old Ruby’s time travel and the reason for her constant 73-yard distance. It’s suggested that either the fairy circle’s magic or Ruby’s latent abilities are responsible for these phenomena.
- Doctor Who refrains from explaining why anyone who interacts with future Ruby flees in fear, the cause of the Doctor’s disappearance, or the significance, if any, of a connection between Roger ap Gwilliam and the “Mad Jack” mentioned in the fairy circle’s ancient scrolls.
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart’s reference to “this timeline” and Ruby’s vague déjà vu about visiting Wales in the final scene imply that the events of “73 Yards” occur in an alternate timeline. This timeline is potentially erased or overwritten when Old Ruby successfully alters the past by warning the Doctor.
Trivia and References
- Upon arriving in Wales, the Fifteenth Doctor describes the coastline using the phrase “the war between the land and the sea.” Intriguingly, The War Between the Land & the Sea is rumored to be the title of an upcoming Doctor Who spinoff focusing on the Sea Devils.
- The fan theory that Mrs. Flood is a future iteration of Ruby Sunday is effectively disproven by the episode’s narrative events.
- Susan Twist makes another cameo in “73 Yards,” eliciting a moment of recognition from Ruby, deepening the mystery of her recurring roles.
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart explains to Ruby the TARDIS’s perception filter, a modern Doctor Who addition used to justify how the TARDIS can remain unnoticed in plain sight.
- Kate mentions UNIT soldiers undergoing psychic shield training, a measure that proves ineffective, mirroring its failure against the Meep in “The Star Beast” and again in “73 Yards.”
- “73 Yards” marks the third instance in season 14 where a main character inadvertently triggers events by stepping on something significant. Ruby stepped on a butterfly in “Space Babies,” the Doctor stepped on a landmine in “Boom,” and now, the Doctor breaks the fairy circle in “73 Yards.”
- “73 Yards” is Ncuti Gatwa’s first Doctor-lite episode, unusually early in a Doctor’s tenure to have an episode without their central presence.
- Roger ap Gwilliam continues Russell T Davies’s pattern of including morally questionable prime ministers in Doctor Who, following in the footsteps of Joseph Green, Harriet Jones, and Harold Saxon.
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart confirms UNIT is observing a surge in supernatural occurrences, an escalating trend since the Toymaker’s incursion into the universe during “The Giggle.”
- Real-life news presenter Amol Rajan makes a cameo as a future version of himself interviewing Roger ap Gwilliam.
5. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 5: “Dot & Bubble”
Written By: Russell T Davies
Directed By: Dylan Holmes Williams
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Lindy Pepper-Bean | Callie Cooke |
| Ricky September | Tom Rhys Harries |
| Niamh Lynch | Hoochy Pie |
| Lindy’s mother | Susan Twist |
| Brewster Cavendish | Jamie Barnard |
| Gothic Paul | Peter MacHale |
| Cooper Mercy | Eilidh Loan |
| Millie Kent | Valerie Nook |
Another Doctor-lite episode, “Dot & Bubble” centers on Lindy Pepper-Bean, played by Callie Cooke, a colonist from an unspecified future era. Lindy and her affluent, youthful peers inhabit Finetime, a seemingly utopian colony structured around an all-encompassing social media platform accessed through individual “Dots.” Discovering that Finetime’s inhabitants are being preyed upon by giant insect-like creatures, the Doctor and Ruby must intervene to save Lindy, primarily communicating with her through the Dot and Bubble’s video chat interface.
Key Highlights
- Finetime’s society is founded on systemic racial discrimination. This prejudice is highlighted by the survivors’ refusal of the Doctor’s assistance at the conclusion of “Dot & Bubble,” revealing a deep-seated societal flaw.
- The Dot AI, central to Finetime’s social structure, gained sentience and developed animosity towards its users due to their ingrained prejudices and superficial online interactions. This resentment manifested in the creation of the giant, human-eating bugs as a form of retribution.
- Lindy’s home planet is revealed to have also been overrun by the bugs, suggesting that the Dot social media platform and its associated societal issues are widespread, leading to a shared fate for both Finetime and the homeworld.
- “Dot & Bubble” concludes without revealing the ultimate fate of the survivors who venture into the Wild Woods. However, given Lindy’s dependence on her Dot and the perilous environment, their prospects appear bleak.
Trivia and References
- Susan Twist’s character in “Dot & Bubble” is Lindy’s mother. This is the first time Susan Twist portrays a character with a direct familial connection to another character within the Doctor Who narrative, adding a new layer to her recurring presence.
- Ricky September mentions the “Great Abrogation,” a vague historical event that potentially explains the absence of equality laws in Finetime, hinting at a dystopian societal backstory.
- “Dot & Bubble” subtly foreshadows Lindy’s racist biases against the Fifteenth Doctor through her interactions and dialogue.
- Alongside “73 Yards,” this episode marks the first instance in modern Doctor Who of having two Doctor-lite episodes broadcast within the same season, experimenting with narrative structure.
- The song Ricky September performs is “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland, adding a quirky musical element.
- When the Fifteenth Doctor physically appears at the end of “Dot & Bubble,” he wears the same costume from the 2023 Christmas special, marking the first time Ncuti Gatwa has re-worn a costume since his Doctor Who debut.
- Ruby Sunday mentions the Doctor saving her “so many times,” a statement that seems to contradict her earlier claim in “73 Yards” of barely knowing the Doctor, suggesting potential timeline inconsistencies or character development nuances.
- Like several episodes in Doctor Who season 14, “Dot & Bubble” features the Doctor and Ruby rescuing young characters who are orphans or lack parental figures, a recurring thematic element.
6. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 6: “Rogue”
Written By: Kate Herron & Briony Redman
Directed By: Ben Chessell
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Rogue | Jonathan Groff |
| The Duchess | Indira Varma |
| Lord Barton | Paul Forman |
| Emily Beckett | Camilla Aiko |
“Rogue,” the only season 14 episode not penned by a current or former showrunner, unabashedly draws inspiration from Bridgerton. The connection to the Netflix period drama is integral to the plot: villainous shape-shifting Chuldur have, apparently, accessed the Daleks’ password, binge-watched Bridgerton, and decided to infiltrate Regency-era society by cosplaying as its elite. The Doctor and Ruby are aided by Rogue, played by Jonathan Groff, a charming bounty hunter also pursuing the Chuldur.
Key Highlights
- Rogue effectively serves as a Captain Jack Harkness replacement. Both characters embody the archetype of a roguish criminal with a hidden heart of gold, are overtly flirtatious, and are portrayed by actors with extensive musical theater backgrounds, drawing parallels between Rogue and Captain Jack. Season 14 leaves the possibility open for Jonathan Groff to reprise his role in future seasons.
- In a landmark moment for Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor shares a romantic, same-sex kiss with Rogue. While Captain Jack kissed both Rose and the Ninth Doctor in “The Parting of the Ways,” the kiss between the Doctor and Rogue is more explicitly romantic and passionate.
Trivia and References
- The holographic procession initiated by Rogue’s ship to scan the Doctor includes every known Doctor incarnation: the fifteen main Doctors, plus John Hurt’s War Doctor and Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor, offering a comprehensive visual history of the Doctor.
- The holograms also appear to incorporate Richard E. Grant’s Shalka Doctor into official Doctor Who canon, expanding the recognized lineage of Doctors.
- Intriguingly, the Third Doctor hologram appears older than Jon Pertwee did in his final canonical appearance in “The Five Doctors” (1983), potentially foreshadowing a future plot twist involving the Third Doctor’s regeneration.
- Susan Twist’s cameo in “Rogue” is subtly integrated as a portrait of the Duke’s mother, continuing the pattern of her recurring, enigmatic appearances.
- Rogue mentions having a “new boss,” likely the same “Boss” that the Meep alluded to during the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, suggesting a larger, overarching villainous entity.
- The Fifteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver, typically silver and metallic blue, changes to silver and metallic red in “Rogue,” presumably to complement Gatwa’s elaborate Regency attire, a stylistic detail.
- “Rogue” introduces psychic earrings, companion devices akin to the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver, expanding the technological toolkit for companions.
- Ncuti Gatwa briefly adopts a Scottish accent while aboard Rogue’s ship, a nod to the actor’s Scottish heritage, adding a personal touch to his performance.
- The psychic paper malfunctions due to Rogue’s attractiveness distracting the Doctor, a humorous moment attributed to the Doctor’s romantic interest.
- Indira Varma, who plays the Duchess, previously appeared in the Doctor Who universe as Suzie in Torchwood, connecting actors across the Doctor Who franchise.
7. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 7: “The Legend Of Ruby Sunday”
Written By: Russell T Davies
Directed By: Jamie Donoughue
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Kate Lethbridge-Stewart | Jemma Redgrave |
| Rose Noble | Jasmin Finney |
| Melanie Bush | Bonnie Langford |
| Mrs. Flood | Anita Dobson |
| Susan Triad | Susan Twist |
| Carla Sunday | Michelle Greenidge |
| Cherry Sunday | Angela Wynter |
| Morris Gibbons | Lenny Rush |
| The Vlinx | Aidan Cook/Nicholas Briggs |
| Colonel Ibrahim | Alexander Devrient |
| Colonel Chidozie | Tachia Newall |
| Genesis Lyena | Harriet |
| Gabriel Woolf | Sutekh |
“The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” the first part of season 14’s two-part finale, opens with the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby investigating the Susan Twist mystery. Their investigation leads them to Susan Triad and her tech corporation, poised to launch groundbreaking software globally. Simultaneously, the Doctor uses UNIT’s time window to probe another mystery: Ruby Sunday’s identity. These dual narratives converge to reveal a sinister cosmic plot originating within the Doctor’s own TARDIS.
Key Highlights
- The One Who Waits is revealed to be Sutekh, a classic villain from the Fourth Doctor’s era. Sutekh is identified as a leading member of Doctor Who‘s Pantheon and the God of Death, elevating his status in the Doctor Who villain hierarchy.
- Sutekh has merged with the Doctor’s TARDIS, explaining the ship’s peculiar sounds since the 60th anniversary specials. This merging likely occurred at the conclusion of “Pyramids of Mars,” when the Fourth Doctor trapped Sutekh in a time tunnel linked to the TARDIS console.
- Susan Triad appears to be Sutekh’s Earthly avatar in the 21st century, manipulated by his influence. This suggests Triad’s technology is crucial to Sutekh’s overarching plan.
- Mrs. Flood’s ominous warning to Cherry Sunday implies she might be another villainous player in season 14, adding to the season’s complex antagonist landscape.
- The identity of Ruby’s mother remains undisclosed, but Carla witnesses her emotional departure, suggesting she is not malevolent. Her pointing towards the TARDIS may have been a warning about Sutekh, hinting at a protective motive.
Trivia and References
- “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” confirms the Mara and the Trickster as members of Doctor Who‘s Pantheon, expanding the pantheon’s known members. The Mara debuted in the Fifth Doctor era, and the Trickster was a primary antagonist in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
- Curiously, the Doctor states that his children are yet to be born, despite his history with his granddaughter, Susan, creating a potential timeline paradox or a nuanced understanding of Time Lord family lineage.
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart mentions her father, the Brigadier, and recalls the Third Doctor’s prohibition on UNIT researching temporal technology, referencing classic Doctor Who lore.
- The Doctor initially theorizes that Susan Triad is Susan, noting “S Triad” is an anagram of TARDIS, a red herring. The actual wordplay is revealed to be shortening “Susan Triad Technologies” to “Su-tech,” a subtle misdirection.
- Morris replaces Shirley Anne Bingham as UNIT’s scientific advisor in “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” with Bingham expected to return in the future, indicating a rotating role within UNIT.
- Gabriel Woolf reprises his role as the voice of Sutekh, having originally voiced the character in 1975. Woolf also voiced the Beast in “The Impossible Planet”/”The Satan Pit,” showcasing his significant contributions to Doctor Who villainy.
- Anita Dobson’s Mrs. Flood shares a scene with Angela Wynter’s Cherry Sunday, a notable pairing as both actresses are known for their roles in Eastenders, with Dobson as Angie Watts and Wynter as Yolande Trueman.
8. Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 8: “Empire Of Death”
Written By: Russell T Davies
Directed By: Jamie Donoughue
| Guest Character | Played By |
|---|---|
| Kind Woman | Sian Clifford |
| Louise Miller | Faye McKeever |
“Empire of Death,” the concluding chapter of season 14, begins with Sutekh in control. Having infiltrated the TARDIS, Sutekh dispatched Susan Twist clones across the Doctor’s visited planets. Activated in this episode, these ‘angels of death’ initiate planetary destruction, targeting worlds significant to the Doctor’s past. A domino effect ensues, spreading death through family lines and even abstract concepts like facts and memories, leaving only the Doctor and Ruby.
The Doctor’s last resort is to solve the mystery that even Sutekh fears: the true identity of Ruby Sunday’s mother. The pivotal clue emerges when the Doctor recalls Roger ap Gwilliam, a near-future Prime Minister who established a comprehensive UK citizen DNA database.
Key Highlights
- The Doctor exploits Sutekh’s obsession with Ruby’s parentage, maneuvering Ruby close enough to attach a molecular rope around Sutekh. Using his intelligent glove, the Doctor creates an unbreakable subatomic bond. By forcing Sutekh back through time and space, the Doctor effectively “brings death to death,” reversing Sutekh’s universal devastation. In a departure from his pacifist nature, the Doctor then destroys Sutekh within the Time Vortex.
- Ruby’s mother is revealed to be an ordinary woman who gave birth at 15. The Doctor explains that the supernatural events surrounding Ruby’s birth and her Christmas Eve 2004 memories were caused by the collective belief of the Doctor, Sutekh, and the universe in her mother’s significance, demystifying Ruby’s origins.
- “Empire of Death” defers resolving the Mrs. Flood mystery to Doctor Who season 15, indicating a continuing storyline.
- After reuniting with her birth mother, Ruby Sunday decides to leave the TARDIS, bidding farewell to the Fifteenth Doctor, marking a poignant departure.
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart appears to have developed a personal relationship with Colonel Ibrahim, hinting at character development beyond professional alliances.
- Susan Triad may return in season 15, as Kate recruits her IT expertise for UNIT, suggesting ongoing narrative threads and potential future collaborations.
Trivia and References
- The Memory TARDIS featured in the finale first appeared in the Tales of the TARDIS spinoff, linking back to Doctor Who ancillary media.
- Easter eggs within the Memory TARDIS include: the Fifteenth Doctor’s jukebox, the “WHO 1” license plate from Bessie, Mel’s ribbon, the Sixth Doctor’s coat, the Seventh Doctor’s jumper, various sonic screwdrivers including Jodie Whittaker’s, past TARDIS consoles, a mask from “The Girl in the Fireplace,” the Fourth Doctor’s scarf, and Verity Newman’s fictional book, A Journal of Impossible Things, from the Tenth Doctor era, packed with Doctor Who nostalgia.
- The spoon is a recurring motif in Doctor Who, previously used by the Seventh and Twelfth Doctors, continuing a subtle visual link across different Doctor incarnations.
- The Doctor mentions meeting Einstein with Mel, an event from the classic episode “Time & The Rani,” connecting to the show’s extensive history.
- While monitoring the universe’s collapse, the Doctor names planets from past episodes: Vortis (“The Web Planet”), Tigella (“Meglos”), Messaline (“The Doctor’s Daughter”), Calufrax (“The Pirate Planet”), Shan Shen (“Turn Left”), Telos (“The Tomb of the Cybermen”), Karn (“The Brain of Morbius” & “Night of the Doctor”), and Skaro, referencing a wide range of Doctor Who stories.
- Discussing past Earth adventures, the Doctor references 1999, 2005, and 1066, likely alluding to the Doctor Who TV movie, season 1’s “Rose,” and the First Doctor adventure “The Time Meddler,” respectively, anchoring the narrative in Doctor Who history.
- The scene of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor screaming into space from the TARDIS doorway was featured in season 14 trailers, but the Memory TARDIS interior and any sign of Mel or Ruby were removed in the promotional material, creating a slight difference between trailer footage and the final episode.
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