The 2010 Christmas Day special for 'Doctor Who' contains elements of 'A Christmas Carol', 'Mary Poppins' and even 'Jaws', including for good measure references to Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. There is an impressive performance by Michael Gambon and some beautiful musical pieces by Katherine Jenkins. There was a sleigh ride - but no flying reindeer here! All in all the show is a real roller-coaster, entertainment in the style of the traditional BBC Christmas Day blockbuster. It's not surprising that the show featured in the Top Ten shows viewed on the day.
However, was it 'Doctor Who'? Purist SF fans would doubtless be concerned about the number of time paradox issues that this particular episode raises. The whole plot seems to centre on the fact that 'time can be rewritten'... a concept that some fans may find a little difficult to swallow. There was a tangible peril - 4003 lives at stake here, needing to be rescued from a crashing 'Galaxy Class' starship (a Trek fan like me felt right at home)...
However, let's take this whole story as a parable... a story with a definite moral, set in a fantasy world based on a Dickensian earth colony. There's plenty to receive from this show. Here we have a theme of cheerful sacrifice, with Abigail giving up what remains of her life to save her family. There's the clear possibility of redemption, of completely breaking away from your past, with the Doctor helping to rewrite Kasran's life because he could see there was still a possibility; all was not lost! Combine that with the underlying themes of dealing with bitterness and lack of compassion from the original Dickens story (see my earlier blog entries) and there was plenty to digest over the rest of the Christmas night.
Underlying the whole story is the traditional Christmas message, told via the medium of popular carols like 'Silent Night' and 'In The Bleak Mid-winter', emphasising the hope that the arrival of the Christ child offers. This underscore is simply stated, the carols are used to inspire hope. Hope we can all share. It was a pleasure to hear these carols sung so prominently on a Christmas night.
And of course the music clearly attracts the fish. Strange creatures that swim up in the cloud layers in the sky, coming down on certain nights to swim in the Dickensian fog. Kasran is said to 'let a few through on Christmas Eve' ... I am particularly smitten with the fish, it's a nice touch. Fish attracted by the Christian music, to the music with such an important message... hmmm...
Remember. Time can be rewritten.
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