Raonaild

Children in Need 2005
Russell T Davis


The Christmas Invasion
Russell T Davis

Raonaild

I combined these two into one thread, because the 2005 Children in Need sketch was pretty much a prologue to The Christmas Invasion - it showed how Rose was confused and upset over the Doctor's regeneration, and how the new Tenth Doctor, who seemed fine at the end of The Parting of the Ways, was not so fine after all.

I really liked this special, the Tenth Doctor was fun, and it was a nice little teaser for the Christmas special - especially considering Ten spent most of TCI unconscious. Oh, it was the first time they used the Cloister Bell in New Who.

I also enjoyed The Christmas Invasion. If I had one complaint about this ep, it was that it had very little of the Tenth Doctor. Which made sense, but still, the parts of this ep I've rewatched the most are the parts with Ten. In general I like regeneration eps, but you could see from this one why they didn't start the New Series with a regeneration ep. This ep wouldn't have worked if the audience didn't already know and care about Rose and her family, and because regeneration is supposed to be such a traumatic experience, the Doctor is out of comission for much of the ep.

Favourite bits of the ep - the Arthur Dent reference, the tea, "Don't you think she looks tired", Ten in the TARDIS wardrobe and his new glasses.

roswellcharmed_2000

I love this special, I've watched it so many times. I love seeing what we do of the 10th doctor. Him quoting the Lion King will make him number 1 in my book. Plus his whole "Six words" thing. So awesome and wonderful.

SiriuslyPotter

I really liked the Children in Need special, even though I watched it well after I finished S1 & 2, it was a nice look at what happened between PoTW and TCI, but I do think it would of been more interesting if I'd watched it in order.

That is definately true, when I watched TCI when it was broadcast I don't think I'd watched more than 10 minutes of series 1 and I watched this because it was christmas and I just didn't get it, it was just boring to me because I didn't understand what was going on.

But when I did watch it after watching S1 I liked it a lot more, I knew about Rose and cared about her, and being in the know I could really root for the Doctor to save the day.

That issue is pretty controversial, some people think he was right to do what he did, some people still haven't forgiven him for it, I can see it both ways myself.

Raonaild

There's an old Third Doctor story, Doctor Who and the Silurians, that reminds me of this plot. In that story, the Doctor manages to stop the Silurians from taking over the Earth, and at the end of the story they're contained and the Doctor plans to negotiate a peaceful resolution with them. But the Brigadier and UNIT blow up their base and kill them all before the Doctor gets a chance. The Third Doctor was similarly disgusted at the unnecessary loss of life, human or otherwise, but it doesn't have any impact on his relationship with the Brig or UNIT.

Personally, I prefer the Tenth Doctor's reaction, that he will not tolerate that sort of thing, even if it's done by his favourite species (humanity) rather than the "monsters".

indigo sunrise

I adore both the CiN special and The Christmas Invasion SO much. I can quote them word for word, talk along with everything, but I still enjoy them immensely.

I love Rose's reaction to the Doctor regenerating, I love that she didn't accept him at first, because why would she? And it was nice because as a regular viewer (I say regular viewer, because I already liked David at that point so I was biased ), you probably felt exactly the same way she did, asking things like "Who is this weird skinny guy? Where did my Doctor go?" so I liked it a lot that we got eased into it

TearlessPhoenix

I LOOOOVEEE the Cristmas invasion... I just think it is a brilliant episode. I was trying really hard not to like DT when this first aired... I think it lasted about 5 min before I thought he was brilliant! So many fantastic references and just amazing all round.. i love the pilot fish.

CiN.. well I saw this much later and unfortunately after the 2006 one, which i loved immensley so while its good it doesnt rate above that one. I love the realistic-ness of those few min.

Raonaild

The thing I liked better about the 2005 CiN special was that it was a integrated into the plotline between S1 and S2. You didn't need to see it to understand TCI, but it added to Rose's experience of the Doctor's regeneration, and it explained why the Doctor crash landed the TARDIS and collapsed in front of Jackie and Mickey when he seemed perfectly fine after regenerating in PotW.

With the 2007 CiN special, although I enjoyed it as a stand-alone sort of thing and I always appreciate a good classic series reference, it didn't really fit between S3 and S4. If you played LotTL, TC and VotD back to back, TC actually fits in before the end of LotTL, it's like a scene that was left out of LotTL. I found that a bit jarring when I watched it.

fox24

I just finish this a few days ago. I like Ten and him trying discover what kind of man he is and how the tea save him and him reuniting with Harriet and their conflict. I liked how Rose was conflicted it made sense because its not everyday someone you care about changes

Summer Falls

yer i did enjoy it the tea bit was nice and i love jackie .. its always interesting to see a new doctor and try to understand them

CommanderM

The Christmas Invasion was a GREAT first story for the Tenth Doctor. Even more so than Rose was for Nine. It was fun, dramatic, angsty, it just worked!!

fox24

Jackie is hilarious

Summer Falls

true a lot happen in this episode

^ i know jackie literally saved the doctor thanks to her tea

CommanderM

Jackie saved the Doctor, the Doctor saved the world. Good old Jackie and her tea, she should market it for regenerating Time Lords...

fox24

Lol