Is Sutekh Really Dead After Season 14’s Finale?

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In the second episode of Doctor Who season 15, titled “Lux,” it is hinted that the God of Death, Sutekh, played by Gabriel Woolf, may not be coming back after his departure in the finale of season 14. This would mean a permanent end to this character, considering his history of reappearance. The revelation that The One Who Waits was actually Sutekh was one of the most shocking twists from season 14. Sutekh, as you may recall, was last seen in the 1975 “Pyramids of Mars” serial featuring Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor. In the episode “Lux,” Alan Cumming’s character Mr. Ring-a-Ding/Lux Imperator, the God of Light, brings up Sutekh, and it seems that things are not looking favorable for Woolf’s character.

In the universe of Doctor Who, the ancient deity Sutekh has been rewritten to be part of a larger group of antagonists. His dominance was hinted at, indicating his position as leader. With Sutekh vanquished, it’s unclear if another will seize control or if the pantheon operates in such a structured manner. Similarly, Lux, another powerful entity, was eliminated by The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) in season 15 episode 2. However, before his demise, Lux left a mysterious hint about Sutekh’s future.

Lux Suggests Sutekh Really Is Dead After Doctor Who Season 14’s Ending

The God of Light uses an interesting word to describe the Doctor’s second defeat of Sutekh

After Lux recognizes the Doctor, the Deity of Light delves into a monologue about the Time Lord’s multiple triumphs over other divine beings within the Pantheon. Interestingly, Lux chooses to describe the Doctor as having defeated these deities rather than directly causing their demise. However, when discussing Sutekh, Lux refers to the Doctor as his “enemy,” the “destroyer” of the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris), and the “slayer” of Maestro (Jinkx Monsoon), but more explicitly as the “killer” of the God of Death – who is Sutekh.

Indeed, Lux might just be employing a figure of speech, but it seems particularly significant that he chooses such a conclusive term to express the Doctor’s vanquish of season 14’s most formidable adversary. If anyone would be aware whether Sutekh has permanently departed, it would likely be someone like Lux, given his association with the Pantheon. However, it is challenging to discern whether Lux is speaking literally due to his flair for dramatic expression, suggesting he may have been overstating or adding embellishments to the truth.

If Sutekh Returned Once, Don’t Rule Out His Future Doctor Who Comeback

The God of Death has already fooled the Doctor once

As a die-hard Doctor Who fan, I recall the time when The Doctor, alias Baker, managed to defeat Sutekh, making it seem like a definitive end. Yet, it turned out that Sutekh wasn’t banished but instead had cleverly attached himself to the TARDIS, biding his time for centuries before reemerging as the God of Death in “Empire of Death” from season 14. This leads me to suspect that his grand exit in 1975 and his final scene in “Empire of Death” may have been just as misleading as his previous departure. If this is true, then there’s a strong possibility that Sutekh could resurface once again in the near or distant future of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode Title Release Date (2025)
1 “The Robot Revolution” April 12
2 “Lux” April 19
3 “The Well” April 26
4 “Lucky Day” May 3
5 “The Story and the Engine” May 10
6 “The Interstellar Song Contest” May 17
7 “Wish World” May 24
8 “The Reality War” May 31

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2025-04-24 20:18