The Christmas Invasion DVD NTSC Region 1 14-episode box set DVD PAL Region 2 14-episode box set DVD PAL Region 2 plain 2-episode volume

(Doctor Who Story No. 171, introducing David Tennant) written by Russell T. Davies directed by James Hawes produced by Phil Collinson music by Murray Gold 1 episode @ 60 minutes Story: The new tenth Doctor crashes the TARDIS in London on Christmas Eve before passing out. Mickey, Rose and Mrs. Tyler try to attend to his regeneration trauma, while Prime Minister Harriet Jones collaborates with U.N.I.T. to assess the threat of a gigantic spacecraft attracted to the Earth by a recent Mars probe satellite.

DVD Extras (box sets only) include:

• Picture-in-Picture commentary by writer Russell T. Davies, producer Phil Collinson, and executive producer Julie Gardner.
• David Tennant's Video Diaries
• Billie Piper's Video Diaries
• "Children in Need" special prequel scene
• Doctor Who Confidential featurette: Fear Factor (contains a behind-the-scenes look at the finale of "The Christmas Invasion")
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes

Most Doctors get a bad break in the substance of their first story. Writers usually approach such tales by catering to the transitioning curiosities of the long-term audience that already knows the show, instead of designing a classic that can hook new viewers into a blossoming new era. Russell T. Davies brilliantly sidestepped the usual problems during Christopher Eccleston's debut nine months earlier, largely by avoiding regeneration altogether, delivering an introduction worthy of relaunching the show. But now for David Tennant's debut, Davies proves to be innocent of his earlier wisdoms, and bogs this story down with all the old typical problems, plus the newly added ones of an unsyndicatable episode length and the stigma of a story that station managers might only deem suitable during one special time of the year. Arrgh!

First frustration: the setting. After failing to stretch beyond Earth's orbit and take us to an alien planet all throughout the previous season, we head straight back to London, again, using a recycled (but nice) establishing shot. On the plus side, we get to see familiar faces like Rose's mum and, even better, Mickey. The TARDIS makes an unusually entertaining entrance, but fails to demonstrate its regular materialization anywhere else in the story despite several obvious missed opportunities. Thankfully the interior/exterior relationship is showcased well later on in the story. Too bad the decrepit interior design hasn't been replaced yet.

"While you were sleeping..."

Napping for two-thirds screen time brings about the equivalent of the missing Doctor syndrome not seen since the sixties - the big question there being whether or not the companions and supporting characters can keep the story moving in his absense. This time they do make some progress, with Rose and Mickey having some nice character moments, and a Mars Probe specialist collaborating with returning friendly face Harriet Jones and the new staff of U.N.I.T., but there isn't quite enough good stuff to justify the amount of screen time these segments get.

More time is wasted with another pathetic new twist on the blubbering companion idea - this time with Harriet Jones whining and begging for the Doctor during a national address on tv. This is one of the worst ideas any writer has ever inflicted on the program. She's the Prime Minister, for heaven's sake! No leader whines on public television for a single interdimensional vagrant she's only met once before, and Jones should be far more prepared to rely on the other options she has at hand. Scenes like this make me believe that one might be able to excise 15 minutes of this story's worst material without losing a single frame of Tennant's debut performance, and have a better story in the end that can be syndicated right along with the other 45-minute episodes of the new series.

U.N.I.T. seems to feature in this story more because logic demands it than anything else. The cast charm that the old U.N.I.T. regulars used to bring to the series during the Jon Pertwee Era isn't here, largely because U.N.I.T. is staffed by a new generation now. Although one might be tempted to think that a new U.N.I.T. cast might slowly assemble during these newer episodes, Davies doesn't seem to be making any progress towards that here. Pity.

Other plot fillers include traditional Christmas sights and sounds turning horrific. There doesn't seem to be any thematic weight or point to it other than trying to freak out the audience, so it won't earn any points with me there.

But enough bashing; this story has a large host of good points as well. The alien menace manages to pose a very unique threat to keep things interesting. The linguistic challenges in the story also add a very nice touch. Also, both the interior and exterior of the alien craft provide a host of exciting, cultural, atmospheric visuals for the story. It's almost an acceptable substitute for an alien planet. (But I'll not be letting you off the hook that easily, Mr. Davies! We still desperately need much more of the real deal!)

Noel Clarke gives another thoroughly enjoyable performance as Mickey Smith, his character continuing to enjoy more solid footing with each new appearance. Penelope Wilton also gets to give us many exquisite moments as Harriet Jones, and is a most welcome addition to the growing roster of regular supporting characters.

Billie Piper and Camille Coduri turn in their usual decent work as the Tylers, and Sean Gilder makes the role of the alien leader work nicely. However, the absolute best part of this story is undoubtedly David Tennant. Awesome! I don't think we've had a Doctor this good since the collective reign of the first five. Tennant is magnetically engaging in practically every scene and mood he plays in here, and manages to be on par with Tom Baker in balancing off-the-wall humour with the more serious, stake-naming moments of gravity. This is a Doctor who is not to be missed! And Russell T. Davies deserves due credit as well for writing such excellent scenes for the new Doctor, filled with the all the right content. Some of the ending moments seem a little too melodramatically happy, but the many excellent twists & turns that continue to occur keep things very entertaining. We also get to see some very excellent portions of the deep interior of the TARDIS as the Doctor selects his new costume from the wardrobe room.

Music by Murray Gold "UNIT", "Harriet Jones, Prime Minister", "The Doctor's Theme", "Sycorax Encounter", "Rose's Theme", the opening of "Westminster Bridge", variations on "New Adventures", and an alternate version of "Song for Ten" are available on: Audio CD - Doctor Who by Murray Gold Silva Screen SILCD1224 More info & buying options

A bit Arthur Dent

In the end this is a decent story. If one can muddle through the boring bits earlier on, the conclusion more than makes up for it, and delivers a thoroughly enjoyable adventure.

DVD NTSC Region 1 14-episode boxed set for the North American market:	DVD PAL Region 2 14-episode box set for the U.K.	DVD PAL Region 2 plain 2-episode volume U.K. format only

Note: The full season sets contain commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and other extras. The smaller volumes only feature the plain episodes.

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