Doctor Who: Season 14: episode 8: Empire Of Death by Russell T Davies
No introduction? I’m not sure yet. This season has had its ups and downs. Davies has certainly been testing his ground this year, and we won’t know what he’s learned until next year.
Don’t you find it strange that the commanding military officer is only equipped with a hand pistol? The entire episode is a spoiler, so make sure you watch it before reading on, as I’m going to give my reactions, even if I’m not revealing much about the plot. I won’t necessarily go in order, so I won’t give too much away as I focus on things that stuck in my memory, especially the questions that arose.
There is always a problem when the universe is destroyed, particularly because you have characters like Ciara, who is supposed to exist at all points in time. You would have thought earlier Doctor regenerations would have been aware, if not destroyed, as earlier times are turned to dust. Then you have a variation of the grandfather paradox, except it would apply to the current Doctor, as he would have no past regeneration histories leading up to him. Certainly, the split Tennant Doctor had to be in that reality.
The resurrection of all the planets that the Doctor has visited, although not explicitly stated, obviously includes Skaro and Gallifrey. Does that mean the Time Lords are back?
Kudos to Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush as she slowly undergoes a transformation. Considering how bubbly she is normally, it was very unsettling. Having her touch her own Doctor’s multi-texture coat was a nice touch.
The budget was clearly spent where the effects were needed, and it adds up if you count the minutes. The episode shifted away from chase scenes to a lot of dialogue-heavy scenes. The real problem is that the solution comes across more as a fantasy solution than science fiction. I know Russell T has said in the past that he sees Doctor Who as space fantasy, but it still needs some internal logic. I mean, where did the second TARDIS come from, and how did the holograms become physical? So many conventional science laws are violated if you really analyze it. I’m not even sure about Ruby Sunday’s origin being from ‘average’ people. What makes that significant to Sutekh, as it could have been anyone? Ruby is supposed to appear in the next season, so maybe the needed answers will be there.
I do think Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor finally got serious in this episode, which made a real connection to his earlier regenerations and not just being out for fun.
What is worrying is that this is the second god-like being this Doctor has taken on and won against. If there needs to be a weakness in the future, then he needs to demonstrate some fallibilities, or he’s never going to face any real difficulty.
As I’ve previously commented, this season has had its ups and downs. In many respects, the last episode is more of a forerunner for what is going to happen next season, and whether Mrs. Flood is going to appear anywhere other than London now that Ruby Sunday has jumped TARDIS.
Unleashed: I have half an eye on it while writing my review and a double episode. The last one looks more over the season. If you’re a Whovian looking to visit all the locations, you’re going to be busy, especially as some are only going to look superficially like them.
Geoff Willmetts
22 June 2024
