| THE CHRISTMAS INVASION by Russell T Davies |
| Story 11 Synopsis: The TARDIS crashlands back on Earth, where the Doctor wishes a Happy Christmas to Mickey and Jackie before collapsing. Rose explains that he's changed. She and Mickey go out Christmas shopping, when they are attacked by four Santas. Rose realises they're a threat to the Doctor. Back at Jackie's flat, a Christmas tree becomes possessed and attacks, but the Doctor recovers enough to use the sonic screwdriver to destroy it. He then sends the Santas back to their ship, before collapsing again, synapses a-flutter. A huge spaceship enters the atmosphere, the Sycorax leader making threats to new PM Harriet Jones. The Sycorax use the Guinevere space probe, controlling 1/3 of the human race, sending them to the top of tall buildings, and threatening to make them jump, unless Jones signs 1/2 the human race over to be slaves. Rose decides to hide out in the TARDIS, but it is transposed to the Sycorax ship, with the Doctor, Mickey and her on board. Rose tries to bluff the Sycorax leader, but fails. The Doctor finally recovers, and despite not being sure of himself yet, breaks the Sycorax control over the humans. He challenges the Sycorax leader to a duel, for the planet, which he wins. He commands the Sycorax to leave forever. He, Rose, Mickey, the TARDIS and the PM are beamed back to Earth. The PM uses a project, Torchwood, unleashing a weapon that destroys the fleeing Sycorax, to the Doctor's disgust. He then plants doubts about her suitability. He enjoys Christmas dinner with Jackie, Mickey and Rose, sorts out some new clothes, and is pleased that Rose still wants to join him on his travels. |
| Review:- Back on Earth... back on Christmas Day. But can the new Doctor find himself in time to save the human race from a fate worse than death... The centrepiece of BBC1's Christmas Day schedule found a 1 hour adventure, bringing the Doctor back down to Earth after his regeneration. Fortunately, this followed on from the short scene shown during the Children In Need celebration, featuring the Doctor still feeling the after-effects of absorbing the Matrix. And that residual power drew in the new aliens... Pre-publicity for this story had mentioned killer Santas and Christmas trees. And that happened, although only briefly - the real meat of the story was the Sycorax attack. Their spooky control of 1/3 of the human race did allow for some subtle education about space probes and blood groups, although it wasn't too heavy handed. The weird translation did at least allow the audience to realise when the Doctor had pulled himself together again. Quite why the PM's aide appeared to be mimicking Tony Blair is another matter. Let alone the less-than-subtle comments from the PM relating to the US President. Or the massively popular PM making a rather silly broadcast showing herself in a poor light (where were her spin doctors, then?). On the plus side, Mickey and Jackie finally seemed like nice characters to have around. Their joy at seeing Rose again, and efforts to help the Doctor, despite his previous behaviour, and their uncertainty over his identity all helped with the first half of the story, when the Sycorax took to the forefront. The Sycorax were pretty standard monsters, although this makes a change after the last series. Their whips and blood control all made for them seeming a credible threat. Luckily, one whiff of tea later, and the Doctor did, as expected, jump up in time to save the day. Despite not knowing himself for sure, he bested the Sycorax leader, showed mercy, and then killed him anyway. And when the PM proved to have a nasty trick up her sleeve, he began bringing her down with little pause. The first signs of Torchwood proved to be impressive, and if this is the shadow to hang over the season, it may at least have a better resolution than Bad Wolf did. It wasn't all gravy. After the rubbish with the wheelie bin, and dropping a missile on the Slitheen, this time we had the lamentable drivel that was chopping the Doctor's hand off. Now, this failed because there was no time to consider it a problem, and it was resolved within seconds. Therefore, it achieved nothing, except to waste time, and make the Doctor look silly. Way to go. Also, the scene of the Doctor choosing his new clothes was meant to seem smooth and natural, but came across just as forced as in Castrovalva. On the other hand, much of the dialogue was really entertaining, and perhaps that's the main thing - as long as people enjoy it, they'll keep watching. And it is nice to see the Doctor seeming to be a little mellower - his last incarnation wouldn't have sat down to Christmas dinner, let alone even wishing someone a Merry Christmas. Which points the way ahead... So, to sum up, an exciting story well told. Not perfect, but what is? Roll on the new series... |
| Disclaimer: I have watched this story. |