“Lux” is the second episode of the 15th season of the new “Doctor Who” series, also indicated as season 2, and follows “The Robot Revolution“. It’s available in the UK and Ireland on BBC channels and in many other countries on the Disney+ platform.
Beware that in various adverts and marketing materials, this season is promoted as season 2 passing through a new start with the production by Bad Wolf and distribution by Disney+, hence the double notation.
Note. This article contains some spoilers about “Lux”.
The 15th Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) is trying to bring Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) home, but the Tardis seems to bounce from May 24, 2025. He decides to get there through an indirect route and stops in Miami, 1952, where Mr. Ring-a-Ding (Alan Cumming) has somehow invaded a local cinema.
Russell T Davies started forming a pantheon of gods already with the first special episodes of his new run. Initially, they included old enemies of the Doctor but others were announced quite explicitly. In this episode, the Doctor and Belinda find themselves facing off against LUX, which manifests itself in Mr. Ring-a-Ding, a cartoon that, according to the BBC’s “Doctor Who” website, dates back to the 1930s.
Russell T Davies’ new run left me feeling rather cold, particularly in terms of his episodes’ style. However, he still seems to be able to piece together plot bits every now and then without trivializing important themes and using over-the-top moments in a constructive way instead of a silly way.
In this case, Russell T Davies delivers a cartoon that quickly becomes sinister. The setting in Miami in 1952 takes us back to the era of nuclear testing and at various times recalls the crap of racial segregation.
The moments where reality seems fragmented or even turned upside down seemed balanced to me. The blurred line between reality and illusion has been at the center of many plots before, so it’s not easy to handle in a way that isn’t obvious. In my opinion, the direction and editing of this episode enhanced this element, as did the alternation of drama and humor. In my opinion, Philip K. Dick would have appreciated this episode.
The meta-narrative of this episode includes not only Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) but also goes beyond and includes the fandom. This includes the gem of the mid-credits scene. I feel like reading this inclusion as a statement about the fact that fans can be a trap for the Doctor, but when they’re constructive, they become a resource.
The surprising ending for me is the icing on the cake that makes “LUX” a really enjoyable and intriguing episode. Overall, a nice step forward from the start of this season. The good chemistry that seems to exist between the protagonists is another positive element. I hope the season continues like this!
