The Runaway Bride

Personally, I thought this was riveting. It looks like something out of Hollywood (with big-budget, barmy special effects and lots of gadgets) and it is full of action. None of it makes sense exactly, but when has that mattered? The killer Santas that replaced the Daleks as the new villains weren't exactly terrifying, but they were menacing and launched a beautifully-made attack on Donna's wedding party. But towards the end, the whole thing starts to feel like a pantomime - why did that stupid spider need so much screen time? Catherine Tate wasn't too bad - I despise her comedy show, but at least in this episode there wasn't any of this "Am I bothered?" rubbish coming from her - she's far better when she stays off the humour. David Tennant is once again a few sandwiches short of a picnic and slightly too jolly, but we can accept that. After all, Doctor Who is meant to be completely bonkers and unrealistic, and this Christmas special promises great things for the third series. A car chase featuring the Tardis and lots of Christmas-related villainy are amongst the best things you'll find in this episode - I'm sure that Series 3 will be absolutely spiffing. 8/10

It is Christmas Eve and the Doctor is coming to terms with losing Rose (who can blame him) after the events at Canary Wharf and then...

A far from innocent (a little naïve though) bride, is snatched from her wedding to fly, round the highways (and river) of London, above and below them, as the Racnoss descends from the sky.

A tangled web of seasonal chaos ensues with plenty of arms and legs akimbo, and we get to meet Donna who, at the time, is a little unbearable (but what do we know!)

As the end credits rolled on Christmas Day, I was left feeling distinctly underwhelmed by "The Runaway Bride". Following the previous Christmas special ("The Christmas Invasion"), I had high expectations. Unfortunately, the 2006 special is something of a damp squib although it does have its moments.

The usually horrendously annoying Catherine Tate appears as The Doctor's temporary companion following the loss of Rose Tyler at the end of the last season. I've never understood the appeal of Ms. Tate and this production has done little to shed any light on this mystery. Her early scenes are ham-fisted and poorly executed. However, by the end of this story, Tate has partially redeemed herself as she does bring moments of comedy to the proceedings.

There are some saving graces for this production. Firstly, David Tennant is as entertaining as always. Long may his travels in the TARDIS continue - he's going to be a very tough act to follow. Tennant reveals a little more of what makes his Doctor tick in "The Runaway Bride". I have no doubts that the best is yet to come.

Secondly, there is the excellent and genuinely exciting TARDIS chase scene. I won't say anymore but this was a spectacular set-piece and it showed just how far the production values have improved.

Although my initial reaction to this special is one of disappointment, it's far from being a total disaster. For a Christmas episode, though, this lacked festive sparkle and left me feeling more than a tad disappointed. However, this is a Doctor caught in the midst of change and the tone reflects this. Even Russell T. Davies' script seemed without its usual magic and zest, although there are a few sizzling one-liners. Previous (brief) Xmas enemies were shoe-horned into the production without really adding anything to plot-development. The script seemed a little dull and director Euros Lyn fails to set proceedings truly alight although there are some memorable scenes.

The usually easy-on-the-eye Sarah Parish is practically unrecognisable as the evil Empress Of Rachnos. 10 out of 10 for the effects guys, they've done a sterling job in creating this new spider-monster. Parish herself is a lot of fun and fills her screen time with an over-the-top but successful and likable performance. It's a shame her appearance is limited - she's a very watchable villain with a wicked sense of humour.

The delightfully pretty Krystal Archer appears briefly as Tate's nemesis, Nerys and makes the most of her small role. Don Gilet is also amusing as "The Runaway Bride"'s fiancée, Lance.

As a stop-gap between series, "The Runaway Bride" serves its purpose. I imagine, though, that Tennant's Doctor will weep with relief that his next long-term companion isn't Catherine Tate.

As a teaser, the episode finishes with a tantalising glimpse of the next series. Although a fleeting compilation of scenes can be deceptive, the next series looks simply amazing and promises the return of some familiar characters.

The second Christmas special of the "Nu Who" era again works as a transitional episode, this time with companions though, rather than the Doctor himself.

Bereft from the loss of Rose, the Doctor (David Tennant) is baffled to find a woman in a wedding dress stood in the Tardis. Pulled away whilst walking down the aisle, Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) is equally lost and terrified to arrive in the Tardis. Whilst returning Donna to her wedding, the pair are attacked by robotic Santa's, but as last year, they are an exploratory force for a conniving evil, one whose plan has been billions of years in the making.

There's lots I don't like about this episode. Principally, I don't like Donna. I wasn't much of a fan of Catherine Tate's comedy at the time (though I did like some of her later acting roles) and her shouting here wore me down pretty quickly. I think I did warm to Donna during her season as the companion though. I didn't like the villain, or more specifically her plan, which makes no sense when you consider the plan B that she uses. I particularly don't like the idea of the Tardis actively travelling, rather than just materialising somewhere instantly. I understand it's needed for the plot of the episode, but it rather undermines the way the show works.

Overall though, despite those aspects I didn't like, it's not that bad. It's a knockabout episode with a bit of action, a few laughs, a decent character twist and an early reference to "Saxon" that would be a season three runner. The Doctor starts to work through the loss of Rose, which again would be a runner in the season to come.

The Runaway Bride is a good mix of chaos, perfect for the damaged Doctor coming from the tragedy that was Doomsday. Catherine Tate is amazing in her first episode, so good that she comes back again in season 4. Her and the Doctor mesh so well and are just so funny. The comedic value sort of makes up for the odd pacing and plot. My main gripe with the episode is that it's just not very christmas-y. For a christmas special, I expect green and red and presents and stuff, not just a wedding and a big red spider. I think with just a bit more tweaking, it could have been way better, but, honestly, it's fine as is. Not perfect, but charming nonetheless: 7.8/10.