12 Reviews of Christmas - Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion (2005)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. Today, for 12 Reviews of Christmas, we'll be jumping into the world of Doctor Who with the 2005 Christmas special: The Christmas Invasion. For those who aren't in the know, let me do my best to break down Doctor Who. So, Doctor Who is about the Doctor, who is a member of an alien race known as the Time Lords. Time Lords travel through time and space using a techno-organic vessel called the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension In Space), and can alter their physical appearance upon their death. This is how we've had multiple actors portray the Doctor over the years. The original series aired on BBC from 1963 to 1989, with an American made-for-TV film produced in 1996. In 2005, producer Russell T. Davies came on board at the BBC and revived the series with actor Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor. Eccleston would portray the character for the 2005 season, to be recast with actor David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, which is where we find ourselves with the 2005 Christmas special: The Christmas Invasion. 

        So, it's Christmas time in London, and Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith overhear the engines of the TARDIS, which means that the Doctor and Rose Tyler were arriving. Mickey and Jackie head to the spot where the TARDIS would arrive, and the Doctor steps out, but they don't recognize him due to his new face. The Doctor is unconscious for most of the episode, as he's still feeling the side effects of his regeneration. Meanwhile, London is attacked by robotic Santa's and Christmas trees, all controlled by an alien race known as the Sycorax. Meanwhile, newly elected British Prime Minister Harriet Jones prepares for the coming invaders, who utilize blood they've acquired from the Mars space probe Guinevere One to control one-third of Earth's populous. Attempting communications with the Sycorax, Harriet Jones finds herself transported aboard their ship, as do Rose and Mickey while attempting to activate the TARDIS. Despite her best efforts, Rose isn't able to negotiate with the Sycorax, but when Rose, Micckey, and Harriet begin to hear the Sycorax speaking English, Rose realizes the TARDIS translator is working, which means the Doctor is awake. The Doctor bops around, releases the people under the control of the Sycorax, and enters a duel with the leader of the Sycorax, who cuts off the Doctor's hand. However, due to still being n the first fifteen hours of regeneration, he's able to re-grow his hand, and he easily defeats the Sycorax, and per the conditions of the duel, the Sycorax sends the Doctor, Rose, Mickey, Harriet, her assistant, and the TARDIS back to Earth. Harriet then orders a mysterious organization called "Torchwood" to destroy the ship. Enraged by this act of murder, the Doctor threatens to end Harriet's career with six words, and whispers "Dont you think she looks tired?" to her assistant. Suiting up in a new outfit, the Doctor heads back into space in the 
TARDIS, with Rose at his side for many more adventures. 

        Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion is an entertaining first Christmas special for Doctor Who, and for the Tenth Doctor's first episode, it was a lot of fun. David Tennant's portrayal of the Doctor is hailed as one of the best, and he definitely hits the ground running with this episode. Billie Piper. whose character of Rose Tyler is still seen as a fan favorite, was excellent in this episode, and was very entertaining. I also enjoyed the performances of both Camille Coduri and Noel Clarke as Jackie and Mickey, both of whom were terrific in their returning roles. The Sycorax were great one-off villains, and their design was very much in line with the great Doctor Who aliens of the past. Overall, a great Christmas special, Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion gets a rating of 4.75/5. This is Chuck signing off. Tomorrow, we take a look at The Lego Star Wars -- AAHHH! NO! NO! NO! We're not doing that! *clears throat* Anyway, tomorrow we dive under the sea with SpongeBob Squarepants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas! as 12 Reviews of Christmas continues. 

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