The phrase "this is your Lucky Day" was said multiple times so this story is a 5/5 and McTighe is certifiably not the hack I feared he would be going into this.

Seriously though, this is a great episode. A great episode that I can't appreciate as much as I'd like to because of one thing: "Ruby gets a new boyfriend and he's secretly evil" is the most obvious twist of all time. It's no exaggeration to say that I rolled my eyes and groaned at the reveal. I didn't even see the leaks and I still went into the episode expecting this, so having it happen is a huge letdown and annoyance - especially when up until that point the episode had successfully set him up as a naïve toxically masculine buffoon who was maybe just a little too interested in The Doctor despite how small an impact 15 had on him as a kid. I thought that this was a more interesting interpretation of the character than just him being a flat baddie, so I was frustrated as hell. But I acknowledge entirely that this is an issue of my own creation; caused by my expectations alone.

I think the fact that I got so annoyed at the above though goes to show that the execution was really good. I was truly convinced by the first half of what was going on that when it happened I elicited a response, even if not necessarily the one McTighe wanted. And that's good! That's a great twist!! That's a great reveal!!! Even if it's one I didn't want to happen!!!

Okay. Fine. Let's move on and talk about everything else with the episode.

What did we do to deserve Millie Gibbo? She's such an incredible talent, as we learnt last year, and she further shows that here. While I did find her character flat in spite of her amazing performance in season 40, here we get a lot of depth and we get to examine something NuWho's done a few times: what happens to a companion after The Doctor leaves? What is their mental state? And I love love love what we get here. Yes, The Doctor improved Ruby's life significantly. But he also ruined it. She's got PTSD. She's paranoid. And she feels alone. Yes, she has 100 mums (great gag from Shirley btw), yes she has a great support network, but she feels alone with him. And like she's unable to have a normal life and process what's happening. It's a natural extension of 73 Yards and it's fab! It's fantastic character writing and development for her, played beautifully by Gibson.

This is Kate's best episode on TV by far. She has a lot of depth and so many layers to her, and Redgrave puts in her best performance in the role yet. I loved her in Legend of Ruby Sunday and everything I loved there is on display here in spades. She is cold. She is angry. And she is willing to go to any lengths to defend her duty, and her father's legacy. And what she's doing might not be morally correct, but have UNIT ever been truly the good guys? They have an important role in the universe, and they're fundamentally more good than bad, but they are still a military complex! They still have wrongdoings! And she plays that moral ambiguity and greyness perfectly. And I love that the script does go into this and explores that! I feel like sometimes Doctor Who forgets that UNIT aren't just 100% good guys.

I also love that this episode criticises the manosphere, and in such a real feeling way. Conrad was a truly believable villain, and I think it's fundamentally important he didn't learn his lesson. He didn't get a redemption. Sometimes people are just bad people. And brilliantly performed too! He felt so real.

But of course the stand out of the episode was the scene with 15. I've always wanted more angry 15 because the few glimpses we get have been amazing, and here it was: unsubtle and unafraid to call out toxic people. And fantastically performed by Gatwa. The sheer rage he felt towards Conrad was palpable. And the way it was shot! I loved the darker colours of the TARDIS to reflect the mood.

I came out of this episode immediately thinking it was the weakest of the series so far. But considering how much positive I have to say.... I think maybe it was actually kinda great, and I'm just mad that the premise was so predictable - even if the execution was brilliant and took it in a direction I never expected.

Fine. I'll give it to you. It's your Lucky Day, McTighe.