Doctor Who's Disastrous Christmas Special

It's December, and you know what that means...time to act like Christmas is an entire month rather than a single day! To celebrate this special time of year, let's take a look at Doctor Who's 2007 Christmas Special: 'Voyage of the Damned'
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[@HarboWholmes]

patreon go la la la: www.patreon.com/harbowholmes

[@ZeroOskul]

Tennant's mum had just died prior to shooting and David put his whole being into this episode, hence his level, serious performance. Your issues with the episode seem to be that the contrasting personalities seem to indicate that the characters are unique, each with an entirely different outlook and a different way of expressing, and that the robots look like angels. And that The Doctor turned Astrid Perth (walking the path) into a Christmas Star. Are you okay, mate?

[@ZeroOskul]

@RulerofKev-vania You REALLY ought to watch '63-'89 and then pop Whittaker back on and see that her run is great and true Doctor Who.

[@arb9010]

Old man: Can I travel with you? Doctor: Nah, I travel alone Young woman exists Doctor: Fancy a ride?

[@unknownuser8967]

Don't forget. She's BLONDE, his favourite!

[@Maudelin]

Graham: Allow me to introduce myself

[@user-jn1wm3tb8v]

@@unknownuser8967 OOH SHE WAS A BLONDE?

[@BM-yy8db]

@@user-jn1wm3tb8v we're at the end of the universe, at the end of knowledge itself, and you're busy... _BLOGGING_

[@josephcharpak4533]

@@unknownuser8967 I thought his favorite was ginger 😀

[@varies4487]

I think we can just agree EVERYONE has great chemistry with David Tennant.

[@rollingkirby]

Yup, even lady ducking christina

[@CUBETechie]

So sad that he can't Safe her😕😔😢

[@roguescorner9042]

And also, we can all agree that the rich douchbag from this episode is a total dick.

[@acotscohotdog]

I always thought that Foon's sacrifice made sense. She's just lost the love of life completely unexpectedly and brutally and now she's alone. I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling but I'm sure it led her to make the rash decision - in her mind she had nothing left to lose. That was the tragedy of her story :(

[@larat8252]

Yeah it kind of gives me Romeo and Juliet vibes🤷‍♀️

[@charlielynch3916]

I mean before the trip she'd put them both into crippling financial debt, they had a traumatic experience and then she lost the one person who'd always stuck with her. And then she sacrificed herself to save the others as she saw no point in living anymore but wanted to help the others survive. Honestly a heartbreaking and selfless moment from her.

[@harroldinab]

I feel it was more of a suicide than a sacrifice. Had she not done it, literally nothing would've changed.

[@jamesalflattsbarkingmadpro3480]

Yes exactly, it wat out o no where or pointless

[@astra3310]

She didn’t kill herself and the last remaining Heavenly Host “for no reason”. Her husband just died and she felt like she didn’t have anything to live for when she finally realised/digested the fact he died.

[@peacefuldawn6823]

It's also the only way to escape the humongous debt lol

[@Second_of_four]

Yeah but there was no reason for the character to die. She could’ve literally just shoved the angel off the edge, there was no reason for her to jump

[@overlydramaticpanda]

@@Second_of_four The OP literally gave the reasons why she jumped. After everything she's been through in a very short timespan (seeing multiple people die horrifically including her own husband), she's no longer concerned with her own survival and was able to combine her suicide with taking out an enemy. It's honestly as simple as that.

[@Second_of_four]

@@overlydramaticpanda I’m not saying the person had no reason, I’m saying from a writing perspective, there was no reason to kill her off, and because everything happened so quickly, it felt very rushed and pointless. Her dying accomplished nothing for the plot, so from a writing perspective, she died for no reason

[@overlydramaticpanda]

@@Second_of_four From a writing perspective, the reasons she died were (1) so that there wouldn't be too many extra characters needing to be wrapped up at the end, considering the show runs to a very strict time limit; (2) the entire episode is a pastiche/homage of disaster movies, a defining factor of which is "dwindling casts" (i.e. characters being killed off one by one, often with an "anyone can die" mentality to keep audiences on their toes); (3) it's a sadly natural and logical ending for her character far more than keeping her around; (4) it, combined with the deaths of Foon and Banakaffalatta, ramps up the general feeling of tragedy going into the third act which in turn keeps the viewer prepared for Astrid's death. I'd agree that it was rushed and that there ideally should have been more time between the three deaths in the second act but considering both Slade and Mr Copper were the most sensible characters to keep alive from a writing standpoint (Slade because it shows that sometimes it's not the people you necessarily want to live who survive and Mr Copper because he actually has things to live for and it lends a note of optimism to the finale and both of them were by far the quickest to wrap up their individual plotlines), it makes perfect sense for her to die and to die in that way.

[@thehjt7071]

Can’t believe they killed Duke from Tracy Beaker

[@theredstonebuilder1120]

I love how one of his character traits was eating food across both shows 😂

[@cheech7900]

Thats why I recognise him. Cheers man 👍

[@erinella]

I know, the sheer audacity 🙄

[@adisassy4579]

😂😂😂😂

[@SilverStormShadow]

Harbo Wholmes: Praises almost everything about the episode Also Harbo Wholmes: "I don't really like this episode."

[@HuntingViolets]

I'm only partway through, but I was thinking, oh, maybe he means "disaster" because Titanic--he really seems to like this episode. I didn't like this episode, but I'd have to rewatch it to tell you why.

[@standardgrapes]

This is one of the very best Christmas specials, clearly the best of the RTD era in my opinion. It's got great characters

[@masterwill8973]

I really enjoyed it too. It’s always at the top of my list when I’m looking for episodes to rewatch.

[@TheseUseless]

Bannakaffalatta

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Slade should had been killed off.

[@archiebrew8184]

@@danielwilliamson6180 I think Slade surviving is part of why this episode is good, it shows how the Doctor can't choose who survives and if he could then he wouldn't be worthy of being "the Doctor".

[@therajaofashbourne8483]

@@TheseUseless CYBORG

[@mujiescomedy279]

Spends the whole video complimenting voyage of the damned, then says he doesn’t like it

[@ARMarTy_]

" Oh ? You've redecorated... I don't like it. "

[@drewfriend3368]

But....but....he kissed Astrid! And the villain was campy! Episode ruined!!

[@cheeplethebulldog1420]

His opinion appears to be a bit formulated, like it was from another person’s mouth…

[@RabbiB0Y]

Dude complained that Astrid sounds Australian even though she's an alien...... The main character is an alien and yet he always has some variation of a british or Scottish accent

[@user-jn1wm3tb8v]

Honestly I liked Morvin and Foon. They were the best characters.

[@acotscohotdog]

I really liked them too! Their deaths were the only moments that brought me to tears

[@mjsdecember1990]

He was Duke on Tracy beaker

[@jemimajust827]

​@@mjsdecember1990 That's what made his death so painful...

[@xenon8117]

@@mjsdecember1990 I wonder if Morvin liked Soufflés.

[@mjsdecember1990]

@@xenon8117 I didn't watch it alot but maybe he did You look alot like Garrus Vakarian by the way

[@baders087]

Geoffrey Palmer, the actor who played the captain, passed away a month ago.

[@tammygant4216]

Awwww, I didn't know that. He was the star of one of my fave old British sitcoms. Sad.

[@Domisbeast]

I think he had also been in classic who so this episode was more of a nice cameo

[@laborincana4490]

May he rest in peace.

[@ig_4220]

I always felt like Morvin laughing off the 5000 credits was a bit of a "the ship's blowing up what's a fat slab of debt compared to that?" moment.

[@Gengu]

Christmas Specials were great, it is a pity they went extinct

[@Bryzerse]

rfgrfgrrggrfg chris....

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Am I the only one who doesn't care? Sorry, it's just most of them weren't very good

[@aarushicrystalis7998]

it feels like the death of the #family' vibe i remember. my family always used to sit around and watch it after christmas dinner, and we did that all through 12 too. We're not going to do that on New Year's we'll all just watch it by ourselves months later and text each other about it.

[@griffinlaw9367]

You know there's a new one coming out called "Revolution of the Daleks," right?

[@Gengu]

@@griffinlaw9367 Not a Christmas special

[@MrDarthT]

"Every planet has an Australia". How is that a problem? Every planet also seems to have an England, or an America in other Sci-Fi series.

[@duilinn]

Yeah imo if you can suspend your disbelief at everyone having a british/american accent, 1 australian accent shouldn't be that hard tbh

[@masterwill8973]

🇦🇺

[@intergalactic92]

To quote the ninth Doctor "lots of planets have a north."

[@andrewphillips-hird3761]

Indeed, and this is even basically explained in series 4, as in Pompeii, the Tardis turns Donna speaking Latin badly into her speaking Celtic with a Welsh accent to Latin ears - also in the Unicorn and the Wasp she's not to imitate older posher English, presumably because the Tardis will translate the imitation. Likewise with Rose trying to sound Scottish in series 2. My point is that Astrid may well be from the part of Sto that is best understood to 2000s English speakers as the Stovian equivalent of Australia

[@jdd109]

Lots of planets have a North!!!!!!! And a death continent

[@intergalactic92]

Clever thing I’ve just noticed. When The Captain explains his motivation the camera zooms out to show the portrait of Max Capricorn behind him. Hinting at who is really pulling the strings.

[@Squicx]

While Chibnall is wrecking Doctor Who, and has removed Christmas specials from the show, This episode is pure gold in my eyes

[@xgekozx3305]

Removing Christmas specials wasn't Chib's idea you cam blame the BBC for that

[@TheMarioAdams]

Are you okay? This is hands down the best Christmas special. It's action-packed has 3-dimensional side characters you actually care about and overall has some of the most badass scenes for 10 in the entire show. Not to mention the wacky nature of a space titanic just being superb

[@samuelbastable2002]

you got fooled by the title, disastrous as in the theme of the episode, a disaster on a space titanic, not that the episode was bad

[@TheMarioAdams]

@@samuelbastable2002 Yeah I realise that now

[@deanwicks1278]

@@samuelbastable2002 Yeah but the thumbnail suggesting it was a "waste of a special" is just stupid. It was a fantastic story and the perfect Christmas blockbuster episode.

[@TheMarioAdams]

@The Knight Watcher you've literally listed all the best stuff about the era

[@tgiacin435]

@The Knight Watcher what’s sad is how different the RTD era would’ve been had he aired Midnight in an earlier season. Or give the Doctor a better death than the David Tennant’s farewell parade of death. I mean that made him look like a wuss compared to the 4th and 5th Doctor’s death. And why didn’t they kill off any of the companions? Like imagine Donna actually sacrificed herself to save reality, and you see the Doctor tell Wilf about Donna being a hero. And because he was a soldier, he’s proud of his granddaughter while Donna’s mother looks at him in resentment, blaming him for the Donna’s death. And or have journey’s end be the actual regeneration episode.

[@elliotcrossan6290]

Voyage of the Damned is a great Christmas Special. It's fun, dark and a brilliant character piece all at the same time. Which sums up the RTD era I'd say!

[@jaysinha0]

I really liked it. Mind you, that could be sentiment talking...

[@JAProductions494]

No! No! No! NO!!! HELL NO!!! YOU DID NOT JUST CALL MY FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL “DISASTROUS”!!!!!! It is my favourite Christmas Special and my 9th favourite RTD era story!

[@DCSMedia]

Definitely the best RTD Special

[@rometais7178]

@@DCSMedia wow you have to do end of time and waters of mars like that

[@Lacie9]

@@rometais7178 end of time is nowhere near the best RTD special.

[@TheMarioAdams]

@@rometais7178 waters of Mars isn't a Christmas special

[@rometais7178]

@@TheMarioAdams i was replying to the second person who just said “special”

[@edwardhilton4344]

Two words: ALLONS-Y ALONSO!

[@ReddwarfIV]

24:48 The Doctor pulls back on the helm because it operates the same way as the control yolk on an aircraft. The _Titanic_ isn't just a ship. Besides yaw, it needs roll and pitch control as well. Pulling back on the helm tells the ship to pitch its nose upwards.

[@richardmillhousenixon]

Yeah, I kinda don't know how he didn't understand that

[@aaronstorey9712]

Not everyone knows that tbf ​@@richardmillhousenixon

[@druid5023]

I love the Christmas specials but I always write them off as an excuse for some wacky fun. If they're ever like, good in their own right, then it's a nice surprise.

[@alexandercave5714]

I'm sorry, but this is my favourite Christmas special of all time. It's hardly groundbreaking, but it's just so much fun, the stakes are constantly high and the story is surprisingly emotional towards the end. Plus, the pacing is fantastic, keeping the plot going quickly and efficiently, preventing it from dragging like it does in quite a few Christmas specials. My RTD era nostalgia might play a role in this, but I genuinely think this episode is a brilliant piece of entertainment. It's become a staple of my Christmas viewing.

[@RobertShippey]

Mr Copper foundation. Alonso. Meeting Wilf. So many good things come from this episode, plus it’s Kylie!!

[@Cybermat47]

Literally everyone sounds like they’re from England, but one person sounding Australian is a problem? u wot m8?

[@mjsdecember1990]

It stands to reason that if there is intelligent life out there they would have British accents

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

I know right ! it's just hypocrisy

[@ParadoxFreak]

Thank you! My thoughts exactly!

[@stephjovi]

Especially since we hear a northern accent Welsh accent Scottish and American. So it's not like the Tardis only translates into an English accent

[@TheRock-dp3vh]

Easily the greatest Christmas special, this was the golden age of New Who when it was at the peak of its popularity with the best leading man, consistently great writing and a brilliant story that everyone could enjoy.

[@dubbingsync]

If you’re going to moan about Kylie sounding like an Aussie then you have to get annoyed about everyone other obviously alien characters sounding British.

[@stephjovi]

And captain Jack sounding American and 12 sounding Scottish so you can't even say the Tardis translates everything into English. I prefer an Australian using her accent to her faking it bc aliens have to sound English?

[@richardmillhousenixon]

@@stephjovi That can be explained by the fact that the TARDIS doesn't translate if you are already talking in English, even if you aren't talking in British English

[@absolutelychampagne]

Exactly

[@maniaccop3403]

4:54 The Captain is played by the actor Geoffrey Palmer, who sadly passed away at the age of 93 last month (5th November) he also appeared in the Bond movie "Tomorrow Never Dies" along with Pierce Brosnan, playing Admiral Roebuck. Rest in peace

[@I_Stole_Your_Toast]

I did the maths from David Tennant saying that 50 million credits is 1 million pounds, and the Banoffs (forgot their name) saying that they won't financially recover from spending 5000 credits to get tickets via a quiz. They spent a whopping... £100. Not a lot at all.

[@bloodlustquartet6234]

The Doctor's reaction to Space Titanic's projected crash site being London: "Oh, come on, why London? Why is it _always_ London? Does the Universe have it out for my favorite city or just for me? No, wait, stupid question, the Universe definitely hates my existence, even after everything I've done for it. Oh, well, nothing for it, time to save Her Majesty! Again..."

[@esecallum]

because white people relate to white monuments and white cities like London. would you be able to relate to jaipur?

[@putridmoldyman306]

@@esecallum Well I am no expert, but Im at least 60% sure white people do exist outside of london

[@esecallum]

@@putridmoldyman306 no. london is well known. no one has heard of ryden or nottingham

[@putridmoldyman306]

@@esecallum Or the little known countries "America" and "Canada"

[@esecallum]

@@putridmoldyman306 america is in every movie. caanada is DULL.

[@VeracityLH]

I agree that this one was an interesting idea that suffered in its execution. RTD admitted that the problem was that he turned in the final draft so late that the effects department did not have time to execute its shots properly. I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of Foon's grief being a set-up for the Doctor's grief over Astrid. But also remember that this episode immediately follows The Last of the Time Lords. The Doctor had just lost--again--the last of his race, his former best friend, and his impotence in the face of the Master's refusal to regenerate was still fresh. So his anger and determination to save Astrid ("I can do anything!") is partly due to this recent loss. Very much enjoying these videos!

[@doggo9388]

I love this special tbh, I didn’t know it had such bad reception. Yeah it’s campy but it’s a Christmas special, they literally had a Christmas tree villain. I also think the ending is great, especially mr. copper, and I feel you’re wanting a really depressing ending for no reason. I don’t think it’s the best episode but it’s definitely not worth a D rank on specials especially when compared to anything after this episode as a lot of Christmas specials later on fall flat.

[@Lukeywoodsey]

Kylie first started in a Australian Soap so she's done plenty of acting

[@undersizemaster2853]

I also feel like the episode was playing off the actual story of the titanic and how there’s a conspiracy theory that the owners of the ship sank the titanic for insurance purposes because the company was going bankrupt. It plays well into the character of max wanting to sink the ship

[@lewiskazinsky7334]

That theory doesn’t account for how the company almost crashed completely with the payouts it made to the families of the deceased. Again, as with most conspiracies, it hinges on the refusal to accept multiple factors leading to a dramatic conclusion. Ugh.

[@UgandanPrinc3]

People didn’t like voyage of the damned? Huh, would never have noticed with how often that clip 10 is shared. Tbh though that scene with Jesus 10 carried by angels is ridiculously cheesy 15:50 don’t forget he creates the Mr. Copper Foundation that helps Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister, contact torchwood 3 and Martha too

[@KrisFrost4359]

That's the only part of the episode I ever found too cheesy, but I don't hate it.

[@artyb27]

10's speech is indeed iconic. But in context it comes off as hideously corny, arrogant and unwarranted. Those damn explosions in the background don't help.

[@TheMarioAdams]

Cheese is what doctor who is all about. 11 said himself that he has a degree in cheese making

[@MsWillowbayOrelse]

Also Astrid's and Bannakaffalatta's deaths are still on saddest death lists. I always liked it.

[@carolinemcgovern4488]

Fun fact: Max's plan may have referenced the common conspiracy theory about the Titanic that its hitting the iceberg was part of an insurance scheme by the owner. (

[@amf235dance]

One thing I learned recently that makes me appreciate this episode more is that there are conspiracy theorists who think that the actual titanic sinking was an attempt to get a lot of money through insurance fraud.

[@Ahart_85]

Kylie was great in the episode. She could have worked as a full time companion. The story was great and so different to a regular doctor who episode. I’d love to see another disaster style episode

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

agreed!

[@Ozzy_2014]

Obviously this kid has NO idea of the back catalogue of KYLIE the Princess of Pop. A Global superstar who happens to have a home in London not just Melbourne. KYLIE has been active since the mid 80s. She is an actress and starred in a tv soap in OZ called Neighbours. The woman is multiaward winning and her first global hit was a cover of Locomotion in 88. She was a gay rights icon 20 years before it was expected/demanded. Perhaps a little respect do. Fever got attention back inside the USA in 2000 but she had never left. There is long history our host would do well to research.

[@Redboots]

as an australian, i can confirm every planet has an australia on it

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

this is fact.

[@asentientcactus]

“Even though she’s from another planet she still has an Australian accent” Me, an Australian: wait she had an accent? Oooohhhh……

[@hyyharmy7]

The only thing I didn’t like from this special was how the Doctor got over Martha so easily it was so “out of sight out of mind” which was really frustrating, meanwhile we had to hear about freaking Rose every second during the previous holiday special

[@frislander4299]

TBF, Kylie does live in the UK now and has a track record of cameos in shows like Vicar of Dibley so she was probably somewhat easy to get hold of.

[@kachilda]

She would have made a decent side kick, It's to bad they killed her character off.

[@conzchannel5087]

Did you know the guy who played Mr Copper died last year as well?

[@1Gidget]

@@conzchannel5087 whatttt no

[@kachilda]

@ Hahahaha Ya I guess she's big enough in the UK. to command a sizable paycheck.

[@Jaeden_Phoenix]

I enjoy this episode quite a lot. I don't take it all that seriously and I find that it's just a fun adventure between series. I often go back to this episode during rewatches. Also Note: The Subwave Network was established by the Mr. Copper Foundation. Mr Copper saved the world by giving Harriet Jones the means to develop the Subwave Network in The Stolen Earth!

[@willangel2745]

I've never made that connection, that's a really cool detail

[@MigoLinden]

I really was sitting there cheering when I heard "Mr Copper Foundation" in Stolen Earth!

[@eataneraser]

Just came across this one in a rewatch after years. I always sorta rolled my eyes when I hit this one in rewatches, another speed bump to get over, but this year I fucking LOVED VotD. Maybe I was just in a good mood today, but Voyage is really well set up, very lovable, and an extremely fun setpiece. Funny how Who changes as we do.

[@jacklawrence2212]

The Heavenly Hosts don't just recall the Voc robots, they are a deliberate call back, I'd have that was obvious. There's even a shot of one of the hosts with its hand stuck in a closing door, deliberately referencing an almost identical scene in 'Robots of Death.'

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Voyage of the Damned wasn't a waste. One of the best Xmas Specials and one of my favourites from New Who.

[@liborohanka5010]

Honestly I think that this was (one of) best Christmas special. Easily better than previous two and maybe best of them all. It is simply perfect in so many ways. I honestly can't see problems that Harbo Wholmes see. It simply seem to me, like he is trying to find flaws to racionalizace his dislike and failing in it.

[@MarieDesJardin]

I ADORE this episode. This is the episode that turned me from a casual viewer into a fan. I love the bridge scene, the Astrid relationship, every single character (except for Max being OTT). It really hits all the right spots for me. This episode is my comfort food after a hard week. I'm one of those people who is grateful that this is the most-viewed episode of 10's run, because I think it shows off so many strengths of Doctor Who and RTD.

[@lukiia9854]

It's great that the christmas special just happened to be next on your list as soon as the christmas season started

[@HarboWholmes]

May have fudged the schedule a bit to make it that way haha

[@william...1]

shoutout to Mr Copper for allowing Stolen Earth to actually happen

[@1Gidget]

How?

[@william...1]

@@1Gidget he founded the Mr Copper Foundation, the software that Harriet’s subwave network relied on to operate. without him, every atom of matter in the universe would be reduced to dust

[@bicko_07]

This is the best Christmas special don’t at me.

[@Jedi_Spartan]

10:07 / 10:53 Which is why we should see a companion that isn't from modern day Earth.

[@Halexice]

Voyage of the Damned is my favourite Christmas special by far, it's the one that always jumps out at me from the shelf every single year, probably just nostalgia but it brings me joy.

[@Wizard0fDogs]

I feel like the Heavenly Hosts being different from the Voc Robots since the Doctor would recognise them and it's better having him in the dark

[@godfreyozzy7128]

You make it sound like Kylie is a singer trying to break into acting, rather than an experienced actress who made her screen debut at the age of 12. Also, she hasn't sounded Australian for 30 years, she dropped her Aussie accent for a Pommie one the day she first stepped off the plane at Heathrow.

[@warrengraham5145]

Fun fact: Mr Copper ended up making his own foundation to create the Subwave Network for the Series 4 Finale. Really did end up making him proud in the end.

[@nightowl8477]

The highest viewed Doctor Who episode to date! Say what you will, but Russell knows how to pull in an audience. I for one love this story. The stunning set designs and direction makes it so vivid in my mind, and the characters are equally as vivid as ever. Even the Captain who sabotages the ship is written and played so well for a relatively small character. Alright, the Angels aren't the most iconic foes, and the story loses me slightly after the meteorites hit and it becomes about Man vs. Machine, getting through the ship. But the sequence of the meteorites itself is one of my favourite sequences in the show. Phenomenal editing this episode, so intense.

[@gooseincrocs]

this is a disaster?! it’s the most viewed christmas episode and it’s got ALLONSY ALONSO

[@LexiTheLeo]

I know some of you think those angel hosts are goofy but they still freak the hell out of me I can’t lie

[@79lerxst]

*bing* Information

[@LexiTheLeo]

@@79lerxst I read that in their voice too 😭

[@79lerxst]

@@LexiTheLeo I'm sorry love..meant no offense lol.. A few years back,I I edited that as my email ringtone,so everytime my email went of...well...u know the rest

[@maldon3659]

Bing Information, you are all going to die

[@79lerxst]

@@maldon3659 thank you..

[@ghtyudf]

The people on Earth are either scared of another alien invasion or it’s just 2020

[@greenivy713]

"Maybe that would have been a bit to sad for the kids on christmas day" Well, I'm not a kid, but I must say that The Snowmen is one of my favorite christmas specials despite...or maybe because it being so tragic :D

[@robbiesmith8055]

Posting this on a bunch of your videos to help metrics: Thank you so much for making this series. Doctor Who was my favourite tv show as a kid, and was literally the only interest that every member of my family had in common, so it was very special to us growing up. Watching all your deep dives into each of the NuWho episodes has been a very nostalgic experience for me, so thank you thank you xx

[@bigounce4968]

I think the australian point about Astrid is moot considering 90% of the Whoniverse is English.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Voyage of the Damned was foreshadowed in The Invasion of Time and Rose. In The Invasion of Time, Borusa is seen reading a old newspaper about the Titanic disaster which The 4th Doctor claimed he had nothing to do with it and in Rose, Rose and Clive discover a photo of The Daniels Family and that The 9th Doctor stopped them from going on the Titanic.

[@dubbingsync]

Well you didn’t prove my this was Disastrous. Just felt like some kid pushing the Broccoli around a plate while moaning about not liking the colour green.

[@masterwill8973]

Don’t hate on Australia. We have less COVID than Britain.

[@visibletonone.superiortoal2033]

*DO NOT BLASPHEME! DO NOT BLASPHEME!*

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

indeed we do :)

[@thatssofetch3481]

You guys made Rupert Murdoch!

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

@@thatssofetch3481 no his mum and dad did that... don't throw the rest of the country under that bus

[@youraveragepersonwalkingth6850]

No it’s that it stands out from everyone else. But we do have less COVID cases then Britain.

[@mahfuzurchowdhury2765]

Wow, this is my favourite Christmas special, just because it feels so iconic.

[@EshfulCookie]

The one specific and ultimately inconsequential nitpick I have with this episode is the amount of money that Foon and Morvin now owe. Because at the end, the Doctor says a million pounds is 50 million credits - therefore the amount they owe that they'll "never be able to pay back" is 100 pounds. Granted, this could be wholly intentional on RTD's part, to show the extreme wealth disparity on Stowe (it IS a Titanic story) - but it really does feel like an oversight that shouldn't have been missed due to wealth being such a big part of the episode.

*Sees the title* It has Kylie Minogue dressed as a maid in! It CANNOT be anything less than brilliant...

[@dannydraper2973]

This episode is pure Christmasy popcorn movie schlock and I love it!

[@ericrobins5188]

How dare you, hahaha without this episode we would never have the sub wave network saving everyone at the end of Donna Noble's run.

[@AiRsTrIkExXzZ]

I love Wilfred mott. He’s my favourite side character

[@KennAKALeo]

I've always been under the impression that part of why the episode received such high ratings was because of Minogue's star power. As an American, I've never seen 'Neighbours' but I know it basically launched her career. Her face was everywhere when I schooled in London for a few months back in '89. And my understanding is that Minogue has a Madonna-like popularity everywhere in the western world accept the Americas.

[@MrGreaves]

Honestly my favourite Christmas special. The hate of this one confuses me, it seems like everyone doesn’t like it. This is the only episode where an iconic vehicle from earth turns out to be a spaceship that I think actually works as well.

[@johnwilbur3050]

Literally just watched a Christmas special ranking video that put this one as number 1

[@PwnZombie]

Wonder how Martha feels about travelling with the doctor for years and him never kissing her, then he goes and kisses the first floozy he sees on his first adventure after she goes lol.

[@PlanetNateGaming]

In summary: Space Australia this episode has the most quoted Doctor Who quote ever: "I'm The Doctor,I'm a time lord from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kesterboros"

[@c.triumph1179]

This was my very first doctor who episode ever when I was only 5 years old, the one that started it all for me.

[@matsimpson6491]

I actually really like this episode, my favourite of the specials. Granted it has its issues you just can't ignore but I overlook them. The music is brilliant, possibly one of 10's best speeches and the character work is very good.

[@scl1332]

The title: “Who are you?” “I’m the worst Doctor Who Christmas special” “Do you have any idea on how little that narrows it down”

[@ExclamationMarx]

I personally really enjoyed this episode & I've happily rewatched it many times

[@taladavidson5400]

voyage of the damned just...drags. it’s not even that i think it’s particularly terrible, it’s just i would rather rewatch pretty much any episode before it. it’s beyond boring and far too cheesy for me. genuinely one of my least favourites from the whole show. but i’m glad some people enjoy it. i’m with you on this one, harbo.

[@lucypreece7581]

I like when Doctor Who pulls from existing movies or movie genres and gives them their own Doctor Who twist like this episode clearly pulls from The Poseidon Adventure and classic style disaster movies and how previous stories have pulled from Base Under Siege stories and Horror style movies and you could even say detective drama with Blink. Even period style dramas as well. It shows that the writers all have a wide knowledge and a big appreciation for pop culture. I like that a lot.

[@wil2209]

LOVELY BUBBLY PORRIDGEEEEE I hope you get that

[@alfiethomas5632]

Literally when I saw this for the first time and realised it was Duke from Tracy Beaker my jaw dropped

[@intergalactic92]

Best reference ever!

[@revs7837]

I think this is my favourite of the true christmas specials.

[@Fairly-odd-kel]

I love this one, mainly because I adore Doctor Who but I'm also a massive fan of Kylie so...this is perfect

[@Timmymantwo]

I remember when this debuted and I enjoyed it. Looking back it isn't great but it works on the world building and we meet Wilf so I see this as an absolute win

[@CineScarborough]

I thought Kylie Minogue was amazing in this episode personally, and I love the scene where she takes down Max Capricorn in the forklift. I thought it worked spectacularly well.

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

I thought she was great too!

[@stephjovi]

Same. Never been a fan never had a problem with her either. She started out as an actress I don't get the criticism

[@JyujinPlus]

It’s weird to see this special ranked so low on the tier list. I loved the unique characters of this episode, and how the Doctor solves the problems in it: more issues cropping up that prevent him from saving everyone, until it all ties together once Astrid kills Max Capricorn. Plus, it’s really unique to have a companion thats not from contemporary earth, and it’s something Ive wanted in a real companion for a while. Hearing you talk about how realistic and human the interactions are, and how this sets up the Doctor’s arc that climaxes in Waters on Mars, made me appreciate this episode even more. So it’s really hard to understand why it was ranked so low. Even _if_ the Max Capricorn climax is cheesy (and I think it can be argued that it’s not any more cheesy than the rest of Doctor Who), it’s hard to imagine how that one scene brings such a great episode down so far in your tier list. Personally, I’d give it AT LEAST a B in the Series 3 tier list. Maybe a C or D in the specials tier list, just because it’s not that festive.

[@martinauld670]

I absolutely love this episode, pains me to see it ranked so low

[@nightowl8477]

6:10 a meta commentary on how a writer determines who lives and who dies in disaster movies, yes. I know Russell in particular was feeling fairly monstrous at the time, having to make some tough decisions in regards to Series 4. Writing Donna's dad into having cancer after the actor was diagnosed, for instance. He felt bad about that.

[@stefan3723]

i want the Christmas specials back so bad :(

[@iamliberator1101]

I am of a different opinion about this episode. it has acrion, danger, deaths and I remember the Robots of death...2nd only to Pyramid....so I noticed the similarity straight away. what's with wringing out more pain and anguish for the Dr. we love Kylie and its nice to have a fairy tale ending for at least one of the many deaths. 🎉

[@Pacmanfan-po9rn]

This episode was decent when focused on the plot.

[@GordonHorneOfficial]

shame to think both the Captain and Mr Copper are no longer with us :( RIP Geoffrey Palmer and Clive Swift

[@KrisFrost4359]

This is the best Doctor Who Christmas Special in my opinion. You can't change my mind.

[@benashdown7812]

Man I can’t lie, I LOVE this episode and I don’t know what it is about it because yeah it’s not the best story wise or visually. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of being a kid on Christmas Day watching this while playing with all my new toys. Who knows but this episode will always be in my heart

[@dubbingsync]

I will always remember my dads response of “ok then” (with the air of yep he’s the leader) after the “I’m the Doctor...” speech.

[@Jackgames-vg7cw]

I love how he's mentioned in season 4 his foundation makes the device to find the dr Harriet says so nice little throw back

[@Jedi_Spartan]

25:28 Stubagful: Stand up and salute! Come on, it's ma'am here!