this episode properly picks up in the final 10 minutes and becomes a brilliant set up to the culmination of this story arc. ncuti was really stepping into his role at this point in the series with his full range of emotions on display towards the end of the episode. however cannot believe that the doctor spent 45 minutes mistaking the god of death for his own granddaughter. desperately wishing for Susan to actually show up and find out because she would not let him live that down.

Looking back, I don’t fully disagree with everything I said before. I still both love and hate the Handling of Susan (and as much as I want her back, I am not quite sure if this will work, if it ever comes true due to the Buildup of Expectations of such a Return). But still, I think this is one of those Times when I had to write something new up to function as a Review.

As far as other Things are concerned, there is a lot to like about in Legend of Ruby Sunday, I mean I see plenty of People who think it’s brilliant despite some Disappointment in regard to EoD (which I am perfectly happy with, always happy seeing People enjoy a Doctor Who Episode that I don’t). That said, having now more Time to reflect, I feel like I finally cracked my Issue with this Episode: It’s just Build Up. Good Build Up, one could argue, even great Build Up and of course it would be Build Up, it being Build Up is not necessarily the Part of the Problem for me, rather than it’s just kinda is just that. Not to draw much of a Comparison, but while yes every first Part of the Two (sometimes Three-) Part Finale has some sort of Build Up to it, there is still enough going on for that Episode to be a compelling Narrative on its own. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having your first Part just being a Build Up to your big Finale, it’s a valid Approach and one that can work. But a risky one, I’d argue because if the Pay-Off for said Build Up isn’t one that feels particular satisfying to you, then said Build-Up no matter how much you liked it can feel much more insignificant(?)

Besides that, there are other Things I didn’t really like about this Episode. I am not a big Fan of UNIT in its current Irritation for various Reasons and well they are a large Part of this Episode, so that certainly doesn’t help. While I somewhat liked the Sutekh Reveal, in Hindsight it really doesn’t hit as much to me as it did once before. And probably a few other Points that I neglected to mention.

Admittedly I am not quite sure if what I am saying is making much sense, I hope it does, but it wouldn’t be surprising to me if this rather feels a bit too rambley and nonsensical at times. All in all, I am intrigued to see how Episode 7 is in Comparison to this one. And again cannot stretch enough that I am happy that plenty of others find this Episode (or the whole Two-Parter) good or somewhat enjoyable, again nothing more joyful than other People enjoying Doctor Who!

A solid episode, however, much of the episode is just building up to the reveal at the end of the episode, which is fantastic, but I'm not convinced the journey there is entirely worthwhile.

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY: A GOD RETURNS WHEN MYSTERY MEETS MYTHOLOGY”

Serving as the first half of the Doctor Who 2024 season finale, The Legend of Ruby Sunday juggles character introspection, long-running mysteries, and a growing sense of dread as it edges us closer to the grand return of a very familiar god of death. It’s a moody, suspenseful episode that explores identity on multiple levels—both for Ruby and the Doctor—while dropping some of the biggest bombshells of the season.

A SPIN-OFF WAITING TO HAPPEN

Opening with a dazzling new heroic TARDIS materialisation—zipping stylishly into the UNIT control room—the episode wastes no time establishing its ensemble. Kate Stewart is back, joined by Mel Bush and Donna’s daughter Rose (though the latter is sadly underused and completely vanishes by the next episode). We're also introduced to a new cast of UNIT faces, including Ibrahim, the ever-competent Harriet, and most notably, child genius Morris Gibbons. The ethics of UNIT hiring children aside, Lennie Rush is fantastic in the role and radiates charisma. Honestly, the UNIT scenes feel like a backdoor pilot for a spin-off—and that’s not a complaint.

TWO MYSTERIES, ONE DESTINY

The plot builds two major arcs in parallel: the ongoing mystery of Ruby’s origin and the strange ubiquity of Susan Twist, now revealed as Susan Triad, head of S Triad Technologies (an “anagram” of TARDIS… sort of). There’s some cheeky misdirection hinting that Triad might be the Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan—a suggestion that lands uneasily. As a long-time fan, I’d love to see Susan return (ideally played by Carole Ann Ford), but this approach feels a bit too playful for such a momentous comeback.

Still, the dual threads of Ruby and Susan are well-balanced. Ruby’s search for her birth mother dominates the quieter, more emotional half of the episode, while the mystery surrounding Triad slowly transforms into something far more sinister.

A FAITHFUL FRIEND, A FALLEN AGENT

Harriet is an instantly likeable new UNIT recruit, which makes her betrayal sting even more. Her transformation into Harriet Arbinger, a harbinger of Sutekh, is chilling if a little underdeveloped. She doesn’t get quite enough screen time to flesh out her arc, but she still makes for a compelling villain’s proxy, especially when paired with the unnerving presence of Susan Twist.

THE FLOOD RISES AGAIN

The return of Mrs Flood deepens the intrigue, as she continues to behave increasingly bizarrely. Her watchful guardianship over Cherrie masks something darker—she clearly knows more than she’s letting on, and her true identity is becoming one of the show’s most tantalising questions. Meanwhile, Ruby’s mum Carla is supportive but sadly sidelined for most of the action, acting mostly as a passive observer.

THE DOCTOR, QUIETLY BURNING

Ncuti Gatwa continues to impress, this time leaning into a more subdued and reflective portrayal. His Doctor still commands the room, but there’s a softness here, a quiet sorrow—especially in his scene with Kate as they reflect on Susan, the granddaughter the Doctor left behind and never returned to. These are the kinds of intimate moments that give this era emotional depth.

SEEING THROUGH THE TIME WINDOW

The Time Window sequence is a visual and conceptual highlight. The sleek hologram tech looks fantastic, and the whole idea—re-examining the night Ruby was left on the church steps—is both fascinating and haunting. It also cleverly ties into the Tales of the TARDIS spin-off and the existence of the Remembered TARDIS. As the characters pore over the past, slowly realising something isn’t quite right, the tension begins to mount.

Millie Gibson excels as Ruby, showing maturity and quiet heartbreak when the Time Window fails to reveal her mother's identity. Bonnie Langford is equally strong as Mel, offering support and urging the Doctor to keep pushing forward.

SUTEKH RETURNS—AND THE TARDIS TREMBLES

Then comes the twist: the eerie black cloud that’s been lurking on the TARDIS begins to seep into reality, leaving dustified corpses in its wake. The moment when the TARDIS groans unnaturally inside UNIT HQ is deeply unsettling. And just when you think it can’t get creepier, we hear the unmistakable voice of Gabriel Woolf—the legendary tones of Sutekh, finally returning after nearly 50 years.

The final 15 minutes are breathless, with harbingers like Harriet and Susan delivering ominous warnings, and the Sutekh reveal hitting like a hammer. Sure, the “Susan Triad Technologies = Sutekh” anagram is a bit naff (it’s not really an anagram), but the sense of cosmic horror it conjures is undeniable. The slow realisation that the TARDIS has been carrying a god of death around all this time is properly terrifying—and a perfect setup for the finale.

📝VERDICT: 7/10

The Legend of Ruby Sunday is a moody, slow-burn penultimate episode that mixes character drama with eerie foreshadowing and mythic dread. While a few characters are underused (Rose, Carla), and the Susan misdirects are a little heavy-handed, the episode still lands with style and suspense. Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson shine, Gabriel Woolf's return is spine-tingling, and the cliffhanger brings Sutekh roaring back into Doctor Who legend. The path to the Empire of Death has never looked more thrilling.

Rewatched 2025-04-08 (⭐⭐⭐)