Summary
Doctor Whomight be focused on the Time Lord, but it’s often the villains that people are left talking about after each episode. Whether it’s the Daleks, Weeping Angels, or the Sontarans, some iconic villains have had audiences hiding from behind their chairs or behind their fingers while also being entertained.
The latest episode ofDoctor Whoprovided another great villain, with Mr. Ring-a-Ding being a breath of fresh air for the franchise. The episode of’Lux' might not have thrived in terms of viewership, bringing in just 1.58 million, but those who did watch it were left entertained by the animated villain, which felt like a throwback to Doctor Who’s very best.
Why Did Mr. Ring-A-Ding Feel Entertaining?
The Villain Added A Lot To The Show
Mr. Ring-a-Ding was a brilliant villain because he mesmerized the audience. It was an outside-the-box idea, and that’s something thatDoctor Whois known for: creating science fiction characters that most people wouldn’t even think of. An animation stepping out of a cinema, this villain might seem harmless on paper, but “Don’t make me laugh!” Ultimately, he is Lux, another ofDoctor Who’smemorable villainswho absorbs light in a bid to destroy all of humanity, and that’s something that helped to make the character so brilliant. One moment, he would be dancing and singing; the next, he would attempt to trap people within light and act as sinister as possible.
The juxtaposition of light and evil within one character was entertaining and had audiences hooked as they didn’t know what version they would be receiving.Alan Cumming’s performance certainly added a lotto the show as well, bringing a childlike feeling that made him even more menacing when he switched things up to become the scarier version of himself. There was also a sympathetic element to him, which was evident during the final scene as he floated away, with Mr. Ring-a-Ding bringing tons of excitement to the episode.
Mr. Ring-A-Ding Felt Like An Old-School Villain
This Is What Doctor Who Needed Right Now
While the new version ofDoctor Whohas been enjoyable, withNcuti Gatwa bringing tons of energy and emotionto the show, the series has needed some more iconic villains. Many of them haven’t felt scary enough or simply been too comedic for people to care. Mr. Ring-a-Ding brought the perfect balance to the show, which allowed him to be intimidating, all while tapping into being ludicrous at the same time. That balance was ideal, and it made him feel like a great villain from the past.Doctor Whohas always pushed things from a creative perspective, but the show’s latest version hasn’t managed to create a villain like this that has been on that level until now. The episode has drawn comparisons to ‘Blink,’ which is considered to be one of the greatest inDoctor Who’shistory. The reason for that is the villain, and that proves that this animated character was the right choice to make.
Given that the show has been struggling lately, to the point where there have beenrumors thatDoctor Whowill be axed. There has been no commitment for the future of the series at this point, and that’s why the science fiction series needs great characters like this. Mr. Ring-a-Ding was a risk given that he’s an animation, but it’s the type of bold call that the show needs to make if the series is going to continue beyond this season. Audiences need to know that the villains will be memorable, and are going to feel like huge swings from the writers, as it thrusts the Doctor into unlikely scenarios. Seeing him literally within a movie and becoming an animation himself is an example of that, which is what made the episode work so well.
Doctor Who Needs More Unique Villains Like This
The Show Always Works Best When The Villain Is Larger Than Life
Given how many episodes ofDoctor Whothere have been over the years, it is no surprise that not every villain ends up being a success. The decision to blend AI into the villain of the first episode for season two was an example of that, as it didn’t feel like a particularly compelling character. That is why Mr. Ring-a-Ding made such an impact on people. It was a unique concept that took a lot of work to bring to reality, but that was paid off because Mr. Ring-a-Ding has been very well received. People have been positively discussing the episode, and it proves thatDoctor Whoalways works bestwhen the villain is larger than life and takes the Doctor to a new place. While he never truly threatened the Doctor, Mr. Ring-a-Ding did entertain people whenever he turned up on the screen, and that’s what people want fromDoctor Who’svillains.
