Lux

The first episode of this season, I felt, seeded a lot of plot points for the future, but at the expense of the episode itself. I have similar criticisms about this second run, though I do feel that it was better overall.

Whilst layout out equipment to help with their journey to May 24th, 2025, The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda (Varada Sethu) land in Miami, in 1952. There they discover a chained-up cinema, from which a number of people have disappeared. They learn the cinema is still operated by Mr Pye (Linus Roach), though he operates in fear of Mr Ring-a-Ding (Alan Cumming) a living cartoon that has escaped into the real world and who is behind the disappearance.

Might as well start with the episodes big talking point, a fourth wall breaking scene in which The Doctor and Belinda enter the living room of three Doctor Who fans who are watching the episode unfold. Fourth wall breaking has been quite a prevalent idea in the time of the fifteenth Doctor, mostly with Mrs Flood but he's also winked at the camera himself - I'm starting to wonder if, rather than being a quirk of the series, it's actually going to become a genuine plot point. I was initially a bit disappointed with the idea of the fan scene, there were some nice gags to it, but I felt it was a bit too self-indulgent. I did think that the reveal of how it all actually worked was very clever though and that made me appreciate the whole scene more.

Mr Ring-a-Ding's connection to the wider story of this Doctor was nice, though I'm again not sure I entirely understand the "rules" of it. I also didn't really understand exactly what his powers were, or what he could actually do. Looked amazing though. Though I'm surprised given the partnership with Disney that the BBC has for "Doctor Who" why it wasn't more closely linked to the animation they did at the time, rather than the Fleisher/Popeye/Betty Boop style that they ultimately landed on.

As I've said, his defeat (?) and the episodes story doesn't really need to be about The Doctor, in fact you could easily have argued that - given a long enough timescale, the cinema would have been demolished and exactly the same result would have occurred had he never arrived.

Fine again, but I would perhaps a bit more focus on the actual episode, rather than the future, for a while.

Not long ago I've watched Torchwood which is a series about captain Jack Harkness and his team fighting everything extraordinary that comes to Earth and tries to destroy it or people. Trying not to spoil too much but there is an episode about group of circus artists getting out of the movie.

So as I've started watching Lux I've got scared that its going to be a funnier, more colourful remake of Torchwood's episode.

I'm glad to say it wasn't!

As the idea is similar, Lux was pushed in completely different direction. First of all mr Ring-A-Ding is a made up character. So it takes a while to understand his intentions. I loved the twists in the episode. I loved the animation style and how it got incorporated.

Overall it was really fun to watch it.

But I still question the originality of the show.

The first episode of this season, I felt, seeded a lot of plot points for the future, but at the expense of the episode itself. I have similar criticisms about this second run, though I do feel that it was better overall.

Whilst layout out equipment to help with their journey to May 24th, 2025, The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda (Varada Sethu) land in Miami, in 1952. There they discover a chained-up cinema, from which a number of people have disappeared. They learn the cinema is still operated by Mr Pye (Linus Roach), though he operates in fear of Mr Ring-a-Ding (Alan Cumming) a living cartoon that has escaped into the real world and who is behind the disappearance.

Might as well start with the episodes big talking point, a fourth wall breaking scene in which The Doctor and Belinda enter the living room of three Doctor Who fans who are watching the episode unfold. Fourth wall breaking has been quite a prevalent idea in the time of the fifteenth Doctor, mostly with Mrs Flood but he's also winked at the camera himself - I'm starting to wonder if, rather than being a quirk of the series, it's actually going to become a genuine plot point. I was initially a bit disappointed with the idea of the fan scene, there were some nice gags to it, but I felt it was a bit too self-indulgent. I did think that the reveal of how it all actually worked was very clever though and that made me appreciate the whole scene more.

Mr Ring-a-Ding's connection to the wider story of this Doctor was nice, though I'm again not sure I entirely understand the "rules" of it. I also didn't really understand exactly what his powers were, or what he could actually do. Looked amazing though. Though I'm surprised given the partnership with Disney that the BBC has for "Doctor Who" why it wasn't more closely linked to the animation they did at the time, rather than the Fleisher/Popeye/Betty Boop style that they ultimately landed on.

As I've said, his defeat (?) and the episodes story doesn't really need to be about The Doctor, in fact you could easily have argued that - given a long enough timescale, the cinema would have been demolished and exactly the same result would have occurred had he never arrived.

Fine again, but I would perhaps a bit more focus on the actual episode, rather than the future, for a while.

From second 1, the episode distinguishes itself. Cinematography was consistently outstanding and the effects of the titular Mr Ring-a-Ding was seamlessly done.

The humour hits just as hard as the serious moments, where in a moment of brain bending meta-ness, the Doctor and Co find themselves talking to some unlikely people. This had me out of the chair howling, point and at the screen in tearful introspection.

For the first time in a long time, I thought the ending felt perfectly fitting of the stakes set up in the narrative and had me wishing another saturday would come sooner.

Viva la Doctor Who.

I can't believe the difference a week makes. The Robot Revolution was one of the worst episodes of DW I've seen. This, however, is high concept brilliance.

RTD pens a seriously strong script here, the dialogue is neat and tidy, the pacing is perfect, The Doctor and Belinda have a much more deep connection than Ruby ever had.

Also, Alan Cumming as Mr. Ring-a-ding is spectacular. A seriously underrated actor who knows exactly what to do with this brilliant villain.

I don't want to say too much else, but get this watched. THIS is the best episode since Capaldi. Some of you might be saying 'Don't make me laugh!' But you'll have to watch it and see....