REVIEW: ‘Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8’ – “Empire of Death”

Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8, titled “Empire of Death,” is the final episode of the season. This is the first season created in partnership between the BBC and Disney. Written by Russell T. Davies and directed by Jamie Donoughue. Starring Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, The Doctor and Ruby face Sutekh, the God of Death, one of the Time Lord’s most powerful enemies that has followed him through time. As he claims the entire universe as his empire of death, the saving grace lies in the mystery of Ruby’s mother.

The plot is brilliant for wrapping up the two-part episode and the season as a whole. Davies has perfectly merged the largest spectacle of any Doctor Who adventure with an intimate and personal family story. The episode’s opening jab is a devastating wave of destruction spread across time and space. The true extent of Sutekh’s plan and its ramifications are tragic, unraveling with a ruthlessness rarely seen in this sci-fi show. It wipes most of Doctor and Ruby’s backup, removing and isolating their support system.

With the heroes forced into hiding, the middle of the episode slows down. It wallows in the emptiness created by Sutekh’s, hammering home his malicious intent. But the conversations and storytelling in these slower moments are incredible. Davies’ reinvention of the character is terrifying, linking him to the Doctor and the TARDIS. It makes the audience distrust the Doctor’s most important resource.

Even though Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 has an immense villain seeking to destroy the universe, the themes always revert to family and hope. The script is harrowing for large swathes, yet Davies searches for family, realism, and genuine humanity. He welcomes emotion and drama and relishes making the characters explain their worst fears and deepest loves. When the pacing slows, it’s to devote time to a conversation that is kind and tragic at the same time.

Just as Sutekh is now linked with the Doctor, Ruby becomes connected with the monster himself. Her story gets a profound and definitive ending. After all the speculation about Ruby’s mother’s true identity, the results will undoubtedly cause division among the fanbase. But ultimately, it fits with the mindset and values of Davies and Doctor Who as a whole.

The final episode of the season brings the best out of its actors. After so many Doctor-Lite episodes, having the duo spend time together is rewarding, even if it is in the worst possible circumstances. Gatwa has never had a problem embracing the ancient attitude of the Time Lord. He can show fear and fearlessness. Sutekh’s reappearance shakes the Doctor to his core, but he still has to stand up to him because no one else will. Direct confrontation with the enemy has not been common this season, and Gatwa’s speeches during this conflict are sensational. In the moments when The Doctor is reflecting on how he has personally contributed to Sutekh’s victory, the tragic devastation is tragic

Gibson is just as fantastic as emotive, expressive storytelling. Ruby and the Doctor face tragedy, but Ruby’s most personal mystery suddenly becomes the most crucial question in the universe. The turmoil is etched into her face. She is desperate to find the answers, yet the possibilities are wracking her soul. Ruby is a worthy companion, staring down a god with fire and defiance in her eyes.

The ensemble cast established in the previous episode is quite literally turned to dust in Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8. It’s an emotional gut-punch, phenomenally expanded over the planet in slow and agonizing delivery. Although the very early revelations do make it easier to guess what happens later. What remains is a more intimate cast. The Doctor and Ruby are at the top, aided by former companion Mel (Bonnie Langford). Langord’s return has been more than just fan service; Mel has displayed tremendous fight. She is also a potential weak spot. Being in the immediate vicinity of the Doctor, and later a target of Sutekh, generated a queasiness as her safety was threatened for the whole episode.

Special mention has to be given to Sutekh. Given a total redesign, Sutekh is voiced by Gabriel Woolf, the same actor who played him in his first appearance in 1975. Despite being 91, Woolf’s voice is gorgeously haunting. It has gravel and menace in every breath, radiating power and omnipotence. It is the same voice actor as The Beast in “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit,” and that imposing cadence of a deity has returned with a vengeance.

The production pushes the Disney budget to its limit. The episode features some of the most audacious and demanding uses of CGI ever in Doctor Who. The majority of that is focused on Sutekh. The redesign of this final boss is sensational, taking the Egyptian iconography and reassessing it for the modern age. The classic villain is now a combination of Anubis and a dragon. When he appears, he is wrapped around the TARDIS, with wings that can double up as a cloak.

There is a sense of awe around Sutekh as he displays more power than any other villain the doctor has faced. The gradual but persistent increase of his sandstorm is another fabulous example of the dedication to design from the production team. This can be found everwhere, from when London is being ripped apart (actually recreated in Cardiff City Centre), or the sandstorm is moving away its way across the universe.

A dedication is still to sticking with visual effects and real sets whenever possible. Sutekh’s acolytes have excellent skull masks, with their eyes hidden within sunken skulls. A special kind of TARDIS is created for this episode, much smaller than the usual incarnation. It is a cornucopia of memories from Doctor Who adventures. The practical set is filled with old costumes and props. It’s much more intimate and claustrophobic than the real TARDIS, pressuring the atmosphere further. This is heightened by its authenticity, with the characters pressed against consoles and walls instead of a green screen.

Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 8 wraps up a tightly written season. Every plot thread and question Davies creates is used to find the ultimate answer in “Empire of Death.” There has been a perfect balance between staying small and dreaming big. Ruby’s story is emotional and vibrant, easily translated into a soap opera. The difference is that it now influences the actions of gods and entire universes.

“Empire of Death” is the most eminent example of the showrunner’s themes. No matter how far into time and space the companions go, their home is most important. There are some awkward pieces of pacing during the episode, but all of the crucial pieces of the story are fantastically implemented. Throughout all the horror, heart is what makes Doctor Who thrive.

Doctor Who Season 1 is streaming now, exclusively on BBCiPlayer in the U.K. and Disney+ everywhere else.