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Welcome to Temple of Geek’s Who Review, a podcast for fans of the BBC’s long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. In this episode, hosts Elizabeth and Nate dive into a discussion of the Doctor Who episode “Lucky Day,” penned by Pete McTighe.
Review: Doctor Who, Season 2, Episode 4 “Lucky Day”
This week’s episode of Doctor Who, “Lucky Day,” presented an intriguing premise: Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) navigating life back on Earth without the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), finds a boyfriend who has also had encounters with the Doctor, and she needs to protect him from a dangerous alien that is hunting him.
However, the episode ultimately felt like a promising concept that lost its way in a muddled execution. While attempting to deliver a message, the narrative struggled to articulate a clear and cohesive point, leaving the audience with a sense of thematic ambiguity.
Elizabeth initiates the conversation with high praise for the current season, expressing that it’s “becoming one of my all-time favorites”. She particularly highlights the exciting plot twists and turns that have kept her engaged. In contrast, Nate offers a more tempered perspective. While acknowledging the episode’s intriguing elements, he suggests that “some interesting choices” were made that might not resonate with all viewers. He anticipates a mixed reception from the fanbase, stating, “I think we’re going to actually hit hear a lot of hemming and hawing about this episode”. This sets the tone for a nuanced discussion, acknowledging both the episode’s merits and potential drawbacks.
A central point of contention for both hosts is the episode’s placement within the season’s narrative arc. Nate argues that “I feel like this episode would have been a lot better and more intriguing if we had it as like a teaser episode in between the two seasons”. He elaborates on this, suggesting alternative placements such as a “Christmas special”. Their reasoning centers around the interruption of Belinda’s ongoing story, with Nate expressing feeling “cheated out of time with Belinda” due to the episode’s timing. Elizabeth echoes this sentiment, agreeing that it would have been preferable to have it as “an extra episode rather than part of the eight episodes that we get per season now”.
Losing Valuable time with Belinda
The hosts reveal that their expectations going into the episode were misaligned with the final product, largely due to the promotional material. Elizabeth states, “I really thought that the Doctor and Belinda would be in it a lot more than they were, especially Belinda”. Promotional photos at the announcement of season one made it look like the Doctor would travel with both Belinda and Ruby. This discrepancy between expectation and reality forms a significant part of their critique, as they express disappointment in the limited screen time for beloved characters. Especially when the season is so short and Belinda’s story is so intriging.
Conrad’s Character
Nate and Elizabeth delve into the complexities of the character Conrad, focusing on the layers of mystery surrounding him and the implications of his actions. A key point of discussion is the paradox created by the Doctor’s encounters with Conrad at different points in time. Nate raises a critical question: “You’re telling me that after all that, the Doctor still is oblivious to who this child Conrad is when they land in the future?”. This highlights their concern about the logical consistency of the narrative and the Doctor’s characterization.
Real-World Parallels
The hosts explore the episode’s engagement with contemporary societal anxieties, drawing attention to its reflection of real-world issues, “particularly in America”. They discuss the episode’s portrayal of the spread of misinformation, the cultivation of distrust towards established institutions, and the resulting societal divisions. Elizabeth quotes a line from the episode to illustrate this: “Shirley says, you know, this is a grudge match dressed up as a youth moment as as a youth youth movement. And Ruby says, no, it’s more about more than that. It’s about power. And this is giving a voice, right?”.
Performances and Standout Moments
Despite their criticisms, the hosts are keen to acknowledge the episode’s strengths, particularly the performances of the actors. Nate praises Millie Gibson’s portrayal of Ruby during a vulnerable moment. They also express appreciation for the heartwarming scene featuring Ruby’s family and the effective visual storytelling employed during the introduction of the Shriek.
Interesting Character Choices
The hosts express some confusion and unease regarding certain character choices and plot developments. The rapid development of the relationship between Ruby and Conrad is one such point of contention. Nate remarks on the accelerated timeline: “Five days. And like, they were rapidly like falling for each other”. This observation leads to a broader discussion about the plausibility of character motivations and the overall coherence of the narrative.
What We Loved
While the hosts do express reservations about certain aspects of the episode, they also highlight its positive qualities. They commend the episode for its willingness to tackle relevant social themes and for the strength of its performances. Their appreciation for the character of Kate Stewart and their anticipation for the UNIT spin-off series further underscores their ability to find enjoyment within the episode.
The hosts actively engage in theorizing and speculating about potential future plotlines and unresolved mysteries within the series. This includes the significance of Mrs. Flood and the ongoing questions surrounding Ruby’s father’s identity. Their speculation reveals their investment in the overarching narrative and their excitement for what’s to come.
In their concluding remarks, the hosts synthesize their complex and at times conflicting feelings about the episode. They reiterate their acknowledgment of its strengths while emphasizing the issues that detracted from their overall viewing experience. Nate succinctly captures this sentiment: “It wasn’t a bad episode. I’m not saying that it was terrible…it just wasn’t hitting it for me”. Sources and related content
Temple of Geek’s Who Review
Temple of Geek’s Who Review is a podcast dedicated to the British television series “Doctor Who”. Here we discuss news related to Doctor Who news, trivia, deep dives, and more.
Our Doctor Who-inspired podcast is hosted by Elizabeth “Lady of Time Cosplay” and Nate “Doc In The Box”. The series also features special guests from the Doctor Who community. You can stream the podcast on Spotify / iHeart Radio / Apple Podcasts / / Stitcher / Pandora/ YouTube and more.
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