Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol Review (5/5)

I didn't think Steven Moffat could do it: no Doctor Who Christmas Special has ever been substantial enough to end Christmas Day on a high, and as we were promised the most bonkers science-fiction adventure ever by the writer, my hopes weren't high for 2010's showing. Why didn't I have faith? A Christmas Carol is a brilliant interpretation of Charles Dickens' classic, but strayed from the narrow formula by adding in superb stars Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins, using the time-travel nature of the show to its advantage and even featuring a flying shark! Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill were swept to the sidelines here as companions Amy and Rory (though judging by the brilliant Season 6 teaser at the end, we'll be seeing a lot more of them this Spring and Autumn) in favour of Matt Smith, who was on absolutely fine form as the Doctor once again as he attempted to turn the Scrooge of the story, Kazran Sardick (portrayed marvellously by Gambon), from evil before his friends were killed as their honeymoon ship crashed. What was equally impressive was that much of the episode was handed to Gambon and Jenkins, the latter even stepping in for a beautiful sing-song at the climax of the story while the former gave a depth never before seen to Scrooge with his romance and realisation of the inevitable lure of time. A few rough elements did rear their heads- the spaceship Amy and Rory were trapped on looked a bit retro for Who, and the Doctor's inability to save Jenkins' character from her off-screen demise seemed a little disheartening for December 25th, but nevertheless A Christmas Carol was the best Doctor Who Christmas Special so far thanks to superb casting in Gambon and Jenkins and a plot that managed to escape predictability by playing to the show's sci-fi roots!