Thank you so much to my friend Doug for saving Christmas and editing the Matt Smith and Doctor Mysterio sections. Without him, this video could have come out at some point in January. Giving him a plug won’t do much because he’s a bigger deal than I am, but here’s his channel: kzfaq.info/love/-ZvHBQWbcDWp-3-q-WNHNw

with the runaway bride i actually really like that it's not about the christmas spirit or anything like that, the episode is ultimately about loneliness and grief which is an underside to the holidays. the festive stuff SHOULD feel routine.

It depends on what kind of festive you want. If Christmas is Dickensian towns and snowy evenings, the Smith ones are best. If Christmas is Wham! and terrible office parties, the Tennant ones are the best. If you like Christmas Day because of the new Doctor Who episode, then the Capaldi ones are the best.

Thank you for defending (post-Season 7) Clara. She's the best and is seriously underrated.

He did it, he got it out during Christmas. Well done mate

I'll revisit it in light of what you've said, but I love The Snowmen for some reason, indeed it's in my Top Five, which are: 1. A Christmas Carol 2. Last Christmas 3. The Snowmen 4. The Husbands of River Song 5. Voyage of the Damned

31:52 What I personally like is how this is their last 40 years together, and they both bicker to each other all their side flings, but in the end when they have the chance, they spend their last ever time together in what we can gather from the episode pretty much a happy relationship, despite the past imperfections they're complaining to each other.

The outfits were the star of this video. The rest of the list fluctuates, but Husbands of River Song and A Christmas Carol re always at the top for me.

The Husbands of River Song is honestly one of the episodes that plays in my mind most often, Alex Kingston and Peter Capaldi's chemistry is really something quite special. And honestly one of the things that I love about it the most is the fact that they don't kiss during the episode and yet we still see and feel the love that the Doctor and River have for each other. Don't get me wrong, I think conventional displays of romance definitely have their place, but the fact that it is all communicated through their body language and their words really adds to the episode for me.

1 - A Christmas Carol 2 - The Husbands of River Song 3 - Twice Upon a Time 4 - The Time of the Doctor 5 - The Return of Doctor Mysterio 6 - The Next Doctor 7 - Voyage of the Damned 8 - The Christmas Invasion 9 - The End of Time: Part 1 10 - The Runaway Bride 11 - Last Christmas 12 - The Snowmen 13 - The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe

You've got to love Joe Brennan

I'm Jewish and usually dont love the obsession with Christmas that both the US (where I live) and UK dive into the second it starts to get cold, but theres something about Doctor Who Christmas specials that I really enjoy. Its kind of like how I love A Muppet Christmas Carol--the two things iust really work together so I dont mind the Christmas stuff as much

I whole heartedly agree with everything you said about Husbands of River song. By far the best.

I must say that the 11 and 12 are my favourite.But i really wish 12 and river had more storys together(:

Great video, as always. Also, damn that test pattern suit and tie is nice!

I was planning on reviewing a Christmas Carol episode but then I thought to do a Capaldi episode and now I’m just sitting here with a script for next year lol.

13: The Doctor, the Witch and the Wardrobe - 4/10 12: The Return of Doctor Mysterio - 4/10 11: Last Christmas - 5/10 10: The Next Doctor - 5/10 9: Voyage of the Damned - 6/10 8: The Husbands of River Song - 7/10 7: Twice Upon a Time - 7/10 6: The Runaway Bride - 7/10 5: The Snowmen - 7/10 4: The Christmas Invasion - 8/10 3: The End of Time: part 1/2 - 8/10 2: A Christmas Carol - 8/10 1: The Time of the Doctor - 9/10

Good to see husbands of river song getting some love, absolutely my favourite Christmas story for the 12 and river relationship and oh god Greg Davies is 😚👌

I would like to give at least one, if not even two additional points to "Twice Upon a Time" for the ingenious, and wonderful use of the christmas truce. Which is, in my opinion, much more christmassy, than victorian atmosphere, dickensian characters, or whatever else.

My top three are: 1. Christmas Invasion - this is truly an epic episode. Intro to 10th, incredible performance. And more crystal clear character establishment in 4 minutes (and it remained consistent) from "Did you miss me" to "I challenge you" running through an absurdly diverse range of pacing, emotions, interactions, defeating a plot - blood control... than some Doctors managed in entire seasons. Like a dazzling trailer for what you can expect with this one. 2. The Next Doctor - Jackson Lake is awesome and tragic and David Tennant as 10 is so incredibly kind, it feels like a celebration of the best of human kindness - so Christmas theme. They have fabulous chemistry and Rosita is awesome too. Perfect. 3. Husbands of River Song - The transformation of Peter Capaldi and the incredible chemistry with River Song is so romantic, most of us would want to touch one moment like that in our lives. These three just elevate the show into profound emotional journeys. Special mention to the Day of the Doctor with amazing chemistry between John Hurt, David Tennant and Matt Smith. Also given the show's current penchant for retcon, an example of a retcon done right. I don't think it is a Christmas special.

I Didnt Love the Time of the Dr...but i DO love "I'll always remember when the Dr was Me " It makes me cry everytime 😢

I can't be bothered to say anything actually interesting, so here's my list and no commentary 13. The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe 12. The Runaway Bride 11. Last Christmas 10. The End of Time 9. The Next Doctor 8. Time of the Doctor 7. The Husbands of River Song 6. The Return of Doctor Mysterio 5. The Christmas Invasion 4. Voyage of the Damned 3. The Snowmen 2. Twice Upon a Time 1. A Christmas Carol

Joes here to save everyone on the planet downstairs, and also do some reviews I guess 😂

Merry Christmas! Doctor who is the best and worst at Christmas and I hope we can appreciate the New Year’s Day episodes

The heavenly hosts use to scare me as a child. Even now, years later they are still creepy

I love how you put a Lego tardis with everything Christmasy next to it

I've only just got round to watching this video Joe (which i know defeats the points as its been weeks since Christmas), and you've outdone yourself here, just down to the variety of Christmas themed outfits alone. We certainly disagree in terms of our views on the Smith and Capaldi specials, but if agree that Last Christmas is heavily underrated

yes, i totally agree, doctor who needs christmas specials back!!!

Good take on Doctor, Widow and Wardrobe - also kinda hated it on release, but am a lot more forgiving now

I agree with you that the best bits of the End ot Time are where the Tennant Dr is just talking to Wilf: very existentially authentic, moving, deep and meaningful; but it is also my favorite John Simm as well! And I do agree about the Next Doctor and the Dickensian Christmas - which was matched, and even surpassed by A Christmas Carol - I watched both of these latter two with my grandkids this festive season! Did someone say "Sherlock Holmes"? Why are you so harsh on the Snowmen? I loved its magical, fairytale quality, especially when Clara climbs the ladder into the clouds... (y) 💖 I have always thought of Smith as the children's, and baby's, Dr, so the Dr, the Widow and the Wardrobe was very much part of that! The last time I watched it, I had tears in my eyes at the end, and I had to explain "happy tears" to my grandchildren! The Time of the Doctor: why did the mainstream fandom not get the message that the Smith Dr is actually the 12th, not the 11th Dr, and he also laboured seriously under the delusion that he was to be the last Dr. The War Dr - one of my favorites, btw - seriously stuffed up the numbering chronology by being the actual 9th Dr, so, after 8, the Drs are better referred to by name rather than number, with Whittaker as the 14th, not 13th... I agree that this was not a particularly Christmassy or festive story, though, i.e. not one I would watch at Christmas (!), because, like the End of Time, too much of a sad, regeneration story... 😢 Love Last Christmas, because I could explain to my grandkids that Nick Frost, the real name of the guy who played Santa (!), was a much more plausible real name for the real Santa, than "John Smith" for the Dr (because St Nick + Frosty the Snowman)! 😉 I cannot understand why people love the Husbands of River Song: way too soppy for me; I much preferred her when she was the much more badass Melody Pond, in Let's Kill Hitler. (0/5 Capaldis.) Nardole however won me to Capaldi, whom I had almost given up on up to this point, with the return of Dr Mysterio, which I saw in the cinema, and had to come home and immediately rewatch on TV! 💖 Twice Upon A Time: best real-life Christmas story ever! 💖 Voyage of the Damned: despite its being a companion-lite episode, which I normally love, especially with Tennant, and the sterling supporting character actors, I cannot see what all the fuss was about. Kylie Minogue leaves me cold, but then I am biased against her, being Australian (!).

The difference between each doctor's christmas specials, Tennant's are normal episodes that happen to take place at Christmas, whereas Moffat's tend to lean into parody or homage; 'A Christmas Carol' and the 'Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe' are fairly self explanatory in their parody or fairytale-ness, The Return of Doctor Mysterio is a superhero homage, whereas any of RTD's specials just happen to take place at Christmas

christmas 2023 babyyyyy

A Christmas Carol is so magical. One of the best episodes in the show. It was always a time travel story anyway, but I don't like it because it's _cLeVeR,_ for once Steven clearly cares more about its emotional heart, and _that's_ where it excels. When young and old Kasrans collide, I cry. You could make an episode just from that scene. The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe, on the other hand, fails in every way. All that magical, enthralling direction and subtle performances of A Christmas Carol is gone, to be replaced with cheap line and stagnant cinematography. I only wish it were a simple exploration story, because the planet we see is quite interesting. I used to consider The Snowmen to be the worst episode of all time. It's not that bad, but it is the worst Christmas story. And please, _please_ GET. OVER. THE NINETEENTH CENTURYYYY.

you nailed it (great order)

Joe has got new Lego

Yeah, The Next Doctor would have been greatly improved if Jackson Lake was the A-plot, with the Cybermen just there at the side to keep the kids engaged. It's a great idea, and a great twist, but it becomes too immediately obvious that he _isn't_ the Doctor. Part 1 of The End of Time is easily the worst of Russell's lot. It's too focused on tone, and not enough on story. Kinda embarrassing, really.

Mostly everything I could say about A Christmas Carol, was said here. My favourite festive rewatch. Turns out I've never seen Santa v Alien v Inception, though. Nor got to THAT scene in Husbands of River Song. Now I'm waiting 'til December comes to unwrap these two, and wether it turns out to be a case of it's the thought that counts, rather than being just what I wanted, well, thanks in advance, either way

I completely disagree with your ranking but your reviews were very good so thank you for broadening my perspective & merry christmas!

I really wish it wasn’t 12 years it would of been so incredible for it truly to be one last night

Ah, Peter Scongpaldi.

Any ranking that has the husbands of river song in first place is objectively correct - regardless of any other placements.

20:40 yeaaa.... The _Moffatisms_ ... Technically I can't knock a wild girl because that'd be the pot calling the kettle black, but River for instance lays it on so thickly that it seems somewhat out of place _"I'm quite the screamer!"_

Definitely gonna get some flack for this based on other's placements: 1. Christmas Carol 2. The Next Doctor 3. The Husbands of River Song 4. The Return of Doctor Mysterio 5. The Time of the Doctor 6. Runaway Bride 7. The End of Time 8. Twice Upon A Time 9. Voyage of the Damned 10. Last Christmas 11. The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe 12. Christmas Invasion 13. The Snowmen Bring it

Where's The Feast of Steven? Robbed!

13: The Doctor, the widow and the wardrobe 12: The time of the Doctor 11: The Snowman 10: The Husbands of River Song 9: End of time 8: A Christmas Carol 7: Voyage of the Dammed 6: The Return of doctor Mysterio 5: Twice Upon a time 4: Last Christmas 3: The Runaway Bride 2: The Next Doctor 1: The Christmas Invasion

Watching this in June: Damn I miss Christmas Specials - the list for me has to be: 13: The Return of Doctor Mysterio 12: Time of the Doctor 11: The Return of Doctor Mysterio 10: End of Time Part 1 9: Twice Upon a Time 8: The Runaway Bride 7: The Snowman 6: The Voyage of the Damned 5: Husbands of River Song 4: The Next Doctor 3: The Christmas Invasion 2: Christmas Carol 1: Last Christmas

Hey Joe have you watched Torchwood the children of earth? It is amazing and is perhaps one of the best stories set in the Doctor Who universe!

People sleep hard on the return of doctor mysterio

Great video Joe. I did a ranking video but here’s my ranking: 1. A Christmas Carol 8/10 2. The Husbands Of River Song 7.5/10 3. Voyage Of The Damned 7/10 4. Twice Upon A Time 7/10 5. Time Of The Doctor 7/10 6. Return Of Doctor Mysterio 6.5/10 (the first story I watched on Broadcast) 7. The Next Doctor 6/10 8. The Runaway Bride 5.5/10 9. The Snowmen 5.5/10 10. The Christmas Invasion 5/10 11. The End Of Time 4/10 12. Last Christmas 4/10 13. The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe 1/10

I’m gonna do a Christmas episode for each day until Christmas

My favourite is the one where the Doctor kills children...yeah I do not know what they were going for there.

Definitely agree with Husbands of River Song, love the bonkers fun tone with that dash of emotional beats which is my ideal Christmas adventure. Funnily thought Runaway Bride gives me similar vibes and maybe even more on the emotional beats for me personally, but could be nostalgia talking since it was my first. Either way, they my top 2 specials any day.

What about the special, Scongo Steals Christmas

I'll sub

Time of the doctor easily

12:13 ohmygod PLEASE give us a link to buy that gorgeous suit

I'm glad there's some love for Voyage of the Damned in this list. It gets such a bad rap from most reviewers, but I thought it was cute.

13. Doctor, Widow, Wardrobe (still can't stand it) 12. Last Christmas (do need to rewatch it tho) 11. End of Time 10. Twice Upon a Time 9. Snowmen 8. Christmas Invasion 7. Runaway Bride 6. The Next Doctor 5. Time of the Doctor 4. Voyage of the Damned 3. Doctor Mysterio 2. Husbands of River Song 1. A Christmas Carol The middle section of this I'm really not sure on, I was convinced next doctor would be a top 5 till I wrote it and I'm absolutely sure my opinion on those middle few will fluctuate. Everything below runaway bride I don't love, and the top 3 are the only ones I adore

For Me this was my order: 12: The End of Time (How it treated Regeneration and the Master's actions really broke the story for me. There are good moments, but I don't plan on watching it again except as a full 10 marathon.) 11: The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe (A good story that for me suffered from the lack of consequences for Reg, it's lack of depth and surface level homage to Narnia.) 10: The Next Doctor (Not bad, but quite bland. I don't think I can recall anything of note from the story and I usually forget about it when thinking about Christmas Specials.) 9: The Return of Doctor Mysterio (Not Christmassy enough.) 8: Time of the Doctor (Just needed another 10-15 minutes.) 7: Twice Upon a Time (The 1st Doctor's characterisation is a bit off but I do really like this story.) 6: The Christmas Invasion (Really great, the Harriet Jones downfall at the end feels like it was accidentally foreshadowing the Time Lord Victorious and it is pure quality all the way through.) 5: Last Christmas (Beautiful blend of psychological horror and Christmas whilst also doing solid characterisation and capturing your attention for the full story.) 4: The Snowmen (It may not be really Christmassy but I love this story. Clara is great as is the Paternoster Gang and I like Grant and McKellen as Simeon and the Great Intelligence.) 3: Voyage of the Damned (You connect with all the side characters, 10 is loads of fun and Wilf makes us want him as a companion with a few scenes.) 2: The Husbands of River Song (River is great, villains are great, Doctor is great, Doctor's TARDIS intro is the perfect level of Ham and made me laugh out loud. An emotional story that really works with the preceding season. 1: A Christmas Carol (Perfect blend of Sci-fi and homage with a Scrooge you really connect with and truly beautiful characterisation of the Doctor and Kazran.

1. Husbands of River Song 2. last Christmas 3. twice upon a time 4. A Christmas Carol 5. Doctor, Widow, Wardrobe 6. Doctor Mysterio 7. Time of the Doctor 8. The Runaway Bride 9. Christmas Invasion 10. The Snowmen 11. Voyage 12. Next Doctor 13. The End of Time I do at least like them all tho, and recognise my opinion is totally subjective.

I'm of the opposite mind on Twice Upon a Time, I enjoyed it a good bit but I really wish it didn't exist at all

I do wish The Time of the Doctor were either a mini series or didn't even attempt to tie up so many loose ends. It's too plot-heavy, which is a real shame given the concept of the Doctor staying to save one planet until he dies of old age is a great one, with Clara going back in forth acting as a nice framework for the story, as our hero slowly slips away. It's kinda perfect. But the episode loses so much by dedicating time to the Silence and Gallifrey and Cracks exposition. Cut all that out, and it could be among the best. The Husbands of River Song recaptures the magic that's for me has been lacking since A Christmas Carol. Astounding episode. Again, it's just a good story with heart.

Morrison also in Blackpool with David Tennant I'm pretty sure I saw both of them in there service in TV shows I watch turn on Broadchurch I know that and I know that the guy that played the homeless guy was so either I'm wrong which I seriously doubted are my eyes are playing tricks on me again doubt it

You'll never convince me that the master with superpowers was bad

Other than Voyage of the Damned doomsday Journeys and Widow and the Wardrobe was not I repeat not my favorite episode Matt Smith's version of the Christmas carol not bad I will give him 10 out of 10 11 out of 11 that was pretty damn good

Docor who

Say what are the best ones at the budge the Christmas invasion and The Runaway Bride with the best to other of the brunch could you hurt yourself at the eggnog way too much that somebody spiked the eggnog are you sure about that one that's Highly Questionable that means that's Up For Debate

Actually even though Matt Smith the 11th doctor pretty good speech it felt more like he was giving a conversation to someone not the speech in general speeches are all well and good have a conversation with someone this is what you would refer to as I'm an awesome say I was not particularly but the conversations at 11 thought you had with Mark of the kids mother I thought it was just downright sweet wasn't a speech it all just conversation more conversation last speech this is not a question this is an actual speech comment / speech of mine

The runaway bride is a very good episode. But for a "Christmas" Special it had little to nothing to do with Christmas. If it were a normal episode and not a Christmas special it would have gotten more of a rating.

First. Wow

Doomsday and Voyage of the Damned are the two episodes other than blink and stolen art and Journeys and I hated the most that in the Widow and the Wardrobe I would put on a really bottom end of this list David tenant out of five

We never get to watch them over here at Xmas so whether they are Xmessy or not is irrelevant to me, so lets have a go at ranking them based on if I can be bothered rewatching them. I've all ready forgotten which one this is: - The End of Time - Last Christmas Please don't make me watch this again: - Voyage of the Damned - The Runaway Bride - The Christmas Invasion - The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe - The Return of Doctor Mysterio If you want to watch I supposed I don't have much else to do: - The Snowmen - The Next Doctor - Twice Upon a Time - A Christmas Carol I'm Watching these as soon as I stop typing: - Time of the Doctor - The Husbands of River Song

I don't mind The Doctor, the Widow and The Wardrobe, but throwing in references to one of the grimiest Doctor Who stories of all time just seemed poorly done.

Russell's specials were always a bit naff, but it is an intentional choice. It's all the public wants on Christmas, given they'll only be half watching. I think Steven's were less successful because, even if I didn't enjoy all of them, they were more unique.

I don't care for Donna. Also the music when the doctor looks at the raccnoss children are dying is just not right. I can't put my finger on why, but I just doesn't work.

Voyage of the Damned and Christmas Invasion were terrible

me here to give opinions no one cares about like it's my JOB i LOVE to list shit y'all are lucky this isn't just a linked google doc with incredibly long essays on each episode 13, in last place: Twice Upon a Time. I just.......can't. 12: Last Christmas: I'm sorry, 11: The Time of the Doctor: had some good moments, kind of forgettable over all? but had some good moments. 10: The Snowmen: really loved some parts, really hated other parts. 9: The Christmas Invasion: not a huge fan of season 2, but like, it was still a good episode tho 8: The Runaway Bride: really this one and the previous one are about the same level for me, but I like Donna a lot more than Rose and she kinda carries it for me 7: The Return of Dr. Mysterio: very solid episode, but not one of my favorites or anything 6: The End of Time: as you said, really good AND really bad. but some of those really good moments were enough to get it here. god, everything about wilf. 5: Voyage of the Damned: fuck you for killing off almost all my new favorite characters, but also god what a good episode. questionable christ imagery? 4: The Next Doctor: basically everything you said, but also i'd like to mention i actually really did like mercy hartigan, if for no other reason then the line delivery on "in all these years not one of you has asked my first name.... it's *mercy.*" still remember that line this many years later! 3: A Christmas Carol: barely beat out by the next one on the list, because such a good episode both in comedic and emotional beats 2: The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe: Madge Arwell, fucking queen + Matt Smith's great performance = one of my favorite episodes. Astonished people didn't like it tbh?? 1: Husbands of River Song, legit one of my--actually, no, just straight up my favorite Doctor Who episodes ever. I always liked River and the Doctor but this episode took the dynamic to like, a whole new great level.

Kylie Minogue Christmas episode is terrible and as far from Dr Who as you get

You're far from alone in your distaste for The Runaway Bride. It's the worst Xmas Special and one of the worst overall episodes of New Who. Donna is a shouty, unlikable boor the almost whole time. The Racnoss queen is terrible and manages to come across as neither frightening nor campy (which, for all practical puposes, are the two most general categories that DW villains/monsters can fall into depending on what the tone of the story necessitates). The jokes don't land, and the only decent moment is when Doctor is just about to let himself drown right along with the Racnoss. It's one of a small few episodes that I won't rewatch because of how bad they are, and prior to The Timeless Children, I rated it as the single worst episode since the revival. Frankly, terrible.

13. Return of Doctor Mysterio 12. Twice Upon a Time 11. The Next Doctor 10. The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe 9. End of Time Part 1 8. The Snowmen 7.The Runaway Bride 6.Husbands of River Song 5. The Christmas Invasion 4. Voyage of the Damned 3. Last Christmas 2. Time of the Doctor 1. A Christmas Carol