Doctor Who - s15e00 - Joy to the World

Finally, the Christmas special, something to brighten our otherwise stress ridden family get-togethers, and really somewhat of a tradition as each year we are rewarded with a brooding Doctor that cheers up and spreads the holiday spirit.

The episode opens with the Doctor going from time periods and places to place offering a ham and cheese toastie with a pumpkin latte to random people. He does this until he finds the anomaly he is looking for, in the form of a lizard man (Silurian as they hate being called lizard men) attached to a suitcase. He says "the star seed will bloom and the flesh will rise." Roll the opening credits and we are given the background of events leading up to the current.

The Doctor lands in 2042 London at the Time Hotel when, while getting some milk, he notices a strange man with a briefcase in the lobby of the Time Hotel -- a hotel that offers a time passage to famous historical events for the right price. The man is trying to get to the suitcase to the correct time period to allow for the germination of the star seed which will create a star. This is instigated by the Villengard corporation for the purpose of creating a limitless energy supply.

The rest of the episode is sparked by the Doctor trying to stop this from forming but eventually Joy decides to sacrifice herself to create the Star which is seen by many people in different times and is referenced to be the Star of Bethlehem.

The ending with the ode Joy to the World is a nice feel good touch.

Trivia

• The food offered by the Doctor as he goes from room to room, Ham and cheese toastie and a pumpkin latte
• Silurian (lizard man) - the original inhabitants of Earth
• Games played during "chair night" between the Doctor and Anita: snakes and ladders, twister, clue (cluedo), connect four
• It seems the show obliquely references covid and the hospital rules that prevented Joy from being with her mother when she passed away.
  

Suitcase Carriers

Cities and timelines visited from the Time Hotel

The various scenes and time periods in the show.

Anita

A pretty endearing character, would have loved to see her as his regular companion.

Analysis

A Doctor Who take on the formation of the Star of Bethelhem. I love the creativity. The creation of a star for limitless energy is a great idea and it's not clear how the Villengard corporation is harnessing this power. Perhaps it will be addressed in the upcoming season?