2005 Christmas Special: The Christmas Invasion

[Foxbat]

There will always be a place in my heart for the digital doggie

[nixie]

And mine

[Dave]

Originally posted by PTeppic
Loved the "lion king" quote...

Yes. There were other funny parts too, without spoiling it by only playing for laughs.

Originally posted by obcooke
Hey, what's with all the Earth-centric stories? I mean I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't seen the last season, but everything is about the Earth in some way. Are we ever going to break the bonds and really see the universe - at least Barcelona? (That's a rhetorical question - I'm not really soliciting spoilers.)

I think I like the 'Earth-Centric' stories the best. I have a fondness for that Jon Pertwee period when he was stuck on Earth, which is probably when I watched 'Doctor Who' most avidly.

The Doctor has always had a particular interest in Earth and a special knowledge of it's problems - the Time Lords said that - and since their destruction he has no where else to go now.

I also think that having Daleks in Trafalgar Square or Cybermen on the steps of St Pauls if far more effective narratively than on some distant fictional planet that no one cares about.

Also, it makes location filming easier and costume and design cheaper.

I'd be happy if they could get away from Cardiff more often.

Originally posted by obcooke
The jabs at Tony Blair are pretty heavy-handed. PM Jones seems to send a message at every opportunity that she is not at all happy with the way the U.S. has taken the U.K. for granted.

Not just Tony Blair. I think the destruction of the Sycorax ship as it was leaving could be Margaret Thatcher and the General Belgrano. It was also similiar to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart wiping out the Silurians. The Doctor's speech was almost the same.

Originally posted by obcooke
It occurred to me that since I don't recall what alien ship crashed to Earth ten years ago and gave up it's technology that maybe Capt. Jack had something to do with that. That may be how he ends up on modern-day Earth.

It may have something to do with the Chula. We first saw him in a Chula warship that he had stolen in 'The Empty Child'.

[ray gower]

Originally posted by Dave
This will be the BBC's prime-time Christmas Day drama, and it looks like becomming an annual event as they have already planned a Christmas Special for 2006.

Be fair, at best the other channels rolled onto their collective backs and surrendered Christmas to the BBC. It was so bad that even my father didn't turn the TV on (except for the Queen's Speech)!
And it shows, the BBC running 7 out of the top 10 programmes on Christmas day.

The new Doctor appears to be more at ease with himself than Eccleston's, possibly even bouncier too (Not entirely sure I approve). So we are going to see something different again for the next series, which is good.

As for the show, plenty of action to hide the clunks, fair amount of slapstick as is fitting for a Christmas special.

Have to wonder about Torchwood though. Any weapon that takes so long to get ready that it can only be used when everybody is going home for tea has limitations.

For the future, I like the Earth centric stories, but I would dearly like to see the gravel pits put back into action again as alien worlds as well.

We've seen the aliens coming, let's look at their worlds too?
I think the creative team they have in place could build some fascinating alternate cultures to explore

[hermi-nomi]

Hmmm ... not sure about K9. But I'm sure I'll grow to love it. It will still be a long time before I embrace Doctor Who history though (i.e everything pre-ninth Doctor.) Are we turning this thread into a SPOILER thread? I keep talking about Doctor Who on my livejournal, but there's not many people there who are into Doctor Who :-( . I loved the scene where the Doctor recovered after a cuppa too Abstract! I also loved the fact that it wasn't so much the Doctor that had the drink ~ I loved the way they showed that connection. I thought Tennent was brillient as the Doctor, and I thought he had as much presence as Eccleston did, the exuberance and character and everything. It remains to be seen if Tennent will have as much charisma as the Doctor as what Eccleston did, but I think he will. I agree with nixie in that my personnal opinion is that Tennent is no way as good looking as Eccleston; but he is without a doubt, the Doctor :-)

[Dave]

Originally posted by ray gower
Have to wonder about Torchwood though. Any weapon that takes so long to get ready that it can only be used when everybody is going home for tea has limitations...

You are so right! LOL And I didn't even think of that!

Originally posted by ray gower
...but I would dearly like to see the gravel pits put back into action again...

And the chalk and limestone caves!

[Teir]

dammit people! When do aussies get to see this?! Does anyone know when it starts up again down under?

[GrownUp]

Originally Posted by Abstract

I watched it too, and felt that it was really good- rune is right in saying that it was a bit silly at times, but I still thought it came across as a very well constructed episode. The fact that the Doctor recovered the regeneration fully by just drinking tea made me feel a bit proud for the old 'cuppa' too. Rock on Tennant!

Yes. Good old tea. I'm drinking a cup now right, and I can feel it changing my transformation into David Tennant too.

All the best stories are based on fact.

On a less crazy note, the sword fight could have been better?

[the_faery_queen]

my dad pointed out that an ailen race with a spaceship probably wouldn't have swords to fight with!

i haven't seen the ecclestian stuff, not a big doc who fan, but i DO find david tennant very attractive (even tho he has dark eyes which i don't like so much!) that and there was nothing else on so i watched it

wasn't that impressed, to be honest! felt it was too short. when i did use to watch doc who (i watched sylverster mocoy's series, only because they had a haunted house series, and i was and am into spooky things. and i was young so i could justify things like that) the episodes were the same length, but the series was one theme at a time. so you'd have 6 epiodes about one thing. (at least i think that was how it went) which for me made it far more interesting. gave more time to develop plot without rushing. this just felt rushed

[Omega]

Originally Posted by rune

The trailer at the end actually didnt give me much hope. K9! please, not that

If you don't like him that much, he's only going to be in one episode, unless some public pressure aids his return.

[lordoftime]

Being american I saw this considerably later than most of you, but it was a great debut for a new Doctor. One of the absolute best. Great beginning to hopefully a longer tenure than the last incarnation.

[Krystal]

I wasn't sure I would like the new doctor, since I love Eccleston's job in the Season 1. But I have to admit that I enjoy this special, and kind of get use to the new doctor although I still miss the old doctor. The story was very good and it was fun the reaction of Mickey and Rose's mother to the new doctor.

[lordoftime]

I have had a rethink concerning Doctor Number Nine. He is now a strong favorite.