Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2 Review: Lux Is Russell T Davies’ Best Work

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The second episode of Doctor Who’s Season 2, titled “Lux,” showcases why the series is a fan favorite: it offers the bizarre, grandiose, and simply enjoyable. This installment, further enriched by the exceptional performances of Alan Cumming and Linus Roache, contributes to the unique character of the Whoniverse. Under the guidance of showrunner Russell T Davies, who consistently pushes boundaries, this narrative demonstrates that even with its long history, Doctor Who still has potential for fresh developments.

The story unfolds in the 1950s, as “Lux” finds that 15 individuals have vanished from a movie theater in Miami. Of course, such a mystery implies something sinister lurking within the theater walls. As with previous episodes, Davidson skillfully navigates the border between endearing and unsettling. The ensemble cast delivers nearly flawlessly on his creative vision. At the very least, this episode could potentially discourage Disney+ viewers from watching cartoons for a while.

Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2 Pushes the Show Into Animated Territory

The Use of Animation Provides All Kinds of Story Quirks

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Doctor Who, the series delved into animation for the very first time, an aspect that comprised a significant portion of the episode. Surprisingly, this animated segment outshone the narrative itself, which was ingeniously constructed to emphasize The Doctor’s transformation into an animated character. Typically, such a plot structure could lead to a contrived and underdeveloped storyline. However, in “Lux,” the clever humor and knack for integrating genuine fright elements within the jokes, as demonstrated by Russell T Davies, prevented this from becoming a catastrophe.

The story commences with a cartoon character named Mr. Ring-a-Ding springing to life and causing distress within a cinema audience. Although it’s evident from the start that Mr. Ring-a-Ding intends to cause trouble, this premonition doesn’t diminish the eerie feeling. The audience can appreciate Davies enjoying the contrast between the character’s vibrant, cute appearance and his malevolent actions, and vice versa. There’s a moment where he attempts to chase The Doctor and Belinda, but it’s humorously portrayed due to his obvious difficulty climbing stairs. Throughout the narrative, Davies maintains an air of discussing a cartoon character, even during more serious scenes.

Viewers can anticipate some visual gags highlighting the contrast between different media formats. Revealing these jokes would diminish some of the episode’s enjoyment, but they are exactly what viewers look forward to and more. The show also employs a few instances of breaking the fourth wall, making it seem like The Doctor is interacting directly with the Disney+ audience. Moreover, various types of animation are used extensively. To put it another way, Doctor Who isn’t merely experimenting with being animated; it’s exploiting that concept in every imaginable manner. Consequently, the animated aspect transcends just having a cartoon villain and serves as the backbone of the entire episode.

Doctor Who Is Elevated by Guest Stars Alan Cumming & Linus Roache

Season 2, Episode 2 Gets the Most Out of Both Actors

One delightful aspect of the show Doctor Who is its ability to bring in top-notch guest actors, and “Lux” boasts two A-list performers whose contributions are equally crucial to the episode as the leading stars. While most viewers’ focus will likely be on Alan Cumming, who reappears following his 2018 stint, it’s essential to recognize that Cumming demonstrates exceptional talent not just in live-action roles but also as a voice actor. His portrayal of Mr Ring-a-Ding showcases this versatility beautifully, being vibrant, lively, and subtly disconcerting. Despite the absence of Cumming’s face from the screen, his performance is so animated that it’s easy to envision him embodying the character fully due to the richness of personality he brings to the role.

At the other extreme, yet equally captivating, is Linus Roache as the theater projectionist Reginald Pye. Typically, viewers are accustomed to Roache embodying powerful and dynamic characters such as King Ecbert in “Vikings” or David Wellington in “Homeland”. The contrast of his reserved and defeated portrayal is striking. However, Roache manages to keep the audience hooked, albeit with a more somber and tragic vibe. It’s regrettable that his character is so unique to “Lux”, as it would be intriguing to see him reappear in the series. Perhaps Davies could consider casting him in a different role in future; Roache’s talent deserves more than just one appearance.

One potential rephrase: The main issue with this episode is that the scarcity of detailed background characters seems to exaggerate 1950s stereotypes, making them appear overly dramatic. However, given their minor roles in the plot, they don’t seem to negatively impact viewers’ enjoyment. Nevertheless, their caricature-like qualities are more noticeable due to the powerful performances in the rest of the episode.

Doctor Who Season 2 Circles Back to Season 1’s Mythology

Fans May Be Divided by the Multiple Callbacks

In the series “Doctor Who,” if fans of Russell T Davies are familiar with anything about him, it’s his knack for having surprising elements. This trait is evident in “Lux,” an episode that not only alludes to previous storylines but also subtly references past events from both the show’s lore and real-world history. Segregation serves as a challenge within this episode due to its setting in the 1950s, a topic which some other showrunners might have neglected for the sake of pure entertainment. However, Davies addresses it multiple times. Additionally, there are numerous hints that will undoubtedly catch viewers’ attention.

Some spectators might not find all the intricate references overly appealing, as the latest iteration of “Doctor Who” can occasionally lean toward excessive cleverness. Juggling past and present could potentially lead to future complications. Nevertheless, for now, it’s sparking lively discussions among fans. The character “Lux” helps advance the plot beyond Belinda’s desire to leave, transforming her into a true companion for The Doctor, as they uncover more about each other (he reveals one secret that’s quite significant given their early bond). While the episode seems focused on innovation and artistic expression, it still manages to progress the characters’ development.

Fans of Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2 will likely remember it for quite some time. Some might recall it because of the animated segments and the abundant humor. Others may associate it with the captivating performances delivered by Alan Cumming and Linus Roache. Many will also recognize it as the installment where Russell T Davies subtly sets up the direction for the season. Regardless of the angle, this episode is undeniably one that quickly becomes a significant part of Doctor Who history.

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2025-04-19 16:06