The first story of the third Dark Eyes box set. Following The Stinger at the end of the previous box set, Molly is now kidnapped and brainwashed by The Master, who arrives on Heron's World with Sally Armstrong to conduct an experiment on their denizens. The Master has Molly expose the denizens of Heron's World to retro-genitor particles, with the goal of having an army of "Finite Warriors" under his command. Meanwhile, The Doctor is being showed what happened by Narvin, setting off the main story arc of the box set with him determined to save Molly and stop The Master once and for all.
The Death of Hope contains examples of:
- All Just a Dream: After he shows the remaining people of Colony Ro 351 being killed by the Eminence, Narvin reveals it is just a matrix simulation that could happen shortly.
- The Bad Guy Wins: The Master's experiment in regards to Molly and the Breath of Forever succeed, meaning now he can have Infinite Warriors under his control. However all the people of Colony Ro 351 survive, and its the Eminence who come off the worst, losing some of their troops and having one of their enemies become more capable in opposing them.
- Bait-and-Switch: The intro has Hope sending a message which sounds like it is to the Doctor, mentioning his 'magic box' and Molly. It turns out she is trying to attract the attention of the Master.
- Call-Back: Molly tells people not to call her a nurse or Sister will be angry.
- Cool Car: The Master drives into town in a white colored Dodge Charger.
- Distress Call: Hope is trying to send one through much of the story.
- Double-Meaning Title: The feeling of hopelessness the colonists are going through, and Hope Gardner seemingly dying, in a hopeless situation as the Eminence wipe out the colony, though this turns out to be a simulation.
- Evil vs. Evil: The Master vs The Eminence.
- Framing Device: Most of the story is being shown to the Doctor by Narvin.
- Healing Hands: It turns out due to her retro-genitor particles, Molly can make people immune to the Breath of Forever by touching them (though the Master hopes to make them Infinite Warriors that obey him, which happens to Leo). She is also able to cure Leo when he becomes an Infinite Warrior the same way.
- Insistent Terminology: Molly says she's not a nurse.
- Pet the Dog: Narvin says the Time Lords will shield the life signs of the remaining people on Heron's World, meaning the Eminence will leave the planet without killing them. However he has pragmatic reasons, it will prevent the Doctor from being occupied from the colonists.
- You Killed My Father: Hope and Leo Gardner feel this way towards Infinite Warrior Largo, who was part of the attack that killed their father. While an Infinite Warrior, Leo kills Largo on the Master's orders.
- Villain Episode: This story focuses mainly on the Master.
