It was very fun having Bill Potts and and the Twelfth Doctor together in a story again.  That dynamic alone was well realized by writer Dave Rudden and I didn't realize just how much I missed it.

Inflicting Christmas wasn't quite on the level of some of the other stories I've read in this anthology so far, but it is pretty solid.  I like the setting of a future tech expo and think Rudden and audio narrator Sophie Aldred did a very good job of setting the scene.  Beyond that, though, I wasn't as invested as I feel I could have been.  The stuff with Bill and her mom was good, I just didn't quite connect with the narrative around the other characters as much.

What if we took the end of The Lie of the Land, the end of The Idiot's Lantern, a Star Trek Holo Deck, and the movie Frozen, and put them all together? Apparently you get a pretty solid story.

Off the bat, the setting here is pretty interesting and fun, future tech expo with a famous mysterious inventor with a huge crowd following. Then using holo tech to show off the inventor's old house, it reminded me a lot of Iron Man's first scene in Civil War.

The story is pretty fun, getting glimpses into the inventor's head, and Twelve and Bill's banter, but when the inventor's son gets the tech and uses it to create a winter wonderland is where things really start going. The scene with the son and Bill is the standout here, Bill talking about memories of her mum and how she'd give up all those good memories for another day with her. It's a great character exploration for Bill, and her talking about reconciling with his mum works great in a way that it doesn't in The Idiot's Lantern because of that context, and because of her pointed remark towards the inventor as well.

They've both made mistakes, they both need to work on it, and that's the main point, not that 'she's your mum', but that family relationships are important, and everyone deserves respect and communication in them.

📝5/10

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

"A Christmas Tale That Misses the Spark"

Inflicting Christmas brings the Twelfth Doctor and Bill to a futuristic Dublin convention centre for a festive adventure. While the story is simpler than the first two entries in The Wintertime Paradox collection, its longer length struggles to sustain engagement.

Characters and Atmosphere:

Twelve and Bill are written with care, capturing the sharp wit and camaraderie that defined their dynamic. However, the supporting cast and antagonists feel underdeveloped, making it difficult to become invested in the stakes. The setting, though vaguely described, evokes a faint echo of the rich atmosphere seen in Thin Ice. Unfortunately, it never fully comes to life, leaving the story feeling somewhat hollow.

Final Thoughts:

Despite its festive premise and familiar characters, Inflicting Christmas lacks the energy and depth to stand out. While fans of Twelve and Bill may enjoy their banter, the story’s atmosphere and villains fail to leave a lasting impression.

A festive outing that starts with promise but ultimately struggles to deliver the Christmas magic.