By James Pearson on
What do you do when the Doctor isn’t around? This week we see just that, with Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) struggling with adjusting to life after the Tardis as she must battle the terrifying Shreek. But she isn’t alone. With UNIT in her corner as well as her new boyfriend Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King), can Ruby step up and join the ranks of Earth’s greatest defenders?
Similar to season 1, episode 4 of season 2 is a ‘Doctor-lite’ adventure with the spotlight firmly centred around Ruby Sunday, the most recent departee of the Tardis. Here we explore what happens when a companion must navigate life without the Time Lord’s guidance, making the tough calls that the Doctor is normally faced with.
So how did I vibe with this episode, well without giving too much away about the amazing twist from halfway through the episode, I found it a compelling exploration of the PTSD that companions experience after their travels with the Doctor, as well as a fun use of a Doctor Lite-episode to add more world building to this new era. So what about its rating? Well, I give Episode 4 ‘Lucky Day’ a 7 out of 10.
As said, in this episode we follow Ruby as she tries to settle back into normal life after her adventures in the Tardis. However, things take a dark turn when her new boyfriend, Conrad, is actually revealed to be the leader of an online conspiracy group that denies the existence of aliens and UNIT’s work. Ruby realises her relationship with him this whole time was a lie and a trap to catch her and UNIT. But Conrad isn’t our only villain, after all we need a monster of the week, and that comes in the form of the Shreek, a dimension-hopping bloodhound-like creature that once it marks you as prey will not give up its hunt. The story cleverly taps into modern anxieties about misinformation and the power of social media while mixing in some classic Doctor Who horror and alien shenanigans, making it one of the more politically charged episodes in recent years.
Millie Gibson once again shines in this episode making her triumphant return to the show as last season’s companion Ruby Sunday. Her portrayal of Ruby’s struggle to reconcile her past with her present is compelling to watch and continues to show just how talented an actor she is at such a young age. Alongside Gibson’s amazing acting the episode also raises intriguing questions about the psychological toll of traveling with the Doctor, a subject rarely brought up in the show, as Ruby admits to feeling constantly on edge. Always waiting for something to go wrong. It feels fresh to finally see what happens to a companion after they leave the Doctor and his way of life behind, and to explore the toll that would have on a person in a more realistic way. Especially someone as young as Ruby. Yet while the emotional arc is compelling, due to the limited run time of the episode and the rest of the plot getting in the way, we don’t fully explore Ruby’s internal conflict in my opinion. Especially with her unfortunately being side-lined by the end of the episode by UNIT and Conrad, making her journey feel somewhat incomplete. Perhaps an extra ten or fifteen minutes could have given her that resolution and set her up a bit more for a larger role to play in this ever-expanding universe. I know I’m definitely looking forward to more Ruby Sunday in the future of the Whoniverse.
Doctor Who is well known for its villains and Conrad is a fascinating departure from the usual antagonists. Instead of an alien menace, he represents the dangers of radicalization and misinformation. His arc is chillingly believable, and the episode does a great job of showing how online conspiracy theories can spiral out of control. He seamlessly swaps from caring and loving boyfriend to cold and heartless villain catching you off guard and making you truly hate the character of Conrad. A perfect performance which makes me eager to see what they do next with Conrad and what plans Mrs. Flood has for him. However, some people may find the resolution a bit rushed, with Conrad swiftly imprisoned only to be freed moments later. Despite this Jonah’s portrayal of Conrad is definitely a highlight of the episode.
I loved the twist. Throughout the first half of the episode I was growing to like Conrad, and initially found him and Ruby a cute couple. The sudden change in his demeanour and his contrast jabs and hateful comments towards Ruby angered me, to a point that I didn’t even feel sorry for him when his life was at risk at the end of the episode. Speaking about that ending, what a badass Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) is! I enjoyed seeing her darker side as she stood up for Ruby as well as her late father’s reputation, and I’m intrigued by what the repercussions of her actions will be.
Gatwa’s Doctor may only appear at the beginning and the end of the episode, but his closing scene is one to remember. Reminding me of his gut wrenching performance from the end of last season’s episode ‘Dot and Bubble’, Gatwa once again proves his ‘acting chops’ with a truly chilling performance. Reminding us again why you don’t mess with the Doctor’s friends. (I wonder how he’ll react when Conrad eventually returns?) Mixed with his absolutely stunning all white outfit as well as the cosmic scene chemistry he and Jonah shared, this was definitely the perfect way to close an already amazing episode.
However, as always with ups come some downs. As previously said the main issue I have, once again like most of the season, is with the passing and episode length. I do believe with an extra ten or fifteen minutes these near perfect stories could be explored to their fullest potential. The other is the Shreek. As a run of the mill episode monster they work, but are unfortunately side-lined by the ‘message’ of the story and Conrad twist. It very much feels like the Shreek storyline takes place off screen, and they are more used to further the plot rather than being the plot. As a Doctor Who monster fan I feel bad that they got this treatment.
Visually, the episode leans into a grounded, modern aesthetic, which contrasts sharply with the more fantastical elements of the season. While this works well for the story’s themes, it may feel less exciting for fans expecting a more traditional sci-fi adventure especially since that was something many felt last season lacked. ‘Lucky Day’ is an ambitious episode that tackles timely themes with intelligence and nuance. While it may not be the most action-packed instalment, its exploration of misinformation and post-TARDIS life makes it a compelling watch. Whether it ranks among the best Doctor-lite episodes is up for debate, but it certainly leaves an impact and further cements Ruby as one of the Doctor’s strongest companions.
We have finally reached the halfway mark with this season, with many questions still unanswered (like what is Mrs. Flood up to, and what has Conrad got to do with it?) We enter the home stretch with next week’s episode, where the Doctor and Belinda find themselves in Lagos Nigeria in a barber shop where people have gone missing, and stories have power. Can the Doctor stop the Barber and the spider in Episode five ‘The Story and The Engine’?. See you next week, time travellers.