After three strong entries in Series 15, "Lucky Day" arrives as Doctor Who's first true character study of the season — and an ambitious, timely one at that. Written by Pete McTighe and directed by Peter Hoar, this episode focuses not on the Doctor or Belinda, but on a former companion trying to pick up the pieces in the real world. What unfolds is an unsettling commentary on trauma, manipulation, and the viral nature of disinformation, with a monster straight out of a child’s darkest corner.
This is Ruby Sunday's story. The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) bookends the episode with brief appearances, a framing device that works effectively, but gives Ruby the spotlight she deserves. The format being reminiscent of the Doctor-lite episodes from RTDs initial era as showrunner.
Millie Gibson returns to the role of Ruby Sunday with emotional clarity and a slightly wearier edge. Ruby is living post-TARDIS life, wounded from her adventures and quietly reeling from unresolved trauma. When she meets Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King), a charming podcaster with a fascination for the Doctor, it seems like a moment of connection. But as the episode unfolds, what first looks like an unexpected romance transforms into a chilling act of manipulation.
Conrad, it turns out, has a personal agenda. Through his podcast "Lucky Day," he exploits Ruby’s memories to build a platform and undermine UNIT’s credibility. His ultimate goal? To stage a viral stunt that exposes UNIT as fraudulent and confirms his conspiracy theories. His plan includes faking an alien attack, seducing Ruby under false pretences, and infiltrating UNIT’s headquarters via an insider.
It's a twisty, intimate narrative that mirrors real-world discourse on online radicalisation and media distortion. McTighe’s script is blunt but smart in its handling of these ideas, showing how easy it is for grifters to weaponise doubt. Hoar directs with subtle menace, keeping the tension simmering even when the Shreek — the episode's fearsome dog-like monster — isn't onscreen.
The Shreek themselves are rooted in McTighe’s childhood fears, and that intimacy makes them work. They don’t need complex backstories or spacefaring ambitions. They are pure nightmare fuel: brutal, silent, and selective in their violence. The decision to bring them to life via costume and animatronics instead of CGI adds to their tactile horror.
When Conrad infiltrates UNIT and livestreams his presence inside the command centre, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave, as excellent as ever) decides to flip the narrative on its head. She releases the Shreek. It's a bold move, and it pays off dramatically. As the creature attacks him live on camera, Conrad finally confesses to his lies. The public turns against him, UNIT’s reputation is restored, and Ruby gets a small measure of closure.
Still, the cost is evident. Ruby, already struggling, is retraumatised by the experience. The episode ends not with a triumphant reunion with the Doctor, but with her choosing solitude. She needs time. Space. And perhaps most importantly, belief that she can heal.
Gibson shines throughout, especially in her scenes with Redgrave. Their unlikely pairing becomes the emotional anchor of the story, with Kate offering support without judgment. There’s a sense that they’ve both weathered enormous losses and found ways to keep going.
Conrad, as an antagonist, isn’t the show’s most nuanced villain, but that may be the point. His motivations are superficial, his tactics cheap, and his rise rapid. That kind of viral infamy is depressingly recognisable.
The final scene delivers a shiver-inducing twist. While Conrad lies imprisoned, ranting about betrayal and media spin, Mrs Flood appears to release him. Her cryptic message — "it's your lucky day" — brings the episode full circle and reinforces her growing menace in the background of Series 15.
"Lucky Day" isn’t flawless — some threads feel underdeveloped, and the pacing stumbles slightly in the second act — but it hits where it counts. It tells a deeply human story, framed by a science-fiction premise, and allows the show to tackle modern themes without losing its heart.
It’s Ruby’s best hour to date, and one of Series 15’s most grounded, unsettling tales.
The monsters may come from outer space, but sometimes the scariest ones already walk among us.
No comments:
Post a Comment