Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 2 — “Lux” — A Review

18th April, 2025: “Lux”.

Right then … it’s officially Friday.

Or, at least, I’ve started this post about a Doctor Who episode called “Lux” on a Friday, 18th April, 2028.

In the desperate hope that I can get it finished by Saturday 19th April: the day of broadcast.

I’d like to get some feedback on the day … !

At any rate: I’ve yet to see the episode at the time of writing this introduction, and am planning to catch the iPlayer version, rather than the broadcast version.

I’m looking forward to it.

Alan Cumming is playing the villain of the piece: and he’s usually interesting.

So long as his singing’s not too fruity … !

At any rate, by the time you read this … ?

It’ll be Saturday … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 2 — “Lux”.

19th April, 2025.

Part One: The Summary.

Episode 2 — “Lux” — opens with a cinema newsreel, showing the details of a 1952 atom bomb test: which fades out, just as the reel tells us about Elizabeth 2nd.

The shifts to show us the cinema auditorium: where the audience of only fifteen people are watching it: whilst the projectionist, Mr Pye (Linus Roache), lines up the next reel: one with a cartoon.

A cartoon called “Mr Ring-a-ding Goes to Town”: starring the seemingly hilarious Mr Ring-a-ding (Alan Cumming), himself … 

Meanwhile … ?

The Doctor and Belinda (Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu) are in the TARDIS, still wearing the clothes they were in, in “The Robot Revolution”: as the pair talk, the Doctor tells Belinda the improvised device he’s built, the Vortex Indicator, or Vindicator, should at least give them a route home.

Or, at least, let them take bearings, along the way.

The TARDIS … just needs to make a few stops along the way: starting with an abandoned cinema in 1952 … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Two: Thoughts.

Now … 

“What,” I hear you ask,  “did you make of ‘Lux’?”

That’s a very good question!

What did I make of an episode whose basic idea and resolution — a creature made of light, springing to life from a reel of film, film that is eventually destroyed by fire — I found familiar?

They certainly were familiar: both sounded broadly similar to a Peter J. Hammond penned episode of Torchwood called “From Out of the Rain”.

I don’t know if the similarity is intentional or not: I don’t think that it is.

But, while it’s a similarity I noticed, I don’t think newer fans will: especially if they’ve not seen that episode of Torchwood.

I think newer fans and viewers will be more concerned with a different question.

“Was ‘Lux’ an entertaining episode?”

We’ll come to that.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Three: Observations.

Before I answer that question?

I thought I should highlight a few things.

First things first … ?

Alan Cumming does a wonderfully menacing job as Mr Ring-a-ding: one that’s both camp, withering … and makes good use of Cumming’s musical abilities.

And his uncanny knack of sounding like John Barrowman in full musical mode.

The fourth wall breaking … ?

Was … interesting.

We see the Doctor and Belinda trying to push, pull and climb their way out of the film they’re trapped in: and — inevitably — kicking their way through a TV screen.

To find themselves in a front-room, talking to three real world, mildly critical, Dr Who fans: who tell our heroes exactly what’s going on.

I have to admit, I thought it was funny: and worked in the context of the episode.

And possibly motivated by thoughts from various show runners: who write a perfectly acceptable script, get it made, see it broadcast … 

Then think “Oh, no, not again!” when hard-to-please fans start complaining!

So it’s funny … but possibly also Russell T. Davies trying to say “Look, I’m making an effort, here!”

Other things I noticed … ?

The possible elephant in the room is simply the fact that the episode is set in 1950s America: in a city that would have been segregated at the time.

It’s not made much of: but is mentioned a few times.

Early on, too.

As, near the start of the episode, the Doctor tells Belinda they’re in segregated Miami in 1952, at night, when there’s no-one to see them: the doctor glances at his hand and says “That might be wise”.

I know there’s been complaints the modern show is too woke, is too political.

But think these mentions of segregation are reminders of history: not necessarily a political statement.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Four: More Observations.

There’s a last couple of minor points.

Very minor, in the first case.

It’s simply that the Vortex Indicator, the device the Doctor build to get Belinda home?

Reminded me of the Locator used in Season 16, the Key to Time series, of classic Dr Who.

The locator would usually be used at the start of each Season 16 story, and tell the Doctor and Romana wear to go.

Which is how I suspect the Vindicator will be used: it’ll beep and point in the right direction … only for the Doctor and Belinda to get interrupted before they can get going.

The other point is also minor: but more personal, and something I highlighted a while back.

I tend to like watching stuff on my AppleTV with the subtitles on, where possible.

The older I get, the worse my hearing gets and the more I appreciate a visual aid.

Especially, these days, as there’s always one line in an episode that’s mumbled.

So?

I wanted to watch Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Fifteenth Doctor with the subtitles on.

Except I couldn’t.

As, for what the BBC calls technical challenges, they can’t do subtitles on the AppleTV version of iPlayer.

I think that’s a bad thing: especially as deaf actress, Rose Ayling-Ellis, is due to appear in next week’s episode.

A lack of subtitles on this one device is a small thing, one that only affects a few people … but surely the BBC could have sorted that out, by now.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Five: Finally.

So, given all that … what did I think of “Lux”?

I have to admit, I had a whale of a time watching it!

It’s well made, sees Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu put in some very good performances, sees Russell T Davies adding more to his Pantheon background … 

And introduces us to a menacing villain that’s possibly unique.

Frankly?

I’ve enjoyed “Lux”!

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Part Six: Last Words.

That … ?

Is where I’m going to leave things for now.

Before I go, though?

Feel free to leave me comment on this post: telling me what you thought.

And, if you’re watching this on YouTube?

Feel free to hit the Like, Share and Subscribe buttons.

I’ll be watching the next episode, “The Well”, on 26th April: and will hopefully have my written and video reviews up, after that.

I’ll see you then!

Episode 2 — “Lux”.

★★★☆