DOCTOR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: THE CHRISTMAS INVASION

Posted on by The Beard

DOCTOR WHO:

THE CHRISTMAS INVASION

DOCTOR WHO is a British science fiction series produced by the BBC. It first began in 1963. The show features the adventures of a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who is called The Doctor. Whenever The Doctor introduces himself (or herself) someone asks, “Doctor who?” And that is how the show gets its name. The Doctor is an alien who appears human and explores all of time and space in a ship called the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space). The TARDIS is bigger on the inside than the outside and the outside looks like a blue English police call box. The ship had a chameleon circuit that allowed it to camouflage itself whenever it landed. A police call box was a common sight in England in 1963. Unfortunately the TARDIS’ chameleon circuit broke down and it is now stuck in that shape. Unfortunate for the Doctor but fortunate for us because that blue box is the perfect color and shape. Always accompanied by a variety of different companions, The Doctor fights evil aliens, mad scientists, and monsters while striving to save Earth and help people in need.

THE CHRISTMAS INVASION is a special episode of DOCTOR WHO. It features the first full-episode appearance of David Tennant as The Doctor replacing Christopher Eccleston who departed the series. This is also the first specifically produced DOCTOR WHO CHRISTMAS SPECIAL and it aired on 25 December 2005. The Christmas specials have become a staple of the series and we now get one every year. But this one was the first.

The Doctor had been traveling thru time and space with his companion Rose Tyler – played by the ever-delightful Billie Piper – and sharing adventures. But in their last adventure The Doctor passed away. However, The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey and when they die their bodies regenerate and they get a new lease on life. So Christopher Eccleston morphs into David Tennant and the show continues.

However, things have not gone quite right this time. He is suffering trauma from his regeneration and it is not going well. Back on Earth, Rose takes The Doctor to her mum Jackie’s flat – played by Camille Coduri – where they hook up with her boyfriend Mickey – played by Noel Clarke.

It is Christmas and while The Doctor is out cold and in bed Rose, Jackie, and Mickey soon find themselves being chased by robotic killer Santas!

And if that isn’t bad enough they are attacked by a killer Christmas tree – I kid you not!

The alien Sycorax show up and controlling people with A+ blood type they have one third of the world’s population on rooftops waiting for the order to kill themselves.

Prime Minister Harriet Jones – played by Penelope Wilton – who happens to be an old acquaintance of The Doctor, sends out a plea for The Doctor’s help – who unfortunately is still bed ridden. But he recovers in the nick of time – never doubt in the healing power of a good cup of English tea – and of course he saves the day! Was there any doubt? 

I have said it many times before that Doctor Who is my favorite science fiction series and always has been. Of all the many wonderful actors that have played The Doctor, David Tennant is my favorite. On top of that of all the incredible actors that have played his companions Billie Piper is my favorite as well. Put that all together does it surprise you that this is my favorite of all the Doctor Who Christmas Specials.

Having said that let me say that this episode isn’t exactly perfect. There are some things I’m not too crazy about.

First, the Sycorax are not terribly interesting aliens. They seem to fall into that category of ugly bad aliens who are ugly and bad for the sake of being ugly and bad. It is significant that they have never made a return appearance. I’m not sure what their motivations are and I’ve seen this episode at least a dozen times. Compared to aliens like the Daleks and the Cybermen, the Sycorax come across as two-dimensional and weak.

Second, The Doctor doesn’t do anything until the climax. He spends most of the episode in bed unconscious. Now don’t get me wrong I fully understand that this is for suspense. We have a new Doctor and we don’t know how he is going to be played. So they drew out the suspense by having him comatose. Rose and Jackie and Mickey had to carry the episode. I understand I just wish we had gotten more of The Doctor. 

Now for the good stuff!

David Tennant is the perfect Doctor and the moment he steps out of the TARDIS fully recovered he has you enthralled. You find yourself jumping in your seat, cheering, and throwing popcorn at your TV screen. Or in my case I was eating a tuna fish sandwich and I wound up having to get up and wipe tuna off the screen.

Rose Tyler is wonderful! I have said it time and time again that she is too good for television. She is an incredible actress and her range is amazing! She and David Tennant have a fantastic chemistry and when they are together it is bright lights and music.

This episode is well crafted. While it is true that the characterization of the Sycorax is weak everything else is on point. The thrills are thrilling. The menaces are menacing. You laugh when you’re supposed to and cry when you have to. I said before that Rose and Jackie and Mickey carry the episode. Well the episode was in very good hands in deed.

Camille Coduri, Noel Clarke, David Tennant, and Billie Piper

I fully recommend THE CHRISTMAS INVASION! If you like science fiction check it out. If you like DOCTOR WHO check it out. If you have seen it before watch it again. If you like holiday specials watch this one. If you’re like me and you just want to be entertained and walk away afterwards saying, “Damn that was good!” Then watch DOCTOR WHO: THE CHRISTMAS INVASION! You will not be disappointed. On our rating scale I give this Four Gray Geeks.

That is it for now gang. I thank you all for letting me take up some of your time. I always enjoy sharing with you and I hope you enjoyed it as well. Until next time I’d like to leave you with this parting thought. You can choose to laugh or you can choose to cry. But laughing is way more fun! Hast la vista!

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Published by The Beard

I’m Eliseo Figueroa Jr. and you’re not. I was born in Saint Francis hospital across the street from Saint Mary’s Park in the Bronx. I was born there because that was where my mother was and I wanted to be near her. My parents came from Puerto Rico and moved to New York City when they were kids. My dad spoke fluent English – with an accent – but he’d had a stint in the army and had mastered the language. However, he needed a little work on reading and so everyday on the way to work he would buy a comic book and read it on the subway. In those days they were ten cents, a quick read, you could fold them and put them in your pocket, and when you finished you threw them away. Back home my mom would tell my dad to read me a story to put me to sleep. My dad had no desire whatsoever to read me any of my baby books so he read me one of his comic books instead. While other kids dreamed of Mother Goose, the Old Lady who lived in a shoe, or Little Red Riding Hood, I dreamt of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. And this went on for years. When I got older I asked him to give me the comic books. At that point he stopped throwing them out and I had a comic book collection even though I still didn’t know how to read. During the day I would make my mom read me my comics over and over again. I was dying to learn how to read and had been told that you learn to read in first grade. I remember being so excited the first day of school for the first grade. I couldn’t contain myself. I thought it was like magic – poof! – I was going to come back home and be able to read all of my comics. My mom had to sit me down and explain that it was a process. That over time I would learn how to read and by the time I finished the first grade I would be reading. I must say I was disappointed but more determined than ever to master this thing called reading. Over the years my comic collection grew (my dad had to keep building bigger and better shelves) and so did my interests. I mastered reading and went on to read books. I discovered the library where they actually let you borrow books – what a concept! And my interests in literary science fiction and fantasy expanded to include television and movies. Yes, I was and still am a full-blown geek! By the way, I’m the beard in our little duet. I have a goatee and no moustache. In all that time while growing up my dad never once complained. How could he? This was all his fault and he knew it. One time we were in a store where I was purchasing some comics and it all came to twenty bucks. As my dad was paying the man the owner commented on how much I was spending on comic books. My dad’s reply was, “Well, at least he’s not on drugs!” Science fiction, fantasy, horror, secret agents, giant monsters, and more are my drug of choice. Anyone who has ever sat in a darkened theater and has had their heart start racing in excitement as the music to STAR WARS begins to play knows exactly what I mean.