Doctor Who Series 10, Episode 7 Review - The Pyramid at the End of the World
- SimplyWho
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1
What did you think of this episode?
Sonic!
Good!
Bumpy-wumpy!
Exterminate!
Suddenly, series 10 is on fire. Oxygen, Extremis and now this. The Pyramid at the End of the World is completely different, but it is still bloody good.
The Monks really are Donald Trump aren't they?! No matter how dark and creepy they are, no matter how much they need to be loved, and the need to be asked to rule, and even though the reality of them taking over is unknown, and probably fucked up, they get in anyway!
The Monks are creepy, but old Donnie is creepier.
The fact that the Monks don't conquer by force is scary, because it is all about consent and control. It's about being welcomed in rather than forced in. It’s sinister, and scarily mirrored in our real world.
"The end of your life has already begun. There is a last place you will ever go, a last door you will ever walk through, a last sight you will ever see, and every step you ever take is moving you closer. The end of the world is a billion, billion tiny moments, and somewhere, unnoticed, in silence or in darkness, it has already begun."
Leaders who thrive on manipulation, who convince people to love them. They want blind loyalty, and once it's given, it is nearly impossible to take back. Watching it now, with hindsight, those vibes of authoritarianism, of a leader desperate to stick around like Trump's best bud Putin, feel chillingly relevant.
I really enjoyed the tension throughout this episode, and I loved the scenes around the lab with the bacteria. Seeing how little events like a pair of broken glasses and a night out on the town can lead to bigger, more catastrophic moments. It makes you wonder how easy it would be for the world to collapse with one mistake, one accident, one little misstep.
It also gives us a clock, well two clocks actually. The doomsday clock ticking throughout the episode, and then the countdown to an explosion in the lab. The Doctor working against those clocks, still blind, trying to save the day is gripping television.
I do find it baffling that Bill didn't notice the Doctor was blind though. The fact that Nardole was instructing the Doctor through everything must have been a slight clue for her? Come on Bill, sort it out!
"We must be wanted. We must be loved. To rule through fear is inefficient."
Then Bill gives consent to the Monks in order to save the Doctor. Has she known him long enough to act out of love? Probably not, but this is Doctor Who, people fall in love very quickly. I just shrug my shoulders and get over it.
I remember the first time around being really excited that we were getting a three-part story. That felt different and very classic Who in spirit.
The Pyramid at the End of the World might not be as flashy or experimental as Extremis, but it’s a brilliant continuation of the story. The Monks remain creepy, the Doctor’s blindness continues to raise the stakes, and the ending left me desperate for the next episode.
What did you think of The Pyramid at the End of the World? Let me know in the comments below.
RATING: Sonic!
BEST LINE: I'll tell you what, old man. You'd better get my planet back!
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