Doctor Who: Lucky Day

Would it be your lucky day to meet the Doctor? For Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King), it was on New Year’s Day 2007.

That chance encounter leaves a mark, both figuratively and, as it turns out, literally. Fixated on the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and the enigma of the blue box, a young Conrad grows up to host a podcast dedicated to unravelling the Time Lord’s truth. Lucky Day, written by Pete McTighe and directed by Peter Hoar, is a tense, character-driven thriller that showcases Jonah Hauer-King’s brilliant, compelling performance.

When the adult Conrad stumbles upon the TARDIS again, it triggers a fresh hunt, not just for answers, but from a new alien menace known as the Shreek. After seeing Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) fall victim to the same alien “marking” he once experienced, Conrad invites her onto his podcast, Lucky Day, and the two begin to form an uneasy alliance.

Ruby, drawn in by the possibility of shared trauma, begins to trust Conrad. But her openness belies a dangerous naïveté; Conrad isn’t the lost soul he seems. Behind the mic, he’s part of a splinter group known as <think_tank>, a shadowy collective convinced that the Doctor, UNIT, and everything Ruby claims to know is an elaborate government hoax to misappropriate public funds.

The episode takes cues from Love and Monsters (2006), telling a Who story from the perspective of the public rather than the protagonist. But where Love and Monsters leaned into camp, Lucky Day opts for tension and slow-burn intrigue, drip-feeding paranoia into the narrative. It’s a compelling tonal pivot, one that pays off, even if not every element lands with equal weight.

Millie Gibson’s Ruby remains somewhat elusive. Her instinctive trust in Conrad, despite glaring red flags, feels less like a character flaw and more like a narrative shortcut. Compared to Varada Sethu’s Belinda Chandra, whose performances have grown more confident and compelling each week, Ruby still feels underwritten. The story waits a little too long to challenge her perspective, but when it does, the payoff is solid.

Jonah Hauer-King, however, is a revelation. He leads the episode with a villain origin story rooted in tragedy, delusion, and obsession. Conrad’s trauma is real, but his refusal to confront it and his drive to be a hero at all costs makes him both dangerous and heartbreakingly believable.

One standout moment under Peter Hoar’s direction sees the camera glide across a pub, revealing a chilling glimpse of Conrad’s possible fate had he not taken a crucial antidote. This run makes great use of practical effects, an area of production in which the show triumphs constantly. Director of photography Sam Care orchestrates the pan with precision, as flickering lights guide us from the everyday warmth of the pub to a vision of grotesque hunt, blending grounded realism with nightmare fuel in one slick sweep.

UNIT’s presence is another steadying hand. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and Colonel Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) are given space to explore a budding romance. At the same time, Shirley Bingham (Ruth Madeley) continues to bring steel and subtlety to her scenes. Supporting characters aren’t just set dressing here, they’re part of a carefully calibrated character drama that allows each moment to land.

The episode also benefits from being rooted in a modern media landscape. Cameos from Joel Dommett, Alex Jones, Reeta Chakrabarti, and the return of fictional news anchor Trinity Wells (Lachele Carl) add a sharp edge of satire and realism. The result is a conspiracy-laced thriller that feels contemporary, character-driven, and just grounded enough to unsettle.

Lucky Day doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it spins it in a new and thoughtful direction. Bolstered by a strong guest performance, compelling paranoia, and some of the series’ most stylish visuals this season, it’s another confident step in the right direction.

This episode also reinforces what’s becoming clear: this series of Doctor Who is quietly building one of the most consistent runs in recent memory. Whether it’s experimental genre swings, tighter character focus, or confident world-building, there’s a sense that every story is part of a bigger, bolder vision.

Doctor Who: Lucky Day is available for UK audiences on BBC iPlayer. New episodes are released weekly on Saturday at 08:00 BST on the streaming platform or broadcast later on BBC One. For viewers outside the UK, the show can be watched exclusively on Disney+.