Warning: Spoilers forward for Physician Who season 15, episode 4, “Fortunate Day.”Whereas I’ve loved Ncuti Gatwa’s time main Physician Who because the Fifteenth Physician, his run thus far hasn’t had many good episodes, however season 15 simply dropped its first flawless effort since mid-way by means of Fifteen’s inaugural batch of episodes. As the newest in a protracted line of actors to play the Physician, Gatwa stepped into the function in 2023’s “The Giggle” in a canon-changing scene that allowed him to exist alongside David Tennant’s Fourteenth Physician. Since then, Gatwa has accrued essentially the most appearances because the Time Lord throughout Physician Who‘s Disney period, with Russell T. Davies because the returning showrunner.

Regardless of being praised for his efforts whereas writing for Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Physician and David Tennant’s Tenth Physician after the 2005 revival, Davies’ scripts for Gatwa have been criticized by parts of the fan base for being much less constant of their high quality. With Disney greenlighting shorter seasons this time round, Davies’ narrative shortcomings in Physician Who season 14 had been maybe simply centered upon greater than his final time in cost. Amongst that first run with Gatwa because the main man was an episode that I’ve but to listen to anybody insult, and Physician Who season 15 simply struck gold once more.

How Physician Who’s “Fortunate Day” Is Related To “73 Yards”

Ruby Sunday’s 2025 Physician Who comeback feels extremely acquainted

Physician Who season 14, episode 4, “73 Yards,” noticed Millie Gibson take to the highlight as Ruby Sunday whereas the Fifteenth Physician was largely absent from the story. Davies penned the 2024 script as an addition to the gathering of Physician Who‘s Physician-lite episodes. “73 Yards” centered on Ruby’s makes an attempt to readjust to a life with out Gatwa’s character, as Fifteen disappeared after stepping on a mysterious fairy circle and solely reappeared close to the tip of the episode when Ruby’s alternate future was erased. It additionally revolved closely across the theme of problematic political ideologies gaining prominence.

Now, learn that “73 Yards” synopsis once more, and take a look at to not see the immense similarities between the season 14 episode and season 15’s “Fortunate Day.” Ruby as soon as extra finds herself because the episode’s foremost character in “Fortunate Day” and is once more struggling to hold on her common life after parting methods with the Physician. Plus, Jonah Hauer-King’s Conrad Miller and Suppose Tank stand in eerily effectively for Roger ap Gwilliam (Aneurin Barnard) and the Albion Occasion’s rise to energy within the UK. The truth that each episodes additionally arrive fourth of their respective seasons is one other handy connection.

Associated

“Like… PTSD”: After 60 Years, Physician Who Admits The Worst Factor About Being A Companion

Ruby Sunday’s Physician Who comeback comes with a candid view of what life seems to be like for the Physician’s former companions, and it is a robust watch.

In fact, one of many harsh truths about how nice each episodes are is that Gatwa barely options in both. He is given extra to do in “Fortunate Day” than he was in “73 Yards,” however Fifteen continues to be pushed to the fringes of each tales in order that different storylines may be explored. I do not suppose Gatwa’s useful absence is what actively makes these two episodes so nice, however relatively that Russell T. Davies and Pete McTighe needed to work further exhausting on their respective scripts to make a narrative with out the Physician particularly participating. However succeeded, however arguably too effectively.

Mrs. Flood’s Cameo In “Fortunate Day” Could Set Up The Future In “73 Yards”

The Albion Occasion could have Mrs. Flood to thank for its upcoming victory

Ruby’s alternate future in “73 Yards” now will not occur precisely the way it performed out within the episode, however “Fortunate Day” means that sure occasions from that now-defunct timeline are nonetheless set to happen. In that method, “Fortunate Day” turns into a kind of timey-wimey prequel to its season 14 counterpart. If that’s the case, Anita Dobson’s cameo as Mrs. Flood in “Fortunate Day” might become a pivotal second within the connection between the 2 timelines. In brief, Mrs. Flood liberating Conrad from jail may very well be what results in elevated assist for the Albion Occasion in “73 Yards.”

Suppose Tank belongs to a gaggle of far-right political actions, and one other of these organizations in “Fortunate Day” is briefly recognized as a subscription service known as Albion TV. So, it might appear that Albion TV is primed to grow to be a respectable participant in UK politics by turning into the Albion Occasion. The worrying consideration Conrad earned in “Fortunate Day” means his alt-right ideology, and others prefer it, are set to obtain way more consideration, and his liberation from jail and extra lies might make him an immortalized figurehead that finally ends up serving Albion TV’s pursuits effectively in Physician Who‘s quick future.

Physician Who

5/10

Launch Date

December 25, 2023

Administrators

Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie

•