Doctor Who: Empire Of Death Review - 7 Ups & 5 Downs
3. DOWN - Taking The Dog For A Walk
Empire of Death falters, as all RTD finales do, at its resolution.
I'll start with what I do like: the bait and switch. Sutekh is desperate for the one piece of information in the universe that still evades him, the one unknown in a universe that is otherwise his - the identity of Ruby's mother. Fifteen and Ruby clocking on early and formulating a plan to use that desire against him by pretending they have the answers? Great. Smart plan.
Where the episode lost me completely was taking Sutekh for his walkies. You can tell RTD was chuckling to himself when he had the idea to attach a cable to his collar and drag him through the time vortex, but this was way, way too easy. Summoning the TARDIS with the whistle had zero explanation, and while I appreciate the reuse of the pre-established Mavity Gloves MacGuffin, I have no idea why it was beyond Sutekh's unimaginable power to shred a simple cable in the ten seconds he had to do so, instead of sitting and roaring like a needy puppy.
The CGI and lighting in the vortex scene is top notch, and it was amazing to finally see the time vortex being used as a proper set piece for an action scene for the first time ever. However, resurrecting everyone by 'bringing death to death'? I think you're heading into space Jesus territory there, big man. No matter how hard Ncuti shouts it, you won't convince me that this ending makes sense.