Reviewing a TV episode always involves a delicate balance: reacting instinctively while also considering how it will hold up over time. Sometimes, initial impressions shift dramatically upon reflection. Take last week’s episode, “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” which initially felt frustrating but became more engaging on a second viewing once expectations were adjusted to embrace its atmosphere. This week presents the opposite scenario with Doctor Who Season 14 Episode 8, “Empire of Death.” During the initial watch, it felt like a thrilling, surprising, and emotionally resonant addition to the Doctor Who universe. However, as the credits rolled, doubts began to surface. This season finale, while inventive, excels in individual scenes but doesn’t quite coalesce into a fully satisfying whole, mirroring the season’s overall strengths and weaknesses.
The Doctor and Ruby looking concerned in a scene from Doctor Who Empire of Death
Initial Thrills and Lingering Doubts in Doctor Who Season 14 Episode 8
The core issue with this season, despite its strong episodic nature, boils down to time management within the narrative arc. With Ruby’s (seemingly temporary) departure in “Empire of Death,” she and the Doctor become the shortest-lived TARDIS team in modern Doctor Who. Despite this limited timeframe, the season’s structure feels as though it was designed for a much longer run. The finale explicitly states the intended emotional journeys for Ruby and the Doctor: Ruby discovers her birth mother and realizes her true adventures lie at home, while the Doctor is inspired to contemplate his own family in a new light. However, these character arcs feel somewhat forced because they haven’t been seamlessly integrated throughout the season. The emotional payoffs, while present, feel somewhat rushed due to the pacing of the season.
Uneven Finale Pacing in Empire of Death
Even within this two-part finale, the pacing feels unbalanced. The opening scenes of London’s widespread destruction, reminiscent of Roland Emmerich films by way of Thanos-level threats, are undeniably impactful and unsettling. Yet, these scenes might have been more effectively placed in the preceding episode. Shifting the initial destruction to the previous episode could have amplified its substance, granting “Empire of Death” more room to focus on character development and resolution. Instead, the episode’s structure is segmented: the first act establishes Sutekh as a formidable adversary, followed by a brief, cryptic conversation between the Doctor and a mystery woman, a plot-driven second act focused on Ruby and the Doctor saving the day, and finally, an epilogue centered on Ruby’s birth mother.
While each of these segments is individually engaging and well-executed, their combined weight feels overwhelming for a single episode, particularly one that also serves as a farewell to a Doctor/companion duo. “Empire of Death,” as Doctor Who Season 14 Episode 8, delivers thrilling moments and significant emotional beats, but the overall structure and pacing prevent it from reaching its full potential as a cohesive and deeply resonant season finale. The episode, much like the season itself, showcases strong individual components that don’t quite harmonize into a perfectly unified whole, leaving a sense of untapped potential despite its many successes.
