Doctor Who’s Mr. Ring-a-Ding Is Actually a GOD?!

Be advised: The second episode of Doctor Who’s season 15, titled “Lux,” unveils a villain known as Mr. Ring-a-Ding at first glance. However, this seemingly ordinary sentient cartoon character hides a depth that goes beyond initial impressions. It’s intriguing enough to have an animation come to life in the real world, but showrunner Russell T. Davies adds layers of complexity to Mr. Ring-a-Ding, making him even more captivating. Not only does he share ties with Doctor Who’s pantheon of deities, but he also initiates one of the most significant fourth wall breaks in Doctor Who’s Disney era.

In the cast for season 15 of “Doctor Who,” Alan Cumming joins the series as the voice of Mr. Ring-a-Ding, while Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu portray Fifteen and Belinda Chandra respectively. Following the events at the end of season 15’s first episode, “The Robot Revolution,” it has been discovered that Belinda cannot be returned home by the TARDIS. As part of an attempt to determine the temporal and spatial coordinates needed for her safe return, the Doctor and his new companion travel to 1952 Miami, but as usual, they uncover more than they anticipated during their adventure.

Mr. Ring-a-Ding Is Really Lux Imperator, The Pantheon’s God Of Light

Lux is part of the same group of villains as Sutekh

Despite sporting a visually appealing character resembling Mr. Ring-a-Ding in this universe, Cumming’s character is actually Lux Imperator, the Deity of Light. Commonly known simply as Lux, the Deity of Light is part of the same organization as other deities such as the Toymaker (the God of Games represented by Neil Patrick Harris), Maestro (the God of Music played by Jinkx Monsoon), and Sutekh (the God of Death). This information is provided by Gabriel Woolf.

Hi there, I’m Lux, also known as Lux Imperator, the divine embodiment of Light! I’m the brilliant radiance at the core of our pantheon, and the spark in the minds of the insane. In your final moments, I am the sight that lingers before you plunge into the abyss.”
Or more casually:
“Hey, I’m Lux, the Light deity! I’m the shining star in our pantheon and the glimmer in the mad’s eye. Before you take a leap into the void, that’s me you’ll see last.
Lux in Doctor Who season 15, episode 2, “Lux.”

Lux serves as an innovative character introduced by Davies who doesn’t stem from the classic era of Doctor Who and is instead integrated into the Pantheon, unlike other characters. Maestro (or perhaps Trickster) was the first original deity within the Pantheon. As a purely animated figure, even within the show itself, Lux represents a striking deviation from his Doctor Who predecessors. At first glance, it appears he’ll be a solitary antagonist; however, the reappearance of the musical laugh from “The Giggle” hints at his unexpected inclusion in the Pantheon in an intriguing turn of events.

How Lux Comes To Life & What His Goal Is

The God of Light enters the story in a moonbeam

Prior to the storyline of “Lux,” Cumming’s character was neither spoken about nor seen. This raises the question of where Lux had been hiding throughout this entire time. The simple explanation is that he was residing in another universe, and it was the destruction caused by David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor to the fabric of reality, triggered by invoking a salt-based superstition at the edge of the universe, that allowed him to enter the main universe of “Doctor Who.” In other words, Lux found his way into the primary universe of Doctor Who. Yet, initially, he didn’t have a physical form.

In the opening scene of “Lux,” the title character makes his entrance by following a moonbeam. This moonbeam passed through the skylight in the projection room and bounced off various reflective items before reaching an active roll of film showing a Mr. Ring-a-Ding cartoon. Since celluloid is designed to capture light, it provides the ideal pathway for Lux to materialize. However, there’s a catch: he can only manifest within images on the film, so he assumes the appearance of Mr. Ring-a-Ding, who happens to resemble a 1950s cartoon character.

Lux intends to make himself more tangible by obtaining a body that can exist beyond the movie theater and in the real world. Having glimpsed footage from Palazzo, he’s aware of different light sources outside its walls, including nuclear explosions. As an animated character like Mr. Ring-a-Ding, such intense light could be harmful to him. Therefore, his aim is to prepare himself for potential risks associated with these powerful light sources.

What Lux’s Powers Are & How The Doctor Beats Him

Light is Lux’s number one weapon (& his biggest weakness)

In simpler terms, Lux possesses a unique talent for controlling light in various forms, making him an intimidating antagonist with extraordinary abilities that border on the fantastical. One of the most captivating demonstrations of his powers is when he seemingly revives Mrs. Pye, the late wife of Mr. Reginald Pye, the Palazzo’s projectionist. This is achieved by extracting Mrs. Pye from her husband’s black-and-white footage and making her present in the real world.

Instead of Mrs. Pye being the true identity, it turns out to be her husband who struggles to discern the physical distinctions, especially following her colorful makeover. Moreover, Lux possesses the power to transport characters from reality into the world of light, which is demonstrated when Fifteen and Belinda embark on a trip through Lux’s realm, allowing them to live as 2D animated figures and encountering a cluster of devoted Doctor Who enthusiasts who have witnessed all the Time Lord’s chronicles on a TV monitor.

It appears that Lux may be particularly interested in unlocking the regenerative power within the Doctor, as he finds the Time Lord’s capacity for self-renewal intriguing and wishes to replicate it himself. Upon capturing the Doctor, Lux attempts to extract this regenerative energy and assimilate it. As Lux strengthens, the Doctor gradually weakens. Fortunately, Belinda deciphers Fifteen’s secret message and destroys the picture house’s back wall, exposing Lux to intense sunlight.

In my experience, it might appear that soaking up sunlight would boost Lux’s abilities, but quite the opposite happens. I find myself becoming overloaded with solar energy, not strengthening as I had anticipated. I keep expanding at an alarming rate, eventually leaving Earth’s orbit and tapping into the light of other celestial bodies and the vastness of the universe itself. As the Doctor puts it, much like a human can drown in water, Lux is essentially ‘drowning’ in light when overwhelmed.

Is Lux Really Dead At The End Of Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 2?

Lux is done for now, but could always come back

At the close of “Lux,” it appears that Alan Cumming’s Doctor Who character might have perished. However, this doesn’t seem to be accurate in a conventional sense. Instead, as Belinda notes, Lux now embodies many characteristics typical of a deity. He lacks a tangible form, exists simultaneously everywhere, and encompasses various aspects. By merging with the universe, he becomes detached from most other yearnings or issues.

BELINDA: “So, he’s actually a God now. Infinite. Invisible. Intangible.”
THE DOCTOR: “Amen.”
Doctor Who season 15, episode 2, “Lux.”

It’s not certain that a Pantheon God like Lux can permanently perish. Although the Doctor has managed to defeat several of these gods, characters such as the Toymaker and Sutekh have returned after their apparent demise in the classic era of “Doctor Who”. Therefore, while Lux may not pose a threat at the moment, it’s plausible that he could reappear in future episodes of “Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Season 15’s Release Schedule On Disney+
Episode	Title	Release Date (2025)
1	“The Robot Revolution”	April 12
2	“Lux”	April 19
3	“The Well”	April 26
4	“Lucky Day”	May 3
5	“The Story and the Engine”	May 10
6	“The Interstellar Song Contest”	May 17
7	“Wish World”	May 24
8	“The Reality War”	May 31

2025-04-19 13:12