The latest season of Doctor Who has accelerated to a breathtaking pace, and episode 7, “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” feels less like a penultimate episode and more like the explosive opening act of a grand finale. Just as we’re settling into Ncuti Gatwa’s dynamic portrayal of the Doctor, this episode throws us headfirst into a classic Doctor Who villain’s resurgence, dramatically raising the stakes and hinting at profound implications for the season’s overarching mysteries. Gatwa continues to shine, showcasing both the infectious joy and underlying weariness of a Time Lord burdened by centuries of cosmic encounters, some of which, as this episode suggests, may come back to haunt him.
The episode’s central revelation is undeniably the return of Sutekh the Destroyer, “the One Who Waits.” Voiced once again with chilling authority by Gabriel Woolf, reprising his role from the 1976 serial Pyramids of Mars, Sutekh’s comeback is a genuinely epic moment. For long-time fans, this reveal carries significant weight, connecting the current narrative to classic Who lore in a compelling way. The unexpectedness of Sutekh’s return – unless you succumbed to pre-release social media spoilers – amplifies the shock value, making it a truly gasp-worthy moment in the episode.
Russell T Davies’ affection for Pyramids of Mars is well-documented, and this episode feels like a culmination of ideas brewing since his initial viewing of that classic story. Interestingly, in Pyramids of Mars, Sutekh’s power is largely implied rather than explicitly shown; his menace is conveyed through the Doctor’s warnings and terrifying visions of alternate futures. This echoes the unsettling glimpses Ruby experienced in “The Devil’s Chord,” suggesting a thematic link and perhaps a long-term plan by Davies to weave elements of Pyramids into the fabric of this season.
For viewers unfamiliar with Sutekh, the episode wisely builds his menace through dialogue and dramatic staging, ensuring his return feels monumental even without prior knowledge. Davies’ script, combined with Jamie Donoughue’s energetic direction, imbues Sutekh’s re-emergence with sufficient gravitas to resonate with both seasoned fans and newcomers alike. The focus shifts now to the unleashed Sutekh and the chaos he promises to unleash upon the universe. The episode subtly suggests the Doctor’s potential culpability in Sutekh’s return, hinting at a past encounter where the Doctor believed he had dealt with the Osiran threat, adding a layer of personal responsibility and guilt to the Doctor’s current predicament. This introspective Doctor, reflecting on the weight of his past actions, is a welcome touch for long-term viewers, reassuring those concerned about a potential departure from the show’s rich continuity.
Despite the promise of answers regarding season-long mysteries like Ruby’s origins and Susan Twist’s ubiquitous appearances, “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” cleverly layers in references to Doctor Who‘s extensive history. The episode is largely set within the revamped UNIT HQ, now a prominent, branded skyscraper in London, showcasing the organization’s evolution into a less-than-secret entity. The return of Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart reinforces UNIT’s established connection to the Doctor’s world.
UNIT’s open-door policy for recruiting former companions continues to be a narrative boon for RTD, allowing for the delightful return of Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush. Mel, often underutilized in her original run, is now given richer character development and depth. Bonnie Langford’s energetic performance injects new life into Mel, and the episode even provides a poignant backstory detail, revealing the Doctor’s support for Mel after the loss of her family – a welcome addition to a character previously lacking a defined origin.
The presence of Mel, and UNIT’s known affiliations, naturally raises questions about other Earth-bound companions like Ace and Tegan. While their absence doesn’t detract from this specific narrative, their potential future appearances remain a tantalizing possibility. Furthermore, the established presence of Yasmin Finney’s Rose Noble, daughter of the bi-generated Fourteenth Doctor, creates a slightly more complex scenario. The episode subtly acknowledges the Fourteenth Doctor, referred to as Rose’s “uncle,” prompting viewers to wonder about his potential involvement. While “retired,” it’s difficult to imagine any Doctor, even a retired one, remaining completely detached from such a global crisis.
The bi-generation concept, while narratively intriguing, does present a potential challenge for future Earth-based stories. The question of the Fourteenth Doctor’s involvement, or contrived reasons for his absence, will likely linger in the minds of dedicated fans. However, for casual viewers, these continuity nuances are likely less impactful, with their focus firmly on the immediate mysteries at hand.
And those mysteries, while teased, remain largely unresolved in this episode. Susan Triad provides a cryptic explanation for her multiple appearances, claiming dreams of these different personas, but the underlying mechanism and purpose remain elusive. Her brief impersonation of Theresa May’s infamous “robot dance” adds a touch of quirky humor, yet deepens the enigma surrounding her character.
The extended Time Window sequence revisiting the night of Ruby’s birth offers atmospheric visuals and emotional resonance, but ultimately yields no concrete answers about her origins. Anita Dobson’s Mrs. Flood solidifies her status as a sinister presence, with her casual cruelty towards a vulnerable neighbor highlighting her malevolence, yet her true identity and motives are still shrouded in secrecy.
Presumably, the answers to these lingering questions – Sutekh’s plan, his return, and his connection to recent events – are reserved for the concluding episode. Two-part Doctor Who stories often face the challenge of delivering a satisfying resolution after a compelling first part, and the pressure is amplified in season finales. Davies’ previous finales have consistently escalated the stakes, from planetary threats to existential crises, setting a high bar for dramatic resolution.
However, judging “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” on its own merits as the first part of a two-part story, it excels. Any perceived plot holes or unanswered questions are rightly deferred to the concluding episode. For now, this episode delivers on the promise of a thrilling season finale, offering a significant improvement over what some considered an uneven start to this new era. It successfully blends classic Doctor Who elements with fresh mysteries, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the resolution and the ultimate fate of the Doctor and Ruby Sunday.
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