Just before It was revealed that Matt Smith was to step into David Tennant's shoes and replace him as the eleventh actor to play the Doctor. Many names were bandied about as to who that person might be. Writer/Executive producer Russel T. Davies took advantage of this speculation and penned "The Next Doctor" which would be 2008's Christmas special. The story revolves around the Doctor arriving in nineteenth-century London on Christmas Eve where he meets a strange man who goes by the same title. He looks totally dissimilar in physical appearance and wears different clothes but there are subtle similarities. The eccentric behaviour, as well as the Victorian wardrobe that the Time Lord would conceivably wear, he apparently has a sonic screwdriver and has a female companion, a young twenty-something who goes by the name of Rosita. Most eerie is that he also refers to himself as being a Time Lord.
So far everything sounds quite promising and so you would think but the story's premise is fairly good. The end result while not awful (as much of RTD's work on the show has shown) is a bit of a letdown. Good concept, so-so execution.
The performances though aren't part of the problem. David Tennant is as normal, on reliable form as ever while guest actor David Morrisey makes an instant impression as the pseudo-doctor of the title. He breathes a lot of energy into the part and shows much of the enthusiasm that Tennant himself has displayed throughout his tenure, as well as the requisite passion that you would expect the heroic lead to have. Velile Tshabalalaas as Rosita makes a decent feisty assistant who manages to gel well with her two male counterparts. Even if at times she verges on being a tad OTT in moments where she is called upon to show annoyance, anger, or hostility which undermines some of the more dramatic moments, my hat has to go off to Dervla Kirwan who is quite excellent as the human villain of the piece, Mercy Hartigan, a detestable, vile woman who Kirwan plays with the right touch of dry, cool menace and venom, allowing to, bring to life a memorably chilling villainess.
But these can't entirely compensate for some of the problems which arise in the script. Again we see the return of the alternative version of the excellent Cybermen that were introduced in 2006's "Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel". Although I can't say that I hate this new version they're not a patch on the original monsters which were previously seen in the classic series. Then there's the thought that rather than have the Cybermen relegated to being convenient villains rather than the main source of the story. Why not introduce a new threat that may have complimented the story? Then there are the newly introduced Cyber-dog creatures used by the Cybermen who just look like they were inspired by an old "Tom and Jerry" cartoon. Not forgetting that part of the plot relies on young urchins being exploited as a means of slave labour. Which isn't the most innovative of plot devices.
Some of the humor at times although appropriate in practically any "Doctor Who" episode, comes dangerously close to being too cartoonish at times. Not to mention slapstick. And the special's show-stopping climax which revolves around the rise of "The Cyber-king" is somewhat ludicrous given the number of witnesses who see the terrifying event, and yet no one in the future seems to have heard anything about it (with the possible exception of "Torchwood" which even then did not exist at the time where everything takes place). Nevertheless, there are some rather novel ideas thrown in which include the explanation as to who "The New Doctor" really is and why he believes himself to be the ancient Time Lord of legend, and an interesting (if a bit hackneyed) inclusion of a weather balloon. Davies also manages to keep things rolling along at a fairly even pace and there are still some genuinely exciting and fun moments to be enjoyed. One of which is a defining moment towards the end where Tennant's Doctor is forced to confront Miss Hartigan and the Cybermen more or less face to face, offering them an alternative to the cruel madness that they have in mind. It makes for what is a genuinely compassionate moment which you would expect from the noble time traveler.
Tag on a nicely placed coda where the false Doctor finally invites his new friend to Christmas dinner and "The Next Doctor" makes for a solid if an underwhelming end to the year which was 2008. It's just a shame that David Morrisey won't be taking over from Tennant as the new Doctor as he had the potential to be something great. But here's to Matt Smith and what he may bring to his tenure.
So far everything sounds quite promising and so you would think but the story's premise is fairly good. The end result while not awful (as much of RTD's work on the show has shown) is a bit of a letdown. Good concept, so-so execution.
The performances though aren't part of the problem. David Tennant is as normal, on reliable form as ever while guest actor David Morrisey makes an instant impression as the pseudo-doctor of the title. He breathes a lot of energy into the part and shows much of the enthusiasm that Tennant himself has displayed throughout his tenure, as well as the requisite passion that you would expect the heroic lead to have. Velile Tshabalalaas as Rosita makes a decent feisty assistant who manages to gel well with her two male counterparts. Even if at times she verges on being a tad OTT in moments where she is called upon to show annoyance, anger, or hostility which undermines some of the more dramatic moments, my hat has to go off to Dervla Kirwan who is quite excellent as the human villain of the piece, Mercy Hartigan, a detestable, vile woman who Kirwan plays with the right touch of dry, cool menace and venom, allowing to, bring to life a memorably chilling villainess.
But these can't entirely compensate for some of the problems which arise in the script. Again we see the return of the alternative version of the excellent Cybermen that were introduced in 2006's "Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel". Although I can't say that I hate this new version they're not a patch on the original monsters which were previously seen in the classic series. Then there's the thought that rather than have the Cybermen relegated to being convenient villains rather than the main source of the story. Why not introduce a new threat that may have complimented the story? Then there are the newly introduced Cyber-dog creatures used by the Cybermen who just look like they were inspired by an old "Tom and Jerry" cartoon. Not forgetting that part of the plot relies on young urchins being exploited as a means of slave labour. Which isn't the most innovative of plot devices.
Some of the humor at times although appropriate in practically any "Doctor Who" episode, comes dangerously close to being too cartoonish at times. Not to mention slapstick. And the special's show-stopping climax which revolves around the rise of "The Cyber-king" is somewhat ludicrous given the number of witnesses who see the terrifying event, and yet no one in the future seems to have heard anything about it (with the possible exception of "Torchwood" which even then did not exist at the time where everything takes place). Nevertheless, there are some rather novel ideas thrown in which include the explanation as to who "The New Doctor" really is and why he believes himself to be the ancient Time Lord of legend, and an interesting (if a bit hackneyed) inclusion of a weather balloon. Davies also manages to keep things rolling along at a fairly even pace and there are still some genuinely exciting and fun moments to be enjoyed. One of which is a defining moment towards the end where Tennant's Doctor is forced to confront Miss Hartigan and the Cybermen more or less face to face, offering them an alternative to the cruel madness that they have in mind. It makes for what is a genuinely compassionate moment which you would expect from the noble time traveler.
Tag on a nicely placed coda where the false Doctor finally invites his new friend to Christmas dinner and "The Next Doctor" makes for a solid if an underwhelming end to the year which was 2008. It's just a shame that David Morrisey won't be taking over from Tennant as the new Doctor as he had the potential to be something great. But here's to Matt Smith and what he may bring to his tenure.