Caution: spoilers ahead for Doctor Who season 15, episode 2, "Lux."
After previously being convinced that Doctor Who season 14's ending stunningly, albeit controversially, redefined classic-era villain Sutekh as the Pantheon's God of Death, whilst also extending the retcon to include both the Toymaker and the Mara. Immediately, this revelation raised questions over which other classic Doctor Who villains might have been secret Pantheon gods all along.
Doctor Who season 15 continues to expand the Pantheon's hip list with the titular character of "Lux." Voiced by Alan Cumming, Doctor Who Pantheon.
After Doctor Who Season 14, I Really Thought Light From The Seventh Doctor's Era Was The Pantheon's God Of Light
It Was Good, But It Wasn't Right
Of all the classic Doctor Who villains who had the potential to be Pantheon gods, Light was perhaps the most convincing. Appearing in "Ghost Light," Light proved powerful enough to threaten the entire human race, casting judgment upon it after being imprisoned by the story's villains. The Doctor was clearly familiar with Light's reputation, and treated him with an unexpected reverence, simultaneously respecting the being's power and acknowledging its cosmic standing.
"Ghost Light" introduced Light as an alien rather than a God, but the character ticked all the boxes necessary to be considered a Doctor Who deity, from the wrathful tone of voice to the perception of Earth's humans as an intrinsically inferior species. After Doctor Who season 14 introduced the Pantheon, the God of Death, the God of Games, etc., it looked inevitable that there would be a God of Light in some shape or form, and no character looked more qualified for the position than the one made of light, treated as the epitome of light, and literally called "Light."

10 Former Doctor Who Villains Who Could Now Be Pantheon Gods
Sutekh's revelation that there are more Pantheon gods sparks questions about which Doctor Who villains could be retconned to be among them.
Alas, Doctor Who season 15 had other ideas. The Pantheon's God of Light is actually Lux Imperator, who appears to share nothing in common with Light from "Ghost Light" whatsoever.
Could Light & Lux Be The Same Entity?
The Doctor Who God Of Light Theory Isn't Totally Extinguished
While Doctor Who season 15's "Lux" does more or less debunk the idea that Light was a Pantheon god back in 1989, it could be argued that both characters are actually the same creature. The Toymaker that forced David Tennant to bi-generate was completely different to the version that tormented William Hartnell's First Doctor in black and white. And when the Fourth Doctor first met Sutekh, he was connected to Egyptian mythology rather than the fabric of the universe itself.
Within those parameters, it could be argued that Light, like Mr. Ring-a-Ding, was just another vessel for Lux. The God of Light beamed down from the heavens, possessed some unsuspecting alien, and began searching the universe for celestial sustenance. When Ace burned down the house Light was trapped inside, Lux found himself released back to where he came from, only to launch another attempt at taking physical form in 1952 Miami.
Episode Title |
Release Date |
---|---|
"The Robot Revolution" |
April 12 |
"Lux" |
April 19 |
"The Well" |
April 26 |
"Lucky Day" |
May 3 |
"The Story & The Engine" |
May 10 |
"The Interstellar Song Contest" |
May 17 |
"Wish World" |
May 24 |
The Reality War |
May 31 |
The only wrinkle in this idea is Lux's "you must be the one..." speech, during which the villain reels off the Doctor's victories over other gods. The exchange all but confirms Lux and the Doctor have never previously met. This could be explained easily enough by some sort of memory reset every time Lux takes over a new body, but it does also create the overriding impression that Light was not, in fact, Doctor Who's God of Light.

Doctor Who
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
- Network
- BBC
- Directors
- 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
Cast
- The Doctor
- Millie GibsonRuby Sunday
The latest Doctor Who series introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, ed by new companion Ruby Sunday.
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
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