Doctor Who (TV Series) A Christmas Carol (2010) User Reviews

Silence Night Will Fall...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 10 December 2021]

Dashing through space and time, in a one shark open sleigh, o'er the shoals we go, doing it annually. Shrills on Sonics ring, making ice clouds bright, dematerialise materialising, a slaying song tonight, oh!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-shark open sleigh, hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride, in a one-shark open sleigh.

"These are but shadows of the things that have been"

[boblipton · 9/10 · 25 December 2010]

Dickens' story gets the Doctor Who treatment, full of mad humor and personal tragedy as the Doctor has to reclaim a damaged soul in a world of flying sharks to save Amy, Rory (Arthur Darvill getting an upgrade to Companion status with a front-of-credits listing) and four thousands other people on a crashing space ship. With the great Michael Gambon as that Scrooge-like figure, it takes only half the show to manage the effort -- but series producer Steven Moffat never makes things that simple.

As a fancier of Charles Dickens and the Doctor, I am quite taken with another example of how the Doctor treats all time as simultaneous, rushing back and forth to get information from Gambon to get himself out of scrapes half a century earlier.

Moffat has shown a dab hand at making Victorian stories sensible to a twenty-first audience in series like JEKYLL and SHERLOCK. I'm glad he has decided to do the same for Scrooge.

Oh, and Karen Gillan makes a wonderful Ghost of Christmas Present in a short skirt.

best teleplay in the history of the medium... but who's counting?

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 31 December 2014]

Seriously, it is the job of the reviewer to point out the horrific and the extraordinary.

The most fun is pointing out the extraordinary.

Imagine that:

1. You are possibly the greatest living TV writer. The jury will not be in of course until you pass off this mortal shell, but the evidence at hand is substantial.

2. The year is 2010.

3. Among your many past accomplishments is that you have taken a children's show from the BBC archives and given it a worldwide stature that exceeds both Star Trek and Star Wars. That is cool. Like bowties are cool.

4. And that is merely your day job. At X-Mas, you get to have extra fun by writing "specials" that fans around the world await.

5. Again, the year is 2010. You decide to go for broke and write something which will not only be as good as Dickens but, hey, why not try to improve on the original?

6. Your logic is something like this. Even the BBC executives won't see how ambitious your work is, because the "Christmas Carol" theme has been done to death in movies and TV, and no one ever has come close to the original. So you proceed under cover of stealth. And cynicism.

7. And you nail it. A perfect supporting cast that includes no less than Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins.

8. And writing to die for. Writing beyond belief. There is a scene where Gambon, realizing that the Doc is playing him, challenges the doctor to "go ahead, show me the future" and the Doc replies, "That is what I am doing" ... pan camera to show that the younger Gambon is already in frame and the dialog with the older one was for the benefit if the younger. So, in effect, the future has already been shown.

9. And THAT is just a sample of the writing. The fact that this comes at the end of a Amy/Rory arc -- now considered (2014) to be the best arc in the series EVER -- is merely irony. Piling greatness on greatness.

10. Memo to IMDb staff (as if they are EVER going to reply, even if this is being written at X-Mas) -- we need a higher rating than "10."

Just for special occasions. Like this one.

Christmas Special 2010: So well done that even a flying shark pulling a sledge doesn't spoil it

[bob the moo · 16 January 2011]

Without any Wallace & Gromit and robbed of "big" movies by virtue of everyone seeing them already, the BBC continue to put all their festive spirit on the back of reality dancing shows and the annual outing for Doctor Who. This is not the place for people such as myself that watches Doctor Who for the occasional darkness and engaging plots and just puts up with the kiddie-friendly silliness that it will always have; no, the Christmas special is usually full of colourful, noisy nonsense and Bernard Cribbins in a Santa hat. So there was a certain amount of "strapping in for the ride" when I heard the plot of this years special (which it took me till now to watch – happy Christmas!).

The plot is essentially that Amy and Rory are on a spaceship crashing onto a planet but trapped in a thick cloud layer which is controlled by one man on the ground. Kazran Sardick is a real sour dick though and decides to just let the ship crash and kill everyone. Unable to do it without his help, the Doctor decides to travel back in time and show Sardick the miracle of Christmas, thus changing him into a good person and getting him to allow the ship to land. Meanwhile though, the Doctor cannot help but also be mystified by the cloud layer, in which fish freely swim and live. So it is a version of A Christmas Carol with flying sharks basically – sounds like a recipe for silly spectacle and easy sentiment right? Well, a little, but far less than I expected.

The viewer does have to deal with the image of a shark harnessed like a reindeer flying through the sky, but otherwise the special is actually very engaging and smartly done. The Christmas Carol aspect is actually pretty good and it even held my interest even though I'm not one for the whole "what a special day Christmas is" thing. Gambon plays his scrooge really well and I thought he gave the special a lot of heart. I had assumed that Jenkins would be a novelty but, while not brilliant, she was reasonably OK. Smith worked the thing as well as one would expect while neither Gillan nor Darvill (who really should not be in it in my opinion) didn't have much to do other than be the plot device – but weirdly the special was better for their absence.

Overall this was a really enjoyable Christmas special which (unlike the Poseidon in Space one the other year) actually feels festive due to its content rather than its trimmings. Engaging, quite clever, quite touching while also having the silliness that kids need – much better than I expected it would be.

Wow :)

[chazview · 10/10 · 26 December 2010]

I loved this episode, perfect for the holidays. Imaginative, unpredictable, original and a great holiday diversion.

Some viewers seem to find it necessary to pick apart the plot and think of ways the Doctor could've resolved things without jumping back and forth in time, or that time-lords shouldn't be doing it for those reasons. It's the Christmas Special; rather removed from the series in general and is meant to be enjoyed in the spirit of the holidays, let go and have fun with it ;)

My only criticism is that you can't yet purchase that wonderful song written for the show, sung by Katherine Jenkins -- "Abigail's Song".

A new take on a Christmas classic

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 25 December 2010]

Having had a season to get used to Matt's Smith's incarnation as The Doctor and Karen Gillan as is beautiful assistant Amy Pond it is time for their first Christmas special; would it turn out to be rather twee or would it be a classic? It was a classic! As the episode opens a space liner is in trouble, heading towards a planets where it appears to be doomed to crash; that is until one of the passengers, Amy Pond who is on honeymoon with Rory, summons her friend The Doctor to help. Unfortunately he can't help directly but a man called Kazran Sardick on the planet can, unfortunately that man shows no desire to help so The Doctor is forced to persuade him using Dicken's 'A Christmas Carol' for his inspiration. Going back in time he changes the bitter old man's boyhood self. In the past the young Kazran meets a pretty woman who his father has frozen in his basement, they let her out because they need her freezer then on subsequent Christmas Eves the three of them go out together until on day Kazran announces that he wants the tradition to end leaving the woman frozen. The Doctor is not told the reason although the viewers know so can sympathise with Kazran. The old Kazran's memories may have changed but now he just has different reasons to be bitter, the Doctor; and a hologram of Amy, must convince him to help them and the only way left will mean a great sacrifice on his part.

I thought this was a great variation on the theme of 'A Christmas Carol' it used science fiction rather than spectres to visit the past and show it to the elder Kazran and surprisingly didn't find an easy route to avoid a sad ending. The two stars were great but after the previous series I expected that; Michael Gambon brought suitable gravitas to the role of the elder Kazran and I'd never have guessed that this was singer Katherine Jenkin's first acting role. I liked the idea of fish swimming in the fog and the little fish did indeed look great; unfortunately the shark CGI looked obvious, even so I laughed when the Doctor flew in a carriage pulled by the shark in what is one of the strangest variations on Father Christmas and his reindeer that I've seen. Fans of Karen Gillan may be upset that Amy doesn't get as much screen time as usual this episode but the should be happy that she is wearing her 'sexy policewoman' costume again… clearly her and Rory were playing dress-up in the honeymoon suite when disaster struck!

In summary this was another great episode from the pen of Steven Moffat and starring a top notch cast that had plenty of thrills, heart-warming moments and a bitter-sweet ending that had me smiling and crying simultaneously.

You must be as hard as stone not to like this

[iancampbell72 · 9/10 · 25 December 2010]

Have just finished watching, and it was a touching, sometimes funny, but at no time was it cloying or overly sentimental. It whipped along at a good pace, and the performance were all good from Gambon, which was only to expected, to Katherine Jenkins, who for someone who had never really acted before was a very pleasant surprise, even if she did have to sing to a shark, but that is not as silly as it sounds when you see why in the last ten minutes. The ending is sad, but in a way uplifting, and you try not to have a lump in your throat, or a slight tear in your eye. .

Enjoy

"I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!"

[tucostevens54 · 8/10 · 27 December 2010]

Doctor Who's Christmas Specials have occasionally been hit and miss, sacrificing quality for spectacle. I'm happy to say that this year's entry did nothing of the sort.

Whilst in the honeymoon suite of a starship, Amy and Rory (dressed in their police and centurion costumes for reasons they don't wish to discuss) are about to crash land. Their only hope is Kazran Sardick (Michael Gambon) a cruel old miser who controls the sky. Borrowing an idea from his old friend Charles Dickens, The Doctor shows Kazran his past, present and future in the hope of bringing some warmth to the old man's heart.

The visuals in this episode, particularly on Kazran's palace, are spectacular, but it is the acting that is the real treat this Christmas. Gambon is sublime as he subtly transforms in true Scrooge style, whilst soprano Katherine Jenkins makes a pleasing debut, although a plot point involving her singing may possibly point out some stunt casting.

But the real Christmas star here is Matt Smith, who has settled into the role quite comfortably by now, he manages to be both entertaining and empathetic at the same time, some of his best scenes involving his interaction with the young Kazran, and later when he finds himself engaged to most unusual (yet familiar) bride.

This years episode ends on a high, despite the tragic fate befalling one of the characters and leaves this reviewer hungry for more.

Joyful ... simply joyful

[maarten-labeeuw · 8/10 · 26 December 2010]

Highly entertaining and perfectly fitting for Christmas.

Takes an old tale and masterfully reinvents it, meshing it seamlessly with the Doctor Who look and feel. Where many try to simply shift the story into a new setting, and by so doing botch the underlying message of the tale or make it so blatantly obvious as to strip it of all of its poetry, the Doctor Who team have managed to make it entirely their own while keeping its simple elegance.

This once again reaffirms my belief that Doctor Who is one of the best series on television in quite some time, even after having watched now for five years, each new episode continues to be new and refreshing.

One comment on the music ... beautifully executed, and magnificently sung by Katherine Jenkins ... did anyone else get the impression that "Abigail's Song" was strongly influenced by Philip Glass' "Open the Kingdom"?

A brilliant, entertaining Christmas fairytale, Doctor Who style...

[rb-939-19665 · 10/10 · 1 January 2011]

I normally don't do reviews, but I couldn't pass this one up. This Christmas special was simply brilliant. For me, it's hands down the best Christmas special to date. It's a truly magical Christmas fairytale-ish story, done in somewhat atypical Who-niverse fashion. I just loved it. I had no issues whatsoever with the characters, the casting, the story... it was all just brilliant. Even the "personal timeline" stuff didn't bother me in the slightest - it made for a compelling and somewhat awe inspiring storyline that I really enjoyed. And besides... yeah, the cardinal rule of not crossing personal timelines... rubbish, really. True Who fans can probably cite off the top of their heads a half dozen examples of when the Doctor blatantly violated that rule, going all the way back to the 3rd or 4th Doctor even. The way I looked at it was that this was not ordinary Doctor Who anyway... this was the Christmas special... and I thoroughly enjoyed the Who crew taking it a bit further than previous norms. It's the unexpected that makes this show so exciting.

Dr Who does A Christmas Carol

[studioAT · 7/10 · 5 December 2019]

'A Christmas Carol' adaptations are certainly nothing new, so it's full credit to Dr Who that it manages both to retell the classic tale, but also add a lot that's new to it.

Matt Smith's first Christmas Special in the role is perhaps his best, and there's a lot of warmth and sadness in this episode. He plays both aspects beautifully.

Yes, the plot is sometimes a bit hard to grasp, but this is certainly one of the better Christmas Specials in recent years.

A Christmas fairy tale comes to life

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 1 September 2015]

Amy and Rory are celebrating their honeymoon on board a spaceship, but it's out of control and hurtling towards a planet ruled by the Scrooge like Kazran Sardick. Kazran is refusing to help, his machinery could save the crash, but he chooses to let the thousands of people die. We step in to a Christmas carol as the Doctor shows Kazran the error of his ways. Using all manner of techniques to make Kazran change his mind.

This is possibly my favourite Christmas episode, it is so different from all the others, I think even Dickens would have loved it.

It is a Christmas fairy tale perfect for the Festive period. Without patrsonising it, I'd say it's the prettiest episode to date, it looks incredible (you can see where the budget went.) Michael Gambon is utterly brilliant, so to is Katherine Jenkins, she did a great job considering it was her first real character part. The music is simply beautiful, I love it, works so wonderfully, in particular the moving Abigail's song.

Touchingly beautiful, best Christmas episode to date. 10/10

Magical combination of DW and Christmas

[Gelaos · 7/10 · 2 March 2019]

Christmas-melancholy atmosphere, great setting, typically "DW" plot, time travelling. Nice Chritmas gift for fans.

Nice story but...

[Tyypo · 1/10 · 8 January 2011]

I am going to have to side with remembrapril and his review. Yes, it was interesting and touching in many ways, but it violated a Cardinal Rule of Doctor Who continuity. That is: The Doctor cannot intentionally go back in time to make his present situation more favorable. That has been stated repeatedly. For instance, after the death of Adric at the end of Earthshock, The Doctor cannot go back in time to save him. If this is something that becomes a trend, it can easily become a deus ex machina plot device that can be used as a "get out of jail free card" in any circumstance. In fact, if he fails to do this in future episodes, then it will beg the question, "why doesn't he just go back in time and...?" The precedent has been set. As a stand-alone time story in the general "time travel" genre, it works. As a Doctor Who episode, it fails.

Simply beautiful

[jankovic · 21 September 2011]

This is one of the most beautiful episodes of Doctor Who. It's almost a year since i watched it, and simply can't get it out of my head. Perfect Christmas episode, guaranteed to have tears in your eyes by the end of the show.

This special has that fine line of strange, funny, sad and exciting. Steven Moffat at his best.

I hope the next Xmas special will be as good as this one. Season is also good, so special continue to give prediction of season that will follow in the new year. Can't wait for new episodes of this silly show, that has something that holds you and doesn't lose it's grip for a long long time.

Haunting

[Theo Robertson · 9/10 · 26 December 2010]

I can't say I've been impressed by Mopffat's version of DOCTOR WHO . Season five was easily the weakest season of the resurrected show and gave the impression that the audience were watching cast off scripts from the previous regime of RTD even down to the Tennantesque dialogue of the eleventh Doctor so I expected to see some seasonal fluff with the oxymoronic sub heading of " Christmas special "

Premonitions were confirmed in the opening hook where Amy and Rory are aboard an intergalactic cruse liner which instantly reminded me of the STAR TREK movies . Not only does Moffat rip off RTD but he also has to seek inspiration from ST . Things weren't looking good for Amy , Rory and thgis viewer

Despite this I became more and more involved as the story continued. It's a sophisticated reworking of A Christmas Carol featuring unrequited love and redemption . What works so well apart from the stunning performances of Gambon and Jenkins is the lightness of touch in Moffat's writing . It's manipulative to a certain degree but we never get the teeth gnashing and tear stained scenes that caused overkill in the RTD finales

If there's a slight flaw to the story it borders on being a fantastical fairytale rather than straightforward science fantasy that the show was famous for since its inception in 1963 . But Moffat has described that he thinks of the show as being a dark fairy tale and if he takes the show in this direction he'll certainly get no complaints from me . Especially since Matt Smith seems to improve in every episode he's in

As a footnote however I notice this special has only received an average rating of 6.8 which is on a par with Victory Of The Daleks ! I do hope fans aren't expecting to see old monsters appear adnausuem in season 6

The Definitive 11th Doctor Episode.

[zacpetch · 10/10 · 15 December 2014]

11th is my favourite of all the Dr Who 'versions' (Well, sometimes. If you caught me in a different mood I might have said 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, War or 9th instead) and I think it's safe to say that this is one of (if not THE) best of all Matt Smith's episodes. It's also his first of four Christmas outings in the role too.

The title is among the least imaginative the series has to offer, which is a shame when you consider that this is Moffat we're talking about here. The plot sees Amy and Rory (the latter is officially main-cast now) on their honeymoon aboard a spaceship that threatens to crash into an unnamed planet unless grumpy old miser Kazran Sardick changes his ways.

Sardick is played by Michael Gambon and he is tremendous as he steals every scene he's in. Matt Smith also manages to show himself to be an incredible actor too (again). Both characters display a huge range of emotions in this episode and the two actors do a wonderful job with the material they've got.

'A Christmas Carol' is arguably Dickens' most famous work (up there with 'Great Expectations', 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Tale Of Two Cities') and this episode might appear to be biting off more than it can chew by taking on an already overdone story. This works well though because it doesn't stick to it precisely. The end result is one of the three finest takes on the story you'll see (the other two being The Muppets and Blackadder, not that you needed me to tell you that).

The Doctor decides that Christmas past shall not be shown in visions; rather he literally goes to Sardick's past and changes it, whist Christmas present is done via holographic projection to and from the crashing ship with Amy, Rory and the passengers visiting the old version of Sardick before he lets them crash.

Christmas past makes up the bulk of the story as The Doctor visits Sardick as a child and again as a young adult every Christmas eve for several years. Here we get to see the more fun side of the 11th in his many adventures with Sardick every year alongside the love interest Abigail, played by Katherine Jenkins for some reason. She proves that she can act well enough to not let the episode down though, unlike certain other singers to appear on Dr Who at Christmas (naming no names, Kylie). She also gets to perform on a couple of occasions (which, thankfully, Kylie didn't).

It's Christmas future that will get to your emotions as Matt Smith's more serious side shows. The previous year people weren't too sure about someone so young becoming the lead actor on this show, but anyone who somehow still doubted was well and truly shut up here as he doesn't take the old Sardick to see him, as he predicts, dying alone but instead tells the miser he's already seen his future. He turns and there's himself as a child. "Is this what you want to become?" asks The Doctor. There is a feeling that the episode has been building up to a moment like this one and it does not disappoint.

Hard to fault it really, it's a shame that we didn't get an episode like this one again with the next Christmas episode 'The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe' which was pathetic in comparison. This isn't just the best Matt Smith episode, it's the best Dr Who Christmas special of them all. 10/10

A wonderful episode

[gridoon2024 · 8/10 · 19 March 2015]

After the disappointing (IMHO) finale to season 5, this wonderful Christmas special restored my faith in the series. It is an ingenious combination of the classic Christmas story and "The Girl In The Fireplace". Steven Moffat pulls out all the emotional stops, and also cranks up the fairy-tale quotient to eleven; I suppose the most cynical of viewers could describe "A Christmas Carol" as cheesy, but if you surrender yourself to the Christmas spirit of things, it can be a magical experience. Amy and Rory have little to do in this episode, but I didn't mind that. The production values are lush, and Katherine Jenkins acts and sings so beautifully that she may send chills (of the good variety!) down your spine. *** out of 4.

Christmas Confection

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 10/10 · 26 January 2019]

This excellent Christmas Special has the Doctor giving us a spin on the famous Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' as he tries to change an old miser into a better man by showing him his own past, the present and the impact of his behaviour upon the future.

The Doctor's aim is to get Kazran Sardick (played fantastically by the wonderful Michael Gambon) to relent on his decision to not help allow a ship to safely land. If the Doctor fails to get a change of Sardick's mind by midnight the 4003 passengers including Amy and Rory will be killed.

The story is great fun, humorous and very entertaining but also quite deep and moving. The take on the old story makes it a perfect Christmas treat and all the acting is top notch.

It is usual Moffatt era fairytale stuff without much basis in reality.

The 'flying' sharks and fish in the fog were an odd gimmicky idea really but I was happy to accept them as a bit of fun.

When the Doctor is zapping back and forth along the timelines of characters involved in the story as well as zapping back and forth to the crashing ship and involving passengers in his attempts to change Sardick's mind it made me realise he could in theory just transport the passengers off the ship or tow the ship with the TARDIS as he had in another story. But that would be too easy eh? Haha.

I won't be too grumpy about that anyway. It is so festive, fun and engaging with a lot of great positive elements that my overthinking brain was not able to spoil it with these options the Doctor missed. It isn't a plot hole, just what I would call a case of the Doctor making things very needlessly hard for himself haha.

There is so much brilliance in the script and so much lovely, moving drama. Gambon's performance especially is fabulous and there is a huge amount of enjoyment if you just go with it.

A major plus that has to be recognised is the heart and charm that this story has. The touching romantic aspect with Abigail, played admirably by singer Katherine Jenkins is lovely and the range Gambon shows from heartless miser to heartbroken and damaged is wonderful.

Matt is extremely engaging and the child Sardick scenes are done really well too. The moral messages work just as they did in Dickens' original.

My Rating: 9.5/10.

Exactly as the title suggests but Doctor Who

[dkiliane · 8/10 · 21 March 2019]

Obviously inspired by Charles Dickens novel of the same name, this special requires the viewer to do an awful lot of belief suspension, even for Doctor Who. Christmas on a completely different world completely unrelated to Earth but still has to be called Christmas cause it's a holiday special..(sigh) stuff like that annoys me. Seriously why would a Time Lord be so enthused over a human holiday which obviously doesn't coincide with his own religious or secular beliefs. (The answer of course is commercialism but that is another discussion altogether).

Tying in the "halfway out of the dark" idea with the winter solstice was intriguing, and purposefully simultaneously literal and figurative. And in its own way still works though being a bit on the nose thematically.

The acting is quite good even on the part of young Kazran. Special effects hold up pretty well and the story is fun if rather predictable (which is to be expected given the source material) and engaging throughout. So, if you can get past the blatantly ridiculous holiday tie-in (and I assume most would since it is a holiday special after all) it is a rather enjoyable and optimistic episode delving into grief, loss, recovery from abuse, and redemption. 8.5/10

Literal Art.

[W011y4m5 · 10/10 · 2 December 2020]

Here, Moffat delivers one of the best scripts he'll ever submit during his tenure as showrunner - gifting fans with a new, charming take on Charles Dickens' classic novel - written by the very author who featured in his friend Mark Gatiss' "The Unquiet Dead" during the 1st season in 2005 (played by the respected thespian Simon Callow) - & whose work the protagonist was not only supposedly a fan of, but influenced by so greatly, his spooky tale ingeniously acted as much needed inspiration to solve the problem he's confronted with during this episode. I know. Meta.

It's a fiercely intelligent, self aware installment, somehow providing the perfect explanation as to how the narrative is able to adapt the timeless story - without actually being an adaptation or breaking the fourth wall - joyously toying with the complex, contradictory, timey-wimey absurdity whilst simultaneously adding a unique twist that blends the worlds of sci-fi & fantasy in order to for it to fit comfortably inside the realm of "Who". This perfect balance is supported by the incredibly creative mind at the helm, Toby Haynes - a strong & indomitable director (whose work speaks for itself) paired with his trusted DoP Stephan Pehrsson - who together (alongside new production designer, Michael Pickwoad) create one of the most visually captivating outings in the show's history, using their combined talents to further elevate the quality of the screenplay they're tasked with bringing to life - & in that endeavour they most assuredly do succeed, imbuing each & every sequence with a gorgeous sense of awe & wonder. Additionally, in those aforementioned magical scenes, lead Matt Smith clearly thrills in filling them with his increasingly magnetic presence, enjoying his time in the spotlight (away from his beloved companions - who play a minor supporting role), capitalising on his rare chance to showcase his abilities by himself as an actor, delivering a powerhouse performance - holding his own against a living legend like Michael Gambon.

It's no understatement either to acknowledge how stunning the use lighting is throughout & how considerate crew members involved were when planning their evidently conscientious compositions; even with the enjoyably experimental framing & inventive aesthetics - which are captured through some notably impressive & confident camera movements that really do accentuate how easily immersed one can be in the otherworldly environments (under the watchful eye of a visionary such as Haynes) - what enamours most are the nuances that Stephan Pehrsson manages to also include - proving himself to be one of the the most valuable contributors to the show since its revival. For instance, as the plot chronicles the Doctor's battle for the heart & soul of Kazran, his cinematography physically manifests the duality of his nature by providing a meticulous visualisation of the antagonist's inner turmoil; reflecting that fight between good & evil by expertly utilising purposeful light so as to ensure that one half of his face remains in perpetual, cold shadow, symbolising the struggle between light / darkness, bathing the other side of his face in a constant yellow warmth - the same colour that's deliberately emitted from the tomb which houses the love of his life, Abigail. This intentional creative decision only helps to subliminally reinforce the themes of Steven's script, reasserting the beneficial outlook Mr Sardick has on life due to his relationship with Catherine Jenkins' character - as she is responsible for melting his icy heart.

One could even argue further; she's maybe the embodiment of his heart; as his introduction establishes him as the Ebenezer Scrooge equivalent, she's wheeled out at the exact same moment & presented to him from the chilly lake beneath, frozen & forgotten - but as the persistent time traveller meddles with his personal history, Kazran's vital organ thaws unnaturally as she does - & reaffirming that hypothetical interpretation. It is coincidental how whatever condition she is found in at any point in the plot's progression, that state consistently matches his emotional one. Again, it's subtle but poetry, nonetheless.

Truly, the level of craftsmanship & sheer consideration behind the camera pays off & the care that is put in to making everything work on screen is mind-blowing. That's not uncommon within the media industry & my acknowledgement of their artistry isn't a trivialisation of the everyone else's but specifically with this hour of television, the efforts are genuinely deserving of immense appreciation from audiences & fans alike.

A Christmas classic?

[AleksandrBelenko · 7/10 · 3 September 2019]

I like this story, written be Dickens. Itis interesting to read and it is moral indeed. But there are so many interpretations it makes me sick. Flying fish is good´n stuff, but in its core it is still a Christmas Carol. Please stop filming more and more of it. The episode is not boring , but does not provide nothing new apart from location and flying fish. So there is a planet with Victorian fasion and advanced tech.... Ok. Flying fish, - ok. Dickens´classic story, - ok. And changing the lifeline of a human person by changing his past experience that is something I do not like in time travel stories. It is hard to say I did not like an episode or I enjoyed it a lot... There are good and bad in this special. So I give it a 7 out of 10. Someone will say it is too much, others it is to little. For me it is just fine.

Well done everyone

[doctor-934-207111 · 9/10 · 27 December 2010]

One imperfection!

Great start and yeah a bit of a Star Trek holiday ship rip off I must admit!!

The Doctor first begs for the lives of those on board and gets the boot.

He then here a Christmas Carol and decides to play Dickens.

I do not fault Moffatt for the interference in Time Travel. That actually enhances to the art.

And this is fun ( Anyone for a Doctor Who and MArilyn Monroe meetup?)

What I did not like was the young Sarkis meeting the old Sarkis.

Anyone recall Maydryn Undead and what one brigadier did to another?

Also, political power and influence, Moffatt weaves these themes well.

Well casted!!

disappointing

[merry_squirrel · 2/10 · 29 December 2010]

I was really really disappointed in this episode.

It was overly sentimental and not satisfying. I didn't find the overused Scrooge plot interesting. Nor did I find the time jumps for the the various Christmas Eve's past very compelling. The singing, the fish, the scenes with the father, and the rewriting of the past did not come together very well. It was like a stew in which too many ingredients have been added and none of them go together very well.

I think I may be missing a sentimentality gene or something, since clearly a lot of other people reviewing this episode really enjoyed it. It lacked "Whoness" and didn't fit in very well with the types of plots and dialog from other episodes.

fantastic episode despite rule-breaking

[anddontblink · 15 August 2011]

This was the first full episode of Doctor Who I watched (I had previously caught bits and pieces and enjoyed it, but last Christmas I sat down and watched this one), and it was a beautiful thing. I love Matt Smith as the Doctor (don't love the series quite as much as with Tennant, but he was helped by a wealth of amazing companions, both in the Tardis and back on Earth), and he is at his best in this episode. When he's allowed to act on his own, without Amy constantly harping on him, he is brilliant.

A couple reviews have discussed the unfortunate broken rule of time travel, that you can't go back on your own timeline. Thankfully, they have not repeated this error. Also, upon discussing it with some other fans, we decided that this episode shows what happens when you DO violate that rule. Kazran, even after what should have been a happier adolescence, still ends up bitter, unhappy, and basically exactly the same as he started. Going back on your own timeline doesn't work - it wasn't until the Doctor helped him in the present that he became happier.

Either way, it is a beautiful, poignant story, with Matt Smith at his best.