The Doctor Who Christmas special “Joy to the World” pushes the limits of cheesiness with its over-the-top emotional moments. The episode starts off strong with a quick and fun introduction to the situation, leading into a wild adventure with the Doctor portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa. Steven Moffat’s writing style shines through as 15 works to solve a mystery with a smile and a series of great jokes, setting a light and lively tone for the episode.
The episode introduces a strong mystery involving a Silurian man handcuffed to a briefcase in a hotel room, but quickly detours into a side adventure that feels disconnected from the main plot. While it is entertaining to see the Doctor living like a normal person for a change, this sequence lacks cohesion with the rest of the story. The main plot, revolving around the Star Seed and the impending end of the world, provides a simple excuse for the Doctor to save the day in a typical Christmas episode fashion.
Moffat’s imaginative sci-fi concepts shine through in the episode, particularly with the introduction of the Time Hotel, where the Doctor navigates different time zones to solve the mystery. However, the episode struggles to balance the comedic and serious elements, with some emotional moments feeling forced and not fully resonating with the audience. The character of Joy, portrayed with great awkward energy, could have been more developed to enhance the emotional impact of her sacrifice.
The emotional climax of the episode misses the mark with heavy-handed scenes that try to drive home the message about the joy of life and sacrifice. The use of the Covid pandemic as a tragic backdrop and the abrupt ending set in Bethlehem in 1 AD feel cringeworthy and out of place. Despite these flaws, the episode offers entertaining action scenes, good humor, and a brisk pace that keeps the audience engaged throughout.
Overall, “Joy to the World” delivers a mix of cheesy emotional moments and fun sci-fi adventures typical of a Doctor Who Christmas special. While the episode struggles with cohesion and heavy-handed themes, it succeeds in providing an entertaining and light-hearted watch for fans of the series. Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal of the Doctor adds a lively and humorous element to the story, making it an enjoyable entry in the Doctor Who holiday specials catalog.
