REVIEW: ‘Doctor Who’ Season 2 Episode 4 — “Lucky Day”

Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 is what’s known as a Doctor-lite episode. To help with production, some episodes won’t feature Gatwa as the Doctor almost at all, focusing on the companion or other characters. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4, “Lucky Day” is written by Pete McTighe and directed by Peter Hoar.

The series stars Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu, but this episode specifically features Millie Gibson, Jemma Redgrave and Jonah Hauer-King. Former companion Ruby Sunday tries to settle back on Earth, with a new boyfriend who seems obsessed with finding the Doctor. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 features a tremendous bait and switch. It’s very much split into two halves. The first part is hopeful and sweet, exploring Ruby’s new life.

There’s a blossoming love story at its core and a terrific energy to the episode, with a few little hints that things aren’t right. A monster is also introduced early in Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4. The first selection of scenes is very similar in tone and structure to the episode “Love and Monsters.” Conrad, Ruby’s new boyfriend, meets the Doctor at a young age and then devotes his life to finding the truth. A devastating twist instantly washes away all of the happiness and positivity.

It is so seamlessly executed, with a terrific transition that flips the scene and the whole episode on its head. The plot becomes extremely dark and political, with themes of disinformation and social media taking a bigger part in the story. The ending gets severe and desperate, tragic in multiple forms as a new villain makes themselves known.

After a small bait-and-switch, this Doctor-lite episode takes off.

There is just one plot hole that is difficult to shake off whilst watching, as it would instantly solve so much of the spiralling situation. So much of this episode is about public exposure and livestreaming, yet an organisation with the tech that UNIT, a government-funded taskforce designed to stop alien threats, doesn’t have the capability to turn them off. It seems like a huge oversight lurking every time there’s a camera with a red light on.

The cast is an example of the remarkable supporting cast that has been crafted for Doctor Who in recent eras. It’s lovely to see Ruby again. She’s always full of chirpy, dazzling energy that lights up a room. Gibson spent so much of the previous season performing alone, including a Doctor-lite episode of her own. She works wonders on her own, but also shines as part of an ensemble cast.

Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 has both of those aspects. But there is something wrong with Ruby, with that light flickering and fading as this chapter progresses. All those travels with the Doctor and the things she saw have taken their toll, and Ruby has been unable to process it all.

It is fascinating to explore what happens to a Doctor once they leave the TARDIS, and it is still a very rich vein that has not been tapped nearly enough. Ruby becomes more heartbroken and shattered as the episode plays out, and Gibson’s portrayal of her downward spiral is gorgeously painful.

Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 takes a look at who Ruby is when the Doctor isn’t next to her.

UNIT plays a massive part in Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 as a target and support for Ruby. Characters come in and out of that nerve center, making it a fun selection of possibilities. The one constant is Kate Lethridge-Stewart (Redgrave). She has been an aide and confidante to many Doctors across their regenerations.

She is kind, generous, intelligent, and supportive, backing Ruby to the hilt. But she also has a vicious streak, willing to go where she needs to to keep those in her charge safe. The Doctor would not support it, but he isn’t there to come and save the day, so someone has to make the decisions.

Ruby’s new boyfriend, Conrad, is the crucial character in dictating the episode’s tone and pace. Hauer-King’s performance is phenomenal. He is kind and gentle initially, but there is something else deep within. The actor’s history of playing a prince and other forms of leading man makes it so easy to fall for his charms. The variety in how he acts and his journey is jaw-dropping and one of the best performances in recent years within Doctor Who.

Not all of the dialogue is amazing. It can sometimes lack subtlety and be a little predictable. This is especially the case when social media is involved. But it isn’t as bad as other attempts in other shows, and there are some adorable, touching, and tragic moments. When the episode gets extremely sad, that is when the script shines. It should always be remembered that Doctor Who has a large range in audience age, with children included in that bracket, so some lines have to be understood by them too.

“Lucky Day” captures what happens when the Time Lord doesn’t come to save the day.

The production and effects represent a much more grounded episode than previous chapters of this season of Doctor Who. It takes place on present-day Earth. Some familiar sets are brought back, and others are used to create references everywhere.

But as with every other episode, the one consistent facet across the generations of this stalwart sci-fi show is the fight to make things look genuine. The soldiers, tech and helicopter shots are all real and authentic. The monster in the episode has a twist to it that means it looks and moves differently from other creatures in this programme. There is a reason why it looks and moves like it does, because it’s all a part of the twist.

Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 has a very fresh feel to it. It’s a great episode with terrific stakes, because Ruby and the others aren’t being rescued. The Time Lord does not come to save the day. So, humans have to fight for themselves, with their wit, ferocity, and brains. And the threat isn’t coming from the stars, it’s coming from within, which makes the episode stand out.

It’s possibly the first Doctor-Lite episode that doesn’t feature the Doctor’s current companion, but instead the supporting cast and Ruby. It can feel like a spin-off for that reason. Every performance is exceptional. The psychological effects of travelling with the Doctor are haunting. It highlights that these episodes aren’t in singular bubbles, and the characters become more like real people.

Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4 is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ everywhere else.