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Doctor Who
S2.E0
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IMDbPro

The Christmas Invasion

  • Episode aired Sep 29, 2006
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
9.5K
YOUR RATING
Billie Piper and David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)
AdventureDramaSci-Fi

It's Christmas Eve, but this is to be a far from silent night - the cruel Sycorax have come to Earth to enslave mankind and, as ever, only The Doctor can stop them. Unfortunately, he's lying... Read allIt's Christmas Eve, but this is to be a far from silent night - the cruel Sycorax have come to Earth to enslave mankind and, as ever, only The Doctor can stop them. Unfortunately, he's lying in a coma in Jackie's home...It's Christmas Eve, but this is to be a far from silent night - the cruel Sycorax have come to Earth to enslave mankind and, as ever, only The Doctor can stop them. Unfortunately, he's lying in a coma in Jackie's home...

  • Director
    • James Hawes
  • Writers
    • Russell T. Davies
    • Sydney Newman
  • Stars
    • David Tennant
    • Billie Piper
    • Camille Coduri
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    9.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Hawes
    • Writers
      • Russell T. Davies
      • Sydney Newman
    • Stars
      • David Tennant
      • Billie Piper
      • Camille Coduri
    • 26User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos47

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    Top cast37

    Edit
    David Tennant
    David Tennant
    • The Doctor
    Billie Piper
    Billie Piper
    • Rose Tyler
    Camille Coduri
    Camille Coduri
    • Jackie Tyler
    Noel Clarke
    Noel Clarke
    • Mickey Smith
    Penelope Wilton
    Penelope Wilton
    • Harriet Jones
    Daniel Evans
    Daniel Evans
    • Danny Llewellyn
    Adam Garcia
    Adam Garcia
    • Alex
    Sean Gilder
    Sean Gilder
    • Sycorax Leader
    Chu Omambala
    Chu Omambala
    • Major Blake
    Aníta Briem
    Aníta Briem
    • Sally
    • (as Anita Briem)
    Sian McDowall
    • Sandra
    Paul Anderson
    Paul Anderson
    • Jason
    Cathy Murphy
    Cathy Murphy
    • Mum
    Seán Carlsen
    Seán Carlsen
    • Policeman
    Jason Mohammad
    Jason Mohammad
    • Newsreader 1
    • (as Jason Mohammed)
    Sagar Arya
    Sagar Arya
    • Newsreader 2
    Lachele Carl
    Lachele Carl
    • Newsreader 3
    Richard Beavis
    • Shopper
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James Hawes
    • Writers
      • Russell T. Davies
      • Sydney Newman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    8.09.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8Xstal

    A New Tennant in the TARDIS...

    A regenerating Doctor (with Rose) crashes back in London but struggles to overcome the process (he's sleeping), while the Sycorax take a fancy to Earth's inhabitants who they wish to own and possess. Soon a third are left in limbo, stood on ledges though it's Chrimbo and there's only Doctor Who knows what to do! As it transpires super-heated tea is the answer, turns the Doctor into a lancer (well knight or swordsman, although he does become Sir Doctor of TARDIS in the next but one episode) and the saviour of the planet (and everything else) is born again - on Christmas Day no less.
    9Greyrat2

    "This new hand, it's a FIGHTING HAND"

    And just like that, David Tennant was accepted as the Doctor.

    He put so much soul into his role, the music is mesmerizing, the dialogue is iconic, everything is tense. I will miss him 🤧
    9Sleepin_Dragon

    Same man, new face

    This instantly picks up where The Parting of the ways left us, Tennant is now the Doctor and suffering trauma from his regeneration. Rose heads for her mum's place to spend Christmas but is soon being chased by Robotic killer Santas and lethal Christmas trees. The Sycorax make their first and only appearance, positioning their ship above London and controlling people with A+ blood. PM Harriet Jones pleas for the Doctor's help, who is bed ridden. The Doctor recovers in the nick of time to save the day.

    The humour once again belongs to Jackie and Mickey, there are some great lines throughout, my favourites being Jackie's 'I'm gona get killed by a Christmas tree,' and Harriet's 'did we ask about the Royal family, oh they're on the roof,' love it!! The concept of the killer Santas acting as pilot fish for something bigger is a clever one. Harriet Jones (love or hate I know) shines once again, she goes from scatty and lovable to cool, controlled and scared at the end where she destroys the Sycorax. The Sycorax themselves are extremely well designed. We only get about 16 true minutes of David Tennant, but what we get is brilliant. Moment of the episode must be the destruction of the Sycorax ship, and the Doctor's reaction to Harriet.

    The imagery again is superb, it looks so good, its production values are extremely high, the scene of the mass of people walking onto the rooftops is a very powerful one.

    I applaud the Christmas Invasion for its originality, it would become the format for the annual seasonal adventure. Had this one not worked it would never have recurred. The Christmas link is well devised, it doesn't feel forced. It's a great episode, with some real high points, it's hard really to pick fault with it.

    What is the significance of the 6 words? was it paranoia that caused Harriet's demise?

    I was a huge Eccleston fan, but it wasn't long before Tennant surpassed Eccleston in the role to become arguably the best Doctor to date. I can remember watching the Coming Soon trailer, and being utterly blown away by it.

    9/10
    10rebeccaajclarke

    Excellent Science Fiction Christmas Special from the Year 2005

    I find this Science Fiction Christmas Special is very Brilliant, Because of the Daring Adventures, Very Good Intergalactic Languages like Planet Earth English and Sycoraxes, Amazing Fight scenes, saving Christmas, and Awesome Heroism, The Main Protagonists are The Tenth Doctor, Who is portrayed by David Tennant, The Kind-Hearted Cockney Girl called Rose Tyler, Who is portrayed by Billie Piper, Her mother Jackie Tyler and Her On and Off Love Interest Mickey Smith, The Supportive character is Harriet Jones, and the Main Antagonists are The Sycorax, Who have speak in both languages are their native Sycoraxes and Planet Earth English, The Christmas song called Song For Ten is Heartwarming, But not as Heartwarming as Hello Father Christmas and Don't Let This Christmas End This Winter from Noddy's Toyland Adventures in Noddy and Father Christmas (1994), Light The Night from The Snowman and The Snowdog (2012), Thankful Heart from The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), Somewhere In My Memory from Home Alone (1990) and Christmas Star from Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992), I'm giving this Christmas Special a 10/10, and Merry Christmas.
    4Gelaos

    Tennant!

    Besides Tennant's Doctor, whom I loved immediately, is this episode utterly uninteresting.

    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While the new Doctor is picking out his new clothes he briefly considers an item of clothing that looks like it's from the Restoration period (red, blue collar, made of silk). The costume was one of David Tennant's outfits from Casanova (2005), the series he previously worked on with Russell T. Davies.
    • Goofs
      During the long-shot of the Sycorax ship hovering above Rose's estate, the people standing on top of the buildings can be seen to be crude computer-generated images. Only five images are used and are repeated, and in several places overlap with each other, revealing their "flatness".
    • Quotes

      The Tenth Doctor: Look at these people, these human beings. Consider their potential! From the day they arrive on the planet, blinking, step into the sun, there is more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than - no, hold on. Sorry, that's The Lion King...

    • Crazy credits
      This is the first episode of the revived series where in the credits the actors are credited in order of significance, not appearance.
    • Connections
      Edited from Doctor Who: Rose (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Merry Xmas Everybody
      Written by Noddy Holder (uncredited) and Jim Lea (uncredited)

      Performed by Slade

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 2006 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (United Kingdom)
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Tredegar House, Pencarn Way, Newport, Wales, UK(10 Downing Street - Harriet Jones's broadcast)
    • Production companies
      • BBC Wales
      • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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