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| “ | Don't make me laugh! | „ |
| ~ Mr. Ring-a-Ding's/Lux's "catchphrase", foreshadowing his true nature. |
| “ | And I am Lux. Lux Imperator, the God of Light. I am the dazzle at the heart of the pantheon, and the glint in the eyes of the mad. I am the last thing you see before you fall into the abyss. | „ |
| ~ Lux/Mr. Ring-A-Ding reveals his real name. |
| “ | I'm Mr. Ring-a-Ding I make your heart bells sing Please don't make me laugh Just take my autograph Now take my jokes, my lovely folks Cause I know just one thing For I am he, oh, yes! I'm Mr. Ring-a-DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING! |
„ |
| ~ Mr. Ring-a-Ding's/Lux's song. |
Lux Imperator, also known as just Lux or Mr. Ring-A-Ding, is the titular main antagonist of the Doctor Who episode "Lux".
He's a 2D cartoon character who serves as a member of the Pantheon of Discord, serving as the God of Light.
He was voiced by Alan Cumming, who also played Boris Grishenko in Goldeneye, Fegan Floop in the Spy Kids film franchise, Loki in Son of the Mask and the Bog King in Strange Magic.
Biography[]
Lux Imperator first appeared in the form of a cartoon character known as Mr. Ring-A-Ding, playing in Palazzo Cinema in Miami, Florida of 1952. He was able to enter when the moon shined light off a spoon left by film operator, Reginald Pye, and into a film projector. Taking control of the cartoon character, Lux surprised the audience, consisting of fifteen people, by talking to them before literally stepping out of the screen. He turned everyone into film strips then made a deal with Reginald that he could see his deceased wife again if he plays films for him to fuel his power.
The Doctor and Belinda Chandra ended up in that place when the TARDIS couldn't take her back home. They decided to stay awhile and save the missing people. When the Doctor met Mr. Ring-A-Ding, he was amazed that he was living light. However, he became nervous when he kept saying "Don't make me laugh." The reason to this, to the Doctor's horror, was because he had the same giggle as the Toymaker and Maestro. Not only that, but the outside sign removes some letters from the title "The Harvester Bringer" to make "Harbinger", revealing that the entire theater is Lux Imperator's harbinger. After the god properly introduces himself, the Doctor and Belinda made a run for it.
Lux then used film projectors to turn the two into cartoon characters. Then turn back to normal by opening themselves up to each other but this didn't free them. First, they tried breaking the frame of the film, but this led to a false reality, where they were accused of the kidnapping. The Doctor was able to see through this. Second, they tried to smash outwards, but this led to an illusion world where the Doctor was a show. They met some fans who told them they would cease to exist. They managed to escape by burning the film. Lux then began to drain the Doctor's regeneration energy and slowly became real. Remembering what the fans told them, Belinda decided to set the films on fire to create an explosion in the theater. Reginald did it for her and sacrificed himself, believing this is what his wife would've wanted and that he could see her again. The explosion created a large hole in the theater that gave Lux so much light, he began growing at an exponential rate. Rapidly ascending into space, Lux bid the Earth farewell as he became one with the Universe's light, losing his corporeal form in the process.
Personality[]
Through his "Mr. Ring-a-Ding" persona, Lux presents himself as a jovial, innocuous cartoon character with a knack for laughs. Before revealing his true nature to Belinda and the Doctor, Lux maintains an air of cordiality, gleefully introducing himself with a song and making polite conversation with the two afterwards. On occasion however, there are breaks in the persona where Lux's true character is shown, such as when he talks about his desire for a physical body in the middle of his cartoon, when he demands for a man in the audience to repeat his quip, and when he alludes to his allegiance with the Pantheon of Discord by revealing that his laugh is the same as the Toymaker's.
In reality, Lux is conniving, manipulative, and at times sadistic. He is perfectly willing to utilize people's personal struggles to his advantage, as demonstrated by him creating a replica of Reginald Pye's wife to blackmail him into playing his projector. A crafty manipulator at heart, his cunning was capable of deceiving even the Doctor, as it was only when they talk with the fans in the false world where he and Belinda were able to find a way to break free from his tape. Though not to the extent of his peers in the Pantheon of Chaos, Lux notably has a bit of a sadistic streak, mocking the 15 people he imprisoned in film reels by claiming he “immortalized” them and cheerfully threatening to burn the replica of Pye's wife when he tells the Doctor and Belinda to leave the theater.
Lux seemed to have accepted his fate even if it left him without a corporeal form, crying tears of joy as he ascends into space and relishing in the fact that he was now one with the universe's light.
Appearance[]
Utilizing a 1930s-era "rubberhose" cartoon character for an avatar, Lux has limber, noodle-esque limbs, big eyes with pie-shaped pupils and a comically wide grin. He has blue skin and a nose akin to that of a pig snout, which led Belinda to humorously question what was his design supposed to be of. He wears a white dress shirt with a buttoned vest and a black overcoat, purple overalls, yellow shoes, and a brown, stubby top hat. On top of his shirt lies a bright red bow tie.
Quotes[]
| “ | Man: This one is kind of silly, isn't it? Woman: Mm-hmm. Mr. Ring-A-Ding/Lux: What did you say? I'm looking at you! With the glasses. What did you say? Man: Who, me? Mr. Ring-A-Ding/Lux: Don't make me laugh. Yes, you. Man: How are they doing this? Mr. Ring-A-Ding/Lux: If you won't tell me, then I'll have to find out for myself. Get ready, cause HERE I COME! We're going 3D! And remember, whatever you do, don't... Make. ME. LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!!! |
„ |
| ~ A couple talking about Lux in a movie theater, moments before he leaves the screen and turns the audience into film strips. |
| “ | Dagnabbit, I got no choice. | „ |
| ~ Lux being forced to dance alongside his on-screen counterpart. |
| “ | What's the one thing I never do? Let the light of a time lord build me a body. Doesn't every cartoon wanna be a man? 'Cause that's what I never do, my lovely friends! I never go OUTSIDE. Trapped in the dark. But the great out there holds such promise! I've seen it. The most savage light of all. The glow of the atom. THINK of all the fun I will have. The blossom of nuclear light unfurling.. ALL OVER THIS TINY LITTLE WORLD. | „ |
| ~ Lux as he absorbs The Doctor's regeneration ability. |
| “ | I... am REAL... | „ |
| ~ Lux becoming 3D. |
| “ | I am light. | „ |
| ~ Mr. Ring-A-Ding/Lux |
| “ | Sunlight! The light of creation! I am everything... And I am nothing. Goodbye. | „ |
| ~ Mr. Ring-A-Ding/Lux's last words, bidding farewell as he becomes one with the Universe |
Trivia[]
- Lux is the second Doctor Who character to be portrayed by Alan Cumming, the other being King James I in "The Witchfinders".
- He is the first Doctor Who character to be in 2D to be introduced in live action.
- It is implied that Lux could've been any cartoon character but just chose to play Mr. Ring-A-Ding due to his catchphrase.
- Despite literally being made only of light, Mr. Ring-A-Ding is somehow able to cast a shadow, which may just be a part of the animation itself, rather than an actual shadow.
- The Doctor explaining how light could be lethal to Lux by comparing it to humans being mostly made from water but being able to drown was similarly used previously in "The Fires of Pompeii" with the Pyroviles and fire.
- Lux is the second god from the Pantheon of Discord to display fourth-wall awareness. In his case, he created fans of Doctor Who to try to trick the Doctor and Belinda into thinking they were fictional characters. The first was Maestro when they looked at the audience and played the theme tune on their piano.
External Link[]
- Lux Imperator on the Doctor Who Wiki
