‘Doctor Who’ Has the Best Version of This Beloved Christmas Classic

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  • ‘Doctor Who‘s’ Unique Time Travel Mechanics in ‘A Christmas Carol’
  • The Power of Christmas Music
  • One Last Christmas Together Means More Than Many Apart

As a lifelong fan of both classic literature and the wondrous world of Doctor Who, I must say that “A Christmas Carol” is an absolute delight. This episode encapsulates the magic of the holiday season while also showcasing the unique storytelling abilities of Doctor Who.

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of the most recognizable stories in the world. The story of Scrooge being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve in order to change his ways is so iconic that it has been adapted into nearly every medium, or to quote Bart Simpson regarding the story, “TV writers have been milking that goat for years.” From the Muppets to Mickey Mouse to Batman, A Christmas Carol can seemingly fit any story. Alastair Sim’s Scrooge, George C. Scott’s 1984 A Christmas Carol, the modern retelling of Scrooged with Bill Murray, and even Jim Carrey’s Uncanny Valley 2009 version are just a few of the iconic retellings of Christmas Carol. There is seemingly a version for everyone… even that strange musical version from 2004 with Kelsey Grammer and Jennifer Love Hewitt (yes, that is real, and it is something).

For my money, the best version of A Christmas Carol is the Doctor Who spin on the material. 2010’s “A Christmas Carol” was the series’ sixth Christmas special following its revival and the first for Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith. Every year since it was first broadcast, Doctor Who‘s “A Christmas Carol” has been a staple during the holiday season, and it doesn’t feel like Christmastime without it. It captures the spirit of the original story while putting a unique spin on it in a way that only Doctor Who could. It not only stands as one of the best episodes of the series but it is often regarded as the best Doctor Who Christmas special and arguably the best version of A Christmas Carol.

‘Doctor Who’s’ Unique Time Travel Mechanics in ‘A Christmas Carol’

In the special episode titled “Doctor Who‘s A Christmas Carol,” The Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith, endeavors to prevent a spaceship carrying over four thousand passengers, including his companions Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Duvall), from colliding with a distant planet. This unfortunate incident occurs when the ship is ensnared in an unusual cloud belt. On the surface of the planet, which bears a striking resemblance to Victorian-era Britain with a touch of futuristic technology, resides Kazran Sardick (Michael Gambon), a stingy individual who refuses to assist The Doctor. As it’s Christmas Eve, The Doctor decides to employ a strategy reminiscent of the classic tale “A Christmas Carol” by manipulating time to modify Kazran’s past and instill kindness within him so that he will ultimately save the spaceship.

As a movie reviewer, I’d say this film adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” brilliantly reimagines Charles Dickens’ classic tale by introducing the time-traveling Doctor Who character. Instead of ghosts, we have The Doctor stepping into the roles of the three spirits, with an intriguing twist: she becomes the Ghost of Christmas Past, guiding Kazran through his past and present.

Initially, Kazran had no relationship with this woman. But the Doctor altered his past in such a way that Kazran developed feelings for her. Yet, Kazran rejected the Doctor, recognizing that every time Abigail was taken from her cryo chamber, her lifespan diminished significantly, leaving her with just one day to live. Unable to bear the thought of losing her, Kazran imprisoned Abigail, isolating himself as a result. This wasn’t due to selfishness, but rather out of fear of losing the person he cared for deeply.

Throughout the episode, The Doctor assumes the part typically assigned to the Ghost of Christmas Past; however, it masterfully reinvents the other three spirits as well. For instance, the Ghost of Christmas Present is manifested as a hologram of the spaceship passengers, including Amy, who emits a green radiance and possesses the ability to transport Kazran onto the doomed ship. The most striking departure from tradition occurs with The Ghost of Christmas Future. In traditional tales, this spirit shows Scrooge his own grave, dying lonely and loveless. Interestingly, this concept is ridiculed by Kazran upon the Doctor’s arrival.

Instead, the Doctor employs his time machine to transport the young Kazarian to the present, allowing him to witness the man he will eventually grow into. In this sense, Kazarian serves as his own “Ghost of Christmas Future,” recalling his deepest fear as a child and an adult: resembling his abusive father. This theme is further reinforced by the fact that Gambon portrays both Kazarian and his father, Elliot Sardick. When the younger Kazarian mistakenly identifies his future self as his father, it triggers a profound realization in the older Kazarian about his personal transformation. He has indeed changed.

The Power of Christmas Music

One of the standout aspects of the Doctor Who Christmas specials is how they creatively reimagine traditional Christmas imagery. For instance, “The Christmas Invasion” showcased a lethal Christmas tree, “Voyage of the Damned” introduced deadly robot angels, and in “The Snowman”, we encountered terrifying snowmen monsters. In “A Christmas Carol”, executive producer Steven Moffatt takes a fresh approach by using Christmas carols as a central motif, given that the title carries double meaning.

Apart from being a fresh take on Charles Dickens’ tale, “Christmas Carol” also explores the ability of carols to bring joy during Christmas. This production, set in a world reminiscent of the Victorian era, showcases an unusual spectacle – flying fish and sharks, with the latter even pulling a sleigh! If that doesn’t make you want to watch it, I don’t know what will.

In this episode, the guest star Katherine Jenkins, a celebrated mezzo-soprano, contributes significantly through her captivating singing voice. Her vocal abilities, as Abigail, play a crucial role in the storyline. The soothing melody of her voice manages to pacify one of the aggressive great white sharks threatening the Doctor. Earlier, this same shark had bitten part of the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver. Remarkably, the shark remains alive, swimming within the cloud belt. To resolve this situation, the Doctor instructs Abigail to sing into the remaining half of the sonic screwdriver. The music, absorbed by the piece inside the shark, enables the cloud belt to dissipate, allowing the ship to land safely.

In this heartwarming episode, I found myself captivated by an enchanting original tune titled “Abigail’s Song (Silence Is All You Know)”. With Jenkins’s velvety yet powerful vocals, it fits perfectly among the tunes on any Christmas playlist. The lyrics resonate with the essence of Charles Dickens’s classic tale, A Christmas Carol, and the Doctor Who episode, delving into the impact of isolation and emphasizing that life, especially during the holidays, can be more fulfilling when we embrace love and connection.

“In solitude, only quietness is visible; when alone, it’s just silence that will be. Reach for my hand and join me; where you stand, music fills the air. When close by, melodies are everywhere; in your presence, they surround. Open your eyes without a whisper; let the shadows within draw near. Embrace the darkness, embrace the darkness; let the radiance of your shadow guide.

One Last Christmas Together Means More Than Many Apart

For nineteen years now, “Doctor Who” has graced our television screens once more, with several holiday specials to show for it. Each scene during this festive episode oozes Christmas enchantment. The Eleventh Doctor portrayed by Matt Smith, seemed to embody the spirit of a Santa Claus figure, a wise man who carried the exuberance and warmth of a child at heart. In fact, the series itself makes this parallel as the Doctor emerges from a chimney at the end of the episode. It’s almost a pity that Matt Smith didn’t get cast in a film like “Santa Claus Begins,” where his portrayal of The Doctor could have easily been mistaken for a young Santa Claus.

Despite its grim beginning, what makes this episode so moving and ultimately enchanting is its conclusion. Abigail, who is beyond saving, will perish. Initially, Kazran refused to release her from her cryogenic pod because doing so might save everyone aboard the ship, but it would mean he’d lose her. In a heart-wrenching moment, when given a choice, Kazran poses this question to the Doctor: “Could you do it? One last day with your beloved. Which day would you choose?” Eventually, as the pod opened, Abigail chose Christmas Day for them both.

Despite understanding her impending demise, Abigail finds herself in a position to bring about a miraculous Christmas event and extend life to others, all while sharing her final moments with someone she cherishes. Just as the Christmas joy fades as night sets in and we inch closer to December 26, the awareness of its conclusion allows us to fully appreciate the time we have. It is this very aspect that makes Christmas so special, and it also lends a profound significance to the love story between Kazran and Abigail. Though their Christmas together may be short-lived, what truly matters is that they are together in the end.

Among numerous adaptations of “A Christmas Carol”, none are quite as distinctive as the way “Doctor Who” has reimagined the content. Given its role as the archetypal time-travel story, it was fitting to let television’s most renowned time traveler lend his unique perspective to the material.

A Christmas Carol” mirrors the exceptional narrative prowess of “Doctor Who.” By using a classic tale as its foundation while infusing it with numerous distinct features, it demonstrates the boundless storytelling potential of “Doctor Who,” which seamlessly blends the quintessential visual charm of Victorian-era London, reminiscent of Christmas, with the science fiction elements of a space liner colliding with an extraterrestrial planet inhabited by flying sharks. This tale also presents a man who possesses the power to rewrite a single life’s history, triggered by his encounter with a lonely boy on Christmas, and ultimately inspiring him to embrace love.

In a remarkable testament to its timelessness, despite numerous adaptations over two centuries, the essence of “A Christmas Carol” continues to resonate as strongly today. By the way, don’t forget to catch the Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol special on Max.

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2024-12-24 01:32