Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead forDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 8, “Empire of Death.”
Summary
Sutekh’s return inDoctor Whorepresented a major change to the show’s history, and the concept art only makes him look better.Doctor Whoseason 14’s endingrevealed that Sutekh has been residing in the TARDIS since the Fourth Doctor starred in the arc “The Pyramids of Mars”. Sutekh, empowered by his time with the TARDIS, has become an incredibly powerful God of Death, and he seeks to bring devastation to the universe. While the Doctor manages to stop him, Sutekh’s appearance still changes everything.
Returning showrunnerRussell T Daviestook to Instagram to showcase concept art for the villain. Davies drew the sketch himself and submitted it to the design team. Check it out below:
The sketch features aswirling and enormous Sutekh wrapping his arms around the waiting TARDIS. The TARDIS is seemingly alarmed by his intrusion, but Sutekh’s claws prevent any chance for the time and space machine to escape.
Sutekh’s Reveal Completely Changes Doctor Who’s History
Sutekh Has Been Traveling With The TARDIS
Long after he seemingly disappeared in the aftermath of the Fourth Doctor’s adventure, “The Pyramids of Mars”,Sutekh was actually traveling through time and space with the Doctor.He was gaining power all along and sewing the seeds of his gift of death, which soon destroyed nearly all life in the universe. Sutekh has been clinging on for millennia, meaning that every Doctor between Tom Baker and Ncuti Gatwa have secretly been shepherding him across the universe. Even the Doctor’s ship was unaware of Sutekh’s journey,leaving the TARDIS to groanwhenever forced to bear his weight.
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The Doctor only defeated the god with a clever trick involving molecular rope. By killinga member ofDoctor Who’s pantheon,The Doctor proved that he is more powerful than the gods, but still, he falls prey to Sutekh’s cruel ways. The Doctor did exactly what Sutekh wanted, given that he spread the gift of death to Sutekh. Even Sutekh’s plan is potentially still in motion, as an additional danger lies in the fact that the Fourteenth Doctor is currently traveling with a duplicate TARDIS. If Sutekh is attached to that machine as well, more danger could be on the horizon.
While the implications of Sutekh’s ability to capture the TARDIS is compelling enough, the aftermath for the rest of humanity is just as horrifying. Sutekh killed everyone on Earth during season 14, episode 8, “Empire of Death”, and while The Doctor managed to save their lives, everyone brought back to life will likely have to deal with the reality that they actually died. Much like those living in the Marvel Cinematic Universe who were turned to dust by Thanos, the consequences of their deaths will likely play a role in futureDoctor Whoseasons.
Doctor Who
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Doctor Who: Released on July 30, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
