This story though not technically part of Season Twenty Eight (New Series 2) it is the first real story of the Tenth Doctor's tenure and it was included with the DVD Box Set for this season.
This Christmas special is the first full story starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. Before this story he has only made two brief appearances: The regeneration sequence at the end of "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways" and in the 7-minute "Children in Need Special" that was set between "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways" and "The Christmas Invasion" which was shown as part of the Children in Need charity telethon on 18 November 2005.
This story is the first Christmas Special since "The Feast of Steven" (episode 7 of the 12 part classic 1965 First Doctor story "The Daleks' Master Plan") and follows on directly from the "Children in Need Special" and also from the end of "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways". "The Christmas Invasion" is also the first story to premiere on a Sunday.
This story brings back Mickey Smith, Jackie Tyler and Harriet Jones (now Prime Minister and who was last seen in the two part Ninth Doctor story "Aliens of London/World War Three"). At the end of the this earlier story, The Doctor is heard to stated that she would at some point become Prime Minister, and by the time of "The Christmas Invasion" she has won a general election with a large majority.
Lachele Carl reappears as the reporter first seen in "Aliens of London/World War Three". She is later seen in the Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) finale "The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords" and then during the following Season Thirty (New Series 4) stories: "The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky", "Turn Left" and "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End". She also appears, along with Elizabeth Sladen (as Sarah Jane Smith) and the Slitheen, in The Sarah Jane Adventures spin-off series story "Revenge of the Slitheen".
At the very start of this story, just before the opening credits, listen out for Jackie saying the line 'Doctor? Doctor who?', continuing this long-running in-joke.
Torchwood. The spin-off series from BBC Wales, is also seen in use for the first time (previously it was mentioned in "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways". There are also references to UNIT, indirectly about the Ice Warriors, past incarnations of The Doctors and Companions, The Doctor's continued defence of the Earth and Rose Tyler's recent encounters while travelling with the Ninth Doctor.
The Doctor's right hand is severed during the story's climactic swordfight, revealing a previously unknown Time Lord ability. It seems that they can fully restore damage to their new bodies within fifteen hours of their latest regeneration cycle. The severed hand later went on to cameo in spin-off series Torchwood, before returning home with Captain Jack Harkness in the Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) story "Utopia".
The ability of the TARDIS to translate languages was first described as a 'Time Lord gift' by the Fourth Doctor in the 1976 story "The Masque of Mandragora".
Although not actually explained in this story, Mickey is presumably able to tap into the UNIT computers thanks to The Doctor's backdoor password, first used in "Aliens of London/World War Three".
Also look out for the scene showing Big Ben with scaffolding around it, presumable in the process of being rebuilt since the damage inflicted on it in "Aliens of London/World War Three" by The Slitheen.
The Doctor's remark that the human race is attracting extraterrestrial attention through its space probes echoes a similar speech by The Brigadier to Liz Shaw in the first Third Doctor story, "Spearhead From Space".
This storyline echoes early sections of the Fifth Doctor's first story "Castrovalva". Namely: Complications with regeneration, The Doctor spends much of the first half of the story unconscious, His companions carry him into the TARDIS to escape pursuers, He 'comes round' under the influence of fumes within the TARDIS.
Sycorax is the name of the witch in Shakespeare's play "The Tempest". In "The Shakespeare Code", The Doctor makes a brief reference to the Sycorax in front of the playwright, who decides to use the word somewhere in one of his plays.
While trying to bluff the Sycorax, Rose mentions: Article 15 of the Shadow Proclamation, The Slitheen Parliament of Raxicoricofallapatorius, the Gelth Confederacy, the Mighty Jagrafess and the Daleks.
This story's opening sequence is a repeat of the opening of "Rose", using a new arrangement of the same music.
The song playing during the wardrobe sequence, "Song for Ten" (named in reference to the Tenth Doctor), was composed by Murray Gold and sung by Tim Phillips. This is not the first time an original song has been written for the show. The first, and last time, was "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" in the 1966 First Doctor story "The Gunfighters". "Song for Ten" is also featured - as a slower, instrumental version - near the end of "School Reunion".
Various pieces of music featured in this story were released in December 2006 as part of the "Doctor Who Soundtrack" (produced by Silva Screen). These included the "Song for Ten", the music played behind Harriet Jones' speech and the music played as the spaceship arrives over London. The version of "Song for Ten" released on the soundtrack, however, is not the version from this story - but a newly recorded version with vocals sung by Neil Hannon and additional lyrics referring to the events of the season finale, "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday".
The closing credits had a new theme arrangement restoring the traditional "middle eight" section of the theme which had been omitted in the stories in Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1). This was performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by the revived show's composer Murray Gold.
At his request, David Tennant was credited as 'The Doctor' rather than as 'Doctor Who' as
Christopher Eccleston had been in Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1), the first appearance of this credit since the Seventh Doctor story "Survival" in 1989.
The 'Coming Soon' trailer shown at the end of this story features brief clips from the forthcoming season (up to "Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel").
Immediately after the broadcast of this story, digital viewers were able to press their "red button" to view a special interactive story with the Tenth Doctor (without Rose), "Attack of the Graske" written by Gareth Roberts.
A special 60 minute chapter of Doctor Who Confidential, "One Year On" was broadcast, as part of the Dr Who Night on BBC3 on 6th April 2006. As well as covering the first season it contained behind the scenes footage from the making of this story. It was presented by Mark Gatiss.
| |
|
The Firsts:
Though not technically part of Season Twenty Eight (New Series 2) this is the first real story of the Tenth Doctor's tenure.
David Tennant's first full story as the Tenth Doctor.
The first time, since episode seven of the 1965/66 First Doctor story "The Daleks' Master Plan", an episode is broadcast on Christmas Day - and the first purposely written Christmas story.
The first story to premiere on a Sunday.
The first appearance of the 'Pilot Fish' Robots disguised as Santas.
The first time the TARDIS is seen flying through the air.
The first time The Doctor is credited as such (rather than as "Doctor Who as had been during Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1)) in the closing titles and the first since the 1989 Seventh Doctor story "Survival".
The first story, of the new series, to have an episode that is one hour long.
Sheelagh Wells' first involvement in the show as Makeup Artist.
Louise Page's first involvement in the show as Costume Designer.
|
|