In this first part of the two-part season finale, we get to see the return of old companion Mel (again), and an answer to just who this Susan person is who's been popping up all over time and space. Strangely though, for an episode promising to divulge Ruby's secrets, which we've been waiting for all season, those particular answers are confined to the next episode.
The episode wastes no time starting in UNIT headquarters where the Doctor demands an investigation of the mysterious woman "Susan" they keep seeing everywhere. As well, they further research the mystery of Ruby's origins via a VHS cassette surveillance recording taped on the night of her birth. Through some awesome technology The Doctor and Ruby are able to enter a projection of the video and look for Ruby's mother. They see her but the technology is unable to capture a picture of her face when she turns to them.
Meanwhile, the "Susan Triad" woman is making waves, being a very popular rich benevolent-type figure in this reality (their version of Bill Gates) and about to unleash a new technology upon the masses. The Doctor is convinced that Susan is a later, regenerated version of his granddaughter, but something still doesn't feel right...
A strange effect circles the Tardis, all pulsing red light and black smoke. On stage, taping a promotional video, Susan Twist seems to forget who she is. Her "dreams" that are haunting are all actual adventures that the Doctor and Ruby have had, i.e the whole of the season to this point. UNIT cannot penetrate the effect surrounding the TARDIS and watch in horror as the true villain reveals himself.
No, it's not the Master, the Rani, or the Valeyard (all good guesses), but the clues were there if you followed them. The obvious anagram of Tardis from S-Triad was meant to point in the direction of Susan being the Doctor's granddaughter, but sadly that was just a red herring to confuse the viewer. The other clue lay in the name of the technology also, but in a different way: Sue (Susan) Technology (Tech)- put together is Sue Tech or Sutekh, the Destroyer of Worlds, who the 4th Doctor fought in the classic serial Pyramids of Mars. I have to admit here I was yelling in joy a little bit when I heard this reveal.
"Susan" transforms herself into Sutekh's undead assistant, and even manages to get out a line stolen from the classic series ("I bring you Sutekh's gift....of death.") The Doctor is horrified, and we still don't know what the deal is with Ruby! How can we wait a week under these circumstances? I don't know but let's find out together. For this first part of the finale, I grade it an A-.
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