Coming off the back of a run of smash hits, the latest episode of Doctor Who, Lucky Day, aims to repeat the process by checking in with last season’s companion, Ruby Sunday.

Returning to modern-day Earth, the story finds Ruby getting back into the swing of normal life; that is, until her new boyfriend, Conrad, is targeted by an alien adversary from her past.

Ruby’s Return to Reality

The episode begins by exploring Ruby’s life, now that she’s left her adventures with The Doctor. Just like many of the companions before her, she’s having trouble adjusting to normality after having her eyes opened to the wondrous possibilities and endless evils that inhabit the universe. Struggling to move forward, her prayers are answered when she meets podcast presenter Conrad Clark.

Having had his own run-ins with the Doctor, he understands the types of trouble Ruby’s been going through. As a result, Ruby is quick to trust him, and they develop a romantic relationship soon after. However, it isn’t long before Ruby’s past life catches up with her.

The Shreek’s Hunt

During an off-screen adventure, both Ruby and Conrad are marked by an alien creature known as the Shreek. A ferocious, beast-like creature, it marks its prey in preparation to hunt them throughout time and space, and one has just sniffed out its prey in Ruby and Conrad.

The explanation of the Shreek’s hunt is greeted with an imaginative show-and-tell by Ruby, and it gives more than just the audience a guide to how an attack from the creature would take place.

Unfortunately for Ruby, there was never a Shreek coming for them. Instead, Conrad used her information to create a fake attack and betray her for his own agenda.

Conrad’s Echo Chamber Creation

In a shocking blow, Conrad reveals himself to be more than a mere podcaster but the leader of an organisation known as Think Tank, whose aim is to undermine and ultimately dispense of UNIT. Conrad also reveals his true personality alongside this announcement.

Sensationally portrayed by Jonah Hauer-King, Conrad’s parallel as a right-wing grifter is instantly recognisable. A prevalent move given the current climate online and in the political sphere, the episode succeeds in unmasking the truth behind these characters. Under his agitator mask, Conrad is little more than a snivelling mass of cowardice and bile. Emboldened by a constant echo chamber, any attempt to reason or share facts results in him retreating deeper into his fictional version of reality, one that not even the Doctor can save him from.

Alongside Conrad’s reveal, the episode creates some important development for Ruby’s character. No longer under the Doctor’s watchful eye, the events of this story highlight how Ruby is still young and inexperienced. Her naïveté and trusting nature (shown throughout the episode) lead her to be an easy target for Conrad, and it’ll be something she’ll learn from as the series continues.

How UNIT Deals with a Problem

Without the Doctor present and Ruby still reeling from betrayal, ending Conrad’s reign of terror falls on UNIT. Often playing second fiddle to the titular Timelord’s antics, the organisation and, more importantly, Kate, get their time to shine here.

Unable to create solutions like the Doctor, their resolution to the Conrad problem is more human and vengeful, almost crossing the line. It speaks to a darker tone for UNIT’s future, adding more layers of conflict between them and the Doctor as the series looks towards its climax.

Moving from dark sci-fi to political thriller, Lucky Day succeeds in continuing season two’s strong run of episodes. Accented by Hauer-King’s spectacular performance as Conrad, the episode offers a tight storyline, relevant themes, and much-needed development for Ruby’s character post-Doctor. McTighe smashed it out of the park with this one!

I Give Lucky Day: 9/10