Season Two (Series 15); Episode Four - “Lucky Day” by Pete McTighe

Pete McTighe is a name that can strike fear into the heart of many a Doctor Who fan. Apart from those weird teasers for the Collection box sets, McTighe is best known for his work on the episode Kerblam!, which is an… interesting ride to say the least which somehow manages to stumble into the message of capitalism being fine and worker’s revolts being the true evil. He also did Praxeus, but all I remember of that story is that I found it boring and preachy. However, many see these as simple stumbles from Mr. McTighe and anxiously awaited his newest episode. Unfortunately, he tried to do political commentary again.

Since the Doctor left, Ruby’s been living her day to day life in relative mundanity. However, she finds comfort in podcaster Conrad, who actually seems to be willing to listen to her stories of the TARDIS. Unfortunately, Conrad’s link to a violent alien species might just doom their blossoming relationship.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

I was in two minds before watching this episode. On one hand, Pete McTighe wrote one of my least favourite episodes of my least favourite era and despite that being up until now his only true claim to fame, I still found his name to leave a bad taste in my mouth. On the other hand, knowing his newest effort was an episode that centred entirely around Ruby was interesting to me. I really dig the idea of a companion becoming a recurring character after their departure, which Russell toyed with with Martha but didn’t really follow through on; it really makes the world of the show feel more alive and interconnected, whilst also making room for some interesting exploration as to what happens when a companion leaves the Doctor. Anyway, whilst I do have some problems with Ruby’s character here, Gibson is still great and slips effortlessly back into the role.

As for our new addition in this episode, we are introduced to Ruby’s new boyfriend: Conrad, who meets our ex-companion through the podcast he runs and immediately alarm bells should be sounding everywhere because in this day and age that’s rarely a good sign. And turns out I’m right: halfway through the episode it's revealed he’s a wannabe revolutionist and is trying to publicly humiliate UNIT into closing itself down. This twist actually did get me the first time I watched it and was a good left turn but after that things pretty much barreled downhill. One positive I can say though is Conrad is suitably detestable and the actor does a really good job at portraying a smug bastard, he’s a very love to hate kind of villain. I also like that the episode didn’t feel the need to try and redeem him and he refuses to change at the end when given the chance because yeah, some people are just irredeemably douchebags and that’s the way of things.

But then we get onto the actual meat of the episode, which concerns fake news and fear mongering on social media. My first takeaway is that this is actually a pretty interesting thing to look into and works as commentary, which might sound like the bare minimum but after Kerblam! is a godsend. However, I always find that when TV shows try to tackle social media and modern misinformation, it always falls into the pit trap of trying to capture internet culture and feeling like somebody who is incredibly out of touch is writing the script. The actual sections of social media reacting to the anti UNIT movement just rubbed me the wrong way but I think that could be entirely personal. It’s just a trope that seems to always annoy me.

But colour me impressed that I didn’t hate the political commentary in Lucky Day, well done Pete, you’re moving up in the world. However, this script is still as dumb as a sack of bricks. The ideas behind this story had some merit but jesus christ the execution was awful. This might be the most ridiculously unintelligent story of the entire revival, it is riddled with so many blatant plot holes and unnuanced moments of sheer stupidity that it left me slack jawed, eyes glued to the screen like I was watching a car crash. First of all, there’s so many gaps in logic here I would be convinced it's a first draft. Why does a massive, clandestine, military organisation do zero background checks on its highest ranking members? Why does Ruby not look into Conrad’s podcast for one second and realise it's a radical conspiracy theory machine? How the f**k is Conrad not in prison for one, wasting government resources by calling the army in on a prank and two, doxxing an entire government organisation publicly? I’m not an expert on law, but I think that maybe it's illegal to do that. Imagine if somebody tried to do this to the CIA or any actual government institution. Also, the climax is egregiously dumb, even outside of the surprisingly poor CG. Why does Conrad have any reputability after nearly fatally shooting a man on live social media? Why does the incredibly violent alien creature spend a millenia slowly crawling towards its prey so that the other characters can monologue and then defeat it? Why does a nationwide public scandal arise up out of nowhere and then literally disappear overnight based on one person being outed as a liar? It’s so utterly stupid and just takes away any enjoyment I might have of it whilst simultaneously diluting its message by being blatantly unrealistic.

But you know what, I’m not actually mad about this at all. I don’t even care. I feel bizarrely apathetic towards Lucky Day and I think I know why. It’s just such a pointless episode. This is a doctor-lite story, leaving behind the Doctor and Belinda for an episode and following Ruby. As I said before, an interesting idea but it fails to really justify itself. Ruby doesn’t grow much as a character except for having a little more trauma, UNIT is completely unphased because the entire scandal has gone full circle by the end and all it does is completely break the pace of the season. I was wondering why it felt so out of place for a while, especially compared to, say, Blink, which does a similar thing but feels a lot less sudden. I think it's because this is placed directly after three episodes that take place in consecutive narrative order one after the other, whilst Blink was in the middle of a bunch of unrelated monster of the week type stories. Also this was written by Pete McTighe and Blink was written by Stephen Moffat, which probably contributed a lot to how well the concept worked. However, the result is the same, I’m left unsatisfied and untouched by a number of underbaked ideas ruined by pacing and a failure to execute.

Lucky Day felt like a speed bump, an annoying intrusion on a straight line that only caused the momentum to drop. McTighe certainly writes a little more competently than his previous efforts, but that bar was in Hell, it was pretty easy to jump over. It had a lot of ideas but none had much meat to them and only a few felt well realised, the rest bogged down by a muddled script. It isn't an egregiously bad piece of TV, but it’s only worthy of a single sigh.

5/10

Pros:

+ Interesting format for an episode

+ Conrad is a wonderfully hateable antagonist

+ Had some decent commentary to make

+ The halfway twist was a genuinely fun left turn

Cons:

- Astoundingly stupid script

- Episode feels like a pointless side step

- The CGI is a little too ambitious

Written by the guy who wrote Kerblam… and it shows.

Honestly, I see the intent. I understand. I’m bright enough to see what this was supposed to be (or maybe I’m just being too charitable). But I feel like making UNIT, a huge, overfunded military organization with a history of violence (rewatch the Sontaran Strategem and The Poison Sky if you don’t remember) the unequivocal victim in this situation is such a major misstep. It kind of ruins the message and may even give people the exact wrong impression. The way the idea of UNIT (which is, again, a super overfunded military org) “stealing taxpayer money” is framed as an insane thing to say is also just stupid as hell, ESPECIALLY since Kate ADMITS no one in the public knows what their government funding is used for! It’s all so stupid!

I also wish Belinda was getting more of a spotlight in her own season, they’re already short enough… whatever. I don’t like this one. Could’ve gone with a bit more thought put into it.

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“LUCKY DAY – WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COMPANION STOPS RUNNING”

Lucky Day is that rare Doctor Who episode that turns its gaze backwards – not to Gallifrey or ancient myths, but to what happens after a companion leaves the TARDIS. This time, it’s Ruby Sunday in the spotlight, with a grounded, unsettling story about life after the Doctor and the scars left behind. What begins as a quiet slice-of-life with a new boyfriend becomes a sharp, socially aware thriller that explores PTSD, conspiracy culture, and the limits of UNIT's morality.

Ruby, now out of the Doctor's orbit, is trying to live a normal life – but flickering lights, strange shadows, and the eerie sense of being followed send her to UNIT for help. Is it paranoia? Or is something really out there? The story teases both possibilities smartly, raising the uncomfortable question: what does surviving the Doctor’s world do to a person? Doctor Who has rarely dwelled on this – Sarah Jane Smith and Rose Tyler got spin-offs or closures, but Lucky Day takes a darker approach, portraying Ruby as someone both brave and traumatised.

ENTER CONRAD: THE CHARMING NIGHTMARE

At the centre of this narrative is Conrad, Ruby’s sweet but slightly-too-eager boyfriend. Played with subtle menace by Jonah Hauer-King (best known as the disarmingly handsome Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid remake), Conrad initially seems like a lovely romantic interest – kind, respectful, and curious. But that curiosity becomes obsession. And then obsession becomes conspiracy.

We learn that Conrad runs Think Thank – not the previously familiar think tank from Robot, but a modern-day conspiracy podcast group determined to expose UNIT. In a clever and chilling twist, the Shreek – a transdimensional creature that stalks and kills once a year – is revealed to be a hoax, orchestrated by Conrad and his cronies to lure UNIT into a trap and discredit them. Even the monster costumes are handmade, in a cheeky nod to Doctor Who’s own rubber-suited history.

UNIT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

The brilliance of Pete McTighe’s script lies in its dual focus. On one hand, it exposes the fragility of those touched by the Doctor’s world – Ruby’s paranoia, Conrad’s delusions of grandeur. On the other hand, it scrutinises UNIT itself. In a post-truth age where conspiracy theorists have powerful platforms, the existence of a gun-wielding paramilitary group with little oversight is deeply problematic – and Lucky Day doesn’t shy away from asking how the public might see UNIT when the Doctor isn’t around to justify their actions.

And in Kate Stewart, we get one of the show’s most fascinating moral pivots. Jemma Redgrave delivers her best performance yet, going from calm authority to righteous fury. Her breakdown in the UNIT tower – defending her father’s legacy, threatening Conrad, and nearly letting the real Shreek consume him – is electrifying. It’s a moment where Kate steps into dangerous territory, showing what she’s capable of when unchecked by the Doctor. It’s as dark a turn as we’ve ever seen for the character, and it works because Redgrave plays it with blistering conviction.

RUBY, RELATIONSHIPS, AND RECKONING

Millie Gibson continues to shine, showing Ruby’s resilience and growing maturity. She’s no longer the girl blindly chasing adventures – here she’s taking charge, making decisions, and navigating emotional landmines with increasing wisdom. Her chemistry with Hauer-King’s Conrad is believable, and their relationship is written with enough nuance that his eventual betrayal stings deeply.

We also get a brief but joyful return for Carla and Cherry, who instantly peg something off about Conrad, being wonderfully overprotective in their brief scene. Less successful is the continuing tease of a Kate/Ibrahim romance, which remains underdeveloped and awkward. More troubling is how little Ibrahim and Shirley actually get to do this episode – Ruth Madeley is especially underserved here.

And then there’s Belinda – sadly marking the beginning of her decline. Only featured in the New Year’s Eve 2007 flashback that sets up Conrad’s troubled past, she’s barely present in the plot. The scene itself is important for character setup, but Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor feels strangely off-kilter in it – his performance oddly forced, missing the bounce and warmth that usually defines him.

A VILLAIN WHO COULD BE REAL

The transformation of Conrad from boyfriend to villain is chillingly believable. His motives – shaped by loneliness, a yearning for purpose, and a misguided sense of truth – make him a scarily realistic antagonist. His scenes with Ruby and UNIT are disturbingly plausible, and when he briefly has the upper hand, mocking them and revealing their secrets, it's genuinely tense. Even when his plan falls apart and the real Shreek nearly devours him, he reverts to a smug, defensive shell – perfectly capturing the performative victimhood of many real-world conspiracy theorists.

THE DOCTOR’S FINAL WORD

The climax is taut and terrifying, and the confrontation in the tower carrying Siege of Trenzalore-levels of tension. But the emotional peak comes in the quiet coda – the Doctor visiting Conrad in prison. Gatwa’s performance here is superb: cold, direct, and visibly shaken. He delivers a powerful rebuke, not with rage, but with disappointment. It’s a reminder of the toll that travelling with him takes – and how much Ruby’s pain weighs on him.

MRS FLOOD LURKS AGAIN

And then there’s that final twist. Mrs Flood, once again in the shadows, appears as a prison warden and lets Conrad go. The implications are massive and spill directly into the season finale. It’s a classic Doctor Who breadcrumb, delivered with chilling casualness.

📝VERDICT: 87/100

Lucky Day is a standout episode – bold, timely, and unsettling. It asks difficult questions about trust, trauma, and truth, delivering one of Doctor Who’s most compelling political thrillers in years. Pete McTighe smartly blends horror, emotional drama, and social commentary, with excellent performances from Millie Gibson, Jonah Hauer-King, and a career-best turn from Jemma Redgrave. The episode falters slightly with side characters and a wobbly flashback, but overall, it’s one of the most thoughtful, provocative entries in the Gatwa era. And with that ominous Mrs Flood moment, it leaves us nervously eyeing what’s coming next.

McTighe has redeemed himself! (tbh I did like Praxeus but Kerblam mama…) However, that being said I need the straight workplace romance with Kate to end!!!

I really liked going back to Ruby and the UNIT lot for this bottle episode, super tense and well done. Pacing was fab too! My main issue with this story is that set photos when they filmed out in public spoiled the monsters being Conrad’s friends, which is the major twist of the episode. So from that aspect it felt a little predictable.

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.