Doctor Who’s Joy to the World ending undermines what made it great
As a longtime fan of Doctor Who, I must say that “Joy to the World” was a rollercoaster ride of emotions that left me both exhilarated and slightly bewildered. The episode beautifully captures the essence of the show – the balance between adventure and introspection, the exploration of complex characters, and the underlying themes of humanity.
Since its reintroduction in 2005, “Doctor Who” has been driven by two primary factors: the intense emotions exhibited by its main characters at one extreme, and intricate, thought-provoking concepts at the other end of the spectrum.
The program has experienced different periods, with some phases capturing our interest more than others. Initially, it had a very emotional impact, especially during Christopher Eccleston’s tenure as the Doctor. However, the Matt Smith years were characterized by intricate ideas and extensive exploration of the show’s backstory.
As a devoted fan, I must say that the latest Christmas special titled “Joy to the World,” penned by long-time series mainstay Steven Moffat, skillfully combines the divergent aspects of Doctor Who. It’s an intriguing blend, although at times it struggles to neatly weave together its numerous themes and ideas.
Once more, The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) is venturing solo across time and space, and this time he ends up in the foyer of a Time Hotel. He strolls around, clad in a bathrobe, holding newspapers and mugs, yearning for coffee to fill them. However, his quest for caffeine is halted by hotel security, who goes by the name of Trev (Joel Fry). Trev politely reminds The Doctor that refreshments are exclusively for hotel patrons, and then he points out the oddity of carrying two mugs.
They find it hard to accept when they depart, but this emptiness brings out the heartwarming, deeply human side of the Doctor, a side we haven’t seen for quite some time.
As the Doctor idles at the Time Hotel, they spot an individual adorned with a wrist-fastened briefcase, mysteriously muttering: “A celestial embryo will flourish, and life will resurrect.
In this scenario, whoever removes the mysterious case from their possession will find themselves inextricably linked to it, causing its previous owner to vanish into a shower of stardust. It’s during the Doctor’s investigation of this peculiar artifact that they cross paths with Joy (played by Nicola Coughlan), who is spending the Christmas holiday alone in an Earth-bound hotel room from the year 2024. This specific hotel, known as the Time Hotel, is connected to various spaces and times across the universe, offering a solution to the age-old question about the purpose of that single locked door found in every hotel room.
The fast-paced conversation revolves around the suitcase, which could explode due to Joy wearing it and the Doctor trying to fix its internal mechanisms. This conversation becomes even more intricate when a future incarnation of the Doctor suddenly shows up, barking out a code to their past counterpart.
In the future, one Doctor emphasizes the importance of a circuitous route for comprehending the code. A disagreement ensues between these two medical professionals as they strive to unravel the reasons behind human tendencies to elude them.
In simpler terms, The Future Physician swiftly ushers Joy back into the Time Hotel, leaving the Current Doctor stranded in this ordinary hotel for a full year. The explanation behind this is complex, perhaps even confusing, and it might be best to accept it as such due to its intricacy.
Stranded on Earth, the Doctor finds himself confronted by the harsh truth that money is essential for existence. Consequently, he takes a job at a hotel and establishes a profound bond of friendship with the receptionist, Anita, portrayed by Steph de Whalley.
Over the course of the year, I found myself immersed in a montage of moments, where weeks seamlessly morphed into months. As the hands of the clock danced forward and then backward, I shared adventures with the Doctor and Anita – fixing issues together, engaging in intense board game battles, savoring cocktails on a balcony, and sometimes, sharing a moment of silence over our love lives.
It’s quite daring, actually, to devote such a significant portion of this episode to exploring the idea of what life might be like for the Doctor if they consistently followed a straight path without any danger lurking behind them.
In this production, there are nods to its background and past events. For instance, the character known as The Doctor accumulates miniatures of iconic blue telephone booths, commenting that they’re strangely prevalent online. However, it’s possible to overlook the events leading up to this second act. Nonetheless, the emotional resolution when The Doctor bids farewell to Anita truly makes it worthwhile.
However, just as every enjoyable experience eventually finishes, it is a year later when the Doctor finds himself back at the Time Hotel, marking the start of ‘Joy to the World’ moving towards its opposite state.
In simpler terms, they end up shouting the secret code to their former selves unexpectedly. The Doctor tells Joy that it was entirely unpredictable, just like the universe itself, as he makes a casual gesture and proceeds to explain some background information.
In this location, the audience, along with Joy, quickly gets filled in on the secret contents of the enigmatic briefcase – a celestial body coveted by a weapons firm for its potential to travel back through time. If successful, this star would mature and expand, offering them an endless supply of energy.
Theoretically, this scenario could continue as the plot for the rest of the episode, but instead, it is dismissed to focus more on Joy. As she gets the briefcase handcuffed to her, it takes control over her mind and erases her individuality.
The Doctor wakes her up by making her angry – criticising her mood, her hotel room and her mother.
This final detail triggers an emotional outburst from Joy, reminiscent of grand, dramatic emotions found in some of the finest episodes of Doctor Who. Joy discloses that her mother perished on Christmas Day, 2020, enraged by her compliance with the rules and the insensitivity of those who held parties and filled their refrigerators with wine – a sharp political commentary that resonates deeply for many.
The setting may not be subtly crafted, yet it doesn’t require subtlety, as its purpose is to highlight the complex contradictions inherent in humanity – a characteristic that defines the most outstanding episodes of Doctor Who.
Coughlan’s performance is never just angry, although of course she’s furious. It’s embedded with sadness, regret and betrayal.
The intricate developments in the story centered around this character analysis keep viewers hooked, yet they are not always the most captivating aspect – not even when one portal in the Time Hotel unveils a prehistoric scene or when another transports the Doctor and Joy to where their journey (or, for sure, Christmas) started.
In these concluding scenes, the Doctor’s exuberant declaration “joy to the world” from atop a mountain carries an undercurrent of self-gratification. While serving as a form of humorous resolution, this moment risks overshadowing the deep, emotional complexity that defines many of the episode’s most powerful moments, rooted in sadness, anger, and the intricate tapestry of human emotions.
The British sci-fi series, “Doctor Who,” is aired on BBC One within the United Kingdom, while it’s accessible on Disney+ internationally. For those in the UK, you can find classic episodes of “Doctor Who” on BBC iPlayer.
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2024-12-25 22:19