So, I liked this episode much less when I watched it the first time around on christmas day with my family. I originally rated it 2.5/5 stars, and I think that's because to me it is one of the least christmassy christmas specials, only alongside Dr Mysterio for the christmas episode with the least christmassy energy in my eyes. And I know that's a positive in some people's eyes, that a lot of the christmas specials are saccharine which isn't for everyone, but personally I need my christmas specials to feel christmassy, which doesn't always have to mean excessive sentiment, just look at the best christmas special Last Christmas for how it can be done. Joy's holy sacrifice at Bethlehem obviously has christmas spirit, but I'll get into why the ending didn't do anything for me. Besides that it's just the christmas tree in the time hotel and other random decorations to tie it down to christmas really.

I'm much more positive about it now after a rewatch, although I still stand by what criticisms I did have. I think how the episode makes us feel on the initial watch is especially important on christmas day, when christmas is in the air and we expect a certain type of doctor who episode to fill the traditional role it has.

But on rewatch I really appreciate much more the positive aspects of the story- as a lot of other people said Anita was brilliant. She stands out in a large cast of guest characters as truly being the companion to the doctor in this story, she spends a year with the doctor in comparison to Joy, the titular character, who couldn't even have spent an hour with him!!! I do hope that Anita can return in some form, although I think a full return like Donna made is unlikely given that it seems she found her calling working in the time hotel, but maybe she finds her own way into adventures there- Big Finish pay attention!!!

The whole bootstrap situation that allowed the year with Anita to happen is also classic Moffat flair in the best way, and "It came from nothing. But so did the universe and nobody complains about that" is up there in my favourite quotes honestly. The darker moments of the anger at himself and when he brews up anger in Joy really show off Ncuti's range and that just because the doctor is more of a healed man since 14 doesn't mean he's all sunshine and rainbows, I love it.

But as for the criticisms, I do still think there were too many characters dying that the episode wanted us to care about which wasn’t justified in the little runtime we spent with them. 5 different side characters (including Joy), multiple of which got tears out of the doctor but weren't close to getting any out of me with their sacrifice at the end. I do think this is a good episode, let down by the ending in the last 10 minutes. The fact that Joy didn't get the time of day throughout the episode to justify being the main, titular character she was designed to be means that her sacrifice didn't have much emotional weight to me. And I can't get behind the dead characters gaining god like powers to just up and move the star lightyears away with what seems to be just pure willpower without any other explanation from the episode. They're conscious within the containment unit's systems I understand that, but it was established in the episode that when the star does bloom, it will do so just where it is on Earth.

And this one's more of a side note than a big criticism, but I do think the COVID bit means that part of the episode is timely to a time that has already passed in my eyes. As a political statement it's redundant because the consequences of partygate have already played out, the Tory party are already ruined and all the countries political establishments have punished them dearly for everything they did. The episode isn't saying anything new or insightful about it and there’s plenty things to be angry about that are timeless and not only relevant to events 3-4 years ago. As emotional catharsis, it feels too pointed to be reaching out to a large number of people affected, although I am fortunate enough to not have lost someone in a similar way to how Joy did and have that particular perspective who it could be more meaningful to.

I think this episode is a good special in a general sense, which is let down by it's ending and let down further personally by the fact it's a christmas special that doesn't feel much like one. If it weren't broadcast at christmas it could've got a low 4/5 stars honestly but given everything 3/5 feels fitting. I hope its the start of more Anita content!!!!

Insanely difficult and only the screen between levels can really tell you its even supposed to be doctor who themed but I like a challenge and I got to here to doctor who theme in 8 bit so