Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 4 — “Lucky Day” — A Review

*Spoilers*

 

2nd May, 2025: “Lucky Day”.

It’s officially official: it’s late on a Friday night, it’s starting to get summery … 

And … ?

I’ve got videos being exported as we speak … and a copy of Propaganda’s A Secret Wish on in the background.

They, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and the initial lineup of the Art of Noise were the earliest acts on the ZTT label.

And … ?

I think Propaganda got the short end of the stick, success wise.

But at least the albums are still available: even if the bands, and the label they were on, are long gone.

~≈𝄞≈~

At any rate?

It’s late on a Friday night … and … ?

I’m getting my review of “Lucky Day” started, today.

Although, by the time you read this … ?

Or watch the video equivalent?

It should be 4th May, at the latest.

~≈𝄞≈~

 

Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 4 — “Lucky Day”.

3rd May, 2025.

Part One: The Summary.

Episode 4 — “Lucky Day” — opens with fireworks: as we see the New Year celebrations by the Thames, celebrations that see in 2007.

As the fireworks explode over the London Eye, we see the TARDIS materialise not far from the River: and the Doctor and Belinda (Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu) emerge to take bearings.

All this?   Under the watchful eyes of a young boy called Conrad.

Many years later?

We hear a now adult Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King) narrating an introduction to his podcast: and telling us of his feelings about what he’s seen.

And that his guests will enjoy the interview in this episode: with the one person he could find who’d been in the TARDIS.

Ruby Sunday … … 

~≈😷≈~

Part Two: Thoughts.

Now … what did I make of “Lucky Day”?

What did I think … ?

Have you heard someone mention a ‘Doctor-lite’ episode?

In other words, an episode with minimal input from the Doctor.

They’re usually focused — like “Turn Left” or “73 Yards” — on a companion.

Or, like “Blink” and “Love and Monsters”, focused on characters who only appear in this one episode.

And — from the little I know? — they’re usually made because one or another of the main cast are busy shooting elsewhere.

So … ?

“Lucky Day” is a very well made ‘Doctor-lite’ episode: focusing on Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and with minimal scenes from Ncuti Gatwa or Varada Sethu.

And a very well done one, at that.

For starters, the central point — that a companion has a life outside their travels with the Doctor — is one that’s very well done.

We get to see Ruby living a life, holding down a position with UNIT, interacting with her family, and forming what seems to be a new, loving relationship … 

Only to confess to Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) that yes: she thinks she, like other former companions, has suffered as a result of their travels with the Doctor.

Mental damage that comes on top of the emotional damage done by Conrad’s betrayal of her, and UNIT.

It’s damage made clear in a very revealing, and very rare, conversation with UNIT’s leader: the only time I can remember something like it is the scenes we see in “School Reunion”, when Sarah-Jane tells the Doctor what life has been like since they parted.

~≈😷≈~

There’s another story weaved into Ruby’s: Conrad’s.

I have to admit, I found Conrad a very interesting villain.

He’s one we find charming in the first half of the episode.

But, as “Lucky Day” goes on?

We see the reason why he’s made his decisions, see why he’s not taken actions we know will help.

He, and his Think Tank friends … ?

Are conspiracy theorists who feel UNIT and its staff are lying about defending Earth.

Granted, we can see his motivations: being refused a job by UNIT is one, and his unhealthy relationship with his mother, another.

That doesn’t necessary excuse his treatment of Ruby, nor his invasion of UNIT HQ.

But we have an understandable villain here, a human one: even if Conrad isn’t necessarily a sympathetic one.

~≈😷≈~

Part Three: More Thoughts.

We’ve been given powerful performances from Gibson and Hauer-King.

But those aren’t the only ones.

I have to admit to being riveted by Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart: she put in one hell of a performance.

There’s an old episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine called “Equilibrium”: where the personalities of Jadzia (Terry Farrell) Dax’s former selves get separated off, and implanted into the bodies of some of her friends and co-workers.

One of her previous selves was called Joran Dax: a psychotic killer implanted into the body of Captain Sisko(Avery Brookes).

The scene where we met Joran-as-Sisko?

The very subtle change of expression on Sisko’s face, that tell us “This isn’t Sisko”?

Was a credit to Avery Brookes’ acting skill … and something I found genuinely unnerving.

The reason I mention that … ?

Was that that scene, that change of expression … was the only thing I could compare to the subtle change of expression on Kate Stewart’s face when Conrad mentions her father.

It’s subtle, it’s frightening, it’s unnerving … and told us exactly how doomed Conrad was …

~≈😷≈~

On top of that … ?

And given “Lucky Day” is a ‘Doctor-lite’ episode?

Ncuti’s closing speech at the end of the episode was utterly superb.

Superb … and angry.

I know Ncuti’s version of the Doctor has picked up some flack: for crying at the earliest possible moment.

But … ?

His closing speech, the “you want spoilers?” part of his speech to Conrad, in the closing minutes of the episode?

Was the most restrained anger I’ve seen someone put in as the Doctor.

Who needs a Doctor doing explosive rage … when the Fifteenth is doing laser-beam fury whilst snapping his fingers?

~≈😷≈~

Part Four: Other Things.

There are other things we can highlight.

Although I don’t know others will see them, or agree with me.

The obvious thing?

Is simply Conrad’s group’s name, Think-tank.

If you didn’t know, a think-tank is a group that comes up with ideas.

Usually policy ideas for governments or political parties.

But … ?

It’s also the name of a fictional scientific research group in Robot, Tom Baker’s first story as the Fourth Doctor.

It’s also the name given to a research station founded by Skagra, in Shada.

The name gets used by the villains of the respective pieces.

And by the villain in “Lucky Day”.

The other thing that struck me?

Is simply this: that — for all the romance at the heart of the episode — “Lucky Day” is something that Doctor Who does well, when it’s on form.

“Lucky Day” is well crafted, message TV.

Message TV that tells us this: that those that spread deliberate falsehoods, deliberate lies and deliberate misinformation?

Should be fought at best, or have their messages ignored at least.

Personally … ?

I see that message, wonder how many others have noticed it … but don’t know if it will slow down real-world Conrads … 

~≈😷≈~

Part Five: Finally.

There is possibly more I could say.

I could tell you that — from what I’ve understood — that the overnight viewing figures for “Lux” and “The Well” weren’t good: but that their consolidated figures, their total figures, were good.

I could tell you that we still have no word about Disney’s streaming service not — apparently — having commissioned a season three.

I could tell you that Conrad is a villain I would hope to see more of: especially given that visit from Mrs Flood.

I could tell you all sorts of things.

Instead?

I will tell you this: that “Lucky Day” is an episode with an intriguing story, with some menacing performances.

Going on this?

Next week’s episode had better be good.

~≈😷≈~

Part Six: Last Words.

At any rate … this is where I’ll leave things.

Safe in the knowledge that I’ll be back next week: looking forward to the next episode.

Before I close things?

Feel free to leave me a comment on this post.

Or, if you’re watching this on YouTube?

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

I’ll be watching the fifth episode of this season — “The Story & the Engine” — on Saturday, 10th May: and posting my written and video reviews some time after that.

Hopefully?

I’ll see you then!

“Lucky Day”.

★★★★