[*In the 1990s and early 2000s we had only Virgin books and Big Finish audios for new Who. But Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without listening to The Chimes of Midnight at least once.]
So here is my reflection on the specials of the past 14 years in order of brilliance:
1
|
The Christmas
Invasion
The debut of the best Doctor ever, in pyjamas,
with killer Christmas trees, epic Star
Wars style space duel, and ending in time for the Doctor to enjoy a
family Christmas dinner. Perfection!
|
2005
|
2
|
The Unquiet Dead
Not strictly a Christmas special, but set at
Christmas, with Charles Dickens and ghosts, so it counts. And it’s brilliant.
|
2005
|
3
|
A Christmas Carol
Doctor Who’s take on the classic
Dickensian Christmas tale. With giant
space fish and a haunting carol.
|
2010
|
4
|
The Doctor the
Widow and the Wardrobe
This Narnia-like story gets a high place for
sheer Christmas schmaltz. Ideal for
family viewing after overdosing on the mince pies.
|
2011
|
5
|
The Runaway Bride
The introduction of the fabulous Donna Noble, with
Sarah Parish eating the scenery as the Empress of the Racnoss, and the most
wonderful chase scene. Would have
scored higher, but the Christmas flavour seems a bit tacked on (probably due
to filming in July…)
|
2006
|
6
|
Voyage of the
Damned
A glossy disaster movie for Christmas, with
lovely cameo from Bernard Cribbins.
But why employ Kylie Minogue and get someone else to sing the song?
|
2007
|
7
|
Last Christmas
Disconcerting mix between Christmassy and very
bleak, marked higher because of the Rudolph’s nose gag.
|
2014
|
8
|
Twice Upon a Time
Two (well, three, just) Doctors for the price of
one. Scores highly for David Bradley’s
First Doctor and Mark Gatiss’ displaced soldier, but the whole Testimony
thing was rather annoying.
|
2017
|
9
|
The Return of Doctor Mysterio
A superhero movie - good family entertainment,
but not very Who-like.
|
2016
|
10
|
The Next Doctor
Good Dickensian Christmas vibe, but scored down
for Russell T Davies’ evil tease and the cybershades. Also the plot was weak.
|
2008
|
11
|
The Husbands of
River Song
Some very funny moments, but Nardole was annoying
and the monsters were too revolting for post-Christmas lunch viewing.
|
2015
|
12
|
The End of Time
Lovely performance from Bernard Cribbins (and I
want to be June Whitfield) but I am too sad about this being Ten’s swansong
to mark any higher. Also, the farewell tour at the end was unnecessary.
|
2009
|
13
|
The Snowmen
The Doctor sulking on a cloud, before joining
forces with Mary Poppins-lite - really?
|
2012
|
14
|
The Time of the
Doctor
Sounds of the bottom of the barrel being scraped
with a town called Christmas. The festive
bird being cooked in the TARDIS was not the only turkey in this episode.
|
2013
|
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