# Doctor Who Christmas - Previews **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2012, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289 "2012-11-17T06:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/21 "2012-11-19T06:17:11Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > It’s [London](http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/doctor-who-series-7-2012-what-we-know-27371.htm). I meant the Tom Baker picture. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/22 "2012-11-19T08:27:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I meant the Tom Baker picture. Still London, though. It’s a still from [The Talons of Weng-Chiang.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talons_of_Weng-Chiang) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/23 "2012-11-19T13:12:09Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > Still London, though. It’s a still from [The Talons of Weng-Chiang.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talons_of_Weng-Chiang) Dammit, Four! ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/24 "2012-11-19T14:58:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > _“We’re walking in the aaaaAAAAGGHMYGODGETITOFFMEAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaa…”_ > > I note that once again they’ve taken a beloved British Christmas institution and adapted it for comic sci-fi effect. This year “The Snowman” gets it, last year we had Narnia, and I think _A Christmas Carol_ the year before that, and probably a few others I’ve forgotten. In future I suppose we’ll get riffs on the Queen’s Speech, Christmas crackers, and reruns of _The Great Escape_. Given that this new companion is named Clara, I’m surprised not to see it be a take on The Nutcracker. (Then again, her name was Marie in the original Hoffmann story. I don’t know how she came to be named Clara in the ballet.) I’d still like to see a historical/sci-fi take on Nutcracker for a Christmas episode. The Doctor seems so Drosselmeyer-ish as it is–and just look at Maurice Sendak’s illustration of Drosselmeyer and tell me he doesn’t look a little like the First Doctor! (Drosselmeyer’s also a clock-maker…which means he messes about with Time.) Imagine this scenario…the Doctor and his companion arrive in Germany on Christmas Eve in the early/mid 19th century to visit the Stahlbaums, a well-to-do family the Doctor is friends with. They shop for gifts for the family, with the Doctor settling on a unique carved nutcracker figurine for Marie, the daughter of the family, a teenage dreamer who is the Doctor’s favorite of the children. When they arrive at their hosts, the party is in full swing. Also in attendance is a civil servant and budding writer named Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, who hits it off with the Doctor immediately due to his wild imagination and warped sense of humor. Clara is delighted with Herr Doktor’s gift. But after the party is over and all the guests–Herr Doktor, the companion and Herr Hoffmann–have gone to sleep, shadows creep through the house…an eerie race of rodentlike aliens. They’re searching for the prince of the civilization they’re at war with, a young man who has shape-shifted himself into the form of this inanimate doll to hide… And the best part? The musical score comes ready-made! ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/25 "2012-11-19T17:07:15Z")
I meant to say _Marie_ is delighted with her gift, of course. Even _I’m_ mixing them up. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/26 "2012-12-15T18:36:11Z")
New prom [here.](http://www.tvguide.com/News/Doctor-Who-Snowmen-Christmas-Special-Trailer-1057821.aspx) The mummy creature grabbing Jenna (15 seconds into promo) isn’t a snowman. Getting excited to see this on Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/27 "2012-12-15T18:46:49Z")
Sir Ian McKellen is doing the voice of the Snowmen! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/28 "2012-12-20T09:38:43Z")
There’s a [new Tardis set](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2250748/Doctor-Who-shows-new-digs-Tardis-gets-interior-make-over.html). We’ll see it in the Christmas special. It’s a little sterile for my taste. But not nearly as bad as the one [they had in the 80’s](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/944x531/p00yzqp4.jpg). Cold and stark like an operating room. I much prefer earth tones. I liked the brown set they’ve been using. It reflected that the Tardis is alive. It’s a living thing and not a cold steel ship. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/29 "2012-12-20T10:05:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s a little sterile for my taste. But not nearly as bad as the one [they had in the 80’s](http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/944x531/p00yzqp4.jpg). Cold and stark like an operating room. That’s the BBC Studio sets for you. No sense of character, it was blinding bright lights, shiny floor, all the time. It’s [Blue Peter Stage Cyc](http://www.tech-ops.co.uk/coldwell_BluePeter_DaveSkerry_RodneyTaylor1980_large.jpg) syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/30 "2012-12-20T19:17:26Z")
I always liked Tom Baker’s [secondary control room](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N6kgk-jKNCI/UBbrPXFGaBI/AAAAAAAAAXs/eRkeHXn66-g/s1600/masque+control.jpg), but they didn’t use it much. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/31 "2012-12-20T19:21:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I much prefer earth tones. I liked the brown set they’ve been using. It reflected that the Tardis is alive. It’s a living thing and not a cold steel ship. The set they have just replaced was a bit of a nightmare to film on, judging by a few accounts I’ve read. It had too many reflective surfaces, and bits kept breaking. I did like the look of it though - it suited 11’s personality. Perhaps 11 is no longer quite so happy-go-lucky… ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/32 "2012-12-20T20:53:50Z")
“Bits kept breaking,” or, “Matt kept breaking bits”? ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/33 "2012-12-24T17:05:21Z")
From io9… Tomorrow marks the return of the Amy Pond’s raggedy man with the Doctor Who Christmas Special, albeit without Amy and her husband Rory. But that doesn’t mean he’s alone! As we’ve already seen in the Christmas Special minisode, The Doctor is being shadowed by fan favorites Vastra, Jenny and Strax. But is this the last time we’ll be seeing this trio? Will Vastra, Strax and Jenny return? Will they have a bigger role in the new season? How is hhis new companion Clara different from all the others? Is River Song going to get jealous? We took our questions to Executive Producer Caroline Skinner, and tried to pry up a handful of new details about tomorrow’s Christmas special and the second half of series seven in this exclusive interview. [Producer Caroline Skinner explains why Doctor Who is getting a new Companion for Christmas](http://io9.com/5971019/producer-caroline-skinner-explains-why-doctor-who-is-getting-a-new-companion-for-christmas) ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/34 "2012-12-24T19:04:41Z")
Characters who appeared in 1 (now 2) episodes shouldn’t be considered fan favorites. Then again, look at the maniacal following Boba Fett has. YMMV. I find the cult of personality of Vastra, Strax, etc to be way overblown. I hope it doesn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the upcoming episode. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/35 "2012-12-24T19:35:10Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > [Producer Caroline Skinner explains why Doctor Who is getting a new Companion for Christmas](http://io9.com/5971019/producer-caroline-skinner-explains-why-doctor-who-is-getting-a-new-companion-for-christmas) JUST LIKE MY DAD! OK, not really, but it was funny. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/36 "2012-12-25T00:23:40Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Characters who appeared in 1 (now 2) episodes shouldn’t be considered fan favorites. Then again, look at the maniacal following Boba Fett has. YMMV. > I find the cult of personality of Vastra, Strax, etc to be way overblown. I hope it doesn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the upcoming episode. “Fan favorite,” as in, “fans,” as in, “fanatics,” as in, “girls who post excitedly on dreamwidth/lj/tumblr about queer representation in pop culture, and started writing fanfic about the 19th Century British interspecies lesbian pair on _Doctor Who_ as soon as they appeared,” and like that. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/37 "2012-12-25T23:10:44Z")
Really, really good episode this year. They had more humor in this story then the last few Christmas specials. Won’t spoil it for anyone. I will say Moffat sure has left us with questions for next year. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/38 "2012-12-25T23:12:32Z")
When are the new episodes supposed to air? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/39 "2012-12-25T23:16:17Z")
April 2013. I can’t hardly wait. > **['Doctor Who' Season 7 Returns April 2013; New Christmas Special Clips &...](https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-2012-christmas-special-prequel-clips/)** > > As part of the run-up to the 'Doctor Who' Christmas Special, BBC has posted a bevy of interviews, retrospectives, short stories, and even a prequel video through their December 'Adventure Calendar.' ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289/40 "2012-12-25T23:21:52Z")
It was pretty good - better than last year, that’s for sure. Moffat managed to suppress his tendency toward mawkish sentimentality, at least until the climax: [Spoiler]Seriously, though: "the tears of a family crying on Christmas Eve? That’s your solution? Blech. I did like the Eternal Oswin, though. Wouldn’t it be awesome if she died in every episode?[/spoiler] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-christmas-previews/641289.md?page=3)