I am SO very pleased to hear that you as Americans knew immediately what Joy was talking about. It's in a Doctor Who Christmas special now. Whovians of the future will always have it to remind them. Some of us (still very angry) Britons are extremely happy about this. 👍
“Because it’s there”. The Doctor is referencing George Mallory, British climber, who gave this response when asked by a journalist why he wanted to climb Everest. He died on Everest in 1924, and his body was discovered in 1999 at almost 27,000 feet. The (successful) Hilary expedition of 1953 would have been familiar with the reference. Joel Fry who plays Trev, is possibly best known in the U.K. as Stylax in the comedy series ‘Plebs’ set in Ancient Rome, set to a jaunty ska soundtrack! One of his co-stars is Ryan Sampson who played Luke Rattigan in Series 4’s ‘Sontaran Strategem/The Poison Sky’, except this time in ‘Plebs’ he doesn’t speak with an American accent, but as feckless slave Grumio, more his native Yorkshire accent, or to be precise his Grandmother’s! When Joel left ‘Plebs’ they wrote him a sudden and brutal exit, which the rest of the cast just shrugged off!
My godfather died of Covid, and I couldn't even go to the funeral because of the Lockdown rules. I had to watch it on a stream from the church. This was a man who drove me and my wife through the night on the day my dad died so that we could be there for my mum. And while we followed the rules, the people who made them were having parties. If youre more angry at Doctor Who referring to the events and being 'political' than you are at the tories holding parties while the rest of us followed the rules, then you need to take a big look in the mirror.
I don't believe we talk about it in a way of being more angry at Doctor Who. It hit emotionally, and it was the question of, "Does this feel too soon for us?" But that was for us in the moment. The selfish atrocities of what they were doing during that time are beyond my understanding, and I'm so sorry for your loss, especially to that degree.
@bmyattuk Oh gosh, that's so frustrating. I wish I could say i were surprised, but unfortunately, those people are out there. And I just wanted to make sure cause it's definitely an important conversation!
Remember in Empire of Death, Ruby’s biological mother said she wanted to call every Christmas to check on Ruby? Well *now she does.* She calls her daughter on Christmas Day, always as she wanted, for twenty years.
I don’t think it was too soon for me at all. Especially coming from the uk, the fact that the person left alone in the hospital to die when our government were partying, getting to be with her loved one, it was perfect. Really liked this ep even tho it hits on a lot of Moffats tropes.
At first I thought it was strange that there would even BE a hotel room for the time hotel to use 65 million years ago, because humans weren't around then. Then I remembered the Silurians and that that room is probably how the hotel manager at the start found his way into the Time Hotel in the first place.
Remember also, the Doctor is an alien and doesn't think like humans do either. There was that time that Sarah had to crawl through the access ducts on the space ark with a power cable and almost panicked when she got stuck. The 4th Doctor berated her for 'blubbing'. Sarah usually didn't cry or even scream much. His giving her a verbal dressing down got her mad enough to finish crawling through just so she could give him a thrashing. He 'apologized' and explained why he did what he did. 'Cruel' to be kind...
@@paulwatson9486 Yeah, the 'Curse of Fenric' scene was my immediate thought. (I might be weird, but that's one of my all time fave scenes in Doctor Who -- it's just so emotionally intense and really is such an interesting moment for Ace and the Doctor. Then again, that's also my fave Classic Doctor Who story, so...)
Honestly, as someone who has stayed in budget hotels in London? The size of the room seems pretty realistic. You can get a lot of floor space for not much, it's the quality of what's in the room that tends to go down.
The "Mean Doctor" tactic is a nod to classic Doctor shenanigans. However, what has always bothered me about it isn't the contrivance of it. Instead, it's the lack of apology afterward that gets me. I'm willing to buy the contrived necessity of getting a rise out of someone or even traumatizing them a bit to psychically prod them into saving their own lives. However, to have The Doctor instigate that and then show no remorse or regret for it? To not even properly apologize and console someone? That doesn't make sense given the compassion we've seen from the character. In fact, it seems even more cruel to offer so little comfort afterward.
I'm so sorry for making your recording late. I saw the dino blankets on Black Friday sale after making the joke about dino jammies in the comments on the preview reaction, and I couldn't help it. They didn't have adult sizes, lol.
i was so hoping after the dinosaur ate the case, they'd go to London and Capaldi would find the case after the dinosaur burned in deep breath, and this doctor would appear and ask him for it...ahhhh
FYI.Guy Fawkes night is celebrating the failure, capture and execution of Guy Fawkes. Which is why we burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes on the bonfire. It is not a celebration of Fawkes, but his failure.
@@ACtheLegend Nothing to debate. Why would King James, the person he tried to assassinate declare it a day of remembrance if it wasn't because he failed!
9:14 Paula’s love for Moffatt helped her know what line would be written next 16:22 I was amazed how much they made me care about Anita in such a short time 22:05 I’m on the fence about the Mavity joke continuing. Like the consistency but think it’s corny. Enjoyed the reaction as usual
I do have to admit that most of my love of the DW videos on this channel is that Paula just repeats my exact reactions 90% of the time, but both of you are great. Above all, you're fair. Too many channels just bash stuff because they've learned from the Depp/Heard trial, that was the chrysalis of it though it existed before, that you get a lot of views being angry about what you're watching. Those dino outfits looked great. Poor Shep is going to get replaced with that adorable thing. Have a great New Year you two. Hope you hit 50k this year.
Happy New Year Gals! Hope you both had a great Christmas. I'm not going to act like this was an amazing episode, nor does it ever really reach the same heights as several of Moffat's other Christmas specials like A Christmas Carol or The Husbands of River Song, but I largely enjoyed Joy to the World. Quite scattershot narratively speaking, a collection of bits and setpieces basically held together by tissue paper, but I appreciated Moffat's attempts to tie everything under the unifying themes of loneliness and finding connection at such difficult times. It's a fairly fun little romp with a nice poignant bittersweet undercurrent, and if this does truly end up being his last episode for the show (I certainly hope not, I'd love for him to continue writing new Who episodes for as long as he has new interesting ideas), it's a fairly solid one to bow out on. Watching Boom and this episode really demonstrate that Moffat has not lost his capacity for writing great dialogue, particularly for the Doctor. I like how his scripts have given Fifteen a bit more depth, allowing him to show off a slightly meaner, snarkier and more alien streak compared to the broadly cheery affable characterisation that Davies has given him thus far. And to that effect, it allows Ncuti Gatwa to really flex his acting muscles and deliver some truly stellar performances - that moment of him getting under Joy's skin and digging at her insecurities and grief may just be his best moment yet. And at the same time, I like how these rather mean moments are balanced out with real warmth and heart, which we see in his endearing interactions with Trev, and especially the sequence of him bonding with Anita, which is easily the best part of the episode. The chemistry between Ncuti and Steph de Whalley is really sweet and likeable, and the bond they're shown building during this segment feels very genuine and believable (it's honestly quite baffling that we got a better developed relationship between these two in about 15 minutes than we did in an entire season with the Doctor and Ruby). In fact, the strong relationship between the Doctor and Anita almost ends up overshadowing Joy, which does make it feel like quite a weird episode since she's, you know, the titular character of the episode. Aside from the one scene where she has her big outburst over her guilt surrounding her mother's death (a powerful moment that's played very well and really digs into lingering anger over the now-outvoted Tories and Partygate - I've really appreciated this angrier streak we've gotten from Moffat lately), she doesn't get much characterisation, her relationship with the Doctor feels really underbaked, and it results in her ultimate sacrifice not quite having the kind of emotional impact it should've really had. It's honestly a rather disappointing use of an actress as charismatic and captivating as Nicola Coughlan, and ultimately my only real disappointment with the episode. Aside from that, I mostly really enjoyed watching this episode, I found it to be great fun and proof that even "past his prime" "playing the Greatest Hits" Moffat is still really solid stuff. The concept of the Time Hotel was genuinely cool, it makes for some really striking and memorable visuals. Speaking of the visuals, they were brought to life with some pretty solid VFX work, even if the cinematography and direction did feel a little flat compared to most of Moffat's other episodes. The performances were very strong for the most part, aside from Ncuti and Nicola, I should also give shout outs to both Joel Fry as Trev and Jonathan Aris as the Silurian manager (yes, that was Anderson from Sherlock underneath those prosthetics). A fairly solid episode that got largely drowned out amidst all the other stuff we had going on on Christmas Day (including a new Wallace & Gromit film that premiered right after it), Joy to the World is an enjoyable B-grade episode and Christmas special, nothing particularly special and not likely to go down as a fan favourite, but a nicely sentimental and entertaining story.
I agree! I know Paula and Katrina don’t like Moffat but he is my favorite writer of Dr. Who. His nack for dialogue and being able to get top notch performances from actors with his script is the best. Probably why BOOM is my favorite episode of Ncuti’s so far
@@nickloschen2717 Same! I've missed his writing for Doctor Who so much! Aside from Boom, this is the first episode I've been properly in love with since Capaldi left. I mean, no shade to Chibnall and RTD2, but overall their stories haven't resonated with me as much as Moffat's do.
Not to inject sadness into this, but perhaps the Doctor is leary of recontacting former companions because of the way he screwed up Amy and Rory's lives by his constant dropping in. (An episode I still have trouble rewatching.)
This episode was good fun, I like the concept of the Time Hotel. Guy Fawkes night celebrates the fact that he was caught and the plot was thwarted. They still burn him in effigy in some places.
Christmas specials are always a one off , I liked this one , some nice characters , the Doctor having to live a year in ordinary time was interesting and maybe what he needed . A tearjerking end - What's not to like? Hoping Kat & Paula have a good New year , liked the dino hoodies , I certainly need warm stuff at the moment as the heating isn't working .
The woman in the train is credited as playing "Sylvia Trench" who was a character in the first Have Bond movie "Dr No", so James Bond is now canon in the Whoniverse.
It's not though, Bond is fictional, as the films have been referenced before. The character's name is never spoken on screen and she's clearly dating a woman, not Bond. Plus they don't actually have the rights to use the character anyway. It's just Moffat dropping a little Easter Egg, nothing heavier than that.
I was so excited when I saw Frenchie and then so sad when he died and then so happy when he was the sonic interface. Wonder if there's a way to keep him around for that. I thought we'd lost Nardole after a Christmas special and he came back.
Hmm, it looks like we're in for that clinical, deeply critical commentary we've come to expect from this channel, lol!! On other channels reacting to this, I've heard the negative view that Joy died, even that it was suicide. To me, this was not about death but transformation. Life ending one way doesn't mean a final death, but changing into something special, like a star. Also, if you believe we come from stardust, all those people are returning to the stars. Finally, a Silurian could want to visit the dinosaur room, looking back at their ancestors!
(Is still trying to use the hairdos and outfits to sort out the filming timeline) (The Gals turn into dinosaurs) Okay, I give up. I'm defeated. (Sweeps all my graphs into the trash)
Joel Fry (Trev) tends to appear as a somewhat bumbling or clueless bit character or sidekick in a number of things, mostly sitcoms - most prominently he's Dev Patels tech/roadie friend in the film Yesterday.
He had a guest spot on an episode of Inside No 9 last year which saw him play a very different type of character, it seems like he's quite the versatile performer when given the chance
I like Trev, but that's an incredibly quick investment into his story/survival 😂 Not gonna lie though, he's one of two people in this episode worthy of being a companion. In fact, I think they had the best companion potential (of the ones not being such) since Shona in Last Christmas.
I should be saying something about the spot-on reference to "partygate", or that the birth of Christ is now official Who cannon, but because of my job my main take is, isn't now much harder to clean the inside of that microwave? It's just more work for the cleaner.
JUSTICE FOR TREV! I felt this was a fun holiday special, but also felt Moffat relied on all his old tricks, crammed into one story. He really needs to find a solution better than bootstrap paradoxes
I hope you Pals had a great Christmas and new year! While this special wasn't the greatest, what with it rehashing a previous Christmas Special one off companion's Sacrifice/transformation, I enjoyed it, even with the dig at the Tories that some might complain about, I whole heartedly loved that anger in that scene about those rule breaking scum.....
It's a shame you didn't spot the Mr Ben's Emporium easter egg. Mr Ben was cartoon character who visited a costume shop whose owner wears a Fez and Bowtie.
If you want to see Joel Fry in something else, let me recommend Plebs. It is a sitcom set in ancient Rome. It may run a bit heavy for the lads, but I still think you will enjoy it
Hiya Gallifrey Gals 👋🏻💙👋🏻💙 I’ve missed you gals 😂 Since going back to work after 5 months off my routine has obviously changed, so I haven’t watched anything from you nor bought episodes to watch beforehand (Red Dwarf, BSG). I had to watch this though & look forward to the new series. Hope you both had a wonderful Christmas & wish you all the best in the New Year 2025 🥳 🇬🇧🫶🏻🇺🇸
The way Anita reacts to all the strange things that happened in the hotel, for example the presence of the Silurian, the microwave, the broom, the sonic etc pp makes me think... Will she play a part in the next season? Is she one of the cosmic entities like the toymaker?
I hope not, she should just be a normal person that gets to see a different side of the doctor, instead of him being the mad man in the box, she gets to see his "human" side. (Although I don't agree with the Gals that she shouldn't become a proper companion, the rules for proper companions is a bit loosey goosey anyway... maybe not become a travelling companion routinely, but someone in the doctors life that inspires him is pretty much considered a companion (although Madame de Pompadour wasn't consider a proper companion, but for some reason the character played by Kylie Minogue is?) Either way, I'm on the boat that says bring more of her back, just to humanize the Doctor. (and yes I know he isn't human)
Anita already lived through one year (and chair nights) with the Doctor seeing strange things in the hotel, so I think that's why she wasn't surprised at that moment. Of course, a little later she doesn't remember because it's bootstrap (paradox). Also, maybe she is Mrs. Flood.
When looking back on a particular era of a show, especially a show like Doctor Who, you can start to notice patterns that were unintentional. The 13th Doctor, through no fault of Jodie Whittaker, I think it's fair to say was a very emotionally closed off incarnation of the Doctor. Still the Doctor, every regeneration is still the Doctor at their core. But outwardly she was a lot more "stiff upper lip, keep calm and carry on." I didn't personally love that or enjoy watching it, but I respect it as a take and accept it as a quirk of that incarnation, nothing more. 15, meanwhile, is SO outwardly empathetic, and I love it so much. A frequent criticism I see of this new era is that the Doctor cries too much. Which is baffling because 1) he doesn't, and 2) WHY SHOULDN'T HE? Why shouldn't the man with two hearts feel twice as much? The moment where Ncuti became the Doctor for me was at the beginning of Church on Ruby Road where he goes out of his way to give a random nobody a pep talk because it's the kind thing to do. That is core Doctor Who for me. And it really shines in this episode. The way he is with Trev, with Joy, with Anita. The way he goes out of his way to comforting a dying Silurian he just met solely because it's right, it's decent, it's kind. Moffat wasn't a perfect writer, especially not as a showrunner, but there's certain things he just gets about Doctor Who and it made me cherish this episode despite a less-than perfect script. I feel bad for people who refuse to see any good in the show anymore or give it a chance. They're missing out.
Happy 2025, Gals! Very amusing reaction. A great tonic after a long day! Loving the costumes BTW! 3 January is 9th day of Christmas. Hope you both had happy holidays. Looking forward to your 2025 schedule.
Just like mavity, this is about the Church of the Papal Mainframe realizing The Flux has destroyed half the universe, including the Christmas Star. So they contracted Villiengard to gather faithful christians from all across space and time. Their mission is to recreate the Christmas Star and once again bring Joy to all of humanity.
I wanted to make sure to leave Paula space to have that first reaction and thoughts without putting anything on it ✨️ It's always fun to watch it with her when it's her first time and my second! - Kat
There is a town in England called Lewes where the people actually know the full history of Guy Fawkes night (which is all about catholic and protestant conflict, and in the end the king claiming Guy was a trying to blow up the whole of England, not just the Palace of Westminster, making him a terrorist, yada yada yada. Simon at Biographics explained it better). So they burn an effigy of Guy. Actually celebrate his demise and death, not honoring his attempt.
Okay, I've waited a couple of days to watch this. I hate to be the person who says DW is going downhill because there's enough negativity in every fandom these days but... Here's the thing, I thought as a feel good Christmas special, it worked, as a Doctor Who episode, not so much. Like the briefcase code that the Doctor only knew because he remembered the other him saying it, with the explanation for the code itself being it works because it just does. The scene of Ruby was just there to be there, did nothing else. I think my overall problem which was highlighted in this episode is with the Doctor himself. Since the show came back in 2005, the Doctor had the weight of the Time War to deal with, and we've seen how each incarnation has dealt with it in various ways. Since the bi-generation, we saw the 14th Doctor stop traveling to emotionally heal, and a new, happier 15th Doctor carry on, which is great for him, but now the only trauma he seems to have is he's a sad, lonely man - there's a depth and a seriousness that's seems to have been lost and it's not quite working for me at the moment.
I didn't realise her character's surname was Benn - that's the same name as the clothing/costume shop in the Time Hotel (and a reference to the kids' cartoon series Mr Benn from the 1970s, I'm sure).
been waiting for this seeing other peoples take on Joy basically ending her life on xmas and moffat trying to make it sound like a happy ending. and of course moffat killing off new friendly characters but just kidding they are still kinda alive sorta..... i love moffat but man he is so one note
Fun fact; the actor playing Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who helped Edmund Hillary reach Everest's summit, was actually Norgay's great-great nephew. speaking of casting, is it just me or does Joel Fry look and sound a lot like David Walliams of Little Britain (and the God Complex) fame? I was also surprised you didn't notice what appeared to be a door to a hobbit hole. Or did you and it just didn't make the cut for the UA-cam version of the video?
I enjoy how heartfelt and emotional this episode is. COVID clearly affected Moffat deeply, but I feel like it relies too heavily on that shared grief. Will this have the same weight in 60 years time? Personally I sobbed watching but will our great grandchildren? The commentary is apt, but 4 years after feels like reopening wounds as they’re healing. Just my take 🙌 Again, I enjoy it, just don’t see it aging well.
@@KatAlysha You're not the only person to feel this way, I saw a comment on Twitter that basically described The Church on Ruby Road as "RTD doing a Moffat episode" and Joy to the World as "Moffat's take on a RTD Christmas special"
For me, who also lost a mother during covid, it was way too soon. To be fair, in another 5 years it will probably still be too soon for me. The episode itself was a little bit hit and miss for me. I like the idea of a time hotel, but in the Who Universe with time agents and paradoxes it feels like a dangerous place. Loved Anita. Don't care for the star being that star. Is Villengard a recurring enemy like the Daleks and the Cybermen now?
I was kinda hoping she was going to be his next companion ngl. The chemistry worked for me. I also liked him with the brunette hotel lady she coulda been a companion also . I even liked him with the front desk guy 😂 so many options but non chosen ….:/
Best Gnuti episode so far though TimeLords used to only have secrets to Time Travel & Daleks and Cybermen to a point. Not happy Now even Hotel Coporation has Time travel bellitling what is Special of The Time Lords and The Dr
And a TARDIS-tech coffee mug, and a TARDIS-tech car, and a TARDIS-tech microwave, like The Doctor can just build things that are bigger on the inside at will using whatever materials are lying around and specifically while not having access to his TARDIS. It is a Christmas special though so I'm willing to accept stretching the rules a bit for the sake of a one-line gag, if that's what they want to do.
I figured of any of the people i watch Kat would have recognized Trev was in "The God Complex" irony or coincidence? that it was a hotel episode. he was the mole person whos species would always welcome invaders by immediately surrendering etc.
I am SO very pleased to hear that you as Americans knew immediately what Joy was talking about. It's in a Doctor Who Christmas special now. Whovians of the future will always have it to remind them. Some of us (still very angry) Britons are extremely happy about this. 👍
In the US, each state had its own COVID rules, but in general they were pretty much the same as in the UK.
“Because it’s there”. The Doctor is referencing George Mallory, British climber, who gave this response when asked by a journalist why he wanted to climb Everest. He died on Everest in 1924, and his body was discovered in 1999 at almost 27,000 feet. The (successful) Hilary expedition of 1953 would have been familiar with the reference.
Joel Fry who plays Trev, is possibly best known in the U.K. as Stylax in the comedy series ‘Plebs’ set in Ancient Rome, set to a jaunty ska soundtrack! One of his co-stars is Ryan Sampson who played Luke Rattigan in Series 4’s ‘Sontaran Strategem/The Poison Sky’, except this time in ‘Plebs’ he doesn’t speak with an American accent, but as feckless slave Grumio, more his native Yorkshire accent, or to be precise his Grandmother’s! When Joel left ‘Plebs’ they wrote him a sudden and brutal exit, which the rest of the cast just shrugged off!
Dinosaur in a Time Hotel: the much anticipated sequel to Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
I thought Dinosaur in Victorian London was the sequel to Dinosaurs on a spaceship, and that this was the sequel to that 😂
My godfather died of Covid, and I couldn't even go to the funeral because of the Lockdown rules. I had to watch it on a stream from the church. This was a man who drove me and my wife through the night on the day my dad died so that we could be there for my mum.
And while we followed the rules, the people who made them were having parties.
If youre more angry at Doctor Who referring to the events and being 'political' than you are at the tories holding parties while the rest of us followed the rules, then you need to take a big look in the mirror.
I don't believe we talk about it in a way of being more angry at Doctor Who. It hit emotionally, and it was the question of, "Does this feel too soon for us?" But that was for us in the moment. The selfish atrocities of what they were doing during that time are beyond my understanding, and I'm so sorry for your loss, especially to that degree.
@KatAlysha sorry Kat, wasn't really directed at you, but there's been a lot of comments of that nature surrounding this episode, unfortunately
@bmyattuk Oh gosh, that's so frustrating. I wish I could say i were surprised, but unfortunately, those people are out there. And I just wanted to make sure cause it's definitely an important conversation!
@@KatAlysha I'm sorry for how hard it hit y'all, we're all here for you btw 🫂
All the parties were doing it, sir Harmer in Newcastle, they’re all the same. My sincere condolences for your loss
Remember in Empire of Death, Ruby’s biological mother said she wanted to call every Christmas to check on Ruby? Well *now she does.* She calls her daughter on Christmas Day, always as she wanted, for twenty years.
I don’t think it was too soon for me at all. Especially coming from the uk, the fact that the person left alone in the hospital to die when our government were partying, getting to be with her loved one, it was perfect. Really liked this ep even tho it hits on a lot of Moffats tropes.
At first I thought it was strange that there would even BE a hotel room for the time hotel to use 65 million years ago, because humans weren't around then. Then I remembered the Silurians and that that room is probably how the hotel manager at the start found his way into the Time Hotel in the first place.
"Moffat killed some people, but it worked!" needs to be your Gallifrey One Ribbon
Remember also, the Doctor is an alien and doesn't think like humans do either. There was that time that Sarah had to crawl through the access ducts on the space ark with a power cable and almost panicked when she got stuck. The 4th Doctor berated her for 'blubbing'. Sarah usually didn't cry or even scream much. His giving her a verbal dressing down got her mad enough to finish crawling through just so she could give him a thrashing. He 'apologized' and explained why he did what he did. 'Cruel' to be kind...
This was my first thought. Second place goes to Ace in The Curse of Fenric.
@@paulwatson9486 Yeah, the 'Curse of Fenric' scene was my immediate thought. (I might be weird, but that's one of my all time fave scenes in Doctor Who -- it's just so emotionally intense and really is such an interesting moment for Ace and the Doctor. Then again, that's also my fave Classic Doctor Who story, so...)
Honestly, as someone who has stayed in budget hotels in London? The size of the room seems pretty realistic. You can get a lot of floor space for not much, it's the quality of what's in the room that tends to go down.
The "Mean Doctor" tactic is a nod to classic Doctor shenanigans. However, what has always bothered me about it isn't the contrivance of it. Instead, it's the lack of apology afterward that gets me. I'm willing to buy the contrived necessity of getting a rise out of someone or even traumatizing them a bit to psychically prod them into saving their own lives. However, to have The Doctor instigate that and then show no remorse or regret for it? To not even properly apologize and console someone? That doesn't make sense given the compassion we've seen from the character. In fact, it seems even more cruel to offer so little comfort afterward.
I'm so sorry for making your recording late. I saw the dino blankets on Black Friday sale after making the joke about dino jammies in the comments on the preview reaction, and I couldn't help it. They didn't have adult sizes, lol.
Hahaha omg! No sorry's needed!! Thank you so much for these 🦖🦕🖤
✔️✔️ Christmas episode where the guest star gets turned into a star.
Hey, at least THIS Christmas star didn't have a Racnoss queen in it.....
i was so hoping after the dinosaur ate the case, they'd go to London and Capaldi would find the case after the dinosaur burned in deep breath, and this doctor would appear and ask him for it...ahhhh
Loved the reference to Mr Benns “any era clothes shop” favourite tv programme as a kid
Yep! Previously referenced in The Sarah Jane Adventures...
FYI.Guy Fawkes night is celebrating the failure, capture and execution of Guy Fawkes. Which is why we burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes on the bonfire. It is not a celebration of Fawkes, but his failure.
That's debatable.
@@ACtheLegend Nothing to debate. Why would King James, the person he tried to assassinate declare it a day of remembrance if it wasn't because he failed!
I for one, celebrate the attempt
Ncuti's best to date, I reckon.. cool reaction, and Happy New Year, Pals. 😃
There you are!!! FINALLY!!!!
THANKS for this!!!
I forgot how you two critique #StevenMoffat in real time! :) Man, I missed you two!!!
9:14 Paula’s love for Moffatt helped her know what line would be written next
16:22 I was amazed how much they made me care about Anita in such a short time
22:05 I’m on the fence about the Mavity joke continuing. Like the consistency but think it’s corny.
Enjoyed the reaction as usual
I'll take mavity over sonic sunglasses anyday
@ lol, yeah those were awful
But it’s not just a joke right? Surely!
Those cape+head things looked crazy warm and toasty. Hope you both had a lovely NY.
The actor that played Trev was in a bbc show called PLEBS set in Rome
I do have to admit that most of my love of the DW videos on this channel is that Paula just repeats my exact reactions 90% of the time, but both of you are great. Above all, you're fair. Too many channels just bash stuff because they've learned from the Depp/Heard trial, that was the chrysalis of it though it existed before, that you get a lot of views being angry about what you're watching. Those dino outfits looked great. Poor Shep is going to get replaced with that adorable thing. Have a great New Year you two. Hope you hit 50k this year.
GET TO THE REACTION!!!!! lol. Just kidding love your long intros.
Happy New Year Gals! Hope you both had a great Christmas.
I'm not going to act like this was an amazing episode, nor does it ever really reach the same heights as several of Moffat's other Christmas specials like A Christmas Carol or The Husbands of River Song, but I largely enjoyed Joy to the World. Quite scattershot narratively speaking, a collection of bits and setpieces basically held together by tissue paper, but I appreciated Moffat's attempts to tie everything under the unifying themes of loneliness and finding connection at such difficult times. It's a fairly fun little romp with a nice poignant bittersweet undercurrent, and if this does truly end up being his last episode for the show (I certainly hope not, I'd love for him to continue writing new Who episodes for as long as he has new interesting ideas), it's a fairly solid one to bow out on.
Watching Boom and this episode really demonstrate that Moffat has not lost his capacity for writing great dialogue, particularly for the Doctor. I like how his scripts have given Fifteen a bit more depth, allowing him to show off a slightly meaner, snarkier and more alien streak compared to the broadly cheery affable characterisation that Davies has given him thus far. And to that effect, it allows Ncuti Gatwa to really flex his acting muscles and deliver some truly stellar performances - that moment of him getting under Joy's skin and digging at her insecurities and grief may just be his best moment yet. And at the same time, I like how these rather mean moments are balanced out with real warmth and heart, which we see in his endearing interactions with Trev, and especially the sequence of him bonding with Anita, which is easily the best part of the episode. The chemistry between Ncuti and Steph de Whalley is really sweet and likeable, and the bond they're shown building during this segment feels very genuine and believable (it's honestly quite baffling that we got a better developed relationship between these two in about 15 minutes than we did in an entire season with the Doctor and Ruby). In fact, the strong relationship between the Doctor and Anita almost ends up overshadowing Joy, which does make it feel like quite a weird episode since she's, you know, the titular character of the episode. Aside from the one scene where she has her big outburst over her guilt surrounding her mother's death (a powerful moment that's played very well and really digs into lingering anger over the now-outvoted Tories and Partygate - I've really appreciated this angrier streak we've gotten from Moffat lately), she doesn't get much characterisation, her relationship with the Doctor feels really underbaked, and it results in her ultimate sacrifice not quite having the kind of emotional impact it should've really had. It's honestly a rather disappointing use of an actress as charismatic and captivating as Nicola Coughlan, and ultimately my only real disappointment with the episode.
Aside from that, I mostly really enjoyed watching this episode, I found it to be great fun and proof that even "past his prime" "playing the Greatest Hits" Moffat is still really solid stuff. The concept of the Time Hotel was genuinely cool, it makes for some really striking and memorable visuals. Speaking of the visuals, they were brought to life with some pretty solid VFX work, even if the cinematography and direction did feel a little flat compared to most of Moffat's other episodes. The performances were very strong for the most part, aside from Ncuti and Nicola, I should also give shout outs to both Joel Fry as Trev and Jonathan Aris as the Silurian manager (yes, that was Anderson from Sherlock underneath those prosthetics). A fairly solid episode that got largely drowned out amidst all the other stuff we had going on on Christmas Day (including a new Wallace & Gromit film that premiered right after it), Joy to the World is an enjoyable B-grade episode and Christmas special, nothing particularly special and not likely to go down as a fan favourite, but a nicely sentimental and entertaining story.
I agree! I know Paula and Katrina don’t like Moffat but he is my favorite writer of Dr. Who. His nack for dialogue and being able to get top notch performances from actors with his script is the best. Probably why BOOM is my favorite episode of Ncuti’s so far
@@nickloschen2717 Same! I've missed his writing for Doctor Who so much! Aside from Boom, this is the first episode I've been properly in love with since Capaldi left. I mean, no shade to Chibnall and RTD2, but overall their stories haven't resonated with me as much as Moffat's do.
The Doctor's meanness to Joy was very similar to how he defeated Fenric. The things he said to Ace!
I thought Paula was a pink shark or an axolotl at first! Then I saw the spine and realised it was a dinosaur.
DINOSAURS 🦕 🦖
Not to inject sadness into this, but perhaps the Doctor is leary of recontacting former companions because of the way he screwed up Amy and Rory's lives by his constant dropping in. (An episode I still have trouble rewatching.)
Ugggghhh this is such a good perspective 😭 - Kat
This is the type of ridiculousness I need! lol You all look great!
What an episode. Now I don't have to go looking for it!
This episode was good fun, I like the concept of the Time Hotel. Guy Fawkes night celebrates the fact that he was caught and the plot was thwarted. They still burn him in effigy in some places.
Possibly a too-British reference for you folks, but I felt Paula's hoodie was giving more George From Rainbow vibes than a dinosaur!
Glad I'm not the only old fool to think that!
The actor who plays Trev also plays Frenchie in Our Flag Means Death.
Christmas specials are always a one off , I liked this one , some nice characters , the Doctor having to live a year in ordinary time was interesting and maybe what he needed . A tearjerking end - What's not to like?
Hoping Kat & Paula have a good New year , liked the dino hoodies , I certainly need warm stuff at the moment as the heating isn't working .
The woman in the train is credited as playing "Sylvia Trench" who was a character in the first Have Bond movie "Dr No", so James Bond is now canon in the Whoniverse.
It's not though, Bond is fictional, as the films have been referenced before. The character's name is never spoken on screen and she's clearly dating a woman, not Bond. Plus they don't actually have the rights to use the character anyway. It's just Moffat dropping a little Easter Egg, nothing heavier than that.
18:00 The Doctor has a history of making people - usually women - miserable to “motivate” them.
Loved this episode
I was so excited when I saw Frenchie and then so sad when he died and then so happy when he was the sonic interface. Wonder if there's a way to keep him around for that. I thought we'd lost Nardole after a Christmas special and he came back.
Definitely Anita and the year with her was my fav part of the episode! 💖
Hmm, it looks like we're in for that clinical, deeply critical commentary we've come to expect from this channel, lol!!
On other channels reacting to this, I've heard the negative view that Joy died, even that it was suicide. To me, this was not about death but transformation. Life ending one way doesn't mean a final death, but changing into something special, like a star. Also, if you believe we come from stardust, all those people are returning to the stars.
Finally, a Silurian could want to visit the dinosaur room, looking back at their ancestors!
Yeah, Paula, that 10 minutes of Anita *broke* me, too! #DoctorWho #GalifreyGals #BringBackAnita #DoctorWhoChristmasSpecial #JoyToTheWorld #2024DoctorWhoChristmasSpecial #NcutiGatwa
Hope you both have a Great New Year Girls. 🧸🧸
Another quality cat video to the world!
(Is still trying to use the hairdos and outfits to sort out the filming timeline)
(The Gals turn into dinosaurs)
Okay, I give up. I'm defeated.
(Sweeps all my graphs into the trash)
When I saw the thumbnail, I thought Paula was cos-playing as an alien slug victim in Dot and Bubble.
Joel Fry (Trev) tends to appear as a somewhat bumbling or clueless bit character or sidekick in a number of things, mostly sitcoms - most prominently he's Dev Patels tech/roadie friend in the film Yesterday.
He had a guest spot on an episode of Inside No 9 last year which saw him play a very different type of character, it seems like he's quite the versatile performer when given the chance
I like Trev, but that's an incredibly quick investment into his story/survival 😂 Not gonna lie though, he's one of two people in this episode worthy of being a companion. In fact, I think they had the best companion potential (of the ones not being such) since Shona in Last Christmas.
I'm here for Frenchie finding a way back...sorry Trev. And I loved Shone too.
It may have been quick, but my sister and I were much more invested in him (and much more saddened by his death) than the other guy.
You're "Paulannasaurus Rex" of course! Kat doesn't get to be *all* the dinosaurs 😁
I should be saying something about the spot-on reference to "partygate", or that the birth of Christ is now official Who cannon, but because of my job my main take is, isn't now much harder to clean the inside of that microwave? It's just more work for the cleaner.
JUSTICE FOR TREV!
I felt this was a fun holiday special, but also felt Moffat relied on all his old tricks, crammed into one story. He really needs to find a solution better than bootstrap paradoxes
The actor that played Trev was the former master that was going to marry Daenerys in Game of Thrones
I hope you Pals had a great Christmas and new year!
While this special wasn't the greatest, what with it rehashing a previous Christmas Special one off companion's Sacrifice/transformation, I enjoyed it, even with the dig at the Tories that some might complain about, I whole heartedly loved that anger in that scene about those rule breaking scum.....
Immediately unhinged, let’s go!!!
No sweat about the 12 days of Christmas release. The 25th of December is the first, so January 5th is the 12th...
It's a shame you didn't spot the Mr Ben's Emporium easter egg. Mr Ben was cartoon character who visited a costume shop whose owner wears a Fez and Bowtie.
If you want to see Joel Fry in something else, let me recommend Plebs.
It is a sitcom set in ancient Rome.
It may run a bit heavy for the lads, but I still think you will enjoy it
Hmm, so the short arms in your dino hoodies actually give you a valuable insight into how the T-Rex felt with his tiny arms. 🤔
Hiya Gallifrey Gals 👋🏻💙👋🏻💙
I’ve missed you gals 😂
Since going back to work after 5 months off my routine has obviously changed, so I haven’t watched anything from you nor bought episodes to watch beforehand (Red Dwarf, BSG).
I had to watch this though & look forward to the new series.
Hope you both had a wonderful Christmas & wish you all the best in the New Year 2025 🥳
🇬🇧🫶🏻🇺🇸
The way Anita reacts to all the strange things that happened in the hotel, for example the presence of the Silurian, the microwave, the broom, the sonic etc pp makes me think... Will she play a part in the next season? Is she one of the cosmic entities like the toymaker?
I hope not, she should just be a normal person that gets to see a different side of the doctor, instead of him being the mad man in the box, she gets to see his "human" side. (Although I don't agree with the Gals that she shouldn't become a proper companion, the rules for proper companions is a bit loosey goosey anyway... maybe not become a travelling companion routinely, but someone in the doctors life that inspires him is pretty much considered a companion (although Madame de Pompadour wasn't consider a proper companion, but for some reason the character played by Kylie Minogue is?) Either way, I'm on the boat that says bring more of her back, just to humanize the Doctor. (and yes I know he isn't human)
Anita already lived through one year (and chair nights) with the Doctor seeing strange things in the hotel, so I think that's why she wasn't surprised at that moment. Of course, a little later she doesn't remember because it's bootstrap (paradox). Also, maybe she is Mrs. Flood.
Ahh, Anita, another to the list of great companions we never got.
When looking back on a particular era of a show, especially a show like Doctor Who, you can start to notice patterns that were unintentional. The 13th Doctor, through no fault of Jodie Whittaker, I think it's fair to say was a very emotionally closed off incarnation of the Doctor. Still the Doctor, every regeneration is still the Doctor at their core. But outwardly she was a lot more "stiff upper lip, keep calm and carry on." I didn't personally love that or enjoy watching it, but I respect it as a take and accept it as a quirk of that incarnation, nothing more.
15, meanwhile, is SO outwardly empathetic, and I love it so much. A frequent criticism I see of this new era is that the Doctor cries too much. Which is baffling because 1) he doesn't, and 2) WHY SHOULDN'T HE? Why shouldn't the man with two hearts feel twice as much? The moment where Ncuti became the Doctor for me was at the beginning of Church on Ruby Road where he goes out of his way to give a random nobody a pep talk because it's the kind thing to do. That is core Doctor Who for me. And it really shines in this episode. The way he is with Trev, with Joy, with Anita. The way he goes out of his way to comforting a dying Silurian he just met solely because it's right, it's decent, it's kind. Moffat wasn't a perfect writer, especially not as a showrunner, but there's certain things he just gets about Doctor Who and it made me cherish this episode despite a less-than perfect script.
I feel bad for people who refuse to see any good in the show anymore or give it a chance. They're missing out.
I love Anita and the scene were they were ways left me an emotional wreck
Happy 2025, Gals!
Very amusing reaction. A great tonic after a long day!
Loving the costumes BTW!
3 January is 9th day of Christmas. Hope you both had happy holidays.
Looking forward to your 2025 schedule.
Just like mavity, this is about the Church of the Papal Mainframe realizing The Flux has destroyed half the universe, including the Christmas Star. So they contracted Villiengard to gather faithful christians from all across space and time. Their mission is to recreate the Christmas Star and once again bring Joy to all of humanity.
Been waiting for this one!!
Love You Guys Love Kat though feel Paula sees more & ready to call out what Paula feels ready to call out some things and love the best x
I wanted to make sure to leave Paula space to have that first reaction and thoughts without putting anything on it ✨️ It's always fun to watch it with her when it's her first time and my second! - Kat
A belated Happy New Year to you, Kat, and Paula. I found the episode somewhat average, but it did have a lot of nods to other episodes.
I hate that Villengard won.
Their biggest customer is the Anglican Marines. By triggering the Christmas star they created their own customer base.
But they didn't get the star.
UA-cam did not bleep me for this. Dangit.
Entirely unrelated to the episode. Kat, what red dye do you use? I need it. Thanks.
I was REALLY hoping for a full-time Anita by the end. Sadge :(
There is a town in England called Lewes where the people actually know the full history of Guy Fawkes night (which is all about catholic and protestant conflict, and in the end the king claiming Guy was a trying to blow up the whole of England, not just the Palace of Westminster, making him a terrorist, yada yada yada. Simon at Biographics explained it better). So they burn an effigy of Guy. Actually celebrate his demise and death, not honoring his attempt.
Off-topic and two days late but the green and pink onesies are giving Elphaba and Glinda vibes
Space base is great!!
I just want to know why the sonic screwdriver works on a WOODEN mop ???
Are you guys going to recreate Wash's "This Land" bit from Firefly 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Great reaction to a great episode, keep up the good work.
I think we should call it your grave!
Okay, I've waited a couple of days to watch this. I hate to be the person who says DW is going downhill because there's enough negativity in every fandom these days but...
Here's the thing, I thought as a feel good Christmas special, it worked, as a Doctor Who episode, not so much. Like the briefcase code that the Doctor only knew because he remembered the other him saying it, with the explanation for the code itself being it works because it just does. The scene of Ruby was just there to be there, did nothing else.
I think my overall problem which was highlighted in this episode is with the Doctor himself. Since the show came back in 2005, the Doctor had the weight of the Time War to deal with, and we've seen how each incarnation has dealt with it in various ways. Since the bi-generation, we saw the 14th Doctor stop traveling to emotionally heal, and a new, happier 15th Doctor carry on, which is great for him, but now the only trauma he seems to have is he's a sad, lonely man - there's a depth and a seriousness that's seems to have been lost and it's not quite working for me at the moment.
check out Plebs for more of Trev and which mum was calling Ruby? Also dont you think Anita could be Mrs Flood?
Hopefully Anita Benn will return in a Time Hotel spinoff.
I didn't realise her character's surname was Benn - that's the same name as the clothing/costume shop in the Time Hotel (and a reference to the kids' cartoon series Mr Benn from the 1970s, I'm sure).
I think S.M. confirmed it in an interview.
the war between the time and the hotel
Time hotel does sound like fun show
Funny that you mentioned the three wise men...
Anita in this episode ended up MUCH better than the last time Moffat named a character Anita....
Guy Fawkes is not celebrated. His effigy is thrown on bonfires on Nov 5th. His failure is celebrated.
Will we ever see "Anita" again... just a thought, what's the name of the actress who plays Mrs Flood?
been waiting for this seeing other peoples take on Joy basically ending her life on xmas and moffat trying to make it sound like a happy ending. and of course moffat killing off new friendly characters but just kidding they are still kinda alive sorta..... i love moffat but man he is so one note
Fun fact; the actor playing Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who helped Edmund Hillary reach Everest's summit, was actually Norgay's great-great nephew. speaking of casting, is it just me or does Joel Fry look and sound a lot like David Walliams of Little Britain (and the God Complex) fame? I was also surprised you didn't notice what appeared to be a door to a hobbit hole. Or did you and it just didn't make the cut for the UA-cam version of the video?
1:38 Is that a Meet the Robinsons Reference?
I enjoy how heartfelt and emotional this episode is. COVID clearly affected Moffat deeply, but I feel like it relies too heavily on that shared grief. Will this have the same weight in 60 years time?
Personally I sobbed watching but will our great grandchildren? The commentary is apt, but 4 years after feels like reopening wounds as they’re healing.
Just my take 🙌
Again, I enjoy it, just don’t see it aging well.
COVID wasn't the first pandemic to roll around in the last 60 years, and it won't be the last. People will relate.
The pain makes sure it’s not forgotten
That was a Moffat episode not rtd
Yes, I know! I was commenting on how aspects felt a little RTD
@KatAlysha my mistake sorry
@@KatAlysha You're not the only person to feel this way, I saw a comment on Twitter that basically described The Church on Ruby Road as "RTD doing a Moffat episode" and Joy to the World as "Moffat's take on a RTD Christmas special"
We have a lot of arsehole politicians over here!
Is Anita actually Mrs. Flood?
Ever since I saw the post, I thought Paula was a slug from Dot and Bubble.
Fantastic outfit, is there one for a seven-year-old dinosaur fanatic? Where did you get it?
For me, who also lost a mother during covid, it was way too soon. To be fair, in another 5 years it will probably still be too soon for me. The episode itself was a little bit hit and miss for me. I like the idea of a time hotel, but in the Who Universe with time agents and paradoxes it feels like a dangerous place. Loved Anita. Don't care for the star being that star. Is Villengard a recurring enemy like the Daleks and the Cybermen now?
You’re a ParaPaulapholus!
I hope Anita's mini TARDIS has some sort of pay off in the future.
I hate adding the 70th comment.
I was kinda hoping she was going to be his next companion ngl. The chemistry worked for me. I also liked him with the brunette hotel lady she coulda been a companion also . I even liked him with the front desk guy 😂 so many options but non chosen ….:/
Best Gnuti episode so far though TimeLords used to only have secrets to Time Travel & Daleks and Cybermen to a point. Not happy Now even Hotel Coporation has Time travel bellitling what is Special of The Time Lords and The Dr
And a TARDIS-tech coffee mug, and a TARDIS-tech car, and a TARDIS-tech microwave, like The Doctor can just build things that are bigger on the inside at will using whatever materials are lying around and specifically while not having access to his TARDIS. It is a Christmas special though so I'm willing to accept stretching the rules a bit for the sake of a one-line gag, if that's what they want to do.
They could play this classic but it is far better with four players: The Settlers of Catan.
I figured of any of the people i watch Kat would have recognized Trev was in "The God Complex" irony or coincidence? that it was a hotel episode. he was the mole person whos species would always welcome invaders by immediately surrendering etc.
No, that mole guy was played by David Walliams.
Kat, love the black & white hat & outfit, but(?) it's giving some mother superior nun. And it kinda works.
12th night is 5th