Must Watch Doctor Who Christmas Specials

Right here at Wealth of Geeks, we’re connoisseurs of all issues geeky—notably something sci-fi. Whether or not it is Star Wars, Star Trek, or Physician Who, we’ve you lined. However in a galaxy of nerdy programming, one franchise has the market made on vacation specials and that is Physician Who.

Our Favourite Vacation Physician

Physician Who stays some of the well-known examples of science fiction the UK has ever produced. Earlier than Star Wars and even Star Trek, that cute, appearance-changing Time Lord recognized solely as “the Physician” was the face of science fiction, introducing the style to a mass viewers of viewers and changing into a cultural icon.

Whether or not watching previous black and white episodes that includes the cantankerous first incarnation of the Physician (William Hartnell) or the newer adventures of the final Thirteenth Physician (Jodie Whittaker) within the newer sequence, Physician Who stays as beloved a contribution to popular culture right now because it had in when it first debuted in 1963.

In its revived run, Physician Who has made a convention of releasing both a Christmas- or New 12 months-themed standalone particular, lots of which stay the most well-liked episodes the sequence has ever produced, in addition to producing hundreds of kilos for kids’s charities.

With Christmas proper across the nook, we thought we’d look again at among the greatest Physician Who specials that you could watch proper now in preparation for the upcoming vacation.

“The Snowmen”

This episode would possibly thrive on a extra promising plotline than it truly delivers upon. Nevertheless, “The Snowmen” nonetheless manages to be a largely passable episode, if maybe one of many sequence’ weaker vacation specials.

Downtrodden over the lack of Amy and Rory in “The Angels Take Manhattan,” the Physician spends a while in Victorian London, the place he quickly turns into concerned in a plot orchestrated by the Nice Intelligence (a formless, sentient hyper-intelligent being that had beforehand appeared in 1968 reverse the Second Physician) to create a military of carnivorous snowmen.

The primary motion of the episode could also be a bit subpar, however “The Snowmen” makes for a enjoyable watch merely for the addition of the Nice Intelligence, a basic Physician Who villain ingeniously introduced again into the revived sequence, made all of the extra pleasant by the vocal abilities of Sir Ian McKellen (one of many smoothest English voices there’s).

One other function that makes this episode value seeing is the inclusion of Clara Oswald, who the episode spends an excellent little bit of time constructing lots of thriller about, together with the concept of her having a number of lives, a plotline that might determine closely into the remainder of season 7.

It is probably not the quintessential Physician Who Christmas particular—maybe its best fault is the underutilization of the episode’s villains (the principle level of criticism audiences had)—but it surely delivers an entertaining sufficient episode that launched a plot thread that might determine closely into the subsequent season.

“The Subsequent Physician”

One of many extra underrated Physician Who Christmas specials, “The Subsequent Physician,” owes quite a bit to an fascinating sufficient premise.

Following the departure of Donna Noble in season 4’s finale (fourth sequence if we’re going by British lingo), the Tenth Physician travels on his personal to 1850s London round Christmas time, the place he encounters an eccentric man who refers to himself because the Physician (David Morrissey).

With Tennant’s Physician believing this new Physician to be a future incarnation of himself, the 2 come collectively to cease a sinister plot orchestrated by a workhouse matron to construct an enormous Cyberman that might imply the destruction of London if accomplished.

The episode’s predominant plot could also be a bit foolish (particularly concerning the looks of a kaiju-sized mecha-Cyberman). Nonetheless, probably the most fascinating facet of the particular comes from whether or not Morrisey’s Physician is certainly the longer term successor to the title position of the present or not.

In fact, it’s revealed that if truth be told, quite than being the subsequent Physician, Morrisey’s character is a person who’s entered a fugue state and believes himself to be the Physician to flee the trauma of shedding his spouse and little one to the Cybermen (a heartbreaking revelation that additionally managed to parallel Tennant’s personal model of the Physician: a person continuously busying himself with adventures to flee his personal troubled previous).

Like “The Snowmen,” “The Subsequent Physician” might not rank as favorably as “Final Christmas” or “The Christmas Invasion.” Nevertheless, it stays pleasant in its personal proper, particularly for the extra grounded, dramatic performances of Tennant and Morrissey.

“The Time of the Physician”

If there’s one frequent ingredient in most Physician Who Christmas episodes, it’s the concept of claiming goodbye, with lots of the sequence’ main Medical doctors or any variety of their beloved companions making their closing appearances on the present’s annual Christmas episodes.

Simply as his earlier incarnation, the Tenth Physician (David Tennant) met his finish in 2009’s “The Finish of Time,” and as his successor, Peter Capaldi, would make his final look in “Twice Upon a Time,” sequence lead Matt Smith would equally step down from the position in 2013’s “The Time of the Physician.”

In what can be Smith’s fourth and closing Christmas particular, the Physician arrives on the planet Trenzalore, a planet that—in keeping with historical prophecies—he’s destined to fulfill his finish.

Drawn to a small farming city known as Christmas, the Physician finds a message despatched from the Time Lords emanating from the city, revealing a small pocket universe the place the Time Lords exist.

After tricking Clara into returning to Earth, the Physician spends the subsequent 300 years battling his most formidable enemies (Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen, and Weeping Angels, amongst others) to guard the city and the Time Lords from positive obliteration.

As he’s on the finish of his life cycle and with no regenerations left (Time Lords solely have 12 regenerations), the episode offers closely with the truth that the Physician is nearing his finish.

Although the dramatic tones of the episode are ultimately rendered moot when Clara efficiently asks the Time Lords to present the Physician a brand new regeneration cycle, the true emotion within the episode stems from Smith’s departure, who manages to exit with a bang via his closing farewell speech to Clara (in addition to his heartfelt goodbye to Amy, who he imagines is there in his closing few moments).

It is probably not the best of Physician Who’s Christmas specials, but it surely’s greater than a satisfying conclusion to Smith’s tenure on the present.

“The Finish of Time” Elements 1 & 2

David Tennant was and continues to be some of the in style Medical doctors within the historical past of Physician Who. There is a purpose he is again to fill within the hole between 13 and Fifteen.

From his first look in season 1’s finale to his three-season future on the present, followers had fallen in love with the antics of the Converse-clad, ridiculously high-energy Tennant, who shortly managed to rank among the many most beloved Medical doctors the present had ever seen.

Nevertheless, Tennant’s time on the present would ultimately draw to a detailed along with his fifth and closing Christmas particular, 2009’s “The Finish of Time.” On this two-part episode, the Physician offers with the return of the Grasp, who plans on turning the world’s inhabitants into cloned variations of himself.

Nevertheless, their battle is quickly interrupted by the return of the Time Lords, who’ve managed to outlive their conflict with the Daleks and try and carry Gallifrey again by basically changing Earth. It’s maybe becoming that Tennant’s introduction to the present got here via 2005’s particular “The Christmas Invasion” and ended with “The Finish of Time.”

Whereas the previous completely showcased the Tenth Physician’s persona and strengths (humorous, joyful, and outgoing, but in a position to snap into seriousness inside a second’s discover), the latter portrayed him in a way more dour approach, as a person coming to phrases with the tip of his life cycle.

Although a bit messy in some elements (the Grasp’s plan is slightly over-the-top, however comedically so), “The Finish of Time” is an entertaining episode that completely summed up Tennant’s tenure on the present, that includes appearances from a few of his most well-known companions and his most well-known nemesis (John Simm’s Grasp, who’s at all times pleasant to see within the position).

As with Matt Smith’s farewell in “The Time of the Physician” or Peter Capaldi’s goodbye in “Twice Upon a Time,” “The Finish of Time” presents an extremely emotional closing look for Tennant, whose final phrases earlier than his regeneration (“I don’t need to go!”) echo our personal sentiments precisely.

“The Christmas Invasion”

Physician Who’s first Christmas particular launched the world to David Tennant’s Tenth Physician. “The Christmas Invasion” ranks as the most effective episodes the present has ever produced.

Shortly after the Physician’s regeneration within the first season’s finale, London finds itself invaded by a hostile alien race referred to as the Sycorax, demanding half the world’s inhabitants grow to be slaves to maintain the Sycorax from killing one-third of humanity.

In the meantime, humanity’s solely hope, the Tenth Physician, is sadly nonetheless recovering from the consequences of his regeneration and determining the form of “man” he’s and the persona he possesses, a lot to the priority of Rose and Mickey, his two companions.

“The Christmas Invasion” might boast a reasonably normal alien-invasion plotline. Nonetheless, the particular’s actual power comes with Tennant’s introduction because the Physician, whose lovable allure, wit, and charisma are on full show right here.

It’s an episode that queued audiences into the form of Physician they might see for the subsequent few seasons, in addition to establishing the form of relationship he’d share along with his companions (particularly Rose, who options closely into the episode as she involves phrases together with her personal romantic emotions in the direction of this new Physician).

“The Runaway Bride”

Whereas the sooner “Christmas Invasion” launched audiences to the lovable, fan-favorite Tenth Physician, the sequence’ second Christmas particular, “The Runaway Bride,” marked the primary look of one other fan-favorite character, Donna Noble.

Moments after season two’s “Doomsday” finale, the Physician finds a lady in a marriage gown who has mysteriously and randomly appeared aboard the TARDIS, demanding to know the place she is.

Attempting to return Donna to the marriage she’s magically disappeared from, the Physician quickly discovers a nefarious plot by a spider-like creature to plan to unleash her youngsters onto the world.

Like “The Christmas Invasion,” “The Runaway Bride”’s recognition owes extra to the characters and their dynamic than the precise plot. Certain, the motion is thrilling sufficient (filled with automobile chases, robotic Santas, and even incorporates hints of a “Mr. Saxon,” who would later be revealed because the Grasp in disguise). However Donna’s introduction and hilarious interactions with the Physician make it this particular properly value watching.

Their fixed arguing served as an entertaining juxtaposition between the romantic relationship between the Physician and his earlier companion, Rose, introducing a personality who would ultimately grow to be one in every of Physician Who followers’ favourite companions.

“The Husbands of River Track”

River Track had been a personality whose look and improvement in Physician Who spanned almost seven years. From her debut in “Silence within the Library,” the present’s creators established her with a definite air of secrecy as somebody who clearly is aware of the Physician. Nonetheless, her relationship with him would solely step by step be revealed because the present went on.

Because the sequence continued, audiences discovered extra concerning the ever-enigmatic River, who’s ultimately revealed to be a future companion to the Physician, his eventual spouse, and the daughter of the Physician’s fellow companions, Amy Pond and Rory Williams.

River’s long-running arc within the present would lastly attain its end result with 2015’s “The Husbands of River Track,” which marked the character’s closing look on the present.  Simply earlier than she died within the “Forest of the Lifeless” (her introduction to the Tenth Physician was additionally her final assembly with him—because of opposite-moving timelines she shares with the Physician), River meets Capaldi’s Twelfth Physician of their first and solely episode collectively.

Not recognizing him at first, she recruits him into an Indiana Jones-style archaeological heist, with the Physician not outright revealing his id to her, opting to play alongside and see what his spouse is basically like when he’s not round.

Extra of an episode centered round River than it’s the Physician, “The Husbands of River Track” is the last word swan tune to River’s character, exhibiting her fiery persona, her adventurous previous, and simply how totally different an individual she is when she believes the Physician isn’t round.

The episode’s climax provides the episode its energy, that includes the ultimate assembly between the couple earlier than River’s inevitable finish (made all of the harder given the Physician is aware of he’s basically sending her off to her demise).

It’s an emotional goodbye and attracts River’s long-running storyline to a greater than satisfying conclusion, making this an episode well-worth watching.

“Twice Upon a Time”

In one of many present’s greatest send-offs for a Physician but, “Twice Upon a Time” featured the ultimate journey of Peter Capaldi’s humorously grouchy Twelfth Physician.

In a becoming farewell, this imaginative and intelligent episode (crammed with numerous nods to quite a few Physician Who episodes), the Twelfth Physician, occurs throughout the First Physician (David Bradley) in a distant area of the North Pole, each of whom are coming to phrases with their particular person regenerations.

Collectively, the 2 Medical doctors save a doomed WWI military captain (Mark Gatiss) from his personal demise, with every of the three males struggling to face their eventual ends. Like all the very best Physician Who specials, “Twice Upon a Time” doesn’t have a lot plot however as an alternative presents a splendidly introspective take a look at the Physician in two of his most well-known incarnations, each of whom slowly come to simply accept the inevitably of their ends.

Closely emotional all through (together with an extremely gut-wrenching depiction of the 1914 Christmas truce), “Twice Upon a Time” additionally has some robust comedic parts as properly, derived principally from the 2 Medical doctors’ odd pairing, with the present making various hilarious jabs on the First Physician’s dated, non-PC angle and worldview.

In various methods, “Twice Upon a Time” appeared like the tip of an period for Physician Who, marking Capaldi’s closing look on the present, in addition to the ultimate episode written by principal author and government producer Steven Moffat and the final episode scored by composer Murray Gold since his tenure on the present started in 2005.

Historical past can be made with the long-awaited first look of Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Physician on the finish of the episode, with all the build-up to her debut extraordinarily well-done, echoing every Medical doctors’ rising concern and worry about assembly their finish.

“A Christmas Carol”

Physician Who has by no means been above referencing pre-existing tales or outright borrowing a complete episode on a well-known story. Maybe the best instance of this observe might be present in 2010’s “A Christmas Carol,” with a plot just about equivalent to Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas story of the identical title.

As Rory and Amy attempt to get pleasure from their honeymoon aboard an enormous house liner, they’re caught in {an electrical} storm that threatens to kill them and the 4,000 different passengers on board until the cloud layer thins. Nevertheless, the one individual with management over the cloud belt is an embittered, cynical older man (Michael Gambon) who seems detached as to if the ship crashes or not.

Taking a web page straight out of A Christmas Carol, the Physician travels via the older man’s previous, current, and future to attempt to get him to grow to be a greater individual, saving his buddies within the course of.

“A Christmas Carol” could also be weighted too closely in its supply materials. Nevertheless, it nonetheless serves as a robust outing for Matt Smith’s Eleventh Physician in his first Christmas particular, who can maintain his personal in opposition to the veteran actor, Gambon (who steals the present on this episode).

The Physician had beforehand encountered Charles Dickens himself earlier than (2005’s “The Quiet Undead”), however the plot from this particular revolves round an much more fascinating hypothetical: What if two of probably the most well-known British characters in existence (the Physician and Ebeneezer Scrooge) met each other? What would their interplay be like?

With this extremely ingenious, distinctive episode, we see the reply to that query.

“Final Christmas”

The enjoyment of Physician Who’s Christmas specials has at all times been its power, both in plotting or illustrating character. Some episodes we’ve mentioned to this point, similar to “The Christmas Invasion” or “The Runaway Bride,” might have had considerably mediocre plots. Nonetheless, on the very least, they had been a pleasure to observe merely for the Physician’s antics or for the banter he shared along with his companions.

Some specials like “Final Christmas,” although, completely blended each parts, specializing in a decent, entertaining story and showcasing the Physician’s sophisticated relationships along with his companions.

Peter Capaldi’s first Christmas particular, “Final Christmas,” revolves across the Physician and Clara venturing to the North Pole collectively. There they wind up at a analysis station beneath assault by an animal species that latch on to their victims’ face, feeding them an limitless provide of desires as they devour their brains.

Because the Physician and Clara attempt to assist the analysis staff survive, they shortly start to query their very own actuality and whether or not they themselves are dreaming or not. An episode that pays homage to sci-fi horror classics like Alien and The Factor, “Final Christmas” is a mind-bending story that appears to owe quite a bit to Inception, making you wonder if what you’re seeing is actual or a figment of the characters’ creativeness.

It additionally options some terrific back-and-forth between the Physician and his longtime companion Clara, each of whom begin the episode by mendacity to one another (the Physician claims he’s discovered Gallifrey, and Clara fools him into pondering that her boyfriend Danny Pink continues to be alive).

Although weighted closely in extremely emotional scenes—Clara involves phrases with Danny’s demise by the particular’s conclusion—the episode additionally boasts loads of much-needed comedic aid, supplied particularly via St. Nick himself, brilliantly performed by Nick Frost.

It’s maybe the best-plotted of Physician Who’s Christmas specials, which presents an attractive episode that retains you guessing and invested.

Last Ideas

In its revived sequence’ run, Physician Who has seen a number of pleasant Christmas specials, specializing in the Medical doctors’ many adventures all through time and house, encountering everybody from Scrooge-like miserly previous males to previous incarnations of his former self.

We hope this record presents an in-depth look again at a few of Physician Who’s greatest Christmas specials, all 10 of which we extremely advocate viewing.

Moreover, we loved “Voyage of the Damned” and “The Return of Physician Mysterio,” each respectable in their very own proper however maybe not as memorable as among the different Christmas specials detailed right here.

All episodes of Physician Who’re at present streaming on HBO Max.

This put up was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.