A very nice first outing for Ncuti Gatwa, who, by the looks of things, will fill the role of Doctor Who very well. He has just the right amount of eccentricities, and, surprisingly, a smattering of gravitas. I am looking forward to his hard-core, fabulous take on the role.
The episode mainly focussed on the Doctor and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday, and there's already chemistry between the two characters. My only gripe being Ruby Sunday didn't utter the immortal words "it's bigger on the inside." Fun cameos from Davina McCall and Anita Dobson rounded things off. With a notable mention for Greenidge's Carla Sunday, and the mid-episode step change from effervescent to browbeaten.
The episode was a visual treat, and up there with big-budget blockbuster films. Especially the goblins, they were wonderful little creatures, and their King was quite repulsive.
Where things fall a little flat is when we come to the story. As a first outing for Gatwa, and as a Christmas Special, it was great. I just hoped for a little more. Russel Davies has written some of the finest Doctor Who story arcs. There was no hint of what is in store for this new Doctor, it was just a Christmas romp with spectacular CGI.
Watchable, fun, but not a pivotal event of singular importance in space and time.
The episode mainly focussed on the Doctor and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday, and there's already chemistry between the two characters. My only gripe being Ruby Sunday didn't utter the immortal words "it's bigger on the inside." Fun cameos from Davina McCall and Anita Dobson rounded things off. With a notable mention for Greenidge's Carla Sunday, and the mid-episode step change from effervescent to browbeaten.
The episode was a visual treat, and up there with big-budget blockbuster films. Especially the goblins, they were wonderful little creatures, and their King was quite repulsive.
Where things fall a little flat is when we come to the story. As a first outing for Gatwa, and as a Christmas Special, it was great. I just hoped for a little more. Russel Davies has written some of the finest Doctor Who story arcs. There was no hint of what is in store for this new Doctor, it was just a Christmas romp with spectacular CGI.
Watchable, fun, but not a pivotal event of singular importance in space and time.