As Doctor Who fans know, they are treated every holiday season to a special episode of the long-running sci-fi show. This DVD is the latest in that series.
The Next Doctor, the latest entry, aired to an incredibly positive reception last December. One scan and it's easy to see why.
The Doctor's Double Trouble
The basic plot is the soon-to-be leaving current Doctor, David Tennant, travels back in time to Victorian Era London. To his shock, he is confronted by another man claiming to be “The Doctor,” replete with companions, a TARDIS (of sorts) and Cybermen at his heels.
The episode then revolves around is this a new regeneration of the multi-lived Time Lord, or is it something more bizarre? Don’t forget the Cybermen. They know from previous confrontations that two Doctors can throw twice as many spanners into their nefarious works.
In all, this special has to be one of the best of this subcategory. Creator-producer-writer Russell T. Davies has a good handle on doing Victorian-era Steampunk. It matches his acknowledged mastery of high torque action and robust humor quite well.
Tennant himself appears to be having great fun, and his spirit is infectious. Supporting actors David Morrisey (the “other” Doctor), Velile Tshabalala (Rosita) and Neil McDermott (Jed) carry their roles with aplomb and conviction.
Still, if kudos should be passed out, it should go to supporting actor Dirvla Kirwin as the villainous Miss Mercy Hartigan. She managed to take what should have been a moustache-twirling, two-dimensional role and added solid depth to it. It didn’t hurt that Davies added one nice, yet surprisingly logical, twist to her character before she and the Cybermen start tearing up London.
Extra Content Holiday Cheer
As extra content, the DVD comes with a special tribute to the Doctor performed live at the Royal Albert Hall by the London Philharmonic. It was hosted by former companion Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), with some additional star turns from others in the series. While the concept was nice, the music is not going to make you forget John Williams anytime soon.
So, while the desert may not have lived up to expectations, the main course proved itself to be a true Christmas feast. Here’s hoping there are a lot more similar quality episodes to come. This should become a regular to any Whovian's library, especially during the holiday season.
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