T'was the month before Christmas...
As I floated into my kitchen, a symptom of my morning haze, and proceeded to make breakfast, my phone pinged a message from its screen. 'NO DOCTOR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL'. With the campy enthusiasm of a pantomime crowd, I jeered at my phone. BOOOO. HISSSS. This wasn't on! Doctor Who at Christmas has been a great tradition for years now (the past 13 years to be precise) and now they want to take it away from us? Was this because we're leaving the EU? 'Bloody Brexit!' I yelled tossing down my fish fingers and custard. And thus the next 15 minutes of me sat in the kitchen was spent going through the many stages of grief.
There was sadness, anger...even bargaining ('I could film my own one', I thought). In the end though, I had to accept that this was out of my hands, and at that moment an unusual sense of mirth descended on me, and I realised that this was actually a good thing.
There was sadness, anger...even bargaining ('I could film my own one', I thought). In the end though, I had to accept that this was out of my hands, and at that moment an unusual sense of mirth descended on me, and I realised that this was actually a good thing.
Seriously, hear me out on this. One Whovian to another. I think Doctor Who is probably the greatest TV show ever conceived, and I have loved forcing my parents to watch it with me on Christmas Day, for years. In my early 20's, the Christmas episode would be mine and Gaz's main topic of conversation as we would meet for those evening drinks. To hell with what presents we had gotten that day, let's talk time, space and everything inbetween. However, something happened around the Ex-Showrunner-Moffat era of Doctor Who, the episodes got...weird. And this is from a series that gave us these flower aliens that do not, in any way, look like giant nettle bellends.
They got weird because they seemed to get aimed at particuarly young audiences. YES I KNOW! It's a family show first, and obviously every Christmas special I get another year older, HOWEVER at first these yearly episodes, which held their first footsteps in kid-friendly tales, got more adult and darker each year. As did Doctor Who. In fact they became the exciting bonus at the end of a series arc, giving us a hint as to where, emotionally and mentally, the Doctor was heading next. But because of the NEED to make Christmas the focal point of a Christmas special they veered away from this, instead trying to create a new Christmas movie every year. This obviously wasn't going to work, but lord knows they tried. Even Moffat admits they went too far:
“I think it was a brilliant idea [in 2005] and it lasted a very, very long time. I sort of think we might have mined and possibly over-mined every single thing we could about Christmas in Doctor Who and the last time [in 2016’s The Curse of Doctor Mysterio] we more or less ignored it.”
So as proof that we don't need a Doctor Who Christmas Special to be about Christmas, I present to you all the Christmas Specials ranked from worst to best, from new-era Doctor Who. You may think I am Bah-Humbug raving mad, but YULE be seeing things differently by the end of this blog:
“I think it was a brilliant idea [in 2005] and it lasted a very, very long time. I sort of think we might have mined and possibly over-mined every single thing we could about Christmas in Doctor Who and the last time [in 2016’s The Curse of Doctor Mysterio] we more or less ignored it.”
So as proof that we don't need a Doctor Who Christmas Special to be about Christmas, I present to you all the Christmas Specials ranked from worst to best, from new-era Doctor Who. You may think I am Bah-Humbug raving mad, but YULE be seeing things differently by the end of this blog:
14. The Doctor, The Widow + The Wardrobe - 2011 (Matt Smith)
I honestly abhor this episode so much, I just remember it ruining Christmas for me. Mum and Dad looked at me after it had aired like I'd made them watch Barney the Dinosaur for 90 minutes. This unnessessarily complicated story told the tale of the Doctor and some WW2 children, who were in foster care, going through a cupboard to a winter world where trees and people are fighting. There are literally no memorable moments from this C.S.Lewis inspired shit-show. The costumes are bad, the graphics are bad, I don't think anyone wants to be there and the whole thing seems tacked on. It maybe could have been a darling idea in the early 90's but coming at the end of a very seriously themed series, and 2 years after a very dark Christmas special, it just felt as out of place as your mum and dad exchanging Anne Summers Christmas gifts in front of the whole family.
Best Part: Matt Smith. You can't fault the guy. And the Credits.
Worst Part: Having a writing credit on this episode. You should be ashamed.
I honestly abhor this episode so much, I just remember it ruining Christmas for me. Mum and Dad looked at me after it had aired like I'd made them watch Barney the Dinosaur for 90 minutes. This unnessessarily complicated story told the tale of the Doctor and some WW2 children, who were in foster care, going through a cupboard to a winter world where trees and people are fighting. There are literally no memorable moments from this C.S.Lewis inspired shit-show. The costumes are bad, the graphics are bad, I don't think anyone wants to be there and the whole thing seems tacked on. It maybe could have been a darling idea in the early 90's but coming at the end of a very seriously themed series, and 2 years after a very dark Christmas special, it just felt as out of place as your mum and dad exchanging Anne Summers Christmas gifts in front of the whole family.
Best Part: Matt Smith. You can't fault the guy. And the Credits.
Worst Part: Having a writing credit on this episode. You should be ashamed.
13. A Christmas Carol - 2010 (Matt Smith)
Having probably had the call at the end of the year to tell him he was to now be the new show-runner on Doctor Who, Steven Moffat finished watching 'A Muppets Christmas Carol' and mused at what he may do himself for a Christmas special. And like a man trying to figure out if the disc in his eyeline is a UFO or a frisbee, it hit him. Tell the story of Scrooge, but this time let's involve time-travel and space, but completely ignore the rules of time-travel, and we'll use SPACE SHARKS!
Honestly, this was an episode that left me scratching my head. In the first of Christmas Specials of Matt Smith's era, this stumbled onto our screens after it had been clear the writers had been on the yuletide sherry whilst writing it. The Doctor tries to safely land a crashing ship on a planet that is controlled by a Scrooge-esque man who has no intention of letting anyone land. Using time-travel, the Doctor voyages into the man's younger years to make him a better person, but this is done with the subtley of a lubed up pig being led into David Cameron's house. Dragging Michael Gambon down with it, this episode had a lot of fans staring at each other afterwards wondering if Steven Moffat was as great as the pedastal we had put him on.
Best Part: Matt Smith arrogantly messing about with Michael Gambon's life stirs the odd giggle.
Worst Part: Wondering if you've contracted a form of hallucigenic food poisoning from your ma's Christmas Turkey, as Michael Gambon and his mail order russian wife, fly a sleigh pulled by a Space Shark across a wintery backdrop.
Having probably had the call at the end of the year to tell him he was to now be the new show-runner on Doctor Who, Steven Moffat finished watching 'A Muppets Christmas Carol' and mused at what he may do himself for a Christmas special. And like a man trying to figure out if the disc in his eyeline is a UFO or a frisbee, it hit him. Tell the story of Scrooge, but this time let's involve time-travel and space, but completely ignore the rules of time-travel, and we'll use SPACE SHARKS!
Honestly, this was an episode that left me scratching my head. In the first of Christmas Specials of Matt Smith's era, this stumbled onto our screens after it had been clear the writers had been on the yuletide sherry whilst writing it. The Doctor tries to safely land a crashing ship on a planet that is controlled by a Scrooge-esque man who has no intention of letting anyone land. Using time-travel, the Doctor voyages into the man's younger years to make him a better person, but this is done with the subtley of a lubed up pig being led into David Cameron's house. Dragging Michael Gambon down with it, this episode had a lot of fans staring at each other afterwards wondering if Steven Moffat was as great as the pedastal we had put him on.
Best Part: Matt Smith arrogantly messing about with Michael Gambon's life stirs the odd giggle.
Worst Part: Wondering if you've contracted a form of hallucigenic food poisoning from your ma's Christmas Turkey, as Michael Gambon and his mail order russian wife, fly a sleigh pulled by a Space Shark across a wintery backdrop.
12. The Christmas Invasion - 2005 (David Tennant)
This was it. This was the big day for a lot of whovians. After a fantastic first season of Doctor Who we were being treated to an extra episode on Christmas Day AND we were going to be introduced to our new Doctor, David Tennant. We unwrapped our presents, eat our food and got all the usual festivities out of the way as we nervously waited for this monumentous moment to occur on our screens ANNNNNND...Tennant is asleep most of the episode, Rose's mum battles CGI Christmas trees and the costume department is given the impossible task of making Santa Robots look scary, but not so scary they'll scar children for life, but not too silly for them not to look threatening. Guess how they looked? About as intimadating as a perm.
The Sycorax attack earth after finding out that the Doctor has regenerated and is weak. This episode is saved by its final act. As soon as Tennant wakes up, it's fun, it's clever, and Tennant just cements himself as one of the greatest casting choices ever made. Unfortunately this amazing last chunk of the episode normally blinds people into thinking it was actually good. I appreciate how important it is, but you can't say it really holds up well.
Best Part: "WHO ARE YO-" "I. DON'T. KNOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!"
Worst Part: Santa Bots with killer trumpets.
This was it. This was the big day for a lot of whovians. After a fantastic first season of Doctor Who we were being treated to an extra episode on Christmas Day AND we were going to be introduced to our new Doctor, David Tennant. We unwrapped our presents, eat our food and got all the usual festivities out of the way as we nervously waited for this monumentous moment to occur on our screens ANNNNNND...Tennant is asleep most of the episode, Rose's mum battles CGI Christmas trees and the costume department is given the impossible task of making Santa Robots look scary, but not so scary they'll scar children for life, but not too silly for them not to look threatening. Guess how they looked? About as intimadating as a perm.
The Sycorax attack earth after finding out that the Doctor has regenerated and is weak. This episode is saved by its final act. As soon as Tennant wakes up, it's fun, it's clever, and Tennant just cements himself as one of the greatest casting choices ever made. Unfortunately this amazing last chunk of the episode normally blinds people into thinking it was actually good. I appreciate how important it is, but you can't say it really holds up well.
Best Part: "WHO ARE YO-" "I. DON'T. KNOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!"
Worst Part: Santa Bots with killer trumpets.
11. Return of Doctor Mysterio - 2016 (Peter Capaldi)
Superheroes are on everything nowadays. Such a large part of our pop culture that even Specsavers and other non-comic related brands have latched on. Doctor Who attempted to ride the hero train itself back in 2016, but just tried to tackle far too much at once. The Doctor accidentally turns a boy into a superhero ( in a original Ms Marvel origins kinda way) and then returns years later to investigate something else in this neighbourhood.
Evil corporations, alien invasions, love triangles and trying to set up an entire superhero arc was clearly too much for the team to do cohesively. It isn't awful by any means, however it was completely harmless, forgettable and added nothing to the Doctor Who ethos. The story would have worked had they not tried to force in a superhero element. I'm serious, it was a really unneeded ingredient to the tale. Instead there was so much going on that there was a lack of substance and originality capable of being written into ANY part of the story. It just slips through the cracks of your mind. An okay effort but consistantly average throughout.
Best Bit: Realising Nardole might actually be a great companion for the Doctor.
Worst Bit: Doctor Who trying to be DC/Marvel *shudders*
Superheroes are on everything nowadays. Such a large part of our pop culture that even Specsavers and other non-comic related brands have latched on. Doctor Who attempted to ride the hero train itself back in 2016, but just tried to tackle far too much at once. The Doctor accidentally turns a boy into a superhero ( in a original Ms Marvel origins kinda way) and then returns years later to investigate something else in this neighbourhood.
Evil corporations, alien invasions, love triangles and trying to set up an entire superhero arc was clearly too much for the team to do cohesively. It isn't awful by any means, however it was completely harmless, forgettable and added nothing to the Doctor Who ethos. The story would have worked had they not tried to force in a superhero element. I'm serious, it was a really unneeded ingredient to the tale. Instead there was so much going on that there was a lack of substance and originality capable of being written into ANY part of the story. It just slips through the cracks of your mind. An okay effort but consistantly average throughout.
Best Bit: Realising Nardole might actually be a great companion for the Doctor.
Worst Bit: Doctor Who trying to be DC/Marvel *shudders*
10. Runaway Bride - 2006 (David Tennant)
Catherine Tate is transported into The Doctor's TARDIS causing the Doctor to try and spend his time getting her back to her wedding and investigate WHY that happened. Whereas this was quite a fun episode, we did see the annoying Santa Bots return (just, why?) and Catherine Tate unwantingly shouted her way through our Christmas TV speakers.
This episode, whilst being totally "fine" did seem to want to play up to 80's Doctor Who tropes, and not in a good way. An unnecessary celebrity cameo, a random alien invasion that somehow intertwined with a human normality, all done pretty cheesily of course. It's not the worst but it was very safe-BBC style telly. Especially as every series got a little edgier and dramatic, this kind of stuff seemed to be wrote by people who couldn't let go of a simpler time. Rewatchable but for possibly the wrong reasons it was intended for.
Best Bit: The Doctor flying the TARDIS dangerously down a duel carriageway.
Worst Bit: Watching the Doctor have chemistry with Caterine Tate...and they put Santa Bots in it, AGAIN!?
Catherine Tate is transported into The Doctor's TARDIS causing the Doctor to try and spend his time getting her back to her wedding and investigate WHY that happened. Whereas this was quite a fun episode, we did see the annoying Santa Bots return (just, why?) and Catherine Tate unwantingly shouted her way through our Christmas TV speakers.
This episode, whilst being totally "fine" did seem to want to play up to 80's Doctor Who tropes, and not in a good way. An unnecessary celebrity cameo, a random alien invasion that somehow intertwined with a human normality, all done pretty cheesily of course. It's not the worst but it was very safe-BBC style telly. Especially as every series got a little edgier and dramatic, this kind of stuff seemed to be wrote by people who couldn't let go of a simpler time. Rewatchable but for possibly the wrong reasons it was intended for.
Best Bit: The Doctor flying the TARDIS dangerously down a duel carriageway.
Worst Bit: Watching the Doctor have chemistry with Caterine Tate...and they put Santa Bots in it, AGAIN!?
9. Last Christmas - 2014 (Peter Capaldi)
A very clever take on the Christmas Special as the writers decide to take on multiple horror/thriller themes at once. The only problem? Santa Claus is in this episode. As it goes on, it becomes more apparent why, however the reveal is so late in the game, and adds a Disney-like dilution to the story, that the 'twist' just isn't enough.
The Doctor has to deal with Alien-esque Facehuggers, he calls 'Dreamcrabs', that anethatise their victims into a sleeping state whilst eating their brain. Set in the north pole with poor resources and creepy goings on, this clearly paid homage to ALIEN, THE THING, THE BLOB, INCEPTION and probably a host of others. Unfortunately The Doctor is joined by Santa, why? BECAUSE IT'S CHRISTMAAAAAAS!!! And herein lies an episode that could have been SOOOOO amazing if it were not for this stupid link. A second chance and a second watch actually saves this episode and its 'twist', however good writing shouldn't need that. A real shame because there's some fantastic acting, chilling moments and a few heart-wrenching ones thrown in for good measure. Great, just slightly problematic.
Best Bit: "You have a horror movie named 'ALIEN'!? That's really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you!"
Worst bit: The dallas-like quadruple, dream bluff at the end. Would have been left astonished and happy leaving Clara as a geriatric.
A very clever take on the Christmas Special as the writers decide to take on multiple horror/thriller themes at once. The only problem? Santa Claus is in this episode. As it goes on, it becomes more apparent why, however the reveal is so late in the game, and adds a Disney-like dilution to the story, that the 'twist' just isn't enough.
The Doctor has to deal with Alien-esque Facehuggers, he calls 'Dreamcrabs', that anethatise their victims into a sleeping state whilst eating their brain. Set in the north pole with poor resources and creepy goings on, this clearly paid homage to ALIEN, THE THING, THE BLOB, INCEPTION and probably a host of others. Unfortunately The Doctor is joined by Santa, why? BECAUSE IT'S CHRISTMAAAAAAS!!! And herein lies an episode that could have been SOOOOO amazing if it were not for this stupid link. A second chance and a second watch actually saves this episode and its 'twist', however good writing shouldn't need that. A real shame because there's some fantastic acting, chilling moments and a few heart-wrenching ones thrown in for good measure. Great, just slightly problematic.
Best Bit: "You have a horror movie named 'ALIEN'!? That's really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you!"
Worst bit: The dallas-like quadruple, dream bluff at the end. Would have been left astonished and happy leaving Clara as a geriatric.
8. The Husbands of River Song - 2015 (Peter Capaldi)
Like so many episodes of Doctor Who Christmas Specials, this suffers from a lack of inconsistancy throughout. This episode is a long awaited build up to the final moments of The Doctor and River Song. It starts off with him joining her in a heist, however she's unaware of his identity due to his recent regeneration. This episode barrels forward at an alarming rate, starting off as childish and stupid and ending in it wrapping up years of writing nicely and being quite touching. It's just odd how it had to begin to get there. Why does it starts so oddly? Because it's set at Christmas. Again, another story that, at its core, is actually heartwarming, clever and adds to Doctor Who. What we got was a very wobbly intro that had to reel us in to the second act, which isn't good enough.
Often forgotten or written off, I just remember that it was the first special in a while that left me feeling as sombre as I could for a season finale, just a shame that the 'Christmas' in it nearly ruined that.
Best Bit: The Doctor revealing that 24 years are a single day on Darillium.
Worst Bit: Accepting that your Christmas day Doctor Who has Matt Lucas and Greg Davies in, yet you nearly cried too.
Like so many episodes of Doctor Who Christmas Specials, this suffers from a lack of inconsistancy throughout. This episode is a long awaited build up to the final moments of The Doctor and River Song. It starts off with him joining her in a heist, however she's unaware of his identity due to his recent regeneration. This episode barrels forward at an alarming rate, starting off as childish and stupid and ending in it wrapping up years of writing nicely and being quite touching. It's just odd how it had to begin to get there. Why does it starts so oddly? Because it's set at Christmas. Again, another story that, at its core, is actually heartwarming, clever and adds to Doctor Who. What we got was a very wobbly intro that had to reel us in to the second act, which isn't good enough.
Often forgotten or written off, I just remember that it was the first special in a while that left me feeling as sombre as I could for a season finale, just a shame that the 'Christmas' in it nearly ruined that.
Best Bit: The Doctor revealing that 24 years are a single day on Darillium.
Worst Bit: Accepting that your Christmas day Doctor Who has Matt Lucas and Greg Davies in, yet you nearly cried too.
7. The Snowmen - 2012 ( Matt Smith)
Snowmen are invading Victorian England, and the Doctor needs convincing. Thanks to a plucky young bar-girl and some new friends, the Doctors broken heart is restored and he vies to start helping the universe again.
When Doctor Who wants to be lazy it reverts to a simple system. VICTORIAN TIMES!!! It's just far back enough to be considered time travel.......but so easy to get the costumes from all the BBC's period dramas, that it's well in the budget. But here is where we get 'good' with Doctor Who Christmas Specials. We had a linear timeline from where we left off at the end of last season, and a set up to the next season, which is all we really want. We had a really compelling story with LOADS of new interesting characters introduced (put your hands in the air if you like STRAX). What wasn't there to like about this tale? Spooky, dark and sincerely funny when it needed to be, Christmas seemed to be merely a thin backdrop to this great episode.
Best Bit: The 'memory-worm and Strax' scene.
Worst Bit: Being left wondering how Clara can die MULTIPLE times, knowing you aren't going to get anything close to an answer for 9 months!
Snowmen are invading Victorian England, and the Doctor needs convincing. Thanks to a plucky young bar-girl and some new friends, the Doctors broken heart is restored and he vies to start helping the universe again.
When Doctor Who wants to be lazy it reverts to a simple system. VICTORIAN TIMES!!! It's just far back enough to be considered time travel.......but so easy to get the costumes from all the BBC's period dramas, that it's well in the budget. But here is where we get 'good' with Doctor Who Christmas Specials. We had a linear timeline from where we left off at the end of last season, and a set up to the next season, which is all we really want. We had a really compelling story with LOADS of new interesting characters introduced (put your hands in the air if you like STRAX). What wasn't there to like about this tale? Spooky, dark and sincerely funny when it needed to be, Christmas seemed to be merely a thin backdrop to this great episode.
Best Bit: The 'memory-worm and Strax' scene.
Worst Bit: Being left wondering how Clara can die MULTIPLE times, knowing you aren't going to get anything close to an answer for 9 months!
6. Voyage of the Damned - 2007 (David Tennant)
This was just the right amount of cheese that you would want from a Christmas special! The Doctor is aboard a ship that is celebrating the voyage of the Titanic, only it's a spaceship orbiting Earth...but for how long? Robots seem dead set on crashing this giant galactical liner into our planet and only the Doctor seems smart enough to stop it.
What you have here is what I call, the balance. Yes, the Doctor, whilst dressed like James Bond, is flirting with a maid played by Kylie Minogue on a doomed spaceship called 'Titanic' that's crashing into Earth, however the dialogue is brilliant. I feel like the backdrop is secondary to the script. Rather than trying to squeeze Christmas into a good story, it plays like the writers were told to write a good story that just so happens to be set at Christmas.
Really under-rated and some of the first shots of Tennants Doctor taking a darker turn.
Best Bit: "I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the Constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I'm the man who is gonna save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"
Worst Bit: Dodgy graphics depicting the 'Angels' flying the Doctor to the main HQ of the very forgettable villain.
This was just the right amount of cheese that you would want from a Christmas special! The Doctor is aboard a ship that is celebrating the voyage of the Titanic, only it's a spaceship orbiting Earth...but for how long? Robots seem dead set on crashing this giant galactical liner into our planet and only the Doctor seems smart enough to stop it.
What you have here is what I call, the balance. Yes, the Doctor, whilst dressed like James Bond, is flirting with a maid played by Kylie Minogue on a doomed spaceship called 'Titanic' that's crashing into Earth, however the dialogue is brilliant. I feel like the backdrop is secondary to the script. Rather than trying to squeeze Christmas into a good story, it plays like the writers were told to write a good story that just so happens to be set at Christmas.
Really under-rated and some of the first shots of Tennants Doctor taking a darker turn.
Best Bit: "I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the Constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I'm the man who is gonna save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"
Worst Bit: Dodgy graphics depicting the 'Angels' flying the Doctor to the main HQ of the very forgettable villain.
5. The Next Doctor - 2008 (David Tennant)
Now this was very interesting. The writers and marketing team had a real big laugh with this one. The Doctor was set to meet his future self in Victorian London. Whilst previous episodes had had the current Doctor meet a past Doctor, none had had the balls to tell the tale from the other side and have him blunder into his future self. David Morrisey takes up the mantle and gives a stunning and convincing performance of The Doctor that left everyone persuaded, that once Tennant was done, he would take the mantle.
We now know with hindsight that that story was never to be, and there was to be some mad sci-fi reason for it all happening. The episode had very interesting moments including cybershades (cybermen/monkeys) and giant Cybermen, but was more notible for how it paid attention to dialogue, and the Doctor dealing with another possible Doctor, as were we all. This was the second most viewed programme that Christmas day, and it's easy to see why. Was it perfect? No, Devla Kirwan's portrayal of a villain, although quite spiteful, comes across more like Queen Lizzie in Blackadder the 2nd. A bit spoiled, and hardly threatening. Again, Christmas is very much in the background of a very 'who-centric' episode. Hence the enjoyment.
Best Bit: Watching David Tennant react to Morrisey's explanations of his actions.
Worst Bit: Devla Kirwin try and come off as a mass genosidal maniac.
Now this was very interesting. The writers and marketing team had a real big laugh with this one. The Doctor was set to meet his future self in Victorian London. Whilst previous episodes had had the current Doctor meet a past Doctor, none had had the balls to tell the tale from the other side and have him blunder into his future self. David Morrisey takes up the mantle and gives a stunning and convincing performance of The Doctor that left everyone persuaded, that once Tennant was done, he would take the mantle.
We now know with hindsight that that story was never to be, and there was to be some mad sci-fi reason for it all happening. The episode had very interesting moments including cybershades (cybermen/monkeys) and giant Cybermen, but was more notible for how it paid attention to dialogue, and the Doctor dealing with another possible Doctor, as were we all. This was the second most viewed programme that Christmas day, and it's easy to see why. Was it perfect? No, Devla Kirwan's portrayal of a villain, although quite spiteful, comes across more like Queen Lizzie in Blackadder the 2nd. A bit spoiled, and hardly threatening. Again, Christmas is very much in the background of a very 'who-centric' episode. Hence the enjoyment.
Best Bit: Watching David Tennant react to Morrisey's explanations of his actions.
Worst Bit: Devla Kirwin try and come off as a mass genosidal maniac.
4. Twice Upon A Time - 2017 (Peter Capaldi)
I actually really like Capaldi's Doctor. My biggest bug bear is that Moffat went very experimental with the stories around this time and poor Capaldi had to suffer these horrible arcs and tales. As if by magic though, Moffat's final season gave Capaldi the redemption he deserved and this was to be a glorious send off for a Doctor that was never really given the right tools.
The Doctor, refusing to regenerate and deal with the universe anymore, discovers his very first incarnation in the exact same state. Whilst pondering this, an army officer, lost in time, wanders into their care. Soon realising that their paradox has led to this man being in their company, and an alien race wanting to take the man from them, the Doctors begin trying to help the man, and try to figure themselves out.
This paid a great amount of fan service to all of us. Having seen 'An Adventure in Time and Space', David Bradley had been called upon by the internet to play the role of the first Doctor, and we bloody got it good. Playing off an unused line that was meant to be said by the first Doctor in 'the 10th Planet', Moffat toys with how our Doctor's suicidal tendencies would be reciprocated if he had to hear his 'younger' self talk about it. Spoilers here, but...there is no Villain, just a mystery for the two greatest space detectives to solve. Yet it is not without danger, Mark Gatiss gives one of the best performances of his life, and only a slight Christmas tinge from the WW1 No Man's Land football scene. A great watch that also welcomed in Jodie Whittiker with very open arms. Groundbreaking in Doctor Who lore for a dozen reasons, that's why it's in my Top 5!
Best Bit: The 60's Doctor hating the style of the modern Doctor, and Capaldi trying to hush up 60's Doctor when he said something slightly sexist. Most familes at Christmas could very much relate to that.
Worst Bit: Jenna Coleman's 'Clara' cameo still seems...forced.
I actually really like Capaldi's Doctor. My biggest bug bear is that Moffat went very experimental with the stories around this time and poor Capaldi had to suffer these horrible arcs and tales. As if by magic though, Moffat's final season gave Capaldi the redemption he deserved and this was to be a glorious send off for a Doctor that was never really given the right tools.
The Doctor, refusing to regenerate and deal with the universe anymore, discovers his very first incarnation in the exact same state. Whilst pondering this, an army officer, lost in time, wanders into their care. Soon realising that their paradox has led to this man being in their company, and an alien race wanting to take the man from them, the Doctors begin trying to help the man, and try to figure themselves out.
This paid a great amount of fan service to all of us. Having seen 'An Adventure in Time and Space', David Bradley had been called upon by the internet to play the role of the first Doctor, and we bloody got it good. Playing off an unused line that was meant to be said by the first Doctor in 'the 10th Planet', Moffat toys with how our Doctor's suicidal tendencies would be reciprocated if he had to hear his 'younger' self talk about it. Spoilers here, but...there is no Villain, just a mystery for the two greatest space detectives to solve. Yet it is not without danger, Mark Gatiss gives one of the best performances of his life, and only a slight Christmas tinge from the WW1 No Man's Land football scene. A great watch that also welcomed in Jodie Whittiker with very open arms. Groundbreaking in Doctor Who lore for a dozen reasons, that's why it's in my Top 5!
Best Bit: The 60's Doctor hating the style of the modern Doctor, and Capaldi trying to hush up 60's Doctor when he said something slightly sexist. Most familes at Christmas could very much relate to that.
Worst Bit: Jenna Coleman's 'Clara' cameo still seems...forced.
3. The Time of the Doctor - 2013 (Matt Smith)
The third in an ambitious trilogy by Moffat to give Matt Smith's Doctor the correct send off. The Doctor follows a signal to Trenzalore only to find out that Gallifrey and the Timelords (who have been thought DEAD since the new era started) are trapped outside of time and space, and only the Doctor can help them. Stuck in a dead end on what he should ethically do (the Timelords became vicious and maniacal at the end of their days, he reveals. They would probably destroy the universe now), he decides to spend the remainder of his days defending their signal from alien attack, whilst similtaneously keeping them from re-entering the universe.
This episode brilliantly rewrites the massive regeneration countdown that the team faced since restarting Doctor Who in 2005 (He only gets 12 regenerations, said the classic era) and tugs your heartstrings to their core. A perfect blend of family TV, whilst keeping its eye firmly on finishing one of the greatest Doctor Who arcs that there has ever been ('Time of...' & 'Name of...' are simply fantastic, and clearly beat Russel T Davies Tennant Trilogy). Christmas, in this episode, is the town on which he stays in, YES IT IS SLIGHTLY ON THE NOSE, however he does point out a town can be called Christmas if an island can be called 'Easter'.
With Matt Smith giving the performance of his career, a blinding story and a score of music that moves me nearly to tears each time, It was hard not to give this the top spot.
Best Bit: Matt Smith's great, smug speech before his explosive regeneration.
Worst Bit: The awful speech written for Matt as he passes the torch to Capaldi. Compared to the rest of the writing, it's like it's been penned by an awful fan fiction account.
The third in an ambitious trilogy by Moffat to give Matt Smith's Doctor the correct send off. The Doctor follows a signal to Trenzalore only to find out that Gallifrey and the Timelords (who have been thought DEAD since the new era started) are trapped outside of time and space, and only the Doctor can help them. Stuck in a dead end on what he should ethically do (the Timelords became vicious and maniacal at the end of their days, he reveals. They would probably destroy the universe now), he decides to spend the remainder of his days defending their signal from alien attack, whilst similtaneously keeping them from re-entering the universe.
This episode brilliantly rewrites the massive regeneration countdown that the team faced since restarting Doctor Who in 2005 (He only gets 12 regenerations, said the classic era) and tugs your heartstrings to their core. A perfect blend of family TV, whilst keeping its eye firmly on finishing one of the greatest Doctor Who arcs that there has ever been ('Time of...' & 'Name of...' are simply fantastic, and clearly beat Russel T Davies Tennant Trilogy). Christmas, in this episode, is the town on which he stays in, YES IT IS SLIGHTLY ON THE NOSE, however he does point out a town can be called Christmas if an island can be called 'Easter'.
With Matt Smith giving the performance of his career, a blinding story and a score of music that moves me nearly to tears each time, It was hard not to give this the top spot.
Best Bit: Matt Smith's great, smug speech before his explosive regeneration.
Worst Bit: The awful speech written for Matt as he passes the torch to Capaldi. Compared to the rest of the writing, it's like it's been penned by an awful fan fiction account.
2. The End of Time PART 1 - 2009
1. The End of Time PART 2 - 2010 (David Tennant)
Let me set the scene for you folks. It's Christmas. I have a black eye from slipping on some ice whilst heavily intoxicated, and landing literally face first on the ground. I stupidly went straight to bed, lucky not to slip into a fucking coma, I come round to find I accidentally locked my entire family out the house. A result of my concussive/drunken sleep. The mood towards me the next day, is a mixture of admiration and dourness as I drink Jack Daniels all day with this fuck off bruise on my face. Then 6 o'clock comes round and big man here wants to watch Doctor Who. By all means I should have been punished, but it's Christmas and by some miracle I am allowed. I go from being this out of control rebel teen to a 10 year old on the edge of his seat, shushing Mum and Dad as I watch what unfolds in front of me.
Where do I start? Tennant, after being on a bender himself, realises the Master has returned and it can only spell bad news. By the end of episode 1 the Master has managed to kill ALL the human race and the Doctor has been exiled to a small ship floating in orbit around the Earth. By Part 2? We have the Doctor on his way to stop Gallifrey returning (again, Timelords..."bad" now) on what looks to be a certainly foretold, suicide mission. But will we lose our favourite Doctor?
This had everyone wrought with tension. We knew David Tennant was leaving but...how? And in what world was he going to beat John Simm's literal MASTER race?? These 2 episodes, that aired on Christmas Day and New Years Day respectively, had every whovian hanging on their every word. They practically took over TV for the holiday season and the nerds ruled the TV airwaves! It sparked theories, it was funny, it was clever, and that final ending. THAT ENDING! David Tennant stumbling through the London snow, weak and scared, moved everyone to tears. It held just the right amount of cheese to get away with being on at Christmas (it probably needed to tick some boxes to fulfil its 'family orientated' side) but it contemplated death, time, forgiveness, mass genocide and war. All this whilst maintaining a slight campness that I haven't seen the show truly capture in a very long time.
I could write an entire seperate blog on this but it wouldn't do it justice. In fact I don't want to write anymore, whether you've seen it or not, if you want to remember/know how this story unfolds, go on www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and watch them. In fact they're all there!! But I strongly suggest these 2 for your trip down memory lane.
Best Bit: Tennant's speech explaining his fear of regeneration.
Worst Bit: Watching David Tennant DIE!!
And there you go, clearly Christmas gets in the way of a good Christmas special. So good riddance to a tired formula! But all is not lost, we aren't losing Doctor Who really, it's being moved to New Years Day. WHO Years Day will be its new name, and you know what? I'm looking forward to a Doctor Who not based around Christmas. And they couldn't have picked a better day to air it. Why? Well guess what day the best Doctor Who Christmas Special was aired on?
Disagree? Tweet at me!
@ProJub
-Jay Burdett
1. The End of Time PART 2 - 2010 (David Tennant)
Let me set the scene for you folks. It's Christmas. I have a black eye from slipping on some ice whilst heavily intoxicated, and landing literally face first on the ground. I stupidly went straight to bed, lucky not to slip into a fucking coma, I come round to find I accidentally locked my entire family out the house. A result of my concussive/drunken sleep. The mood towards me the next day, is a mixture of admiration and dourness as I drink Jack Daniels all day with this fuck off bruise on my face. Then 6 o'clock comes round and big man here wants to watch Doctor Who. By all means I should have been punished, but it's Christmas and by some miracle I am allowed. I go from being this out of control rebel teen to a 10 year old on the edge of his seat, shushing Mum and Dad as I watch what unfolds in front of me.
Where do I start? Tennant, after being on a bender himself, realises the Master has returned and it can only spell bad news. By the end of episode 1 the Master has managed to kill ALL the human race and the Doctor has been exiled to a small ship floating in orbit around the Earth. By Part 2? We have the Doctor on his way to stop Gallifrey returning (again, Timelords..."bad" now) on what looks to be a certainly foretold, suicide mission. But will we lose our favourite Doctor?
This had everyone wrought with tension. We knew David Tennant was leaving but...how? And in what world was he going to beat John Simm's literal MASTER race?? These 2 episodes, that aired on Christmas Day and New Years Day respectively, had every whovian hanging on their every word. They practically took over TV for the holiday season and the nerds ruled the TV airwaves! It sparked theories, it was funny, it was clever, and that final ending. THAT ENDING! David Tennant stumbling through the London snow, weak and scared, moved everyone to tears. It held just the right amount of cheese to get away with being on at Christmas (it probably needed to tick some boxes to fulfil its 'family orientated' side) but it contemplated death, time, forgiveness, mass genocide and war. All this whilst maintaining a slight campness that I haven't seen the show truly capture in a very long time.
I could write an entire seperate blog on this but it wouldn't do it justice. In fact I don't want to write anymore, whether you've seen it or not, if you want to remember/know how this story unfolds, go on www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and watch them. In fact they're all there!! But I strongly suggest these 2 for your trip down memory lane.
Best Bit: Tennant's speech explaining his fear of regeneration.
Worst Bit: Watching David Tennant DIE!!
And there you go, clearly Christmas gets in the way of a good Christmas special. So good riddance to a tired formula! But all is not lost, we aren't losing Doctor Who really, it's being moved to New Years Day. WHO Years Day will be its new name, and you know what? I'm looking forward to a Doctor Who not based around Christmas. And they couldn't have picked a better day to air it. Why? Well guess what day the best Doctor Who Christmas Special was aired on?
Disagree? Tweet at me!
@ProJub
-Jay Burdett