New Who Review #56

The Next Doctor ❄️

This story was kinda boring. It follows a man named Jackson Lake who believes he is the doctor. I think the idea of having someone believe they are an incarnation of the doctor is an entertaining watch but this one doesn't execute it well. I like how this episode relies on emotion and sympathy for Jackson because it opens more of a sad kinda feel to this. Normally Christmas specials are jolly and fun but this time it is just a bit sad. Overall a good idea that was executed poorly and felt boring. 5/10

decent kimda boring

I love how immediately delighted the tenth doctor is when he thinks he's met a future version of himself. The main story is a bit dull but also giant steampunk robot plus some more fun what makes the doctor the doctor type questions make for an enjoyable romp!

There is a lot to like about the Next Doctor. The biggest thing is David Morrissey. He really feels like he could have played the Doctor well and must have had people guessing when this originally aired. It's a good mystery I found quite entertaining on the whole, with a pretty well done resolution to it, if you ask me.

The giant Cyberman doesn't look great and even the sets feel a little cheap, but I think the acting and serviceable story make this a good enough treat.

Interestingly, I missed this episode completely the first time around. I think it wasn't on Netflix's normal run order back when I first watched the show, and so I watched this much later on while getting through Matt Smith's time on the show. It was great in that regard, a nice return back to an era I thought I wouldn't be getting any new content from again. It's not unlike the specials from this year, in that regard.

One of the biggest missed opportunities in Doctor Who. Jackson Lake just being a regular guy is the blandest and most predictable answer to the mystery as to who this Doctor is - and the truth gets revealed far far too quickly to have any real sense of payoff and tension. You literally just had a fake out regeneration in the last story, how cool would it have been for David Morrissey to have been the actual Eleventh Doctor, but echoing from a timeline where the Stolen Earth regeneration completed?

Man, Morrissey just deserved to be an actual Doctor. When the message is "anyone can be brave enough to be the Doctor", which is commendable enough, it doesn't quite work when the real Doctor gets all the cool heroic moments later on - saving the boy, confronting the Cyber-King - whilst Jackson only just watches on. A pity.