What to expect from the Doctor Who finale, Empire of Death

Doctor Who is drawing to a close after the dramatic events of The Legend of Ruby Sunday, which saw the grand entrance of one of the Time Lord’s oldest enemies – and the long-touted One Who Waits.

Read more: How to watch the finale of the 14th season of Doctor Who in the cinema

Empire of Death will be in UK cinemas for one night only, and viewers who want to see the film on the big screen or on the small screen at home have a lot to look forward to from the finale. Questions will be answered, villains will be defeated (or so we hope) and we’ll have to say goodbye to a great season for Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson.

Here’s everything we know and can expect from the season 14 finale.

What to expect from the Doctor Who finale, Empire of Death

The grand finale of the season will air on BBC iPlayer at midnight on Saturday 22 June and will be broadcast on BBC One at 6.40pm the same day. The episode has been touted as the biggest thing to ever happen on Doctor Who, with showrunner Russell T. Davies describing it as “the most devastating finale”.

Speaking to Radio Times, Davies said of the episode: “We want to end with a bang like we’ve never had before. This finale is like a huge feature film. I think a lot of people will be shocked – if I can pull that off. Hopefully I can.”

That certainly sounds ominous. So what can viewers expect? Well, The Legend of Ruby Sunday has come up with some suggestions.

Sutekh causes chaos

The biggest reveal in the first episode of the two-part finale is that The One Who Waits is Sutekh, one of the Doctor’s early enemies who appeared in Pyramids of Mars. Gabriel Woolf returns to voice the character he first portrayed 50 years ago.

Sutekh, the God of Death, made his presence known at the end of the episode when it was revealed that he was hiding in the TARDIS. He revealed himself through an Anubis-like beast and warned that he would bring death to the Doctor and his beloved home, Earth.

Read more: Will Rogue ever return to Doctor Who?

According to the trailer, Sutekh will first wreak havoc on the planet, destroying people and places at will. The Doctor must then race against time to stop the villain and send him back to the pit he crawled out of.

Answers to Ruby Sunday

The other big question viewers are hoping to find an answer to concerns Ruby Sunday’s origins. Gibson’s companion has been something of a mystery ever since she accompanied the Doctor on his travels, and that’s largely because she was abandoned by her mother as a toddler.

Ruby’s mother remains a mystery, but she seems to have an understanding – if not a connection – with Sutekh. In his reveal, Sutekh said he was “the father” and the god of death. So maybe she is actually “the mother” and the god of life? One can only hope the finale gives viewers an answer as to who she is and why she keeps her identity a secret.

The doctor saves the world

The Doctor is expected to be able to save humanity from Sutekh’s clutches, but the question is how he will do it and what he will lose in the process. What we do know is that Gibson is returning for the next season of the BBC series, so it’s safe to assume she will survive the encounter.

The Doctor Who finale, Empire of Death, will premiere on BBC iPlayer at midnight on Saturday 22 June and air on BBC One at 6.40pm the same day.