In the realm of television criticism, the challenge often lies in discerning the immediate thrill of an episode from its potential for enduring impact. This week’s Doctor Who, “Empire of Death,” presents a fascinating case study in this duality. While initial viewing delivered a rush of excitement and surprise, a more considered reflection reveals a narrative structure that, while potent in isolated moments, falters in its overall cohesion. This mirrors the season itself, marked by strong individual episodes that don’t quite accumulate into a fully satisfying arc.
The core issue, much like the season’s broader trajectory, appears to be time allocation. Ruby Sunday’s departure, at least for now, marks her and the Doctor as the shortest-lived TARDIS pairing in modern Doctor Who. Despite this constrained timeframe, the season’s pacing suggests a narrative designed for a more expansive canvas. The finale attempts to crystallize the emotional journeys of both the Doctor and Ruby – Ruby’s homecoming and the Doctor’s newfound perspective on family. However, these arcs feel somewhat stated rather than organically integrated into the season’s fabric.
“Empire of Death” itself exhibits this structural imbalance. The episode opens with visually striking scenes of London’s collapse, reminiscent of disaster epics, effectively establishing Sutekh as a formidable antagonist. These scenes of widespread destruction are undeniably captivating and serve to highlight the scale of the threat posed by Sutekh.
However, these impactful “all Sutekh scenes Doctor Who” moments, while visually arresting, arguably occupy space that could have been used to further develop character dynamics or season-long plot threads. Following the establishment of Sutekh’s threat, the episode quickly shifts to the Doctor’s cryptic encounter with a mystery woman, before diving into a plot-heavy second act focused on Ruby and the Doctor’s heroic efforts. The episode then concludes with a swift epilogue centered on Ruby’s birth mother.
Each of these segments – the harrowing Sutekh sequences, the enigmatic dialogue, the action-packed resolution, and the emotional family reveal – possesses its own intrinsic merit. The scenes featuring Sutekh, in particular, are powerful in their depiction of his god-like power and chilling pronouncements. Yet, crammed into a single episode that also aims to conclude a companion’s arc, these elements compete for narrative space. This abundance of plot points, while individually compelling, ultimately contributes to a sense of narrative congestion, particularly when tasked with providing a meaningful farewell to a Doctor/companion duo. The episode’s strength lies in its impactful scenes, especially those showcasing Sutekh’s terrifying power, but the overall structure leaves one pondering what could have been achieved with a more streamlined narrative focus.
