*Originally published on 12/31/11
As I've only recently gotten into Doctor Who, I was really excited for this year's Christmas special; mostly because this was the first time I'd be able to see it at the time of its airing. I was especially excited as the previews (and episode title) made it clear that it was inspired by the Narnia series, which seemed rather fitting all things considered.
Much like it has been with a majority of the Christmas specials, this story is self contained, and doesn't really have any ties into the show's story arc, up until the very end where the Doctor mentions that everyone thinks that he's dead and later meets up with some characters that he had known prior to his appearance here.
In an odd variation to the previous Christmas special plots, there is no impending alien invasion. Heck, there isn't even really a villain, which was especially peculiar. The tree people don't really pose a threat and while you could argue that the harvesters are antagonistic in the sense that they are responsible for the acid rain that acts as the primary danger to the characters, they don't play a big enough role and are never really confronted about what they're doing.
It works out well though, and it does give the episode a lighter feel, which is rather appropriate for the holiday season.
The episode puts a strong emphasis on character as we learn about the Arwells. Madge in particular really got to shine. She was likable, sympathetic, and felt very 3 dimensional as a character. She also gave us one of the episode highlights as she turns the tables on the Harvesters. While the Doctor is the only familiar character, newcomers will get a good enough feel for his personality to enjoy it nonetheless.
Matt Smith is, as always, fun to watch. I rather liked seeing him gleefully showing off the modified house that he designed for the children. You got the sense that he really enjoyed the stuff as much as the kids were supposed to.
I really liked this year's special. It had a nice balance of humor and dramatic moments. It was a nice breather from the usual world threatening stories that frequent the show and the ending is rather heartwarming. If you're a fan of Who, I think you'll enjoy it quite a bit. If you're unfamiliar with the show and want to check it out, I think this will act as a nice jumping on point as it gives you a feel for the main character and the show as a whole.
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