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"NEON REIGN – A DRAGON, A DYSTOPIA, AND A DASH OF DISAPPOINTMENT"

In Neon Reign, Christian Brassington conjures up an arresting dystopia for Jenny: The Doctor’s Daughter to traverse—a city soaked in neon-lit rain, ruled by a tyrant known only as the Dragon Lord. It’s a visually evocative world, somewhere between Blade Runner and The Macra Terror, with layers of oppression, drug addiction, and gender-based authoritarianism baked into its culture. For a series that often leans on fast-paced antics, this story makes a surprisingly earnest stab at atmosphere and allegory.

KAMSHASSA DREAMING

Kamshassa is the star of the story. The detail of constant neon rain, poisonous smoke drifting through alleyways, and an enslaved populace patrolled by Dragon Guards feels like something out of a lost cyberpunk novel. There's rich inspiration drawn from East Asian cityscapes, with undertones of societal decay that lend weight to the premise. The first half leans into this strength, drawing out the world and laying the groundwork for rebellion. It even throws in a heist plot, as Jenny and Noah infiltrate the Dragon Lord's inner sanctum—a premise brimming with promise.

The Dragon Lord, too, is a compelling concept, initially presented as a literal fire-breathing dragon (because why not?) but eventually unmasked as a woman hiding behind holograms, projecting a hypermasculine persona because of her own internalised misogyny. The backstory—fuelled by hatred for her "weak" mother—adds depth to what could have been just another moustache-twirling villain. Her twisted campaign to suppress women while glorifying male dominance stands as a surprisingly bold metaphor for internalised gender bias.

DRAGONS, CYBORGS AND… EXPOSITION?

Unfortunately, all this potential ends up largely squandered by an underwhelming second half. After the rich setup, Neon Reign trades world-building for exposition dumps and a strangely lethargic infiltration sequence that never quite catches fire. The revolution that’s meant to be the emotional payoff just fizzles, lacking urgency or consequence.

The return of the cyborg bounty hunter COLT-5000 adds a bit of flavour and action late in the game, but once again it’s a subplot that seems to serve no purpose beyond dangling a threat for a future episode. Meanwhile, Noah—despite some intriguing early teases about his mysterious knowledge gaps—is mostly shelved during the climax, an unfortunate misuse of a companion still trying to establish a strong dynamic with Jenny.

Worse still, the distorted voice used for the Dragon Lord is sometimes difficult to understand, and Noah’s deeper mysteries are frustratingly sidelined just as they were starting to spark interest. While the gender politics are well-intentioned and thematically resonant, they’re not fully earned due to the lack of tension and emotional engagement.

📝THE BOTTOM LINE:

Neon Reign boasts an inspired setting and a few bold thematic swings, but it can’t maintain its early momentum. Strong ideas about identity, revolution, and gender politics are weighed down by clunky exposition, poorly used supporting characters, and a third act that never quite catches flame—despite the dragon. 6/10

Jenny:The Doctor's Daughter: Neon Reign

(Jenny)

A major improvement over episode 2

This story was fun and entertaining

8/10