DAVID TENNENT 2005 - TBA

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL & SEASON TWENTY EIGHT

25 December 2005 - TBA 2006 (45 mins)
 

X. The Christmas Invasion - 25 December 2005 (6 / 10)

A review by Armitage Shanks

The Tardis falls to Earth on Christmas Eve. While the Doctor's regenerating, Rose is powerless to save the planet.

For a number of you this may not be the Christmas roasting that you were hoping for, so let's get one thing straight... For the most part I thought the last series of Doctor Who was a disaster. I thought that casting of Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor was about as appropriate as John Inman as Bond. Sure, they can both act, but you know that they will interpret the role in there own way which will be completely wrong for the character. I found RTD's plotlines weak and poorly thought-out and thought the show had been severely dumb'ed down for the Big Brother generation, with more kitchen sink drama then Eastenders thanks to the atrocious Mickey and Jackie. That said, I felt the RTD / David Tennant version of Casanova was a masterpiece. So much so that, had I seen it before Who, I would be jumping for joy that this actor and writer were working on the new series. So where does that leave us with ‘The Christmas Invasion'?

The episode continues on from the so called “written for Children in Need” episode, but surely the viewers would have been lost without this! David Tennant's début as The Doctor seems quite promising and he really pulled off the character for the majority of the episode. (Something that Eccleston did not manage once). Like the last 3 actors to play the role, Tennant can miss the mark occasionally by getting too excited. This often happens when he meets people he knows like Mickey, Rose's Mum or in the clip we saw of him screaming K9 in a forthcoming episode. It's a real shame because, this aside Tennant has made the finest débuts of a new Doctor for years.

When we see the show played for drama and not comedy, Tennant really excels in the role. Although he would be far from my first choice for the role, one gets the impression that we might be in for something special if the right script was to come along.

The writing was not as bad as previous RTD episodes but the hugging scene, dinner with the family and the awful Christmas song montage where the Doctor chooses his new clothes were just unforgivable. Take this away and spend some more time on developing the plot and the characters of the new invaders and this could have been a very entertaining episode. Although the Sycorax looked like they were lifted straight out of a recent episode of Star Trek they seem to work well. Alas once again we are stuck on Earth and RTS has spoiled further present day stories by letting everyone on earth know The Doctor's name as well as the existence of aliens. Torchwood was shamelessly promoted with everything but a wink to camera and certain scenes were just written and played for laughs. The cheap and nasty titles remain and look as dated as ever.

The real shame of this episode is that it had a number of good moments. Tennant really held the thing together and has the same likeability he displayed in Casanova. The usual suspects aside, the supporting cast was strong and the episode really gave elements of hope for the new series. The FX were not terrible and the pacing of the episode was good. RTD has a flare for writing certain TV shows as he showed us in the excellent Casanova. If somebody could just explain to him that Doctor Who is a Sci-Fi Drama and not a domestic light comedy we may well have the great show back.

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X. The Christmas Invasion - 25 December 2005

A review by Rick Strangely

Well, we have had to the follow up to the Children in Need special and thankfully you can take or leave the 8 minute teaser - although as the first real showing of the tenth Doctor, it wasn't that bad. Anyway, onto the real beast - the first full(er) episode for the Tenth Doctor.

It starts with the same introduction as the Rose episode, as a way of tying things together and then gets straight down to the setting of the Christmassy feel with tree and slade and stuff. And then there is the roar of the engines and the panicked scrambling of Mickey and Jackie until one of the best TARDIS crash landings in living memory. It's all very Spearhead from Space with the Doctor falling out the door and then a slip into a more Tom like 'Merry Christmas' before collapsing. Just time to add in a 'Doctor Who' before the credits roll. Music is the same, but it's nice that they haven't reinvented the titles just yet.

Then the Doctor is in bed, so Spearhead/Castrovalva references thrown in and the ensemble cast is left to keep the story going, which is does quite happily with a comatose Doctor. Rose is terrific, with her "I thought I knew him" line and the small talk is never allowed to dwell, as sentences change direction halfway through, from the Doctor to apples to Harriet Jones. All the little pieces slowly coming together. So none of this would have happened of it wasn't for the Doctor and Rose - hmm.

Then back to reality and Mickey and Rose out shopping. These dialogues are great and show just how hard it would be for someone not travelling around the universe to cope with someone who is. I love the "You are so..." it was almost Little Britain in it's character analysis. And then you throw in the Killer Santas and the tempo is cranked up - just seven minutes in. Lots of running and explosions, but no location rather than studio corridors - but no complaints here. And then there's the lovely RTD dialogue - "I can't go shopping with you without being shot at by a brass band" - almost pythonesque, but somehow so very Who.

Then back at the flat and there's a new tree, of course it's a killer tree - this is Who for heaven's sake. And the detuned Xmas carols, which are as eerie as the detuned nursery rhymes in horror movies. It spins fast and the tension builds. Everyones going to die and... the Doctor sits up and saves the day. My 7 year old daughter comments "I'm glad they didn't show this yesterday", now that is high praise indeed.

"Pilot Fish". As is with the new Series, there are cryptic clues thrown in so that the educated can guess what is happening and the rest of us wait to be educated, but without being patronised. And the Doctor explains that he is the cause of the all the mayhem - brilliant. So for once (well most of last seaon) it is the Doctor causing and curing the damage. The balance between the intense and the comic is just right with the "I need... you to shut up" and then the Apple incident. Something is coming, the music swells and the Doctor - passes out again.

Mickey finds out the Pilot Fish reference and then we first see the enemy for this installment. 15 minutes in and it has been a hell of a rollercoaster ride so far. Then there is the reinvention of UNIT (after they were all killed off) and typically Britishly, they hide it under the Tower of London - inspired location. Then the tempo eases off a little so that the new characters in this episode can be established and for Rose to ponder why she can't understand the alien tongue. Obviously, it's not just the TARDIS getting in her head. Also, establishes the need for the Doctor. Loved the "He's not my Boss" line from the PM, affirming that RTD has an agenda and that the BBC believes that it is independant from the state - as it should be. This is what we want.

Just as it is getting a little bit too kitchen sink, the plot is shifted down a gear and a third of the planet gets ready to kill itself. This is perfectly underplayed by the huge cast. The link between them is fathomed, but there is no escape. A desparate plea to the unconscious Doctor. It seems dire but strangely calm and then.... the sonic wave lets the FX team blow out the windows of a few of Londons latest landmarks. Everyone is left gobsmacked - including the audience. And then Rose finally makes a decision - run away.

The PM and lackies are beemed aboard and there is a scientific plea for mercy and a military demand for fairplay - both of which leave a pile of smouldering bones, showing that neither the nerds nor the might will win this day. Possibly alienating some of the fans, but hey - this is new Who. The PM is giving an impossible choice and Rose and Mickey show on the scanners for trying to see what is going on. Beem them up - the party is just getting started. They rush out, the tea is spilled, everything that happens could just as well have been an accident. It's all out of control.

The music from Bad Wolf plays around the Doctor as outside the Sycorax and ranting on at Rose trying to do the Doctor-ish thing and failing miserably. But you love her even more for trying. She mentions half of season one in way of threat and is laughed down. The tirade continues, but slowly translates into English. Which means... "Did you miss me?"

At this point Mr Tennant starts to stamp his authority on the role and show the direction that it may take. The casual "You'll have someone's eye out with that" and then "you can't get the staff" instantly followed by the "Now just wait". He then wanders around chatting to everyone working out who and what he is. Lovely digs and various things thrown in and all so casually delivered, he could actually mean them, but finally when the Big Fella screams at him "Who are you?" and he screams back "I Don't Know!", there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It had that McCoy-ish bluster to it, where you are never sure if he is mad or supremely confident. Then a little light entertainment ("Sexy?") to keep us guessing.

Then the big red button looms and even the new Doctor manages to terrify us, by explaining how it all works and then pushing the button anyway. Colin Baker would be proud. And then there's the Lion King line - a work of genius, for all ages, apart from those who don't get out very much. How can he save the day - by picking a fight, very honourable. "You stand as this world's champion?", "I don't know who I am, but you've just summed me up" and that in a nutshell could be a fairly perfect description of the man.

Then we have a Potter meets Jedi style fight and for once, it actually looks like someone could get hurt if they're not careful. The Jedi hand bit is a classic, with the "Witchcraft?" - "Timelord". Let's not forget that there is still an aweful lot to find out about this character, even forty years down the line. Glorious choreography, the final affirmation from Rose that he is her man and then the peaceful conclusion, that only the Doctor could deliver. Back to small talk and Satsumas and then Wham "No second chances. I'm that sort of a man". Just when you think you know him, he adds another dimension. Lighter and darker than his previous self and sexy. "Not bad for a man in his jimjams"

It looks the usual wrapping up at the end of a story and making sure that everyone gets home and then the PM shows what TORCHWOOD will be all about. The Doctor sort of talked her into it, but it was still her decision. And then the six little words (borrowed from the bringing down of the last lady PM) and it seems that the Timelord giveth and the Timelord taketh away. There are always choices and the Doctor makes you better for it, but this new man - "Don't challenge me" and then an almost Bradbury line of "The monsters are coming", turning it all around.

Back in the TARDIS, we finally get to see another room. The wardrobe, with its spiral staircase and references to previous Doctors and Casanova. But it isn't dragged out, more a nod to the past and all the better for it. I'm sure we'll see it again. Then Xmas dinner and the PM is being ousted on TV, and the Doctor wears glasses (I'm sure the conspiracy theorists will pick up on this, or maybe, RTD just wanted to complete the Jarvis Cocker look). And then outside.

Snowing at Xmas with shooting stars. "It's beautiful". No it's ash and the buring debris of the Sycorax ship. "Not so beautiful" The world is a changed place, just like the Doctor. But it ends with a positive "Fantastic", a bit like where the last one left off.

SCRIPT: this is a perfect mix of dramatic and comic and flows so freely, that it doesn't seem written as just improvised. It really is that good. And those who love slogans and soundbites will be picking over this until season two starts a proper

ACTING: the ensemble cast are at the best and showing that this will never be a oneman show. You either love of loath Tennant and after Blockpool, Casanova and Secret Smile, I think that this Doctor has a lot to offer and whole other sides to the character to explore. Even though he is only in half the episode, he shines so bright you could forget how good the last chap was. But it is different. You can't compare apples and oranges and people have their preferences, but both are first class.

SETS: Well, the interiors (UNIT, the ship) and impressive and solid looking and exteriors seemed to have been planned on a deliberately grand scale. Also, the huge extra count added to the dramatic effect. Definitely added to the peril with thousands about to jump, rather than a mention of thousands and a shots of half a dozen.

FX: I'm sure that some will pick holes in this, but given that this was a single episode. The amount of explosions and CGI this was not a cheap episode, so if some corners had to be cut, then they didn't detract from the plot or the action.

MUSIC: The usual high standard with nods to the past, but best of all was the more fully orchestrated closing credits with the middle eight restored. When is the Beeb going to release this version (or group of versions including the confidential theme) it could have been an Xmas number one (although not this year)

OVERALL: David Tennant is the new Doctor and the trailer for season two is the best teader trailer yet and the only one that needs to roll over the credits. The only problem is the 3 to 4 month wait for it to start

COMING SOON - SEASON TWO 

1. New Earth 

2. Tooth & Claw 

3. School Reunion 

4. The Girl in the Fireplace 

5. TBA

6. TBA 

7. The Girl in the Fireplace 

8. The Satan Pit

9. TBA 

10. TBA 

11. TBA 

12. Army of Ghosts 

13. Doomsday 

COMING SOON - SEASON THREE

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