Pyramids of Mars (TotT TV story)

Pyramids of Mars was the seventh episode in the Tales of the TARDIS series, released on BBC iPlayer on 20 June 2024 by the BBC, written by Russell T Davies and directed by Jamie Donoughue.

	Fifteenth Doctor, Fourth Doctor
	Ruby Sunday, Sarah Jane Smith
	Remembered TARDIS
	Russell T. Davies
	Jamie Donoughue
	Vicki Delow
	Science fiction
	7
	1
	20 June 2024
	BBC iPlayer
	1x76 minute episode
Tales of the TARDIS
← Previous	The Curse of Fenric

You may wish to consult Pyramids of Mars (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

This story consists of two newly recorded scenes bookending an omnibus version, with cuts, of the TV story Pyramids of Mars ^[+]Loading...["Pyramids of Mars (TV story)"].

Distinct from the initial series of six, this episode, which aired on BBC Four in between the two-part finale of season 1, had the Fifteenth Doctor tell Ruby Sunday of the classic story's events, which the return of Sutekh in The Legend of Ruby Sunday ^[+]Loading...["The Legend of Ruby Sunday (TV story)"] had made pertinent, with lines of dialogue seemingly implying a setting during Empire of Death ^[+]Loading...["Empire of Death (TV story)"].

Synopsis

Sitting in the Remembered TARDIS, the Fifteenth Doctor recounts the tale of his first battle with Sutekh to Ruby Sunday.

Plot

Inside the Remembered TARDIS, the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday are sitting on the floor around the crystal fire. The Doctor tells Ruby about how he had fought Sutekh before. Even though he won, it was by the skin of his teeth, and he's not sure he can do so again. Upon Ruby asking him what happened, the Doctor explains how he was a different man back then, and that he was traveling with a friend named Sarah Jane Smith, and that they had many wonderful adventures. The Doctor then begins to tell Ruby what happened in his last encounter with Sutekh.

After his story is finished, the Doctor admits that he had truly thought he had killed Sutekh back then, but Sutekh has just been simply waiting all this time. Ruby points out that the Doctor did beat him then, and might know something they can use now. The Doctor disagrees, pointing out the fact that Sutekh was the size of a man back then, but now he has evolved and become a Titan. How can he fight against that? But, he knows if he doesn't, Sutekh will destroy the universe. The Doctor doesn't know what to do.

Cast

• Fifteenth Doctor - Ncuti Gatwa
• Ruby Sunday - Millie Gibson

Crew

to be added

Worldbuilding

• The Remembered TARDIS has chairs from the Eleventh Doctor's first control room and the Tenth Doctor's control room.
• The Fifteenth Doctor recalls that Marcus Scarman was an Englishman who was looting the tombs of the Pharaohs, disturbing the dead.
• The Doctor notes that Sutekh was the size of a man when the Fourth Doctor confronted him, but has now evolved into a Titan.

Notes

• This story is implied to take place during the events of Empire of Death ^[+]Loading...["Empire of Death (TV story)"], since the Doctor did not know of Sutekh's return until the climax of The Legend of Ruby Sunday at a time when he was separated from Ruby. This was confirmed when Empire of Death premiered, as there is a scene featuring the Doctor and Ruby in the same positions from this story. The episode revealed that Melanie Bush was also in the Remembered TARDIS, apparently asleep while the Doctor told Ruby about Sutekh.
• This story's broadcast was immediately followed by a rerun of the documentary Talking Doctor Who. Both were opened by the full Whoniverse ident, which had been condensed for season 1 and Doctor Who: Unleashed.
• A repeat of this episode aired at 02:45 AM on 21 June 2024.
• The chair from the Eleventh Doctor's first control room previously appeared independent of its regular location in STAGE: Time Fracture ^[+]Loading...["Time Fracture (stage play)"], as part of Brolls Import Export Emporium.
• Unlike the thumbnail images of the previous six Tales of the TARDIS episodes, the thumbnail image for this one did not feature the title of the story.
• Footage from this version of Pyramids of Mars, specifically the time corridor effect, is used in Empire of Death.

Deviations from original serial

• The story omits some lines of dialogue from the original version of Pyramids of Mars, such as the reference to Victoria Waterfield.
• Updated special effects appear. A notable recurring change is that of the time vortex from Season 1 being used to depict the time corridor.
• Mars is depicted using a shot from TV: The Waters of Mars ^[+]Loading...["The Waters of Mars (TV story)"].
• The hand of a crew member is removed from the scene where Sutekh stands up.
  • The short story All Our Christmases features the history of Doctor Who being changed by fans with time travel. The first change was removing this blooper.
• Incidental music from TV: Logopolis ^[+]Loading...["Logopolis (TV story)"], particularly the track used for the Fourth Doctor's regeneration, is heard during the scene in which the Doctor and Laurence Scarman talk about radio telescopes, to foreshadow this event.
• The "The Liar and the Truth Teller" puzzle scene is removed from this version.
• When the Doctor and Sarah Jane are finding their way around the forest with a stick, a force field effect is added when they hit the boundaries of it.
• During the scene in which the Doctor banishes Sutekh back into the time corridor, special effects have changed the image of Sutekh’s head to an image of Sutekh in his entirety.

Continuity

• The Fifteenth Doctor fondly reminisces about Sarah Jane Smith. He had, following his bi-generation in TV: The Giggle ^[+]Loading...["The Giggle (TV story)"], acknowledged her death whilst speaking with the Fourteenth Doctor. Sarah Jane's death had previously been noted with Farewell, Sarah Jane ^[+]Loading...["Farewell, Sarah Jane (webcast)"].
• The Doctor recounts the events of TV: Pyramids of Mars ^[+]Loading...["Pyramids of Mars (TV story)"] in light of Sutekh's return in The Legend of Ruby Sunday ^[+]Loading...["The Legend of Ruby Sunday (TV story)"] / Empire of Death ^[+]Loading...["Empire of Death (TV story)"].