The Legend of Ruby Sunday (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image                = The Legend of Ruby Sunday teaser.jpg
|image                = Here_she_comes_(TLoRS).jpg
|season number        = Season 1 (Doctor Who 2023)
|season number        = Season 1 (Doctor Who 2023)
|series episode number = 7
|series episode number = 7
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'''''The Legend of Ruby Sunday''''' was the seventh episode of [[Season 1 (Doctor Who 2023)|Season 1]] of ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]''.<ref name="Legend">{{Cite_web|url=https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1774466686130716964|title=THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY <br />Writer: Russell T Davies <br />Director: Jamie Donoughue <br />#DoctorWho|author=[[Official Doctor Who Twitter|@bbcdoctorwho]]|date of source=2024-05-31|archiveurl=https://archive.ph/KBbsh|archivedate=2024-05-29}}</ref>
'''''The Legend of Ruby Sunday''''' was the seventh episode of [[Season 1 (Doctor Who 2023)|Season 1]] of ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]''.<ref name="Legend">{{Cite_web|url=https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1774466686130716964|title=THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY <br />Writer: Russell T Davies <br />Director: Jamie Donoughue <br />#DoctorWho|author=[[Official Doctor Who Twitter|@bbcdoctorwho]]|date of source=2024-05-31|archiveurl=https://archive.ph/KBbsh|archivedate=2024-05-29}}</ref>


It marked the televised return of [[Sutekh]] after 49 years since [[1975 (releases)|1975]]'s {{cs|Pyramids of Mars (TV story)}}.  
The first of the two-part season finale, it further extended the membership of [[The Pantheon]], first introduced in {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}}, with the reintroduction of the classic villain, [[Sutekh]], in his first appearance since [[1975 (releases)|1975]]'s {{cs|Pyramids of Mars (TV story)}}, 49 years prior, with [[Gabriel Woolf]] reprising the role.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
In [[2024]], [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] lands in [[UNIT HQ, City of London|UNIT Tower]], the [[Fifteenth Doctor|Doctor]] and [[Ruby Sunday|Ruby]] stepping out to greet everyone assembled. [[Rose Noble]], [[Kate Stewart|Kate Lethbridge-Stewart]], and two new faces, [[Morris Gibbons]], UNIT scientific advisor, and [[Harriet Arbinger|Harriet]], head of the archive. The Doctor asks the assembled group for their help, wherever he lands a woman appears. Be her an [[Villengard Automated Ambulance Unit|ambulance]], a [[Gina Scalzi|communications officer]], or [[Penny Pepper-Bean|someone’s mother]], she just keeps showing up. The group immediately tabs over to a feed of the woman practising a speech, they’ve already been keeping tabs on her. [[Susan Triad]], owner of [[S Triad Technology]], who plans on giving her tech away for free later today. The Doctor points out that "S Triad" is an anagram for [[TARDIS]], and those assembled explain that this is part of why they’ve been keeping an eye on her. Ruby also points out that "Susan" is the name of the Doctor’s [[Susan Foreman|granddaughter]]. As the group discusses the issue, the solution of the Doctor just going to meet with Susan Triad is floated, he'd recognize her if it was his granddaughter, but everything lining up does suggest a decent likelihood of a trap.
[[File:Another mystery woman (TLORS).jpg|thumb|left|"So, we have Susan Triad. We also have another mystery woman. Ruby Sunday!".]]
In [[2024]], [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] lands in [[UNIT HQ, City of London|UNIT Tower]], and the [[Fifteenth Doctor|Doctor]] and [[Ruby Sunday|Ruby]] step out to greet everyone assembled: [[Rose Noble]], [[Kate Stewart|Kate Lethbridge-Stewart]], and two new faces, [[Morris Gibbons]], UNIT scientific advisor, and [[Harriet Arbinger|Harriet]], head of the archive. The Doctor asks the assembled group for their help; wherever he lands a woman appears. Be her an [[Villengard Automated Ambulance Unit|ambulance]], a [[Gina Scalzi|communications officer]], or [[Penny Pepper-Bean|someone's mother]], she just keeps showing up. The group immediately tabs over to a feed of the woman practising a speech; they've already been keeping tabs on her. [[Susan Triad]], owner of [[S Triad Technology]], who plans on giving her tech away for free to the world later today. The Doctor points out that "S Triad" is an anagram for [[TARDIS]], and those assembled explain that this is part of why they've been keeping an eye on her. Ruby also points out that "Susan" is the name of the Doctor's [[Susan Foreman|granddaughter]]. As the group discusses the issue, the solution of the Doctor just going to meet with Susan Triad is floated, he'd recognize her if she were his granddaughter, but everything lining up does suggest a decent likelihood of a trap.


The assembled group moves on - the Doctor discusses another mystery woman, Ruby’s mother. He can’t go back to the night when Ruby was left on the church’s doorstep, he was already there, and [[First Law of Time|he can’t cross his own timeline]]. This night in particular is so volatile that it’s dangerous, whenever Ruby and the Doctor even discuss it, [[Snow (The Church on Ruby Road)|snow]] tends to fall. Harriet thinks they’re overcomplicating the issue, this was 2004, [[CCTV]] existed. There was a camera nearby. Ruby has the video tape, she and her [[Carla Sunday|grandmother]] asked for it years back, but you can’t see anything on it. Morris suggests that due to UNIT’s technology they could sharpen the image and maybe see something new. Ruby and Rose head back to Ruby’s flat to get the tape.
The assembled group moves on - the Doctor discusses another mystery woman, Ruby's mother. He can't go back to the night when Ruby was left on the church's doorstep, he was already there, and [[First Law of Time|he can't cross his own timeline]]. This night in particular is so volatile that it's dangerous; whenever Ruby and the Doctor even discuss it, [[Snow (The Church on Ruby Road)|snow]] tends to fall. Harriet thinks they're overcomplicating the issue, this was 2004, [[CCTV]] existed. There was a camera nearby. Ruby has the [[VHS]] tape, she and her [[Carla Sunday|grandmother]] asked for it years back, but you can't see anything on it. Morris suggests that due to UNIT's technology, they could sharpen the image and maybe see something new. Ruby and Rose head back to Ruby's flat to get the tape.


As Ruby and Rose collect the video tape, [[Carla Sunday]] resolves to come with them back to UNIT tower, to make sure that Ruby is kept safe. She has Mrs. [[Flood (The Church on Ruby Road)|Flood]] come to watch over Cherry Sunday in her absence, who's happy to help. As Mrs. Flood is left alone with Cherry, Flood warns Cherry to be careful - a storm is coming in, [[The One Who Waits|he]] waits no more.
As Ruby and Rose collect the tape, [[Carla Sunday]] resolves to come with them back to UNIT tower, to make sure that Ruby is kept safe. She has Mrs. [[Flood (The Church on Ruby Road)|Flood]] come to watch over Cherry Sunday in her absence, who's happy to help. As Mrs. Flood is left alone with Cherry, Flood warns Cherry to be careful - "there's a storm coming in, [[The One Who Waits|he]] waits no more."


Susan Triad continues to rehearse her speech, nervous for the delivery in 90 minutes. [[Melanie Bush]], who [[UNIT]] has snuck onto set as a consultant, manages to get a DNA sample from her and drives it back to UNIT HQ. The Doctor is thrilled to have Mel arrive, and his enthusiasm doesn't take much of a dent from the DNA sample she's brought back coming in as human, as almost immediately after Ruby and Rose return, Carla in tow. The Doctor decides not just to upscale the resolution on the [[VHS]], but to use it in a [[time window]] to actually view that night in its entirety.
Susan Triad continues to rehearse her speech, nervous for the delivery in 90 minutes. [[Melanie Bush]], who [[UNIT]] has snuck onto set as a consultant, manages to get a DNA sample from her and drives it back to UNIT HQ. The Doctor is thrilled to have Mel arrive, and his enthusiasm doesn't take much of a dent from the DNA sample she's brought back coming in as human, as almost immediately after, Ruby and Rose return, Carla in tow. The Doctor decides not just to upscale the resolution on the [[VHS]], but to use it in a [[time window]] to actually view that night in its entirety.


Heading down to the time window and meeting [[Colonel]] [[Winston Chidozie]], who manages the security for the time window, they have Morris wire the VHS up to the window. Ruby joins the Doctor in the middle of the window's space, and she describes to him the story of how she was found. [[Snow (The Church on Ruby Road)|Snow]] falls, even before the window starts. The machine whirs to life, and a hologram of [[Christmas Eve]], [[2004]] appears, the [[Carol of the Bells]] echoing. Kate is astonished to see the window performing as well as it is, but the Doctor says that they're giving it memory - time is memory, memory is time. A hooded figure, Ruby's mother, appears, and walks towards them. But as they try to peek under her hood the window stutters and she surges past them. The TARDIS arrives, the Doctor arrives, to save Ruby as he did in the past, running off to the church. But the Doctor notices, standing next to Ruby, that the TARDIS in the time window is almost solid. He muses - "if time is memory, and memory is time, then what is [[Remembered TARDIS|the memory of a time machine]]?"
Heading down to the time window and meeting [[Colonel]] [[Winston Chidozie]], who manages the security for the time window, they have Morris wire the VHS up to the window. Ruby joins the Doctor in the middle of the window's space, and she describes to him the story of how she was found. [[Snow (The Church on Ruby Road)|Snow]] falls, even before the window starts. The machine whirs to life, and a hologram of [[Christmas Eve]], [[2004]] appears, the [[Carol of the Bells]] echoing. Kate is astonished to see the window performing as well as it is, but the Doctor says that they're giving it memory - time is memory, memory is time. A hooded figure, Ruby's mother, appears and walks towards them. But as they try to peek under her hood the window stutters and she surges past them. The TARDIS arrives, the Doctor arrives, to save Ruby as he did in the past, running off to the church. But the Doctor notices, standing next to Ruby, that the TARDIS in the time window is almost solid. He muses - "if time is memory, and memory is time, then what is [[Remembered TARDIS|the memory of a time machine]]?"


[[File:Did anyone see her face (TLORS).jpg|thumb|right|"Did anyone see her face?".]]
The hooded woman stays there until the past Doctor returns, the current Doctor noting that his memory of this event has changed, perhaps time has as well. As the woman turns and points towards him, the Doctor doesn't know what she means. He doesn't know what she's pointing at. Chidozie moves in the direction the woman is pointing, thinking that it might not be the Doctor she's pointing at. He passes behind the time window's TARDIS, unable to find anything, and the hooded woman walks away, vanishing.  
The hooded woman stays there until the past Doctor returns, the current Doctor noting that his memory of this event has changed, perhaps time has as well. As the woman turns and points towards him, the Doctor doesn't know what she means. He doesn't know what she's pointing at. Chidozie moves in the direction the woman is pointing, thinking that it might not be the Doctor she's pointing at. He passes behind the time window's TARDIS, unable to find anything, and the hooded woman walks away, vanishing.  


The Doctor and the TARDIS leave as well, leaving behind them a swirling mass of particulates, Colonel Chidozie nowhere to be found. They call and call for Chidozie, unable to contact him. Carla identifies the roil of dust and debris as [[Sutekh|The Beast]], in fear. Eventually their calls reach Chidozie and he says he's lost, in hell, an old entity has been waiting for ages. The window breaks, the roil vanishes, and Chidozie's body appears, caked with sand. The Doctor resolves - it's time to go meet Susan Triad.
The Doctor and the TARDIS leave as well, leaving behind them a swirling mass of particulates, Colonel Chidozie nowhere to be found. They call and call for Chidozie, unable to contact him. Carla identifies the roil of dust and debris as [[Sutekh|The Beast]], in fear. Eventually their calls reach Chidozie and he says he's lost, in hell, with an old entity that has been waiting for so long. The window breaks, the roil vanishes, and Chidozie's body appears, caked with sand. The Doctor resolves - it's time to go meet Susan Triad.


Mel introduces the Doctor to Triad, and he tries to talk to her, but she's so busy, what she really wants is sleep, can never have enough sleep with the dreams she has. The Doctor asks her over and over about the dreams she has - if they match with the people he's met on her travels. She's dragged away for her speech, but it's clear that these questions resonated with her.
[[File:Introduce my friend (TLORS).jpg|thumb|left|"Susan... Do you dream about a girl called Lindy? Do you dream about a place called Pacifico del Rio? Do you dream... about being an ambulance?".]]
Mel introduces the Doctor to Triad, and he tries to talk to her, but she brushes him off; lots of people want her time, but what she really wants is sleep, she can never have enough sleep with the dreams she has. The Doctor asks her over and over about the dreams she has - if they match with the people he's met on her travels. She's dragged away for her speech, but it's clear that these questions resonated with her.


The Doctor and Mel receive a call from Kate - the roiling mass from before has ingrained itself onto the VHS when it wasn't there before, not only that, they've determined that there's something in its centre, the TARDIS. It was there on that night on Ruby Road a second time, 20 meters to the north, with this mass swirling around it. As they talk, a groan emanates from the TARDIS in UNIT HQ, prompting Kate to wonder whether the swirling mass is still present around the TARDIS - they just can't see it. As non-essential people are evacuated from the room, the TARDIS is scanned, and a life form is determined to be surrounding the TARDIS. The Doctor stays on Triad, his gut insisting that she's part of this, but he orders Ruby be taken back to the time window as UNIT prepares for confrontation with whatever's around the TARDIS.
The Doctor and Mel receive a call from Kate - the roiling mass from before has ingrained itself onto the VHS when it wasn't there before, not only that, they've determined that there's something in its centre: the TARDIS. It was there on that night on Ruby Road a second time, 20 meters to the north, with this mass swirling around it. As they talk, a groan emanates from the TARDIS in UNIT HQ, prompting Kate to wonder whether the swirling mass is still present around the TARDIS - they just can't see it. As non-essential people are evacuated from the room, the TARDIS is scanned, and a life form is determined to be surrounding the TARDIS. The Doctor stays on Triad, his gut insisting that she's part of this, but he orders that Ruby be taken back to the time window as UNIT prepares for confrontation with whatever's around the TARDIS.


As Triad gives her speech, she hears a voice, disorienting her. She begins to go off script. She talks more and more about her bad dreams, her visions. In UNIT HQ, Harriet begins chanting, ranting, offering a prayer. Her full name? Harriet Arbinger - A Harbinger for a god yet again. Harriet lists off god after god in a pantheon, but she is the harbinger for none of them. She is the harbinger for the "mother and father and other of them all". [[Sutekh]].
As Triad gives her speech, she hears a voice, disorienting her. She begins to go off script. She talks more and more about her bad dreams, her visions. In UNIT HQ, Harriet begins chanting, ranting, offering a prayer. Her full name? Harriet Arbinger - A [[Harbinger]] for a god yet again. Harriet lists off god after god in a pantheon, but she is the harbinger for none of them. She is the harbinger for the "mother and father and other of them all". [[Sutekh]].


The roil turns visible and collapses, the god appearing, a beast curled around the TARDIS. Triad's face has turned into a skull, bringing the gift of his death to all she comes into contact with. And the time window whirs back to life once more, Ruby finding herself in a world of white, calling out to the hooded woman as she walks closer.
[[File:Sutekh's gift of death (TLORS).jpg|thumb|right|"Did you think I was family, Doctor? I bring Sutekh's gift of death for you and for all your tiny, vile, incessant universe!".]]
The roil turns visible and collapses as Sutekh appears in the form of a monstrous [[Dog|hound]] curled around the TARDIS. Triad's face has turned into a [[skull]], bringing his gift of death to all she comes into contact with. And the time window whirs back to life once more, Ruby finds herself in a flurry of snow, calling out to the hooded woman as she walks closer.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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|Carpenter3=Dean Page
|Carpenter3=Dean Page
|Carpenter4=Gareth Jones
|Carpenter4=Gareth Jones
|Carpenter5=Harriet Jones
|Carpenter5=Harriet Jones (carpenter)
|Carpenter6=Huw Morgan
|Carpenter6=Huw Morgan
|Carpenter7=Jason Thomas
|Carpenter7=Jason Thomas
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|PostProdProducer=Ceres Doyle
|PostProdProducer=Ceres Doyle
|SupervisingLocationManager=Iwan Roberts
|SupervisingLocationManager=Iwan Roberts
|SoundRecordist=Alex Thompson
|SoundRecordist=Alex Thompson (sound recordist)
|Re-recordingMixer=Paul McFadden
|Re-recordingMixer=Paul McFadden
|CastingDirector=Andy Pryor CDG/CSA
|CastingDirector=Andy Pryor CDG/CSA
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:* Harriet also mentions a threefold deity of malice, mischief, and misery.
:* Harriet also mentions a threefold deity of malice, mischief, and misery.
:* Harriet mentions the existence of gods of [[skin]], [[shame]], and [[secret]]s.
:* Harriet mentions the existence of gods of [[skin]], [[shame]], and [[secret]]s.
:* Harriet says that Sutekh has been called "Set", "Seth", and "Setekh", but that Sutekh is "his one true name forevermore".
* Harriet says that Sutekh has been called "Set", "Seth", and "Sithifer", but that Sutekh is "his one true name forevermore".


=== Popular culture ===
=== Popular culture ===
* Susan Triad once [[Cbeebies Bedtime Stories (in-universe)|read a book at bedtime]] on [[CBeebies (in-universe)|Cbeebies]].
* Susan Triad once [[Cbeebies Bedtime Stories (in-universe)|read a book at bedtime]] on [[CBeebies (in-universe)|Cbeebies]].


== Notes ==
=== Publications ===
* Magazines Susan Triad has appeared on the cover of include ''[[Union Jack (magazine)|Union Jack]]'', ''[[The Zeitgeist Magazine]]'', ''[[Britannia (magazine)|Britannia]]'', ''[[Digital Everyman]]'', ''[[The Space Magazine]]'', ''[[T3]]'', ''[[Marie Claire]]'', ''[[Everyday]]'', and ''[[Human Interest]]''.
 
== Story notes ==
* The title of the episode was revealed on the [[Official Doctor Who Twitter|official ''Doctor Who'' Twitter account]] on [[31 March (releases)|31 March]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]].<ref name="Legend" />
* The title of the episode was revealed on the [[Official Doctor Who Twitter|official ''Doctor Who'' Twitter account]] on [[31 March (releases)|31 March]] [[2024 (releases)|2024]].<ref name="Legend" />
* In his ''[[Letter from the Showrunner]]'' column in [[DWM 584]], [[Russell T Davies]] said the first line of the episode's script was "INT. [[Coffee|COFFEE]] BAR, [[USA]] - DAY, [[1947]]".<ref name="DWM 584">[[DWM 584]]</ref>
* In his ''[[Letter from the Showrunner]]'' column in [[DWM 584]], [[Russell T Davies]] said the first line of the episode's script was "INT. [[Coffee|COFFEE]] BAR, [[USA]] - DAY, [[1947]]".<ref name="DWM 584">[[DWM 584]]</ref>
** This scene was ultimately not in the episode.
** This scene was ultimately not in the episode. [[DWM 605]] revealed it to be part of a cut sequence where the Doctor and Ruby would have encountered three more alternate Susan Triads: a [[nanny]] in [[1946]] [[Pennsylvania]], whom the Doctor would have focused on while ignoring the presence of [[Albert Einstein]] and {{W|Paul Robeson}}; a [[blue]]-[[skin]]ned "100% Sloogma" [[Server|waitress]] serving the Doctor and Ruby in an alien [[diner]]; and a human [[astronaut]] greeting the [[Zarbi]] of [[Vortis]] on behalf of "the Earth Imperium of the Emperor Horatio".<ref name="Den of Geek">{{Cite_web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-doctor-who-series-14-finale-susan-twist/|title=Doctor Who's Series 14 Finale Originally Had a Lot More Susan Twist(s) at the End|author=Louisa Mellor|date of source=2024-06-20|website name=Den of Geek|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620185004/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-doctor-who-series-14-finale-susan-twist/|archivedate=2024-06-20}}</ref><ref name="RT Susan Twist">{{Cite_web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-susan-twist-cut-scene-newsupdate/|title=Doctor Who showrunner cut Susan Twist scene from 2-part season finale|author=James Hibbs|date of source=2024-06-20|website name=RadioTimes.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620185643/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-susan-twist-cut-scene-newsupdate/|archivedate=2024-06-20}}</ref>
* In his ''Production Diary'' column in [[DWM 592]], [[Scott Handcock]] said VFX supervisor [[Arran Glassar]] "mistakes our villain for Poirot".<ref name="DWM 592">[[DWM 592]]</ref> [[David Suchet]], whose surname is similar to Sutekh, is known for playing [[Hercule Poirot]].
* In his ''Production Diary'' column in [[DWM 592]], [[Scott Handcock]] said VFX supervisor [[Arran Glassar]] "mistakes our villain for Poirot".<ref name="DWM 592">[[DWM 592]]</ref> [[David Suchet]], whose surname is similar to Sutekh, is known for playing [[Hercule Poirot]].
* Davies told ''[[Radio Times]]'' that there were aspects of the story he had been "thinking of for 40 or 50 years".<ref name="50 years">{{Cite_web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-finale-fifty-years-newsupdate/|title=Doctor Who boss says finale contains scenes he's been planning for 50 years|author=Morgan Jeffery|date of source=2024-04-30|website name=RadioTimes.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430202350/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-finale-fifty-years-newsupdate/|archivedate=2024-04-30}}</ref>
* Davies told ''[[Radio Times]]'' that there were aspects of the story he had been "thinking of for 40 or 50 years".<ref name="50 years">{{Cite_web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-finale-fifty-years-newsupdate/|title=Doctor Who boss says finale contains scenes he's been planning for 50 years|author=Morgan Jeffery|date of source=2024-04-30|website name=RadioTimes.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430202350/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-finale-fifty-years-newsupdate/|archivedate=2024-04-30}}</ref>
* On [[22 May (production)|22 May]], UK cinematic screenings of this episode and ''[[Empire of Death (TV story)|Empire of Death]]'' were announced for the night of [[21 June (releases)|21]] and [[22 June (releases)|22 June]], with tickets going on sale on [[23 May (production)|23 May]].<ref name="Cinema">{{cite_web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-finale-cinema-screening-newsupdate/|title=Doctor Who's final 2 episodes of season 14 to be screened in UK cinemas|author=David Craig|date of source=2024-05-22|website name=RadioTimes.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522183625/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-finale-cinema-screening-newsupdate/|archivedate=2024-05-22}}</ref>
* On [[22 May (production)|22 May]], UK cinematic screenings of this episode and ''[[Empire of Death (TV story)|Empire of Death]]'' were announced for the night of [[21 June (releases)|21]] and [[22 June (releases)|22 June]], with tickets going on sale on [[23 May (production)|23 May]].<ref name="Cinema">{{cite_web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-finale-cinema-screening-newsupdate/|title=Doctor Who's final 2 episodes of season 14 to be screened in UK cinemas|author=David Craig|date of source=2024-05-22|website name=RadioTimes.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522183625/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-finale-cinema-screening-newsupdate/|archivedate=2024-05-22}}</ref>
* This episode marks the return of [[Sutekh]] to televised ''Doctor Who'' for the first time since {{cs|Pyramids of Mars (TV story)}} in [[1975 (releases)|1975]], an absence of 49 years. [[Gabriel Woolf]]'s name was omitted from the cast announcement to avoid spoiling his surprise return.
* This episode marks the return of [[Sutekh]] to televised ''Doctor Who'' for the first time since {{cs|Pyramids of Mars (TV story)}} in [[1975 (releases)|1975]], an absence of 49 years. [[Gabriel Woolf]]'s name was omitted from the cast announcement to avoid spoiling his surprise return.
*The episode's working title was "Chrysalis".<ref name="Den of Geek" />


=== Myths ===
=== Myths ===
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=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{discontinuity}}
{{discontinuity}}
''to be added''
* Many minor details of Ruby Road changes, such as the placement of Christmas lights and the growty of the hedges.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Ibrahim salutes the TARDIS when it lands which the Doctor does not object to. The Doctor was previously reluctant to being saluted in his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth]] incarnation in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)}}/{{cs|The Poison Sky (TV story)}}, and the [[Twelfth Doctor|twelfth]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Caretaker (TV story)}}; trying to forget his [[War Doctor|war]] incarnation which fought in the [[Last Great Time War]] from [[TV]]: {{cs|The Night of the Doctor (TV story)}} to [[TV]]: {{cs|The Day of the Doctor (TV story)}}.
* Ibrahim salutes the TARDIS when it lands which the Doctor does not object to. The Doctor was previously reluctant to being saluted in his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth]] incarnation in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)}}/{{cs|The Poison Sky (TV story)}}, and the [[Twelfth Doctor|twelfth]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Caretaker (TV story)}}; trying to forget his [[War Doctor|war]] incarnation which fought in the [[Last Great Time War]] from [[TV]]: {{cs|The Night of the Doctor (TV story)}} to [[TV]]: {{cs|The Day of the Doctor (TV story)}}.
* The magazines ''[[The Zeitgeist Magazine]]'', ''[[Britannia (magazine)|Britannia]]'', ''[[The Space Magazine]]'', and ''[[Everyday]]'' previously appeared in the background of [[TV]]: {{cs|73 Yards (TV story)}}.
* When Kate asks him if he would recognise Susan if he met her again, he asserts he would given the connection Time Lords have. The [[War Lord]] recognised the [[Second Doctor]] even though he looked different in [[TV]]: {{cs|The War Games (TV story)}}. The [[Tenth Doctor]] noted this ability Time Lords had when recognising the [[Saxon Master]] during the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}} and {{cs|The End of Time (TV story)}} and the [[Eleventh Doctor]] remarked similar statements when hoping to find [[the Corsair]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Doctor's Wife (TV story)}}. However, some incarnations of the Doctor failed to recognise [[the Master]]: the [[First Doctor]] with the [[Tremas Master]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Five Doctors (TV story)}}, the [[Twelfth Doctor]] with [[Missy]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Dark Water (TV story)}}, and the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] with the [[Spy Master]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Spyfall (TV story)}}.
* Kate believes that the Doctor never saw Susan again after they parted company. The Doctor doesn't tell her that his [[Eighth Doctor|eighth]] incarnation caught up with her in [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|An Earthly Child (audio story)}}, {{cs|Relative Dimensions (audio story)}}, {{cs|Lucie Miller (audio story)}}, {{cs|To the Death (audio story)}}, {{cs|All Hands on Deck (audio story)}} and {{cs|The Shoreditch Intervention (audio story)}}, or, alternatively, in [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Legacy of the Daleks (novel)}}.
* [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] still works for UNIT, as previously seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}}.
* [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] still works for UNIT, as previously seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}}.
* [[Rose Noble]] now works for UNIT, mentioning her mother [[Donna Noble|Donna]] working for them too, as arranged in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}}
* [[Rose Noble]] now works for UNIT, mentioning her mother [[Donna Noble|Donna]] working for them too, as arranged in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}}
Line 423: Line 434:
* UNIT is aware of Ruby from records of the [[goblin]] incursion on Christmas Eve, as occurred in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)}}. Ruby previously sought UNIT's help and met Kate in the undone events of [[TV]]: {{cs|73 Yards (TV story)}}.
* UNIT is aware of Ruby from records of the [[goblin]] incursion on Christmas Eve, as occurred in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)}}. Ruby previously sought UNIT's help and met Kate in the undone events of [[TV]]: {{cs|73 Yards (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor shows UNIT the versions of Susan he's encountered including the comms officer on [[Pacifico Del Rio]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}, [[Lindy Pepper-Bean]]'s [[Penny Pepper-Bean|mother]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Dot and Bubble (TV story)}}, the [[Villengard Automated Ambulance Unit|ambulance]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Boom (TV story)}}, and the portrait in [[1813]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Rogue (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor shows UNIT the versions of Susan he's encountered including the comms officer on [[Pacifico Del Rio]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}, [[Lindy Pepper-Bean]]'s [[Penny Pepper-Bean|mother]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Dot and Bubble (TV story)}}, the [[Villengard Automated Ambulance Unit|ambulance]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Boom (TV story)}}, and the portrait in [[1813]], as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Rogue (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor misinterprets the anagram of S.TRIAD for Susan TARDIS, rather than Sutekh. He previously misunderstood the [[Face of Boe]]'s "you are not alone" acronym of YANA as a warning of [[Saxon Master|the Saxon Master]] returning in [[TV]]: {{cs|Utopia (TV story)}}.
* Ruby recalls the Doctor telling her about his granddaughter [[Susan Foreman]], as depicted in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Devil's Chord (TV story)}}.
* Ruby recalls the Doctor telling her about his granddaughter [[Susan Foreman]], as depicted in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Devil's Chord (TV story)}}.
* Ruby mentions meeting [[Davina McCall (in-universe)|Davina McCall]], as depicted in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)}}.
* Ruby mentions meeting [[Davina McCall (in-universe)|Davina McCall]], as depicted in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor reiterates he cannot travel back to Ruby Road in 2004, as he first explained to Ruby in [[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor reiterates he cannot travel back to Ruby Road in 2004, as he first explained to Ruby in [[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}.
* Kate recalls how her father, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]], and the Doctor used to work together, as depicted throughout the [[Third Doctor]]’s era beginning in [[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}.
* Kate recalls how her father, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]], and the Doctor used to work together, as depicted throughout the [[Third Doctor]]'s era beginning in [[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor believes he is a bringer of destruction and death; a belief expressed numerous times, like in [[TV]]: {{cs|Rose (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Lazarus Experiment (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Family of Blood (TV story)}}, {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)|''Journey's End''}}, {{cs|The God Complex (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Name of the Doctor (TV story)}}.
* The Doctor believes he is a bringer of destruction and death; a belief expressed numerous times, like in [[TV]]: {{cs|Rose (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Lazarus Experiment (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Family of Blood (TV story)}}, {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)|''Journey's End''}}, {{cs|The God Complex (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Name of the Doctor (TV story)}}.
* Harriet mentions that the nearest CCTV camera to the church on Ruby Road was about 66 metres away. This is approximately 73 yards, the same distance the mystery woman kept from Ruby in [[TV]]: {{cs|73 Yards (TV story)}}, and also the effective radius of the TARDIS’s [[perception filter]], as revealed in [[TV]]: {{cs|Empire of Death (TV story)}}.
* Snow appears at discussion of Ruby's past, as previously occurred in [[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|The Devil's Chord (TV story)}} and [[TV]]: {{cs|Boom (TV story)}}.
* Snow appears at discussion of Ruby's past, as previously occurred in [[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|The Devil's Chord (TV story)}} and [[TV]]: {{cs|Boom (TV story)}}.
* Ruby's urge to see her mother mirrors [[Rose Tyler]]'s temptation to save [[Pete Tyler|her father]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Father's Day (TV story)|Father's Day]]''.
* Ruby's urge to see her mother mirrors [[Rose Tyler]]'s temptation to save [[Pete Tyler|her father]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Father's Day (TV story)|Father's Day]]''.

Latest revision as of 23:44, 25 August 2024

The Legend of Ruby Sunday
RealWorld.png

The Legend of Ruby Sunday was the seventh episode of Season 1 of Doctor Who.[1]

The first of the two-part season finale, it further extended the membership of The Pantheon, first introduced in The Giggle [+]Loading...["The Giggle (TV story)"], with the reintroduction of the classic villain, Sutekh, in his first appearance since 1975's Pyramids of Mars [+]Loading...["Pyramids of Mars (TV story)"], 49 years prior, with Gabriel Woolf reprising the role.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The same woman keeps appearing in the Doctor and Ruby's adventures. UNIT knows her as Susan Triad, head of S Triad Technology. Could she be the Doctor's long-lost granddaughter? And just who is Ruby's mysterious mother? As UNIT investigates both angles, an ancient evil stirs...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

"So, we have Susan Triad. We also have another mystery woman. Ruby Sunday!".

In 2024, the TARDIS lands in UNIT Tower, and the Doctor and Ruby step out to greet everyone assembled: Rose Noble, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, and two new faces, Morris Gibbons, UNIT scientific advisor, and Harriet, head of the archive. The Doctor asks the assembled group for their help; wherever he lands a woman appears. Be her an ambulance, a communications officer, or someone's mother, she just keeps showing up. The group immediately tabs over to a feed of the woman practising a speech; they've already been keeping tabs on her. Susan Triad, owner of S Triad Technology, who plans on giving her tech away for free to the world later today. The Doctor points out that "S Triad" is an anagram for TARDIS, and those assembled explain that this is part of why they've been keeping an eye on her. Ruby also points out that "Susan" is the name of the Doctor's granddaughter. As the group discusses the issue, the solution of the Doctor just going to meet with Susan Triad is floated, he'd recognize her if she were his granddaughter, but everything lining up does suggest a decent likelihood of a trap.

The assembled group moves on - the Doctor discusses another mystery woman, Ruby's mother. He can't go back to the night when Ruby was left on the church's doorstep, he was already there, and he can't cross his own timeline. This night in particular is so volatile that it's dangerous; whenever Ruby and the Doctor even discuss it, snow tends to fall. Harriet thinks they're overcomplicating the issue, this was 2004, CCTV existed. There was a camera nearby. Ruby has the VHS tape, she and her grandmother asked for it years back, but you can't see anything on it. Morris suggests that due to UNIT's technology, they could sharpen the image and maybe see something new. Ruby and Rose head back to Ruby's flat to get the tape.

As Ruby and Rose collect the tape, Carla Sunday resolves to come with them back to UNIT tower, to make sure that Ruby is kept safe. She has Mrs. Flood come to watch over Cherry Sunday in her absence, who's happy to help. As Mrs. Flood is left alone with Cherry, Flood warns Cherry to be careful - "there's a storm coming in, he waits no more."

Susan Triad continues to rehearse her speech, nervous for the delivery in 90 minutes. Melanie Bush, who UNIT has snuck onto set as a consultant, manages to get a DNA sample from her and drives it back to UNIT HQ. The Doctor is thrilled to have Mel arrive, and his enthusiasm doesn't take much of a dent from the DNA sample she's brought back coming in as human, as almost immediately after, Ruby and Rose return, Carla in tow. The Doctor decides not just to upscale the resolution on the VHS, but to use it in a time window to actually view that night in its entirety.

Heading down to the time window and meeting Colonel Winston Chidozie, who manages the security for the time window, they have Morris wire the VHS up to the window. Ruby joins the Doctor in the middle of the window's space, and she describes to him the story of how she was found. Snow falls, even before the window starts. The machine whirs to life, and a hologram of Christmas Eve, 2004 appears, the Carol of the Bells echoing. Kate is astonished to see the window performing as well as it is, but the Doctor says that they're giving it memory - time is memory, memory is time. A hooded figure, Ruby's mother, appears and walks towards them. But as they try to peek under her hood the window stutters and she surges past them. The TARDIS arrives, the Doctor arrives, to save Ruby as he did in the past, running off to the church. But the Doctor notices, standing next to Ruby, that the TARDIS in the time window is almost solid. He muses - "if time is memory, and memory is time, then what is the memory of a time machine?"

"Did anyone see her face?".

The hooded woman stays there until the past Doctor returns, the current Doctor noting that his memory of this event has changed, perhaps time has as well. As the woman turns and points towards him, the Doctor doesn't know what she means. He doesn't know what she's pointing at. Chidozie moves in the direction the woman is pointing, thinking that it might not be the Doctor she's pointing at. He passes behind the time window's TARDIS, unable to find anything, and the hooded woman walks away, vanishing.

The Doctor and the TARDIS leave as well, leaving behind them a swirling mass of particulates, Colonel Chidozie nowhere to be found. They call and call for Chidozie, unable to contact him. Carla identifies the roil of dust and debris as The Beast, in fear. Eventually their calls reach Chidozie and he says he's lost, in hell, with an old entity that has been waiting for so long. The window breaks, the roil vanishes, and Chidozie's body appears, caked with sand. The Doctor resolves - it's time to go meet Susan Triad.

"Susan... Do you dream about a girl called Lindy? Do you dream about a place called Pacifico del Rio? Do you dream... about being an ambulance?".

Mel introduces the Doctor to Triad, and he tries to talk to her, but she brushes him off; lots of people want her time, but what she really wants is sleep, she can never have enough sleep with the dreams she has. The Doctor asks her over and over about the dreams she has - if they match with the people he's met on her travels. She's dragged away for her speech, but it's clear that these questions resonated with her.

The Doctor and Mel receive a call from Kate - the roiling mass from before has ingrained itself onto the VHS when it wasn't there before, not only that, they've determined that there's something in its centre: the TARDIS. It was there on that night on Ruby Road a second time, 20 meters to the north, with this mass swirling around it. As they talk, a groan emanates from the TARDIS in UNIT HQ, prompting Kate to wonder whether the swirling mass is still present around the TARDIS - they just can't see it. As non-essential people are evacuated from the room, the TARDIS is scanned, and a life form is determined to be surrounding the TARDIS. The Doctor stays on Triad, his gut insisting that she's part of this, but he orders that Ruby be taken back to the time window as UNIT prepares for confrontation with whatever's around the TARDIS.

As Triad gives her speech, she hears a voice, disorienting her. She begins to go off script. She talks more and more about her bad dreams, her visions. In UNIT HQ, Harriet begins chanting, ranting, offering a prayer. Her full name? Harriet Arbinger - A Harbinger for a god yet again. Harriet lists off god after god in a pantheon, but she is the harbinger for none of them. She is the harbinger for the "mother and father and other of them all". Sutekh.

"Did you think I was family, Doctor? I bring Sutekh's gift of death for you and for all your tiny, vile, incessant universe!".

The roil turns visible and collapses as Sutekh appears in the form of a monstrous hound curled around the TARDIS. Triad's face has turned into a skull, bringing his gift of death to all she comes into contact with. And the time window whirs back to life once more, Ruby finds herself in a flurry of snow, calling out to the hooded woman as she walks closer.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.
          

This episode was produced with the support of incentives for the Irish film industry provided by the Government of Ireland.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Pantheon[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Harriet also mentions a threefold deity of malice, mischief, and misery.
  • Harriet mentions the existence of gods of skin, shame, and secrets.
  • Harriet says that Sutekh has been called "Set", "Seth", and "Sithifer", but that Sutekh is "his one true name forevermore".

Popular culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

Publications[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • Many minor details of Ruby Road changes, such as the placement of Christmas lights and the growty of the hedges.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home media releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: The Legend of Ruby Sunday (TV story)/Gallery

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 @bbcdoctorwho (2024-05-31). THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY
    Writer: Russell T Davies
    Director: Jamie Donoughue
    #DoctorWho    . Archived from the original on 2024-05-29.
  2. ↑ DWM 584
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Louisa Mellor (2024-06-20). Doctor Who's Series 14 Finale Originally Had a Lot More Susan Twist(s) at the End. Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 2024-06-20.
  4. ↑ James Hibbs (2024-06-20). Doctor Who showrunner cut Susan Twist scene from 2-part season finale. RadioTimes.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-20.
  5. ↑ DWM 592
  6. ↑ Morgan Jeffery (2024-04-30). Doctor Who boss says finale contains scenes he's been planning for 50 years. RadioTimes.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-30.
  7. ↑ David Craig (2024-05-22). Doctor Who's final 2 episodes of season 14 to be screened in UK cinemas. RadioTimes.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-22.
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Space Babies • The Devil's Chord • Boom • 73 Yards • Dot and Bubble • Rogue • The Legend of Ruby Sunday • Empire of Death
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