Why so much is riding on Doctor Who’s 2024 Christmas special
As a long-time Whovian who has traversed the time vortex alongside ten incarnations of our beloved Time Lord, I must say that this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special promises to be an exhilarating ride! The inclusion of Joy, a new character, harks back to the traditional standalone Christmas journeys undertaken by the Doctor, reminiscent of Donna Noble’s delightful debut.
It seems it has been a while since we last witnessed the Doctor, in his kilt, moving rhythmically on a dance floor under the influence of positive vibes during the Christmas special of last year. This was our initial, proper encounter with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, devoid of the comforting, nostalgic halo cast by David Tennant’s regenerated Fourteenth Doctor nearby.
After completing the first season with this ever-smiling or tearful version of the Time Lord, we’ve witnessed the destruction and subsequent recreation of the universe. Consequently, the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special promises to reboot the entire Doctor Who universe.
Anticipation runs high for ‘Joy to the World’, especially considering it’s written by the skillful penmanship of Steven Moffat, who hinted that this might be his final contribution to ‘Doctor Who’.
At the secretive Disney/BBC production headquarters, details are tightly held – perhaps likened to a high-tech, biometrically secured vault adorned with a Sonic Screwdriver symbol – Steven Moffat gave a hint about what’s coming up.
It’s not surprising that if a hotel chain had a time machine, they’d see it as a chance to sell rooms in their older establishments.
In a sneak peek, our distinguished guest actress Nicola Coughlan (likely transported through the Bridgerton time gateway for ‘Rogue’ into this universe) can be seen dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and independently checking into a hotel during the holiday season.
Due to Moffat’s preference for boldness over subtlety, she is named Joy (you see the connection?). At the same time, the Doctor keeps appearing in various epochs, serving passengers on the Orient Express or frightened citizens during the Blitz a selection of ham and cheese toasties and pumpkin-spiced lattes – an odd pairing, it’s no wonder nobody accepts this unusual offering.
However, upon entering Joy’s spacious vacation residence, the Doctor smiles, seeming to recognize both the era and the individual he had been seeking.
In a turn of events, after departing from Ruby (Millie Gibson), the Doctor encounters Joy with someone new: a Silurian. He’s dressed in business attire and carries a briefcase, demonstrating that life’s fast pace catches up with even ancient reptiles.
Previously encountered during Matt Smith’s tenure as the Eleventh Doctor, the Silurians were discovered dwelling beneath Earth’s crust. Diving into the lore of Doctor Who, it’s known that they share a distant lineage with the Sea Devils, an aquatic race preparing for conflict with UNIT in the spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.
It seems essential that they are part of this setup. The Christmas episode might serve as a preliminary pilot for the forthcoming spin-off series, even if it’s not directly linked. This could provide insight into whether today’s Doctor Who fandom can extend beyond the primary series and if viewers would be interested in following the shady tech conglomerate UNIT instead of our traveling, morally upright hero.
It’s possible that the growing affection between Kate (Jemma Redgrave) and the Colonel (Alexander Devrient) in the storyline may win over viewers. Time will tell.
In this particular episode, Joy joins the series as a unique guest character, reviving the traditional Christmas special structure where the Doctor embarks on an isolated adventure (often with a holiday theme). This type of companion, referred to as a limited-edition one, is typically exclusive to this special episode. However, there are exceptions such as Catherine Tate’s Donna, who reappears in subsequent Christmas episodes.
In recent times, this format has taken a break, with the shows overseen by Chris Chibnall serving as season openers (and being categorized as New Year’s specials). Last year, the episode primarily served as an introduction for the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby. However, this time, we’re returning to what truly makes these special episodes unique.
After an unusual run of “Doctor Who”, the main character frequently found themselves taking a back seat in the storyline, sometimes even missing entirely. The overarching mystery throughout the season revolved around Ruby and her family background, giving her emotional journey prime importance. This shift in focus elevated Ruby from a secondary character to a significant player, if not a full co-star.
Previously, the Doctor parted ways with Ruby, shedding tears as he stepped back to reunite with his biological kin. In this upcoming Christmas special, Gatwa hints that the grief from this separation will be a prominent theme, sharing with Collider: “Upon finding him, he’s mournful.
“He’s bored and he’s looking for an adventure. He’s lost his best pal!” Showrunner Russell T Davies went on to say that this will be the core of the episode, adding: “That’s what it’s about in many ways, isn’t it? That he’s missing her.”
With Ruby’s journey complete, we can now delve deeper into the psychological depths of our latest Doctor, a task that has been limited so far. Considering his emotional state following Ruby’s exit, coupled with the lingering effects of intense episodes such as ‘Rogue’ and ‘Dot and Bubble’, this is fertile ground for exploration.
Come Christmas, there’s a touch of nostalgia in the air. At least, it seems he’ll have a miniature measure of joy with him (feel free to disregard this sentiment if we’re still a bit too early for holiday feelings).
In the United Kingdom, the popular series “Doctor Who” airs on BBC One, while it can be found on Disney+ everywhere else. For those in the UK, classic episodes of “Doctor Who” are accessible through BBC iPlayer.
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2024-11-16 11:19