Doctor Who: The Next Doctor (Christmas Special) [DVD] [2008]

I never miss the Doctor Who special on Christmas Day and this year was no exception- I waited with baited breath ever since the tantalising glimpse on Children in Need.

David Tennant is always excellent and there are always superb actors queing to appear in the specials and this year we had the brilliant David Morrisey and the lovely Dervla "This is not just food, this is M and S food" Kirwan.

However, I didn't really buy into the giant cyberman stomping over Victorian London as it was a bit fifties melodrama like "Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman" or some such. I was also a bit disappointed that it was Cybermen again. I know they've got to get their money's worth, but how many times has it been now? I'm not sure about the wolly cyber bear things either!

Having said all that, I thought the graveyard scene was superbly atmospheric and beautifully shot with the white snow, the black suits and Mtrs Hartigan's scarlet dress. David Morrisey gave an excellent performance as the bereaved husband who got caught in the firing line and thought he was the doctor. I also thought the "doctor's" assistant lacked the charisma of previous characters.

However, the episode had charm in spades and the opening scenes of jolly olde Victorian England (aka Gloucester Cathedral Close) were just the ticket for a Christmas Day. As for David Tennant, he can do no wrong in my eyes.

I get the impression that the Christmas specials are harder to write than the episodes since there is no continuity and all characters except the doctor must be introduced from scratch and the story must be told within one hour and include some sort of huge climax at the end. However, despite a slight feeling of this being a bit formulaic, it was excellent Christmas fayre and I do feel a bit strict only giving three stars but it would be three and a half if I could. But let's give the cybermen a rest for a while eh?

this is a very enjoyable if very slight doctor who special. david tennant gives his usual excellent performance, in fact, his performances make even the worst episodes of doctor who worth watching. this is not one of those episodes though. action packed, tense and with terrific special effects. the scenes of the cyberking towering over london would i have to say looked ridiculous in the original series but looks very impressive here. david morrisey is superb and would make a great 11th doctor when david tennant leaves at the end of the year.
this special is one of those where if you just switch your brain off and go with it, you should enjoy it. oh, and as a bonus, there is a special scene in it showing all 9 previous doctors as a treat for todays kids who may not have ever seen them before. next up is planet of the dead, an intriguing sounding title and sadly only 3 specials left untill the end of the david tennant era of doctor who. good fun!!

I had to buy a region free DVD player just so I could own and watch this. I'm in the U.S. and it hasn't been shown here and haven't seen a date when it will be. I couldn't wait.

I only expect the best from David Tennant and the rest of the cast, and wasn't disappointed. A great plus with this DVD is the "Doctor Who at the Proms." I still get teary at the Doctor/Rose parting and the video and music combined was almost too painful to watch. 5 stars and, if I could, I'd give a 6th one to the Proms extra.