Doctor Who Season 15 Episode 4 Review

Season 15 Episode 4 of Doctor Who is a very inventive, socially charged episode that strips the show’s format right back to its basics.

“Lucky Day” is a very different kind of story for Doctor Who, with Gatwa’s protagonist only receiving a few minutes of screentime throughout the entire episode. The story picks up with the Doctor and Belinda (Varada Sethu) encountering a young boy named Conrad (Benjamin Chivers) back in 2007 and sparking his curiosity in aliens. Many years later, Ruby encounters an older Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King), who’s started an amateur podcast to investigate supernatural occurrences that have been covered up by UNIT, in the hopes of contacting the Doctor once more. But when Conrad’s investigations bring him face-to-face with a real alien, Ruby discovers that something more dangerous is at play.

While “Lucky Day” sometimes struggles to keep up the fast-paced storytelling of previous Doctor Who episodes (likely due to Gatwa’s absence), it’s a very engaging, character-driven adventure that features some of the show’s most compelling writing in a while. Returning to Ruby Sunday’s story is an unexpected direction for the show to take so early into season 15, but it immediately pays off thanks to Millie Gibson’s charming performance and undeniable screen presence. This episode gives her plenty of material to work with, including several very emotional moments that remind audiences why they fell in love with her character in the first place.

“Lucky Day” also strikes a very effective balance of comedy, drama, and horror that Doctor Who rarely manages to fit into the same episode. Season 15, in particular, got off to a pretty comedic start with adventures like “The Robot Revolution”, before delving more firmly into horror territory with “The Well”, and “Lucky Day” now feels like the perfect palate-cleanser. There’s even a strong romantic thread, which is something that had previously been missing from this modern era. Writer Pete McTighe manages to weave all these narrative fabrics together so effortlessly, showcasing just how engaging Doctor Who can be when it has its priorities straight.

Returning Doctor Who fans will also be pleased to hear that “Lucky Day” sees the return of Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), the leader of modern-day UNIT and long-time friend of the Doctor. Her presence in this episode offers a much-needed sense of authority that makes up for the Time Lord’s absence, rooting this story in the overall mythos of Doctor Who and preventing it from feeling too independent in the grand scheme of things. There’s also some very subtle set-up for what’s most likely to be explained in the finale, giving the episode a clear purpose and justifying its inclusion in such a short Doctor Who season.

There’s been plenty of talk about Doctor Who becoming too overtly political in recent years, but it’s episodes like “Lucky Day” that remind audiences just how tightly bound this show has always been to contemporary issues in society. This week, Doctor Who takes a thinly veiled swipe at the toxic culture of online misinformation and extremist conspiracy theories that are promoted by social media. McTighe does an excellent job of weaving this commentary into an otherwise typical sci-fi adventure; “Lucky Day” is a perfect example of how to use a big show like Doctor Who to promote a vital message while maintaining the otherwise playful spirit of the show.

Episode 4 of Season 15 (also known as Season 2) of Doctor Who, named “Lucky Day,” is now available to stream globally on Disney+, and on the BBC iPlayer in the U.K.