Key Takeaways
- Christmas episode of Doctor Who may have emotional twists, whimsy, and be heartfelt, not as intense as previous episodes.
- Doctor Who should be careful with balancing comedy and seriousness to maintain audience engagement and reputation.
- Seasonal special must bridge the gap between seasons by continuing the overall story, but risks tonal inconsistencies under new writer.
The excitement for Doctor Who’s return on Christmas Day is starting to mount, with the Tardis set to spin into people’s lives once again. Teaser trailers, giving a glimpse of what to expect from the episode, from returning villains to a dinosaur, give plenty of hope about what the episode will entail.
Titled ‘Joy to the World, ‘ the episode will follow Ncuti Gatwa’s first season in the iconic role, which proved to be a success. However, Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat has given a tease about the episode that has painted a worrying picture for certain people.
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What Has Steven Moffat Teased
Moffat has returned to writing for the highly-anticipated Christmas Day episode, which is always one that fans look forward to. He last penned an episode for season 14, titled ‘Boom,’ which was one of the most serious and tense. The Doctor spent the episode stuck on a landmine, working out a way to get off and survive in an episode that brought him and Ruby Sunday much closer together as she learned the stakes of the world she was now part of. However, the Christmas Day episode isn’t expected to have the same level of intensity.
He told SFX magazine, “It’s got your Christmas whimsy in there, so I suppose it leans toward the slightly more humorous end, to a degree. But actually, it gets quite emotional, and there’s also the fun element that within the context of the wider series, the Doctor has just lost one of his mates. That puts the Doctor in a particular place, and in the modern show, we’ve always honored that. So, it’s the Doctor alone – which makes it sound somber, and it’s really not. It’s whimsical and, heartwarming and emotional. It’s not ‘Blink.’ That’s how they review all my episodes, it’s not ‘Blink.'”
Of course, ‘Blink’ is another episode written by Moffat and remains one of the most highly regarded in the iconic show’s history. It brought lots of tension, with the Weeping Angels going on to become some of the most feared villains ever, proving what Moffat is capable of when he wants to write in that way.
Why Doctor Who Has To Be Careful With Comedy
Doctor Who has always leaned into comedy to some degree, and the previous season did that too despite being serious for the most part. However, it’s always important for the sci-fi show to be careful when it comes to comedy, as it’s essential not to fall into that genre completely, as that’s not what the series is built upon. Audiences expect a science fiction adventure from Doctor Who, whether it’s set on
Earth or on a different planet, and the show has always tended to do best when being more serious and a little scary.
After all, each episode typically features a stereotypical villain in some form, whether they’re an alien, a mythological creature, or a robot. It has led to the likes of the Daleks and the Cybermen becoming beloved characters, and they can only be taken seriously as threats if the show is taking itself seriously. That’s why too much comedy can be a negative situation for Doctor Who, even if the episode is airing on Christmas Day. The timing means that it’s never going to be one of the most serious episodes in history, but if ‘Joy to the World’ is too comedic, it might fail to grip audiences for the next season, which is ultimately what this episode is looking to achieve.
The Tonal Shift Could Be Jarring
Season 14 of Doctor Who featured plenty of humor, but for the most part, Gatwa’s first adventure in the role had a serious tone. The series had multiple storylines taking place simultaneously, with lots of subtle teases that provided a menacing look at the future. The series also ended with Ruby leaving the Doctor, which created an emotional and intense finish to the story.
Even though Ruby is set to continue in the show for the next season, it’s unclear if she will be the main companion. For this upcoming episode, the Doctor is likely going to be coming to terms with that situation, which Moffat alludes to in his comments. Therefore, there could be a risk of a major tonal change taking place that will set a confusing precedent for the upcoming season, as audiences won’t know whether to expect something lighter and funnier or another serious season.
The Christmas Day episode needs to bridge the gap between the two seasons, continuing the overall story while setting things up for what’s to come. However, Moffat’s comments paint a worrying picture that this episode could be jarring and stick out between the seasons rather than complimenting them. Even though it’s a special episode, it must keep the tone set up for Doctor Who, especially with a new actor in the titular role.
