Home

image by Veronica V. Jones

The Next Doctor’s Steampunk Christmas

David Morrissey as the titular next Doctor in the Doctor Who Christmas episode
David Tennant as the Doctor, and Velile Tshabalala as Rosita in the Doctor Who Christmas episode
Dervla Kirwan as Miss Hartigan in the Doctor Who Christmas episode

Fans of the long running BBC series Doctor Who know that his latest incarnation, as played by David Tennant, is not long for this world. In this light, titling this year’s Christmas special “The Next Doctor” is a particularly painful, but seemingly suitable bit of wordplay.

When the Tardis arrives at London on December 24th, 1851, the Doctor is almost immediately called to the aid of a damsel in distress. When another Time Lord also comes running, and an oddly woolly Cyberman-esque creature bursts into the scene, confusion abounds.

David Morrissey confidently plays a future/past/sideways incarnation of our favorite Gallifreyan, and Velile Tshabalala imbues this Doctor’s companion with more spunk and initiative than the role has seen to date. As worthy successors to the series, they are certainly suitable… but is it meant to be?

While citizens with a monarch have already seen this episode broadcast over the air, those of us in the former colonies must most likely wait until the spring for the televised answers.

Written by in December of 2008. Last edited September 2009.

Related Features

Alan Pollack

Deception, Vengeance and Subterfuge

A man's dark profile is dominated by two women's portraits aginast the backdrop of the city at night. A man walks towards a police station. A man drives up to a nightclub. A tattered U.S. flag hangs on a wall, with a man lounging on a sofa below.

Thanos Tsilis

A group of angry warrior women overrun armored men. A woman with red hair and a long black coat rests a katana on her shoulder. A man stands before a large bubble-enclosed futuristic bust of a large woman.

Bender Scores Big with First Futurama Feature

Bender and the gang celebrate. Bender doing his best terminator impression. All hail the hypnotoad

Arne aka Ratscape

A lovely blue woman's face with white white markings, aka Zhaan. Batman holds Catwoman's arm as Catwoman holds a string of pearls. Circa 1967 Rosario Dawson as a Vulcan wearing a blue Starfleet uniform. Jemma Simmons smiles, carrying six blue test tubes with a shield logo visible within the tubes. Spider woman standing tall, with hands on hips.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *