Lux

"The greatest story ever told."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 19 April 2025

Series: 15.02

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

The Doctor's quest to get Belinda home takes the TARDIS to Miami in 1952, where an abandoned cinema is hiding a terrifying secret. Can the Doctor uncover Lux's power?

Verdict

Lux was just a sensational episode to continue the brand new series! Another 8am watch with my three-year old son in the room and it’s fair to say he’s slowly becoming a fan! The nature of this episode and the cartoon character coming to life premise means it’s ripe for a young child like that to enjoy, but there was also plenty for the adults too! Right from the off the atmosphere was excellent and it was good to follow on immediately from where The Robot Revolution left off in the TARDIS. Belinda was a little more accommodating of the Doctor here and whilst I do think her character accepting him like that is a little quick, there’s enough there to be well paced and make sense. It’s not a huge shift and she’s still there to call the Doctor’s name ridiculous. That was a magnificent moment. I thought the fun between the Doctor and Belinda in the TARDIS as they got dressed for 1952 Miami was infectious and I really liked how they addressed their race. It wasn’t as full focus as Rosa which was absolutely the right move, but I’m so glad it was highlighted in an important way. Belinda’s realisation of where and when she was made for a terrific companion moment as she came to grips with actually being in the past. The way she told the fictional police officer later in the episode to not hold a gun at them was powerful stuff as she really wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself. The cartoon of Mr Ring a Ding was just outstanding and I absolutely adore the idea of an animation coming to life. He looks all colourful and bubbly when playing the role, but once infected with the moonlight and coming to life he became incredibly sinister! Addressing the cinema audience was a neat touch and was one step off from the viewer later being addressed. I thought the Doctor and Belinda becoming animation was good fun and whilst it would have been good to get more of them in that form, what we did get later was just astounding. I gasped out loud when we saw the Doctor Who fans! Just the image of the Doctor and Belinda sitting on the sofa of three Who dans made me quite jealous actually. It’s so bold and barmy but I just loved it. With the Doctor and Belinda in a cartoon film, everything was on the table and whilst this certainly pushed the envelope, I adored it. Just seeing the Classic era DVDs in the background along with an Ood action figure and that clothing merchandise was spectacular! The Doctor addressing his fans was amusing and I liked how they even admitted they were annoying. As a fandom we really can be, and it’s a shame this concept was leaked online as addressed in the bloody episode! I didn’t think that would come until the finale - and it still might - but it’s just incredible for the Doctor to acknowledge that somewhere there is a fictional television show about him. The humour that came from the fans agreeing that Blink is the best story and Belinda hearing the concept was just so good. It really was. I thought the moment where Mr Ring a Ding let out its laugh and it echoing that of Maestro from The Devil’s Chord was an outstanding moment. It really made me sit up and take even more notice! I loved the Harbinger moment and getting to do battle with Lux as the God of Light was tremendous. I didn’t expect another god to do battle here so that was a terrific surprise. The mentions of the Toymaker, Maestro and Sutekh as that Pantheon was already defeated was marvellous. I thought the foreshadowing with the Sunshine character and the fate for Lux was brilliantly done and the fans even addressing how the resolution was obvious was fun stuff. Lux utilising light and trying to harness the regeneration (or was it bigeneration?) energy of the Doctor to give itself form was excellent and quite the tormenting image! Reginald Pye was a lovely character and his suffering at losing his wife was a strong emotional tie. Him being the one to blow a hole in the cinema and give Lux all of the light it could handle in more in the form of sunlight was a superb resolution. Lux just kept on expanding into nothingness! The importance of the water analogy for us humans and how we can still drown was fantastic. I thought the fans mentioning they weren’t real characters because they didn’t have surnames but then appearing in the middle of the end credits and being credited with surnames was a nice touch. Is the Doctor really out of the fictional world? Mrs Flood showing up and mentioning there only being a limited run was marvellous too. Just who is she? I can’t wait to find out! Overall, just outstanding. 

Rating: 10/10