S01.E08 (BBC/D+): Empire of Death

[Lantern7]

Not much that I can add. Once again, everything felt too big. I didn't get the reference of the woman whole gave the Doctor a soon. And I don't see how Ruby's existence was "not right" in the view of Maestro. Or maybe they were being overly dramatic.

I did like the new design for Suketh, and the Remembered TARDIS (or whatever it was called) was not only a near plot device, it looks like something Whovians can make at home.

[libgirl2]

On 6/24/2024 at 10:23 AM, tennisgurl said:

There was a lot that was good here, good acting, great CGI, Mel being the best, the continuity nods were fun, but that terrible ending to the Ruby mystery and the overall messiness made this a huge disappointment.  

If anyone would have told me in the late 80s, Mel would be one of the best parts of the show, I wouldn't have believed you. Though I love her in the audios, so I'm glad she is redeemed. 

[bugsmum]

I guess I'm in the minority but I loved it.  Don't mind suspending logic for story that carries me along.  Even knowing that Kate, and Ruby's mother, and everyone else wouldn't stay dust because otherwise we'd have no show, seeing them turn to dust got me.

I was worried that Ruby was going to go down the Clara Oswald most-special-person-ever-in-the-whole-history-of-everything road so I'm thrilled she and her birth mother are both regular people who are important because they're important to other regular people.   

Perhaps because my kid was adopted and is at present unlikely to find their birth parents, Ruby's reunion with her birth mother suddenly turned the room very dusty.

 

[DanaK]

7-day ratings: 3.694 million viewers and 18th for the week. The Top 5 was all Euro games and the next 3 were UEFA games, then some news and a few soap episodes ahead of it and Who was the only non-soap scripted program in the Top 20 for the week

Edited July 1 by DanaK

[DanaK]

I rewatched the episode a day or so ago and after a couple of months distance, I enjoyed it a lot more, though there are still some issues. I decided to up my rating from 6 to 8

[DanaK]

28-day figures: 3.920 million viewers, 15th for the week

[Dobian]

I agree with the comments.  On the one hand, I found the episode entertaining.  The new Doctor and Ruby are very likable and engaging, and the story was suspenseful and hit all the feels.  The shout-out to Classic Who was nice too.  But they need to do a better job with the science-fiction part of things.  It's important in every sci-fi story that you explain why things are happening the way they are happening, whether it's a rope or Ruby's mom.  The show has something to build on for next year anyway.

Edited August 10 by Dobian