Doctor Who episode 8 review: "A thrilling climax to a season that has made this 61-year-old TV show feel young again"

GamesRadar+ VerdictSutekh secures his place as one of the great Doctor Who villains, but Gatwa and Gibson are the stars of this truly epic season finaleTODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon

GamesRadar+ Verdict

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Sutekh secures his place as one of the great Doctor Who villains, but Gatwa and Gibson are the stars of this truly epic season finaleTODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon

Sutekh secures his place as one of the great Doctor Who villains, but Gatwa and Gibson are the stars of this truly epic season finale

TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon

TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon

TODAY’S BEST DEALSCheck Amazon

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

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Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

Warning: This review contains spoilers for the Doctor Who finale.

Sutekh’s gift of fan service

(Image credit: BBC)

Mrs Flood and Cherry Sunday in ‘Empire of Death’

It’s also an episode that is absolutely brimming with fan service, from the piles of props in the Remembered TARDIS to countless references to previous adventures - in case you’re wondering, the years that the Doctor reels off are 1999, in a nod to the Paul McGann TV movie; 1066, the year William Hartnell story ‘The Time Meddler’ took place; and 2005, when Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor first met Rose Tyler and Russell T Davies brought Doctor Who back to TV the first time around. Much of that stuff will go over new viewers heads, but for long-term fans, it’s a huge amount of fun that enhances the story, rather than getting in its way.

(Image credit: BBC)

Millie Gibson as Ruby.

(Image credit: BBC)

Ncuti Gatwa and Bonnie Langford in Empire of Death.

What it does provide, however, is a shocking, thrilling and suitably emotional climax to a season of Doctor Who that has managed the seemingly impossible task of making this 61-year-old TV show feel young again. “Doctor Who will return,” an on-screen caption yells at the end, but Christmas suddenly feels like a very long way away.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer andDisneyPlus now. For more Who, check out our guide to theDoctor Who season 1 ending explained.

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

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1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

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1

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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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