Christmas Special 2007: 1 x 75 min episode, 25th December 2007, Writer: Russell T. Davies, Director: James Strong, Producer: Phil Collinson, Executive Producers: Russell T. Davies & Julie Gardner
Here we go again...
What? WHAT? WHAT???
Bit of a cop out as he simply reverses and the TARDIS wall rebuilds itself.
Mark@Th3DarkMark I thought that was kind of cool and amusing at the time, but as you say a slight anti-climax!
Mark@Th3DarkMark I thought that was kind of cool and amusing at the time, but as you say a slight anti-climax!
The Doctor rematerializes the TARDIS aboard the ship...
...and he steps out for a quick look see.
Hang on, robots? Aliens? Space?
This isn't the Titanic we were expecting!
Davad@davadsteel I remember being disappointed when I heard it was a spaceship. I'd have loved if they'd had the budget to do the "real" one!
Reckon this is probably Murray Gold's best stab at the theme.
The Starship Titanic is captained by none other than Geoffrey Palmer!
He and his crew decked out in Edwardian era uniforms, rather like those Eternals the Doctor encountered in the race for Enlightenment.
Captain Geoff orders the lads to knock off for a Christmas tot of rum. Very generous.
Here's that lad that can't act but Rusty T fancies him, so he gets work.
50dw50@50dw50 he was planning to exterminate him later to be fair.
50dw50@50dw50 it is still amazing they got her to do it .
Yeah, but I remember that weird period where the rumours seemed so bizarre they must be true! And then they were!
Chris@KosmicKris I’m glad Kylie said yes!! She was perfect in this! Apparently if Kylie'd said no, it would have been Claire Goose.
The Doctor scrubs up to get some information from the VOC-like Heavenly Hosts.
Mark@Th3DarkMark I like the hosts, there is an element of creepiness to them.
50dw50@50dw50 please do not throw wings at me.
Seems the robotic servants are on the blink. Always a good sign.
Mark@Th3DarkMark Westworld!
The Doctor admits he's a stowaway.
Like what the singer's singing about.
Next the Doctor does over some snobs being mean to competition winning couple Morvin & Foon.
Tour Guide Mr. Copper seems to have researched his Earth facts on Wikipedia.
Davad@davadsteel Brilliant character. Real pathos. 
So odd though that the actor was allegedly so obnoxious when the character is so heartwarming! Obviously a GREAT actor!!
Darth Marenghi@DarthMarenghi I don't know if there's that much "allegedly" about it! The DWM interview where he's given enough rope to hang himself was sanctioned by the production team, Cook said.
Rather backs up that he was like that the whole time doesn't it! i.e. if they were happy to hang him out to dry.
Davad@davadsteel Shame in a way. Would've been nice to see him again. The Doctor visiting his house, odd decor etc.
Matthew@MattBobRoss
The Doctor investigates Max Capricorn & Capt. Geoff has turned the shields off & here come some asteroids...
Mark@Th3DarkMark like the frustration with the Doctor trying to save everyone but no one listening.As the passengers panic the Heavenly Host have reassuring 'information': "You are all going to die." Good-o.
Mark@Th3DarkMark great moment. The Titanic's been crippled by meteorites & is going down. Who saw that coming?
The cowardly steward's worse than useless, and is blown out into space by his own stupidity.
The TARDIS drifts away, back to Earth.
Mark@Th3DarkMark not very useful for it to abandon The Doctor in an emergency!Ruddy selfish - naffing off to safety and leaving him in danger! Not what you expect is it!
Mark@Th3DarkMark especially when she's supposed to be his 'wife'.To make matters worse, the Heavenly Host choose now to go on a killing spree.
Midshipman RADA isn't much help.
"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I'm the man who's going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"
atruedrwhofan@atruedrwhofan I love the way the sparks fly between the sentences. Really adds to the effect of the Doctors statement!Ah, Foon & Morvin get all mushy and tug at the heartstrings. "You drive me barmy, but I don't half love you."
Meanwhile the Minog-you gets engaged to the cybernetic Banana-Cafe-Latte.
Here come the Host to help. Sorry, I meant kill.
Even Business Arse, Ricketts Slayed, gets stuck in when the Host attack.
"You might be a Time King from Gaddabee but you need to eat."
Turns out Mr. Copper was a washed up salesman who got his degree in "Earthonomics" off t'internet.
When they reach the bridge at Khazad-Dum, Morvin takes a tumble...
It's all very Poseidon Adventure at this point, nice change for an Xmas special.
Now Banana-Cafe-Latte's carked it too. Turning into a massacre this.
Foon takes out the Host threatening the Doctor. And then there were 4.
Chris@KosmicKris This is a brilliant Xmas special - it had an epic feel to it, a brilliant cast and was heaps of fun! Perfect Xmas fayre!50dw50@50dw50 inspired by RTD being snowed in with just a video of Poseidon for companyChris@KosmicKris It’s like an old fashioned disaster movie - they’re fun but everyone dies!Yes, and *stays* dead!
Mark@Th3DarkMark everybody's dead Dave.The Doctor tries to convince the Host that he doesn't exist.
If he's not crew or a surviving passenger, he's a stowaway & should be taken to someone in authority...
The Host give him a lift, and take him to their leader - Max Capricorn!
I've always thought that Max Capricorn's appearance was perhaps an intentional foreshadowing of the return of Davros at the end of the then upcoming series.
It's all just an insurance scam: Capricorn planned to survive the Titanic & collect. "All because Max Capricorn is a loser! You can't even sink the Titanic!"
When it looks like all is lost, Astrid sacrifices herself, fork lifting Capricorn - and herself - to oblivion!
A grief-stricken Davey T gives it the slo-mo walk of cool.
Mark@Th3DarkMark I've always wanted to do a slo-mo walk of cool, but it just looks odd when going down the street! Rusty T's boytoy's named "Alonso", solely for the execrable "Alons-y, Alonso!" gag. No, don't. Don't do that.
Chris@KosmicKris Better here, in the Xmas special than in ‘proper’ Who! I always forgive Xmas specials a lot more! True! Good point!
It's crunch time with the Titanic in a nosedive so bad even Nick Witchell's deserted Buck House. The Doctor saves the day, much to Liz 2's delight.
atruedrwhofan@atruedrwhofan thank you Doctor. For not bearing a grudge against my grandmother after she banished you and set up Torchwood against you! Chris@KosmicKris Again, this is brilliant, OTT campy nonsense - and I, for one, am all in favour of it! The Doctor tortures himself with a ghostly echo of Astrid's last atoms...
The Doctor snogs a ghost under the mistletoe. What's that? Spectre-philia?
Mr. Copper can sidle off and remain on Earth with his "expert" knowledge. But the Business Arse has survived too. The Doctor looks positively murderous...
A gentle pull back from Mr. Copper, tho: "Of all the people to survive, he's not the one you would have chosen, is he? But if you could choose, Doctor, if you decide who lives and who dies, that would make you a monster."
Hurrah, the TARDIS! Hurrah, Copper is rich!
Chris@KosmicKris He should set up a foundation… ;) atruedrwhofan@atruedrwhofan the TARDIS in the snow is a wonderful image. No wonder it was used as a BBC indent. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Copper."
Davad@davadsteel I loved this story. Heart on its sleeve. Strong characters and plotting. Pure Russell. I miss him. 50dw50@50dw50 my fave part of this story was RTD & Co's podcast commentry, a thing of joy, shame they never used it on the DVD Compare the "new season" trailer promoting 2008's Series 4 to the dull, muddy looking "same old, same old" one we got for Series 9.
Mark@Th3DarkMark while recent Who has had some great stuff, it's become more dreary and much less sense of fun. 
Vincent Jones@Bunny_Snuggler To be fair, RTD did have one hell of a team behind him, but no one can pretend it wasn't way better under him. TTFN! K.
Coming Soon: The Two Doctors
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