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Lackluster Return of Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who S15E4

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Warning: This post contains spoilers for Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 4

The opening scene of ‘Lucky Day’ promises an exciting addition to the classic series of Doctor Who, but sadly, the episode falls flat overall. I appreciate political elements in television, and they’ve always been a part of the core of Doctor Who. However, when these themes dominate the narrative at the expense of the story itself, the show loses its charm. Doctor Who is known for pushing limits, and it’s stronger because of that, but it’s also been clever in how it integrates such themes, which were previously demonstrated in this season.

Despite initially promising a captivating episode featuring the Doctor without a companion, exploring Ruby Sunday a year post her TARDIS adventure, the show ultimately opted to introduce a villain whose motives were unclear and linked to real-life organizations. Whilst these groups are indeed harmful and should not be glorified, they seem out of place in a science fiction fantasy series that aims to deliver entertainment and a sense of escape for its viewers.

Ruby Sunday Receives A Disappointing Return To Doctor Who

The final episode of season 14 for Ruby Sunday was a perplexing turn of events, yet Millie Gibson’s character proved to be an engaging enrichment to the series, and she shared a powerful dynamic with Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Consequently, when the installment featuring her return doesn’t include any reunion scenes between them, it’s somewhat disheartening. Nevertheless, Ruby has managed to carry Doctor-less episodes effectively in the past, such as “73 Yards,” but this particular episode seems distinctly unlike those.

Ruby’s relationship with Conrad Clark enriches the series, and the initial part of the episode skillfully explores their romance. However, when Conrad reveals his true character, the plot abruptly shifts to a political angle, portraying Conrad as the head of a disgruntled, suppressed group who favor conspiracies over fact and pose a threat to those around them. To be frank, I’m not criticizing the episode for this twist, but rather for how it disrupts the narrative flow and seems illogical.

Conrad, a highly extreme public personality, has amassed vast fortune through his political beliefs, yet UNIT was unacquainted with him. This led Ruby to join his supposed podcast, where he debated the Doctor and aliens in a rational and collected manner. It’s preposterous to believe that Conrad could deceive everyone, even after trying to secure employment at UNIT. What makes it more absurd is that there have been numerous eyewitness accounts of the Doctor, the TARDIS, and extraterrestrial beings associated with him.

The Episode’s Ideas Shouldn’t Supersede Telling A Story That Makes Sense

Doctor Who serves as an ideal platform for delving into thought-provoking topics, particularly when these themes are subtly and consistently woven into the narrative. For instance, the episode “Lux” recently tackled the subject of racial discrimination in the 1950s in a sensitive manner. Previous episodes also touch upon subjects like transgender rights, women’s rights, and controversial historical events, albeit not always managing to strike the perfect balance.

Engaging with these topics, educating the public, and demonstrating a constructive response could serve as a potent means for Doctor Who to resonate with its audience. Regrettably, “Lucky Day” fails to deliver its message effectively and comes across as overly blunt in its attempt to highlight people who dismiss other truths. It goes too far by depicting characters like Kate Lethbridge-Stewart experiencing a downfall, unleashing a ferocious alien creature upon Conrad following his insult towards her father, all while she broadcasts the violent incident live on stream.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my disappointment with this week’s episode of Doctor Who. It seems no one got it right, yet many were left wounded. Ruby didn’t deserve to be manipulated as a mere prop in this storyline. And sadly, Kate’s character has been twisted into something far from the compelling figure she once was, mirroring Harriet Jones after her decision to destroy the Sycorax ship. It’s disheartening to witness this episode undo some of the fantastic progress and development that this season of Doctor Who has achieved thus far. However, I remain hopeful that the remainder of the season will address these concerns and restore the show’s luster.

Doctor Who season 15 continues with new episodes on Disney+ and BBC iPlayer each Saturday.

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2025-05-03 10:07

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