The new Doctor Who Christmas special trailer has arrived… featuring two Doctors! The upcoming episode Joy To The World has been written by Steven Moffat and sees Ncuit Gatwa’s incarnation of the Time Lord cross paths with new character Joy (Nicola Coughlan).
In this trailer, we also see the Doctor enter a mysterious Time Hotel, where he is informed they are doing a “special Christmas everywhere all at once”. Doctor Who Joy To The World premieres on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ where available.
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS5. You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
A new era of Doctor Who begins with an-all-new “Season One” of the BBC’s flagship Sci-Fi show, made in a mega-budget co-production and streaming on Disney + and BBCiPlayer worldwide simultaneously. We also have a new Doctor played by Ncuti Gatwa and his new companion, Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, embarking on their new adventures fresh from the events of the Christmas Day 2023 special: The Church on Ruby Road. The majority of this season has been written by the current Doctor Who showrunner Russel T Davies, with former showrunner Stephen Moffat writing episode three, and writing duo Kate Herron and Briony Redman providing episode six. There are a galaxy of guest stars lined up for this new season as well along with returning faces Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday, Angela Winter as Cherry Sunday, Ruth Madley as Shelly-Anne Bingham, Yasmin Finny as Rose Noble, Bonnie Langford as classic companion Melanie Bush, and Anita Dobson as the mysterious Mrs Flood.
The build up to the release of the new season hasn’t all been plain sailing though. Ncuti Gatwa and Russel T Davies have both ruffled feathers with their outspoken views in the media over concerns about the new direction of the series, and a new release schedule proved somewhat controversial in some fan quarters as Doctor Who attempts to step up with “the big hitters” of the streaming platforms. All that kerfuffle aside, you probably noticed I’ve done an overview of the new season instead of my usual individual episode reviews. This was a choice in part because a dear friend of mine sadly passed away at the beginning of May after a long illness. I’m sure you can understand reviewing Doctor Who wasn’t a priority for me at the time, so I decided to jot down a few of my thoughts about each episode instead. So, let’s dive in shall we?
SPACE BABIES
Space Babies provided a bright and breezy start to the new season. The story is simple and straightforward enough, with the TARDIS arriving at desolate space station for Ruby’s first trip into the future, our new time travelling duo find a Baby Farm that’s run by the sci-fi tots themselves, and the Doctor and Ruby must protect them from whatever nastiness is prowling the lower decks. With a minimal cast, including Brigerton’s Gold Rosheuvell, Gibson and Gatwa’s chemistry lights up every scene, and we are left with no doubt that this season is indeed going to double down on the Timeless Child change in the status quo. Whether that proves for better or worst remains to be seen. It’s clear however with Space Babies that Russell T Davies was going for exactly the same reboot vibe and signposting of Whovian tropes to appease both long-term fans and welcome newcomers as he did with 2005’s initial revival of Doctor Who, although for me personally I found the slapstick silliness of Space Babies a little too much.
THE DEVIL’S CHORD
The Doctor and Ruby travel back to the swinging sixties on the day The Beatles recorded their first album, Please Please Me, at what would become known as the legendary Abbey Road Studios! The Doctor and Ruby are on a fun jaunt to see The Beatles make their new album, even Cilla Black gets thrown into the mix, and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon also stars as the god-like Maestro, what could possibly go wrong..? Goodness me, where to start? I hate to say it but I thought The Devil’s Chord was dreadful. London might’ve become a battlefield for the Doctor and the Maestro with humanities future hanging in the balance, but the real battlefield was between the threadbare script and cringe inducing musical numbers. The Maestro was touted as being the most powerful threat the Doctor has ever faced, but Monsoon’s ridiculously camp and over-the-top super villain just made me want to switch off. Intriguing foreshadowing aside The Devil’s Chord quickly became an incoherent symphony lost in its own paradox. To be honest, I’ve always been more of a Stones fan really anyway.
BOOM
When the Doctor and Ruby find themselves caught in the middle of a war on the planet of Kastarion 3, the Doctor becomes trapped when he stands on a landmine, and is unable to move for fear of setting it off. Ruby must face untold danger if she is to save the Time Lord, and soon they will meet someone who may well end up changing their lives forever. Now this is a bit more like it! Penned by former showrunner Steven Moffat, Boom is a masterclass in suspense and tension. Having spent the majority of the first two episodes explaining the concept of Doctor Who for its new Disney + audience, Ncuti Gatwa finally gets a script that really lets the 15th Doctor shine as the Time Lord runs a gauntlet of emotions while confronting the knife-edge of jeopardy he faces. Millie Gibson also gives a stelar performance as Ruby must really step up to the plate to help the Doctor. Moffat is firing on all cylinders with Boom, despite a somewhat convoluted third act and syrupy so-so ending. The visuals effects in Boom are stunning as well, most notably for its first use of in-camera VFX to create the episodes impressive alien landscape – a similar process that’s been used in Star Wars TV shows to great effect. Intriguingly. we also got a surprise debut from Varada Sethu as Anglican soldier Mundy Flynn on Kastarion 3. Sethu is set to join the Doctor’s adventures in the second season, however it remains unclear why she’s shown up early like this, but it certainly adds an air of Impossible Girl-like mystery into the mix!
73 YARDS
The TARDIS lands on the west coast of Wales where a chilling mystery awaits the Doctor and Ruby. One where the locals in a nearby pub are fearful of the seeming manifestation of an ancient legend. When the Doctor goes missing, Ruby must confront dire warnings of doom alone as a bizarre mix of myth and magic closes in of her. Whatever power has awoken in this foreboding landscape 73 Yards certainly provides a huge tonal shift for this series. Writer Russel T Davies weaves haunting themes of Welsh folk-horror into the narrative and director Dylan Holmes Williams crafts a haunting atmosphere for this unusual Doctor-lite episode. It’s a great showcase for Millie Gibson as Ruby as we witness her life unfold while stalked by a mysterious woman, Dame Siân Phillips certainly doesn’t disappoint either as Enid, and Aneurin Barnard is very convincing as Roger ap Gwilliam. Jemma Redgrave also returns as Kate Stewart in a tense scene that provides a very effective and much needed bit of world building for this new era of Doctor Who. Oddly enough this episode almost feels like a supernatural retread of Boom. In the end though 73 Yards ultimately falters somewhat because of the frustrating ambiguity of its premise. Davies tries to do too much with too little, and this curious episode doesn’t quite stick the landing as a result.
DOT AND BUBBLE
The blissful world of Finetime in Dot and Bubble hides a skulking terror which preys on the unsuspecting population. However, this high-tech utopia provides Russel T Davies with the perfect backdrop in which to set this stark analogy of digital media addiction. So, with the Doctor and Ruby trapped outside the colony, the episode is fronted instead by Callie Cook who delivers a great performance as Finetime resident Lindy Petter-Bean – a likeable character with a Sally Sparrow vibe about her. So, the circumstances of this Doctor and Ruby-lite episode means Lindy becomes the main focus of this story. The technical wizardry that brings the colony of Finetime to life is impressive to say the least, as are the monstrous slug creatures that stalks the unsuspecting population. Davies parks Doctor Who’s tanks well and truly on Black Mirrors lawn for this cleverly crafted, yet oddly paced story. A brooding sense of pessimism and dark social commentary pervade throughout, but after an impressive start the plot and its shock resolution doesn’t really pay off.
ROGUE
Doctor Who goes Bridgerton with considerable style in Rogue, written by Kate Herron and Briony Redman (Loki, Sex Education) and Briony Redman (Point Brek, Forget-Me-Not), and stylishly directed by Ben Chessell (The Great). The Doctor and Ruby have come to 1813 to enjoy the Duchess of Pemberton’s ball, the highlight of Georgian society. But a hidden shape-shifting alien evil has ingratiated itself and guests are being murdered. Rogue is probably one of the series’ most romantic and flirty episode ever. The Doctor’s rushed romance and same sex-snog felt more like an exercise in box-ticking mind, and a cannon busting Next Doctor-like holographic montage of past Doctor’s got shoehorned in as well. With sumptuous sets and huge attention to detail lavished upon this love-letter to Bridgerton we even got Bridgerton’s choreographer Jack Murphy to craft the classic historical dance sequences. Ncuti Gatwa and Mille Gibson clearly have a ball with this jaunty sci-fi-historical come-murder-mystery, along with the all-star guest cast featuring India Varma as the dazzling Duchess of Pemberton and Jonathan Groff (Glee and The Matrix Resurrections) as the enigmatic bounty hunter Rogue. This episode was both oddly satisfying, in part no doubt to its historical setting, and yet strangely devoid of being anything even closely resembling Doctor Who at all really – despite its emotionally charged resolution.
THE LEGEND OF RUBY SUNDAY & EMPIRE OF DEATH
The Legend of Ruby Sunday kicks off Russell T Davies’ densely plotted two-part season finale with the Time Lord reuniting with UNIT at their HQ in modern day London. Here, the Doctor delves into the secrets hidden in Ruby’s past since she was abandoned as a baby on Christmas Eve – via UNIT’s Time Window. There’s also the mysterious Triad Technology to contend with, and the alien cyborg known as the Vlinx from The Giggle shows up too. Gatwa and Gibson are on fine form as the Doctor and Ruby, their UNIT friends Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford) and Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) also get a good slice of the action, with guest stars Anita Dobson as Ruby’s nosey neighbour Mrs Flood, Ruby’s adoptive mother Carla Sunday played by Michelle Greenidge , and Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble also featuring. The significance of recurring guest star Susan Twist is uncovered at last (the woman they keep seeing throughout time), appearing this time as Susan Triad, and to top it all off the seasons big-bad is finally revealed as Sutekh, God of Death – voiced once again by Gabriel Woolf, having originally voiced the role in 1975’s Pyramids of Mars. Empire of Death goes on to deliver an epic showdown for the Doctor as he battles the ultimate evil of Sutekh. It was great to see Bonnie Langford become a key player as Mel in her classic companion role in this episode as well. The resolution unfortunately proved anticlimactic with Sutekh conveniently vanquished, Ruby’s underwhelming reunion with her mother, a tearful farewell, and an ominous festively tinged coda from Mrs Flood. Of course the Doctor will be back at Christmas, but I have a feeling the cataclysmic events of Empire of Death will be felt for a long time to come…
So, what’s my verdict on this series you might ask? As you can see, I’ve found this season to be rather a mixed bag. I’m disappointed I didn’t enjoy this new season as much as I thought I would. The fact the Doctor and Ruby are both foundlings though does given them a unique bond and dynamic which we’ve never seen before in Doctor Who. Personally I found the pace of the season was too rushed, however I did like the way it’s focused more around the supernatural and fantasy elements rather than all-out sci-fi. Sadly I think the potential set up in the 2023 Christmas special was squandered and Russel T Davies relied too much on familiar tropes and recycled plot devices. Ncuti Gatwa still feels like he’s finding his feet in the role, he’s at his best when he dials it back a little. For me Millie Gibson has been the star of the season as Ruby Sunday, especially in the quirky 73 Yards. As I’ve already said this season of Doctor Who hasn’t exactly been a priority for me. The series got off to a shaky start, it gradually picked up despite some dud moments along the way, and just about got its act together for a rather average finale. For now my conclusion remains as mixed as my initial impressions. While Disney Who might be bigger and flashier, it has also become a more generic sci-fi show as a result, and consequently a shadow of its former self.
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS5. You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
Doctor Who 2023 Christmas Special: The Church on Ruby Road
Review by Paul Bowler
Get set for a festive treat with the Doctor Who 2023 Christmas Special: The Church on Ruby Road. Yes, the fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa’s first adventure sees him take over the TARDIS and be joined by new travelling companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson. The Church on Ruby Road provides a magical new beginning for the series, one filled with goblins and mystery as the Time Lord and his new sidekick discover a unique bond that will entwine their fates forever more.
On a snowy Christmas Eve, long ago, a woman abandoned a newborn baby girl on the steps of a church. Now, years later, foundling Ruby Sunday is trying to reconnect with her birth parents via Davina McCall’s TV show, but her life will soon be turned upside down again at Christmas time as she meets the Doctor! Up until now, Ruby’s life has been full of bad luck, which escalates when the baby she’s minding for her foster mother suddenly vanishes. When the Doctor bursts into Ruby’s life they embark on a adventure surrounding the mystery of stollen babies, leading to an encounter with a mythical goblin king, and finally uncovering the heartrending secret of Ruby’s own birth.
The fifteenth Doctor and Ruby make a wonderful team right from the outset, the chemistry between Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson lights up every scene, and this Christmas Special written by show runner Russel T Davies and slickly directed by Mark Tonderai gives them a fantastic starting point on which to build as they embark on their new adventures in the TARDIS. Tondera also helmed Rosa, one of the standout episodes of Doctor Who’s previous era, and The Church on Ruby Road is every bit as thoughtful an exploration of a deeply emotive subject matter. Russel T Davies continues his reseting of the Doctor Who mythos with this Christmas Special, crafting a perfect jumping on point for new viewers in very much in the same way as his phenomenal 2005 revival Rose did back in the day. Incidentally this is also the first Doctor Who episode to air on Christmas Day since 2017’s Twice Upon a Time (the final outing of Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor), and only the second post regeneration Christmas Special since David Tennant’s first story: The Christmas Invasion (2005).
Millie Gibson is a pure joy to behold in the role of Ruby, she has all the hallmarks of a classic companion, and you will immediately take Ruby Sunday to your heart. Gatwa totally make the role of the Doctor his own right from the outset. His charismatic Doctor feels footloose and fancy free, there’s no baggage to drag him down, only warmth, style and fun. He’s even got a nifty new sonic screwdriver and some hand high-tech gloves as well. Ruby and the 15th Doctor make a perfect team, the chemistry between them positively sparkles, and the fact they are both foundlings brings an added poignancy to their friendship. If anything Russel T Davies is doubling down on the Timeless Child aspects of the Chibnall era with this episode, and it imbues the Doctor and Ruby with a bond unlike anything we’ve seen the Time Lord have in common with a travelling companion before. What’s established here makes them a perfect new TARDIS team for this new era of Doctor Who.
Also appearing in this festive special are It’s a Sin actress Michelle Greenidge, as Ruby’s mum Carla, her grandmother Cherry, played by Eastenders’ Angela Winter, and Anita Dobson as nosey neighbour Mrs Flood. There’s also a special cameo from Davina McCall playing as herself from an episode of Long Lost Family, this isn’t Davina’s first credit on Doctor Who either, she previously voiced the Davinadroid, for a futuristic Big Brother house in the episode Bad Wolf from Christopher Eccleston’s series back in 2005.
The Church on Ruby Road is easily up there with the very best of the past Doctor Who Christmas Specials. It’s a festive adventure which blends elements of a certain Christmas Classic, along with undertones of the fantasy film Labryinth and just a pinch of Gremlins thrown in for good measure. So with the wonderful pairing of Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor and Gibson’s new companion, the Church on Ruby Road takes us on a wild, fun-filled, emotional rollercoaster ride that has our leads soaring across the sky on a ladder hanging beneath a galleon Goblin ship, with action galore, and even musical number to enjoy. The episodes quirky blend of magic and fantasy clearly sets the tone for what’s to come and a post credits scene teases the mystery of Mrs Flood’s true identity…
With this Doctor Who Christmas Special show runner Russel T Davies has successful caught lightning in a bottle for a second time! This reset of our beloved 60 year old show now hurtles towards its very own “season one”, with new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson’s companion Ruby Sunday ready to start the legend anew for 2024 in the TARDIS.
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website,, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
The final 60th anniversary Doctor Who Special, The Giggle, sees the Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) return to Earth to find a mysterious puppet is driving the entire human race to the brink of insanity. With the fate of the world teetering on the brink, the Doctor finds himself rendered powerless when his old foe, the Toymaker, played by American star of stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris, returns and the Doctor realises this is a fight he can never win.
The Giggle, written by Russel T Davies and directed by Chanya Button, is a thrilling hour-long finale to the anniversary specials, and this time the stakes are higher than ever before. The sheer scope and scale of the Toymaker’s power is terrifying as he literally pulls the strings and makes the world and everything in it dance to his tune. David Tennant and Catherine Tate once more take centre stage as the Doctor and Donna step into a world gone mad. The Toymaker has been lurking on Earth since 1925, the time has come for the final game against the Time Lord, and the ongoing mystery of why Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor regenerated into David Tennant’s familiar face will finally be revealed in then most moving way imaginable.
It seems the superstition the Doctor invoked in Wild Blue Yonder at the edge of the universe allowed the Toymaker to break into reality, and using the inception of televisions first image he has drawn the Doctor into his cosmic trap. Indeed, the return of the Toymaker makes for an epic face-off with the 14th Doctor, in more ways than one! The Giggle is a far darker adventure than the previous specials, with the Toymaker’s designs drawing out a warped social commentary of recent times like poison from a wound. The Doctor and Donna are soon reunited with UNIT as they rally against this toxic environment the Toymaker has stoked. Nightmarish scenarios must be faced, with a deadly game of hide and seek, and a genuinely disturbing puppet reminiscent of Saw’s own Jigsaw puppet turning the world upside down.
This special features an impressive guest cast which includes Yasmin Finney as Rose, the daughter of Donna Noble, Donna’s mother Sylvia played by Jacqueline King, with Karl Collins as Donna’s husband, Shaun, along with the Doctor’s UNIT pals Kate Lethbridge Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), new scientific advisor Shirley Bingham (Ruth Madeley) and Bonnie Langford as Melanie “Mel” Bush who having returned to Earth is also now working with UNIT at their impressive new Avengers Tower style HQ. Charlie De Melo also stars as Charles Banerjee, John Mackay plays John Logie Baird (the Scottish engineer and inventor known as ‘The Father of Television), and Alexander Devrient is Colonel Lbrahim.
Neil Patrick Harris gives a magnificent performance as the Toymaker, one of the Doctor’s oldest foes, who now returns with a new face and an old score to settle. Of course the Toymaker was originally played by renowned actor Michael Gough, who first played the role of the Toymaker to oppose William Hartnell’s first Doctor in the 1966 story The Celestial Toymaker. The luxurious robes and celestial prefix may have gone but this is still very much the classic villain of old. Neil Patrick Harris exudes sinister menace throughout, bringing a creepy spin to the role, and the Toymakers games as he clashes with the Doctor are every bit as fiendish as ever.
Ultimately though it is Tennant and Tate’s performances gives the episode even greater depth and clarity. There is a real sense that the Doctor has been completely outwitted this time, the Time Lords panic and frustration is almost palpable, but it is always Donna that gets him back on an even keel. Being the culmination of the 60th anniversary there are of course a wealth of callbacks and visual clues to the show’s past for fans to enjoy.
Russell T Davies essentially crafts a whole new Doctor Who mythology with The Giggle as the Toymaker’s scheming ultimately ends up conjoining the fourteenth and fifteenth Doctor’s incarnations – weaving an almost multiverse-like perspective into the very history of the series itself. The Toymaker, having previously played one game against Hartnell’s first Doctor, now plays another with the fourteenth, only to be confounded on the cusp of victory as Tennant’s Doctor fails to change mid-regeneration and ends up standing alongside his new Fifteenth incarnation: Ncuti Gatwa! Together they team-up against the Toymaker, turning the tables to win the game, and vanquish him once more.
With the two Doctor’s now co-existing in unison a nostalgia filled coda culminates with fifteen claiming his prize for winning the game, a new, second TARDIS! As the fourteenth Doctor remains with Donna to take a break with her family, the fifteenth Doctor departs in his TARDIS for new adventures in time and space. Russell T Davies doubles down on the core mythos and widens the scope of Doctor Who in one few swoop with this startling conclusion. I expect Tennant’s bi-generation into Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor might prove a step too far for some die-hard fans, however, I for one found it an innovative and fascinating move and look forward to seeing the amazing potential of this move unfold.
For the most part this trilogy of Doctor Who Specials has been a resounding success. The return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate was a masterstroke that delivered on every level, and Russel T Davies has certainly done a fantastic job in rejuvenating the series like never before. The Giggle proved a fitting finale and set us on the path to the 2023 Christmas Special: The Church on Ruby Road where Gatawa’s fifteenth Doctor will be joined by new travelling companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson. Here’s to a bold new era of adventures in time and space. Roll on Christmas!
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
Wild Blue Yonder opens with the superheated TARDIS spiralling away from its chaotic liftoff at the end of The Star Beast, sending the Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) crashing into the heart of hostile action, and promptly abandoning them to their fate! Yes, that pesky old TARDIS defence system known as HADS – the Hostile Action Displacement System, which makes the time machine dematerialise if it comes under attack, is causing trouble again. So with the TARDIS effectively running away to rebuild itself, the Doctor and Donna set off explore the uncanny space age location they’ve been stranded on at the farthest edge of creation. However, as they soon discover, kicking the “arse” of whatever’s made the TARDIS scarper is not going to be quite as straightforward as Donna thinks.
Out of all the 60th Anniversary Doctor Who Specials Wild Blue Yonder is the one that’s been shrouded in this most secrecy. Tom Kingsley directs this weird and claustrophobic episode written by Russel T Davies, and the premise of Wild Blue Yonder stands in stark contrast to the fast-paced hijinks of The Star Beast. From the quirky opening encounter with Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, the tone quickly gets decidedly darker when the TARDIS maroons the Doctor and Donna on a giant space ship at the edge of the universe. A rusty old robot is moving at a snails pace down a huge central corridor and a brooding sense of menace builds as the Doctor detects life signs and examines the bizarre technology on board.
However, this vast spaceship is far from empty. When the Doctor and Donna are confronted by two sinister shape-shifting creatures that have become their doppelgängers, a deadly game of cat and mouse begins. These war-mongering beings want to copy the Doctor and Donna, steal the TARDIS when it returns, and escape into our universe to wreak havoc. The morphing forms of these shape-changing monsters are genuinely bizarre and quite disturbing, with their misshapen limbs, grotesque jaws, and horrific contortions as the they pursue the Doctor and through the ever changing structure of the space ship.
Wild Blue Yonder is crammed with classic Doctor Who tropes, naturally the Doctor and Donna become separated, there’s lots of running down corridors, and a desperate fight to survive while the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. The new distribution deal with Disney has also brought a sizeable boost to the budget, which it is clearly evident here with the huge scope of the spacecraft and Hollywood-style visual effects that make the Doctor and Donna’s doppelgängers so ghoulishly convincing.
This episode puts the Doctor and Donna in the spotlight like never before, and it’s this connective narrative that’s blended in with all the frenetic Sci-Fi / horror wackiness that makes Wild Blue Yonder such a compelling and enthralling episode. We are treated to a masterclass by David Tennant and Catherine Tate as we catch up with everything that’s been happening to the Doctor and Donna since they originally travelled together. Considering the extreme circumstances they now find themselves in, Russel T Davies’ clever scripting provides some wonderful character moments as the Doctor and Donna run a gauntlet of emotions, and these pivotal story beats are brilliantly woven into the action by director Tony Kingsley. Tennant and Tate’s dual performance as their freaky shape-changing doubles is astounding as well. Wild Blue Yonder features some fan-pleasing references as well, and there’s a substantial nod to the lore exploding legacy of the Flux – the Doctor Who arc from 2021 – at key points which further solidifies its canonical place in the Whoniverse.
So, what was all the hype and secrecy surrounding Wild Blue Yonder for then? Well, the reasons become clear when the Doctor and Donna are eventually reunited with the TARDIS and return to Earth, where they are greeted by none other than Wilfred Mott (the late Bernard Cribbins), who is now wheelchair-bound but he’s still ready to face whatever danger the Earth now mysteriously faces! Bernard Cribbins filmed scenes last year before his death, and his surprise return during this episodes cliffhanger was a joy to see. In the end Wild Blue Yonder turned out to be a classic base-under-siege style story, one with a clever concept at its core, and a terrific payoff with the return of Wilf.
Everything is now in place for The Giggle, the finale of the 60th anniversary specials, which also marks the return of the classic villain The Toymaker (now played by Neil Patrick Harris) – and we can assume David Tennant’s eventual regeneration into the 15th Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) Russel T Davies has worked his magic again, along with Tennant and Tate, to revitalise Doctor Who and bring us to the cusp of a whole new era for the show.
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
The Star Beast kicks off the first of the hour long Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials with a bang! With Russel T Davies back at the helm as show-runner the RTD2 era is finally here at last, and it also reunites David Tennant as the new 14th Doctor with Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. Based on the classic 1980’s Doctor Who Weekly comics, strip written by Pat Millis and John Wagner, and drawn by Dave Gibbons, The Star Beast is beautifully written by Davies and stylishly directed by Rachel Talalay. Along with Davies’ welcome return, some 12 years after he left the BBC’s hit sci-fi show, we now also have the streaming service Disney Plus brining Doctor Who to an even bigger audience world-wide for the first time.
The question is, does it live up to the hype? Well, the simple answer is, YES! The Star Beast is a fittingly traditional style adventure, full of action, excitement, and its just about everything we could’ve wanted as part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations of Doctor Who – especially given that this fondly remembered comic strip story is also making the leap from page to TV nearly 60 years since An Unearthly Child first aired in 1963!
Things do get off to a rather peculiar, fourth wall breaking, start. But, with the recaps swiftly out the way, we quickly have a spaceship crashing in north London as The Star Beast explodes into Donna Noble’s busy life with husband Shaun (played by Karl Collins) and their daughter, Rose (played by Hearthstopper trans-trailblazer Yasmin Finney). After discovering an alien in her garden shed: The Meep (voiced by the brilliant Miriam Margolyes), Donna learns that Rose has given this cute little alien fugitive refuge and has been secretly hiding the Meep in their garden shed. Its not long before the Doctor suddenly shows up, chaos ensues. and hulking Wrath Warriors (voiced by Ned Porteous and John Hopkinson) come tearing down the street! It would seen that Donna’s past is finally catching up with her! Only trouble is the Doctor wiped her memory to save her life back in 2008’s Journey’s End, so if Donna remembers who he is now she will die, and this time the Doctor might not be able to save her when destiny comes calling.
Doctor Who is always at its best when it barges into everyday, domestic settings. Russel T Davies’ has crafted a wonderful adaptation of The Star Beast, there’s a marooned starship, a frightened alien on the run, with even bigger aliens hot on its tail, and the Doctor struggling to keep Donna’s family safe in the midst of it all. Then there’s the 14th Doctor’s recent regeneration to contend with; which also mysteriously gave him the face of his 10th incarnation!
Seeing David Tennant and Catherine Tate together again is truly a joy to behold. Its brilliant fun, at times it almost feels like this fan-favourite TARDIS team has never been away, and their on-screen banter and chemistry is still as sparkling as ever. Tennant doesn’t just give us a 10th Doctor 2.0 either, he’s playing the 14th Doctor now, so naturally there are significant new facets blended in with his Doctor’s familiar traits. Donna’s life has moved on since we saw her last in 2009-10’s The End of Time. She’s happily married with a family of her own now, but she’s still the same extraordinary and resourceful Donna that we all know and love – even though she still can’t remember her time with the Doctor. The Star Beast is a rollicking good adventure in its own right, but Davies has masterfully woven deeper themes of identity and humanity into the mix as well.
Yasmin Finney shines as Donna’s daughter, Rose, she brings an endearing warmth to the entire Noble family, who of course still remain as chaotic as ever!. The excellent supporting cast features Jacqueline King and Karl Collins returning as Sylvia Noble and Shaun Temple, Dara Lail plays Rose’s friend Fugde Merchandian, and Ruth Madeley (Years and Years and The RocK) is introduced as a promising new character, UNIT scientific advisor Shirley Bingham.
Those Disney megabucks have clearly been well spent too! Doctor Who has never looked glossier and more spectacular than this. No expense has been spared in brining The Star Beast to the screen. The result is truly stunning, if you’d told me the comic strip I’d read as a child in Doctor Who Weekly would ever become an episode like this I’d have laughed in your face. Doctor Who now looks as good as any sci-fi show out there right now, but it’s still every bit the same Doctor Who that we’ve cherished for all these decades. The Star Beast is packed with nods to past stories and Easter eggs to look out for. There are so many standout moments in this episode. The animatronic SFX for the Meep are some of the best we’ve ever seen in Doctor Who, the sonic screwdriver had a major upgrade as well, as have UNIT, and the stunning new TARDIS interior will blow you away! Sure the meta-crisis ending does come across as a little convoluted, but it’s beautifully done to enable the Doctor and Donna to reunite at last! Its clear everyone involved in making The Star Beast has poured their heart, soul and love of Doctor Who into making this episode something really special!
So, there we have it. The Star Beast and the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who is now well and truly under way. There’s perhaps never been a better time to be a Doctor Who fan than now, there’s so much in The Star Beast for fans old and new to enjoy, and its a perfect jumping on point for total newbies as well. But that’s not all. The Star Beast is just the start, we have two more specials, Wild Blue Yonder, and The Giggle to look forward to and then the Christmas Day Special where Nucuti Gatwa will take over the keys of the TARDIS for a whole new season of adventures as the Fifteenth Doctor!
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
The Power of the Doctor marks the end of an era and Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure as the thirteenth Doctor. The stakes couldn’t be higher this time around either as the Doctor battles to save her very existence as she faces the Daleks, Cybermen and her arch nemesis, the Master. The Doctor and her friends must solve the mystery behind a series of bizarre happenings; including an attack by the Cyber-Masters on a speeding bullet train in a distant galaxy, the disappearances of seismologists from 21st century Earth, and the defacing of some of history’s most iconic paintings. As the Doctor is confronted with threats on multiple fronts, the Daleks are also inexplicably trying to contact with the Time Lord, and just what kind of hold does the masterful Rasputin have over Tsar Nicholas in 1916 Russia? The Doctor soon faces a battle to the death against her deadliest enemies. Friends and allies, both old and new, will unite and fight alongside her before one last heartbreaking choice seals the 13th Doctor’s fate forever…
Jodie Whittaker’s five year tenure comes full circle in The Power of the Doctor.
This feature-length episode is a time twisting epic, written by outgoing show runner Chris Chibnall, and directed by Mangus Stone (2020’s Spyfall Part One, Praxeus, Ascension of the Cybermen and the Timeless Children, along with the 2021 Flux episodes The Halloween Apocalypse, War of the Sontarans and Village of the Angels. The Doctor’s companions Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Dan Lewis (John Bishop), accompany Jodie Whittaker for her final outing as the Doctor, and Jacob Anderson also reprises his role as Vinder from Doctor Who: Flux to briefly rejoin the TARDIS team.
Indeed, a host of friends and foes make a dramatic return in The Power of the Doctor, including Classic companions Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding), along with Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) for the special, even Bradley Walsh returns as Graham… and that’s just for starters! The Master (Sacha Dhawan) is back too, as is Ashad / The Lone Cyberman (Patrick O’Kane), and classic monsters the Daleks and the Cybermen all have key roles in this blockbusting adventure which also pays tribute to past Doctor’s and the legacy of Doctor Who.
Jodie Whittaker’s five year tenure comes full circle in The Power of the Doctor. Her final bow provides a timely celebration of Doctor Who itself, and the special also nicely bookends numerous aspects of the 13th Doctor’s era. The Power of the Doctor is a veritable roller coaster ride from beginning to end. In terms of scale its certainly also one of the most spectacular to date as it features the most special effects shots ever seen in an episode of Doctor Who. Every big action set-piece is massive, even the pre-credits feels like a mini movie in itself. Writer and show runner Chris Chibnall’s era has been something of a mixed bag at times but he certainly delivers the goods here in the scripting of Whittaker’s final adventure.
Airing as part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations, this adventure is packed with action and Easter eggs galore that fans of every era of the show will enjoy. Following the frenetic opening the Doctor discovers the Cyber-Lords have a machine-like world lurking in the Earth’s shadow, one that’s tethered to the Master’s TARDIS and seemingly powered by a mysterious child-like entity. Its not long before the Master’s presence is felt in both the past and the present, leading to a reunion for the Doctor and Yaz with some old friends at UNIT, before the Daleks and Cybermen also enter the fray! There’s a wealth of emotions, action and humour woven throughout Chibnall’s overarching plot as the 13th Doctor rallies against the Master, the Cybermen and the Daleks who have joined forces for a volcanic team-up in order to spring a deadly ‘forced regeneration’ on their mortal enemy.
Jamie Magnus Stone’s stylish direction keeps everything on track, with events racing along at a cracking pace, before giving way to the emotional conclusion that beautifully leads into the 13th Doctor’s startling regeneration.
At its heart though, it is Jodie Whittaker’s outstanding performance as the Doctor that makes The Power of the Doctor into something really special.
It’s clear that Jodie Whittaker had a blast working with Who veterans Jemma Redgrave who plays Kate Stewart, and 80s-era cast members Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred, as Tegan and Ace. Their return isn’t just window dressing either, and they each have a crucial role to play as the action unfolds. There are heartwarming moments aplenty and emotional farewells too. Mandip Gill gives a particularly standout performance as Yaz’s adventures with the Doctor draw to a close, and there are moments that are especially poignant for the Doctor and Yaz.
Past Doctor’s also show up thanks in part to the Doctor’s subconscious because of the her forced regeneration and her own emergency holographic AI programme, with: David Bradley as the 1st Doctor, Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor, Colin Baker as the 6th Doctor, Sylvester McCoy as the 7th Doctor, Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor and Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor! That’s not all, the same AI enables Tegan to have a heartfelt chat with the 5th Doctor, and Ace gets a reunion with the 7th Doctor as well. Both are magical, fan pleasing scenes, and genuinely heartwarming. It was also fitting to see Bradley Walsh return for the 13th Doctor’s send-off, even thought was a little bizarre to see him suddenly appear and team-up with Ace to destroy a volcano full of Daleks! Later its revealed Graham has set up a support group of sorts for ex-TARDIS travellers, where we see Dan, Yaz, Ace, Tegan and Kate Stewart are joined by three more classic Doctor Who companions of yesteryear: Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford), Jo Jones (Katy Manning) and Ian Chesterton (William Russell) reminisce about their adventures with the Doctor. This was another wonderfully staged and unexpected moment that rounded off this episodes nods to the past in fine style.
At its heart though, it is Jodie Whittaker’s outstanding performance as the Doctor that makes The Power of the Doctor into something really special. Whittaker brilliantly channels the bright and breezy essence that has made her incarnation of the Time Lord so unique from her predecessors. Her Doctor has been a celebration of change, she built a fam of her own, boldly confronted injustice and darkness throughout time and space, and always remained compassionate even in her darkest hours. This episode, above all, perhaps delves deeper into the psyche of the Doctor than ever before.
Most notably of course The Power of the Doctor is also the first time that three classic foes of the Doctor have featured together in one storyline since the shows revival in 2005. The return of Sacha Dhawan as the Master was an inspired move by Chibnall to front the trio of major foes the Doctor must face. Sacha Dhawan brings a scenery chewing performance along with a manic intensity to his incarnation of the Master that is both charming and disturbing. He’s always been the perfect foil for the 13th Doctor, never more so than here, and at times it looks like he could actually succeed in his grand design to highjack her forced regeneration and claim her infinite regeneration cycle for himself. He’s not alone though. The Daleks are also part of his Masterplan, and Patrick O’Kane’s welcome return as the chillingly evil Lone Cyberman makes the Cybermen seem even more deadly than ever this time around.
Now it falls to incoming show runner Russell T Davies to see if he can capture lighting in a bottle for a second time!
The build up to the regeneration itself is another beautifully crafted piece of fan service. It was lovely to see the Doctor and Yaz share one last trip before going their separate ways. Jodie Whittaker is resplendent in her final moments as the 13th Doctor takes in one last sunrise as she regenerates, and in a surprise twist when that regeneration happens she done’t change into her recently announced successor, Ncuti Gatwa, instead she miraculously turns into returning Time Lord David Tennant! Yes, it seems David Tennant and Catherine Tate are indeed reprising their roles for the 60th anniversary, and it has been confirmed that they will appear in three special episodes, set to air in November 2023. The next Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, will then take control of the TARDIS, with his first episode airing over the festive period in 2023!
The Power of the Doctor was a spectacular finale for the 13th Doctor that sets the groundwork for a whole new era moving forward. Now it falls to incoming show runner Russell T Davies to see if he can capture lighting in a bottle for a second time!
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
At las the long wait is over. Check out the awesome new trailer for Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker’s swansong as the 13th Doctor looks set to be an epic adventure as she faces her final battle in The Power of the Doctor on 23rd October 2022!
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
Today the BBC has announced Ncuti Gatwa will be taking on the role of the new Doctor as he take charge of the TARDIS after the 13th Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) departs in the Centenary Special. .Star of the stage and screen Ncuti is best known for his critically acclaimed performance in Sex Education as the iconic Eric Effiong, for which he was awarded Best Actor Award at the Scottish BAFTAs in 2020 as well as numerous nominations, including Best Male Performance in a comedy programme at this year’s BAFTAs.
Speaking about his new role, Ncuti said: “There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my utmost to do the same. Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger. An actor’s metaphorical playground. The entire team has been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it’s daunting, I’m aware I’m joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show.”
Russell T Davies, Showrunner, added: “The future is here and it’s Ncuti! Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars. Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds. It’s an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started. I’m sure you’re dying to know more, but we’re rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie’s epic finale yet to come. But I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!”
Ncuti is a striking young actor whose talent and energy makes him a great choice as the new Doctor, and it certainly sounds like we are in for some a remarkable adventures in Russell T Davies’ new era of Doctor Who!
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
Gets set for a swashbuckling adventure with Legend of the Sea Devils, written by show-runner Chris Chibnall and playwright Ella Road, and directed by newcomer Haolu Wang. The Sea Devils make their long awaited return in the modern era just in time for the penultimate story of the 13th Doctor’s era.This blockbusting Doctor Who Easter Special is an action packed adventure set on the high-seas in 19th century China. Its also something of a celebrity historical as the 13th Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and her travelling companions Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop) encounter a historically real-life character – the fearsome Pirate Queen Madam Ching (Crystal Yu)! However, the TARDIS teams visit to the 19th century quickly goes awry when a small costal village comes under threat from the Pirate Queen and the deep-sea menace of the Sea Devils she’s inadvertently unleashed on the world.
From the moment we learn the TARDIS has been sent off course to China there is an almost palpable sense of excitement in the air. Jodie Whittaker is quite simply marvellous in her role here as the 13th Doctor in this episode, and her bright and breezy incarnation sails through the dramatic beats of the story with ease as she confronts her old foes – the Sea Devils. I really like the dynamic between this TARDIS team, Mandip Gill really comes into her own in this story too, and John Bishop is a pure delight as Dan. The growing closeness between the Doctor and Yaz which became apparent in Eve of the Daleks (2022) is another narrative thread that has been carried over into Legend of the Sea Devils as well. This episode sees some major costume changes for the Time Lord and her companions, the Doctor’s costume get a slight revamp with a striking oriental style top, Yaz has a beautiful double wrap-around skirt and best of all Dan gets to dress up as a pirate!
Along with the regular cast the episode also features Crystal Yu as the legendary Pirate Queen Madame Ching. Yu gives a great performance as the tough-as-nails Pirate Queen, who is searching for a lost treasure. Madame Ching’s quest soon finds her encountering the Doctor and crossing swords with the Sea Devils alongside the Time Lord as the amphibians return from the ocean depths. The cast also includes Arthur Lee as Ji-Hun and Marlow Chan-Reeves as Ying Ki who each play key roles in the swash buckling shenanigans of Legend of the Sea Devils.
It has been 50 years since the Doctor first encountered the aquatic Sea Devils. Chris Chibnall and co-writer Ella Road have crafted a really fun and exciting return for them here. Many fans, myself included, have long hoped these classic monsters who first appeared in 1972’s The Sea Devils, the 3rd Doctor story written by Malcolm Hulke, would return at some point, and I’m happy to say they’ve certainly done them justice with Legend of the Sea Devils. These new look Sea Devils may have swapped their string vests for the garb of buccaneer Pirates, but they’ve still retained their iconic look and distinctive whispery voices.
The Sea Devils chief Marsissus is played by Craige Els (Karvanista in Doctor Who Flux), he’s brilliant as Marsissus, especially during his confrontations with the Doctor, and the seafaring Pirate action when the Sea Devils strike provide many spectacular sights to behold as this story unfolds!
Legend of the Sea Devils not only provides a fantastic showcase for the 13th Doctor and her friends, it’s also a triumph for the production team who have clearly gone all out to make this episode really special. The fact Legend of the Sea Devils was also filmed under COVID restrictions makes what’s been achieved all the more impressive. Everything from the fishing village to the massive galleon ship sets, exquisite costume designs, period detail, along with the terrific new Pirate Sea Devils, stunning visual effects and Haolu Wang’s stylish direction all combine to make Legend of the Sea Devils a throughly enjoyable and thrilling adventure.
This Easter Special works incredible well as a standalone adventure, with giant sea monsters, pirate ships, the oceans, sword-fights and an ancient coastal village! Its nice to see the main cast in one last regular adventure before the inevitable tumultuous machinations of a regeneration story, before Jodie Whittaker bows out with end of the 13th Doctor’s era in the Doctor Who BBC centenary Special that will air in the autumn of 2022.
Check out the first look at Doctor Who’s feature-length Centenary special!
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
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