‘Doctor Who: Joy to the World’ Is the Wackiest Christmas Special

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As a long-time enthusiast of all things “Doctor Who”, I must say that Steven Moffat has outdone himself with this year’s Christmas Special, “Joy to the World.” This episode is an absolute delight for fans, a whimsical and fantastical rollercoaster ride through the show’s rich history.

The Christmas Specials of Doctor Who seldom stick closely to real-world events. From the 2023 episode “The Church on Ruby Road” featuring flying goblin pirate ships, vanishing infants, and an impromptu musical performance, to 2008’s “The Next Doctor” with cyber-transformed canine folk strolling around Victorian London, this show often maintains a playful and lighthearted approach. This year’s holiday special, “Joy to the World,” pushes things even further.

The entire 55-minute tale is filled with one bizarre incident after another, including hotels that connect to various eras in Earth’s history and an enigma of a code no one can ever solve. It’s invigorating to see such an unabashedly outlandish installment join the long-standing library of Doctor Who, particularly after the initial season of this new era, which aimed to disrupt the series and flip its traditional style on its head.

Steven Moffat’s writing shines particularly in ‘Joy to the World,’ where it’s clear he’s having a blast. There are references to past episodes he penned, dialogue that thrives on the unique delivery of the cast, and plotlines designed to be witty, which usually succeed in their aim. It’s an outrageously fun Christmas special, packed with unexpected twists that will delight both long-time fans and new viewers.

The Time Hotel and Its Many Rooms

The main idea behind the Time Hotel is essentially a platform for “Joy to the World” to display a variety of different periods in human history. Of course, the present day is one of them, where Joy (Nicola Coughlan) accidentally enters the Time Hotel, but there are also passages to ancient times like the Stone Age and early Antarctic explorations. There’s even a door that takes you back to prehistoric Earth, filled with dinosaurs instead of humans!

As a result, the Time Hotel becomes an eclectic blend, filled with a diverse array of individuals sporting various attires, utilizing distinct speech patterns, and exuding unique atmospheres as they move about the hotel. There’s also a character from the future, portrayed by Jonathan Aris, who hails from the Silurian race, lending credibility to the recurring Silurian prosthetic design. This creates a specific brand of enjoyment that is reminiscent of Doctor Who Christmas Specials, although the focus on this experience seems to take precedence over the development of the plot.

A Bootstrap Paradox and More Than One Doctor

In the episode “Joy to the World,” Ncuti Gatwa finds himself in a unique situation for a multi-Doctor story, having previously acted alongside David Tennant’s version of The Doctor. What makes this instance exceptional is that the other Doctor is also played by Ncuti Gatwa himself. In this tale, the Fifteenth Doctor traverses his own timeline, but things are not as they seem. This presents a delightful chance for Gatwa to perform alongside his own self, and it’s evident that he is thoroughly enjoying every moment of it. However, this self-encounter in time can lead to a paradox, which indeed occurs in this story, but only after Gatwa has had the opportunity to express a wide range of emotions opposite himself.

The ‘bootstrap paradox’ is a concept which will undoubtedly be familiar to Doctor Who fans — especially those who watched Steven Moffat’s tenure as showrunner with a keen eye. The idea centers around traveling to the past because of something that happens in the future, only when in the past, the events of the future are caused. The bootstrap paradox is complex by design, but it’s used in a somewhat refreshing way in “Joy to the World” (even if, especially alongside the reappearance of the Villengard Corporation, it feels a little like Moffat playing his greatest hits). The important thing is that it adds to the already increasing madness of this Christmas episode.

What Christmas Is All About in ‘Doctor Who’

Overall, the television series “Doctor Who” has consistently had a unique connection with Christmas. It serves as a platform where the show can slow down its pace and present tales that may not be integral to an ongoing narrative or complex plotline. Although there have been heartfelt scenes in these holiday episodes (such as “The Husbands of River Song” and “A Christmas Carol”), they primarily offer the series a chance to unwind and engage in light-hearted, low-pressure adventures.

In contrast to typical “Doctor Who” Christmas tales, the climax in this story carries unexpected gravity. The quirky concepts presented earlier culminate dramatically in the last few minutes. The finale is thrilling, heart-pounding, emotionally charged, and perfectly encapsulates holiday spirit. Yet, even after resolving the primary conflict, there are a couple of subsequent scenes to underscore the far-reaching impact of the episode’s events.

The very last example shown is likely to divide the fanbase, and is by far the maddest thing “Joy to the World” does. It will no doubt have some viewers sitting back on their sofa and taking another sip of sherry while sporting a knowing smile, while others may be inclined to shout at their televisions. Either way, it’s a bold way to end such a bonkers Christmas special.

Doctor Who: “Joy to the World” is available on Disney+ on Christmas Day 2024 worldwide and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Watch it on Disney+ below:

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2024-12-25 08:01