The Doctor asked the death god what happens when you bring death to death and the answer was life. This season finale episode of Doctor Who, titled “Empire of Death,” left viewers feeling confused and disappointed. The emotions felt in the episode, particularly in Ruby’s reunion with her mother and her goodbye to The Doctor, didn’t feel earned. The resolution to the mystery of Ruby’s mother was a letdown and felt like a slap in the face to the fandom.
The episode attempted to defeat an omnipotent death god with some rope, gloves, and a whistle, which stretched believability. The storytelling lacked a sense of despair or triumph, and the resolution to the mystery of Ruby’s mother felt nonsensical and infuriating. The show hinted at her importance throughout the season only to dismiss it in the end.
Despite the energy brought by the cast, including Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, the story of Ruby Sunday seemed to be a correction to past companion storylines. The message that the most important person in the universe is the most ordinary fell flat in the context of the episode. The episode’s attempt to subvert expectations regarding Ruby’s importance felt insulting and poorly executed.
Overall, “Empire of Death” left viewers feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with its storytelling and resolution. The episode raised more questions than it answered and failed to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the season. The emotional moments didn’t resonate as intended, and the plot twists felt forced and unearned. In the end, the episode fell short of expectations and left fans scratching their heads in confusion.