Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Doctor Who’s season 14 finale, “Empire of Death.”
Summary
While the show has continued to be entertaining overall, my big problem withDoctor Whoright now is that season 14’s “Empire of Death” is the fourth divisive finale in a row. With Ncuti Gatwa’s debut season coming to a close, opinions have started pouring in online about the finale and the actor’s performance. The show’s very nature dictates that the leading actor changes every few seasons, and not everyone will vibe with the new character, especially at first. It took me a while to warm up to Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor because I loved Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor.
Luckily, I have come outDoctor Whoseason 14 absolutely adoring Ncuti Gatwa’s take on the Fifteenth Doctor. They’re fun to watch, have a more mischievous side, and feel true to the character’s heart. Instead, my issue coming out of this season relates to the recentDoctor Whofinales.I cannot standDoctor Whoseason 14’s ending, which provides a lackluster reveal about one of the season’s core mysteries– the identity of Ruby Sunday’s mom. This episode forced me to reflect on the past finales ofDoctor Who.
Is Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday Returning In Doctor Who Season 15
Millie Gibson’s future as Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who season 15 was already confusing, but becomes even more so after season 14’s final episode.
Doctor Who Season 14’s Ruby Sunday Reveal Is Deliberately Divisive
RTD Modeled The Ruby Reveal After Another Divisive Plotline
Based onRTD’s stated inspiration for Ruby’s mom inDoctor Who, the showrunner would have been foolish if he thought the reveal would be well received.He replicated one of the most divisive movie reveals in the past decade– Rey’s heritage inStar Wars. In the newestStar Warstrilogy, Rey’s parents’ identity is a mystery built up acrossThe Force AwakensandThe Last Jedi. The latter movie reveals that Rey is the child of ordinary people rather than anyone connected toStar Warsstories, which was underwhelming but at least carried an authentic message.
Rise of Skywalkerretconned this decision by making her Palpatine’s granddaughter, which Daisy Ridley confirmed wasn’t the original plan (viaMovie Web). Since RTD admittedStar Warswas his inspiration, I’m confident he knew he’d divide viewers with the reveal. He built up the reveal to be a big deal, andRuby’s mother’s identity inDoctor Whois central to the plot for the entire season, plus the 2023Christmas special, “The Church On Ruby Road.”
Had RTD come up with the idea of making Ruby’s mom ordinary without taking inspiration from a previously controversial storyline, it might seem less like an attention grab.
TheDoctor Whoseason 14 reveal seems written to create drama for publicity’s sake, a la rage baiting and outrage marketing. Had RTD come up with the idea of making Ruby’s mom ordinary without taking inspiration from a previously controversial storyline, it might seem less like an attention grab. He could have gotten away with saying it fit with the Doctor Who messaging about everyone being important.
The saddest part is that Ruby’s mom could have stayed the same without it being poorly received if they just made the question less central and removed Ruby’s strange, non-human abilities. With how the show and RTD built up the mystery, I don’t even care whether they picked my favoritetheory for Ruby Sunday’s mother. Any answers that tied back into the story would’ve been better than what’s shown.
“Empire Of Death” Is Doctor Who’s Fourth Divisive Finale In A Row
The Divisive Endings Keep Adding Up
Doctor Whoseason 14’s ending isn’t the first time the show has created a divisive finale in recent years. It is the fourth time in a row. The divisiveDoctor Whoendings include the Timeless Child in season 12 and Flux’s genocide in season 13 from Chibnall’s era, as well as Giggle’s bi-generation and Ruby’s ordinary lineage in season 14 from RTD’s second era. As aDoctor Whofan, I’ve been in fan spaces and found thatpeople either intensely adore or abhor these finales.There’s little middle ground because people are so passionate about the show. My opinions of these endings are reflective of this division.
I love the idea of the Timeless Child and part of the Doctor getting to rest after bi-generation, though I’m irritated that they had to be explained outside the show by showrunners. On the other hand, I cannot stand the Flux genocide and the identity of Ruby’s mother. Just as many people feel the opposite about these storylines, though. That seems to be the point. Much as I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt, theDoctor Whoshowrunners seem more interested in surprising viewers than creating a well-developed, well-written storythat answers all the important questions.
Doctor Who Isn’t Paying Off Its Hints & Teases
The Issues With The Identity Of Ruby’s Mom
One of the biggest problems withDoctor Who’s shocking finales is that they aren’t paying off the teases and hints. ThroughoutDoctor Whoseason 14, The show teased Ruby’s importance and her mom’s identity.RTD emphasized thatRuby’s story took inspiration the Timeless Child, and the answer to her mom’s identity would have “shocking answers.”I believe the reveal of an average human named Louise Alison Miller as Ruby’s mom was neither related to The Timeless Child nor shocking.
Doctor Whostill hasn’t answered most questions about The Timeless Child, such as the Doctor’s true home planet and the real number of regenerations they’ve had.
In fact, Ruby Sunday’s mom being an ordinary human is possibly the least shocking answer RTD could have picked. Ruby looks like a human, acts like a human, does human things, lives on a human planet, and seems to know nothing about aliens before meeting the Doctor. Of course, her mom is a human. Moreover, Ruby being a foundling who doesn’t know her parents is the flimsiest possible interpretation the Timeless Child storyline. That is a shallow take on a complex storyline with massive consequences for the characters and show.
If RTD hadn’t made Ruby’s mom’s idea out to be some gigantic mystery with huge implications, most people – myself included – would have assumed Ruby was human until told otherwise. There would be no twist ending because the only twist was that the original assumption of Ruby being a human companion was correct. IfDoctor Whohadn’t given Ruby all these abilities that now make zero sense, there wouldn’t be a reason to believe she was a Time Lord or related to the Doctor or the child of River Song. The underwhelming reveal also opened up more questions than it answered, like how Ruby’s mom hid her face, how she could change her timeline, and how she could make it snow.
The Timeless Child And Bi-Generation
Looking at the other controversial storylines, the issue extends much further than this. InDoctor Who’s “The Timeless Children,” the Master reveals that the Doctor is really the Timeless Child, the progenitor of Gallifrey’s Time Lords. However,Doctor Whostill hasn’t answered mostquestions about The Timeless Child, such as the Doctor’s true home planet and the real number of regenerations they’ve had. There has also been almost no exploration of the bi-generation, with the only answers coming from an interview with RTD outside the show. I would much rather them explore these topics instead of introducing unending new mysteries.
Other Teased Questions Doctor Who Still Hasn’t Answered
In addition to the major question marks surrounding Ruby’s lineage, the Timeless Child, and bi-generation, the show continues setting up storylines they haven’t finished.Big questions include but are not limited to:
While unanswered questions are nothing new forDoctor Who, some of these questions seem too important to ignore. RTD needs to answer existing questions before they start introducing more. There are plenty of existing concepts and storylines to flesh out while still allowing the Doctor to have regular, episodic adventures.
Doctor Who Season 15’s Finale Needs To Get Back To Basics
Doctor Who Needs To Focus On A Well-Written Story For The Season 15 Finale
“Boom,” “Rogue,” and “73 Yards” were the season’s strongest episodes, proving the creative team can make a story with tension, drama, and a well-told ending.
Moving forward,Doctor Whoalready has the fundamentals of a great season. Ncuti Gatwa is a great actor who captures the playful, sometimes brash, spirit of the Doctor. Millie Gibson’s Ruby complements the Doctor, as she’s adventurous, headstrong, and self-assured – similar to Rose Tyler and Clara Oswald. Verda Sethu has already providedDoctor Whoaudiences with one compelling performance, which gives me hope that her character will be a great companion.
With all these building blocks in place,Doctor Whoseason 15’s finale just needs to tell a good story rather than attempt to subvert expectations or shock viewers.Despite the divisive overarching narrative, I can identify strong storytelling abilities inDoctor Whoseason 14. “Boom,” “Rogue,” and “73 Yards” were the season’s strongest episodes, proving the creative team can make a story with tension, drama, and a well-told ending. These elements should be applied to the bigger story and theDoctor Whoseason 15 finale.
