"Doctor Who" The Christmas Invasion (2005)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

James Hawes

Writer:

Russell T. Davies (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

25 December 2005 (Season 2, Episode 0)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

It's Christmas Eve, but this is to be a far from silent night - the cruel Sycorax have come to Earth to enslave mankind and, as ever, only The Doctor can stop them. Unfortunately, he's lying in a coma in Jackie's home...

Plot Keywords:

Fantasy | Tardis | Christmas | Political Satire | Title Spoken By Character

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Billie Piper	...	Rose Tyler
Camille Coduri	...	Jackie Tyler
Noel Clarke	...	Mickey Smith
Penelope Wilton	...	Harriet Jones
Daniel Evans	...	Danny Llewellyn
Adam Garcia	...	Alex
Sean Gilder	...	Sycorax Leader
Chu Omambala	...	Major Blake
Anita Briem	...	Sally
Sian McDowall	...	Sandra
Paul Anderson	...	Jason
Cathy Murphy	...	Mum
Sean Carlsen	...	Policeman
Jason Mohammed	...	Newsreader 1

Runtime:

60 min | 60 min (3 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Tredegar House, Newport, Wales, UK

Trivia:

After defeating the head Sycorax in the sword fight, the Doctor makes a comment about his outfit being very "Arthur Dent" and going on a short bit about what kind of person he was (just prior to discovering the fruit in his robe's pocket). This is a reference to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Douglas Adams, the creator of the story, was a writer for the "Doctor Who" series.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: There is no visible breath in the scenes that take place outside. Nor do any of the characters show any reaction on the top of the Sycorax Spaceship where it would be freezing high above London on Christmas Day.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Doctor: Jackie, Mickey, blimey! No, no, no, no, hold on. Wait there! I've got something to say. I've got something I had to tell you. Something important, what was it? No, no, no, hold on. Tch tch tch tch... Oh, I know! Merry Christmas!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Doctor Who: Utopia (#3.11)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Merry Xmas Everybody

A Christmas Contrivance yet Davies makes it work.

What with the up coming latest Christmas offering from writer/producer Russel T. Davies about to hit out television screens this coming December 25th. I thought it rather apt that I take a glance back at last years 'The Christmas Invasion'. Something that is thus far a unique entry in the history of 'Doctor Who' in that it is the first official stand alone Christmas special. Not to mention the first episode in the new contemporary series to feature a new actor taking on the mantle of the heroic Time Lord as well as it being the first Christmas special to deal with the now traditional transition.

I must confess that my hopes at first weren't entirely high for the unfortunately titled special. Upon seeing the final image of Scot's actor and former 'Casanova' star David Tennant's grinning face. The image cut to the new series logo with words beneath clearly emblazoned across the screen. '...Will return in 'The Christmas Invasion'. I gagged at this sight. I wasn't entirely sure If I would warm to the notion of a Christmas special. It sounded like something that had the potential to be yet another contrivance by the powers that be at the BBC. A lame excuse to place the Doctor and Rose in a Christmas setting. This had already been achieved in the earlier Mark Gatiss penned 'The Unquiet Dead'. But while that was a merely a story that happened to be set at Christmas. 'The Christmas Invasion' is a story deliberately set around the festive season in which is a deliberate contrivance.

Not that It Isn't pulled off more or less successfully. There is much to commend the first holiday one hour special. The poor title of course being one of several minor annoyances. The plot although merely a shallow invasion story is never the less a neat little way to exploit the British government if not the world's reaction to such a monumental threat. As well as how reliant the Prime Minister Harriet Jones(veteran actress Penelpoe Wilton reprising her role from Aliens of London/World War Three) as are UNIT of the Doctor. Although it does rely on a speech given later in the story which beggars belief slightly. Although It does contain a humorous nod to the royal family.

The inclusion of certain plot contrivances to further remind the audience that this is a Christmas special i.e. Robot killer Santa's do nothing but make me wonder if Russell T. Davies is talking down to his audience. Are we that dim that we need further assurance that this is set at Christmas? They seem a bit out of place and offer little if practically nothing to the plot. Although an added Christmas contrivance proves quite effective and is cleverly utilised using state of the art CGI.

The Alien threat which are the Sycorax although it has been claimed are nothing more than a rip off of the Klingon's are very effective. While it cannot be denied that they are in many ways inspired by the 'Star Trek' creatures(and no doubt there will be Trekkies who will moan about this) the Borg in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and onwards are arguably even more of a rip off of the Cybermen than the Sycorx are of the Klingons. They are similar but manage to hold their own identity as a threatening menace.

The regulars/semi-regulars are all wonderful here. David Tennant makes an instant impression. Even though this latest incarnation of the legendary alien time traveller is out of commission for the majority of the special. Recovering from the effects from post regenerative trauma. It's been stated that his Doctor lacks depth in this first outing. An unfair criticism given his relatively small screen presence in his first story and that this is after all a television series. There's ample scope to develop the character in later stories which has more or less been accomplished. Billie Piper is tremendous. Really pulling out all the stops in a thoroughly emotional performance. Although I find Rose a little irritating in this outing as she strikes me as a tad selfish and self involved in this story. Bleating on about how the Doctor(Ninth Doctor) left her. Even though he more or less gave up his life to save hers at the end of 'The Parting of the Ways'. Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri are both very good here. And Mickey proves to be fairly brave and resilient in this outing. While Cammile is a great comedic and emotional foil to the rest of the actors.

The stories denouement also offers a nice moral spin and allows Tennant a classic Doctorish moment and harks back to the more harsh, self righteous tone the character has been known to exhibit. We catch a glimpse of the darker, grim side to the Time lords tenth personae. It's an interesting scene which fans will love and which new viewers might be shocked to witness. As it portrays a ruthless streak in the alien heroes personality.

With references to 'Torchwood' which part the way for what's to eventually come in series 2 and a new spin off show featuring 'Captain Jack Harkness' himself. We also catch a nice little preview of what was then to come at the time. A lovely little trailer of the second series which includes the return of the Cybermen and Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and John Leeson as the the old robotic kids favourite, K-9.

So all in all. 'The Christmas Invasion' is a thoroughly entertaining, shallow non-classic story. Unique in many aspects. But still flawed and no real gem. It does what it set's out to do. which is introduce us to a new actor in the central role and the concept of regeneration and It's effects. And for that it receives an A-. A neat effort which was far more enjoyable than I would have potentially given it credit for before viewing it.