A Very Doctor Who Christmas! – Voyage of the Damned

It’s officially December so that means it ‘tis the season.  As I was decorating a few days ago I was, naturally, rocking out to some Christmas carols.  When “What Christmas Means To Me” came on I danced and sang along as loud as I could.  I didn’t get much decorating done for those ten minutes (because who only listens to that tune one time??) but the break was festive and fun and totally worth it.  It’s always been a favorite Christmas song of mine and every time Steve Wonder’s classic is covered it makes me happy because it means I have even more chances to hear it randomly playing in a store or on the radio.  Anyway, as I was singing along it got me thinking about what Christmas means to me (my love!).  I thought it would be interesting to reflect on that with a series of posts through December.  And then I thought using Doctor Who’s Christmas specials as a frame for those reflections could be fun.  So, What Does Christmas Mean To Me (Vol. 1)?  Well, let’s turn to “Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned” and talk about it!

The Time Lord Victorious – A Model and Warning of Isolation

As I roll past day forty in quarantine, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the Doctor Who specials that marked the end of David Tennant’s run as the Doctor.  Not so much the finale two-parter which contained his showdown with the Master, but rather “The Next Doctor” (Dec 2008), “Planet of the Dead” (April 2009), and “The Waters of Mars” (Nov 2009).  The reason these specials have been on my mind is they explore the Doctor travelling alone, roaming the whole of time and space without any companion(s) by his side.  The pain of loneliness and isolation are universal – something we all experience, in various degrees and at various times in our lives.  In fact, I’d wager this constant struggle with loneliness is part of what makes the Doctor such an appealing character.  We all can relate.  While always relevant, this seems particularly poignant now.