UNRAVELING THE MYTHS: THE ENIGMATIC ALLURE OF 'THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY'

Few TV series have managed the feat of maintaining such masterful control over mystery, emotion, and time-traveling hijinks as Doctor Who. The penultimate episode of Season 1, ‘The Legend of Ruby Sunday’, not only lays the groundwork for an explosive finale, but also reweaves a legend that had long been entwined in its fans’ memories: the return of the evil Sutekh. The episode is a heart-pounding lead-in to its ultimate finale while simultaneously acting as a legend in the making.

THE LEGEND RETURNS: SUTEKH'S MENACING COMEBACK

Underpinning ‘The Legend of Ruby Sunday’ is the instantly exciting return of Sutekh, a villain whose legacy goes all the way back to the 1975 serial ‘Pyramids of Mars’. For long-term fans who remember that previous TV manifestation, it brings a shiver of recognition, but it’s also a genuinely thrilling climax for newcomers to the series. The radical reimagining of Susan Triad into a familiar figure is creatively chilling – and the practical make-up on Jonny Dixon, who plays Sutekh, is terrifyingly effective. It shows just how much practical make-up can do to communicate the horror and the wonder of monstrous figures.

MEL: A BEACON AMONG LEGENDS

Of the dozens of characters in the vast cast, Melanie Bush – Mel for short – is a hero for the ages. Her determination and leadership in critical situations are among many reasons why she remains a fan favourite. Her leadership best signifies the strength and richness of important characters throughout the run of the series. And so, indeed, The Legend of Ruby Sunday can be told.

A JOURNEY WITH THE DOCTOR AND RUBY

As welcome as the return of Sutekh and Mel was, the relationship between The Doctor and Ruby was the emotional heart of the episode. Spritely with tension and barbs, his interactions with her show the potential for greater characterisation than is possible in a truncated series.

A STORY WITHIN A STORY: THE MYTHOLOGY OF RUBY'S ORIGINS

What The Legend of Ruby Sunday does do well, though, is set up Ruby’s mythology, which is ripe with both mystery and lore. A clever way that this is done is through the Time Window VHS scenes, which are employed as a narrative device and fill in gaps to Ruby’s past. These glimpses into the past aren’t just clever tools to flesh out the story, they also show that the series is willing to step outside the box when it comes to storytelling.

THE CULMINATION OF LEGENDS: SETTING THE STAGE FOR A FINALE

By the end of ‘The Legend of Ruby Sunday’, our anticipation for this great climax is powerful and real, as we realise that the play of myth and legend has been set up for a finale that wraps all the questions into resolution. We know that Sutekh has returned, and we know that Ruby’s parents still have secrets to reveal.

UNDERSTANDING LEGEND IN 'THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY'

At its core, The Legend of Ruby Sunday is an ode to the enduring magic of legend-making as a storytelling tool. Legend, in this usage, denotes not a character or a story from the past, but a generic storytelling device that lends emotional heft and textural depth to the tale. In re-advancing the characters of Sutekh and, more significantly, adding new archetypes in Ruby, Doctor Who Season 1 arrived at a narrative that was mythic and legend-laden, true to the tradition of the series and its defining legacy.

Thus this episode is a reminder that myths – whether they are ancient, or modern, or both – can only live on if we believe in them. With its fairytale elements, its character development, and its return to basics, ‘The Legend Of Ruby Sunday’ is a powerful, emotionally resonant closer to the story of the Doctor’s regeneration into a woman, that promises a finale with real myth-making and legend-making powers.