Warning: Spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 2, “Lux.“Doctor Whooften drops Easter Eggs into the main body of each episode, but sticking around for the end credits of “Lux” results in witnessing an especially wholesome nod to the installment while also extending an especially meta moment from season 15’s second adventure. AlthoughDoctor Who’s Disney erahas broken the fourth wall several times already, “Lux” takes things several steps further by quietly extending that trend when crediting the cast and crew who brought the episode to life.
The coreDoctor Whoseason 15 castis comprised of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra. However, many other actors enter the fray as supporting cast members. Theending ofDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 2, “Lux,“arguably takes place whenthe TARDIS dematerializes and sets off for the next adventure. That being said, you’ll miss out on the end credits paying off what initially feels like a throwaway line uttered by an interesting “Lux” character.
The Doctor Who Fans In “Lux” Actually Do Have Surnames
Robyn’s statement is disproven after the episode “ends”
Lizzie (Bronté Barbé), Robyn (Steph Lacy), and Hassan (Samir Arrian) have an incredibly compelling role in “Lux.” When Fifteen and Belinda and find themselves trying to navigate the mind-bending realm ofAlan Cumming’s Mr. Ring-a-Ding/Lux Imperator, they find themselves speaking with a trio ofDoctor Whofans, who know the show is fictional. When they part, it’s suggested that the fans aren’t actually “real,” andRobyn summarizes this twist by saying, “We’re the kind of characters who don’t have surnames.”
This undoes some of the emotional damage done by their farewell just head of the episode’s third act, and essentially confirms they still exist in some wild corner of theDoctor Whouniverse.
When the credits roll, all three of the fans come back for another cameo. Just before their return, the trio are given surnames when the actors are credited for their respective appearances. As it turns out,Lizzie’s surname is Abel, Robyn’s is Gossage, and Hassan’s is Chowdry. This undoes some of the emotional damage done by their farewell just head of the episode’s third act, and essentially confirms they still exist in some wild corner of theDoctor Whouniverse.
Are The Doctor Who Fans Real In “Lux?”
Lizzie, Robyn, & Hassan aren’t in “our” world, but they do survive the episode’s finale
When the Doctor and Belinda crawled out of the TV screen, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was convinced Russell T. Davies had done the unthinkable and brought two of the show’s characters into our world. When the episode moved on to establish thatthey were just part of Lux’s illusions to distract the Doctor, I was both disappointed and relieved. Still, the episode ends ambiguously concerning just how “real” Lizzie and her friends are. Ultimately, they only exist in what appears to be Lux’s realm, but they also seem self-aware enough to be considered “real"Doctor Whocharacters.
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“The Story and the Engine”
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