'Doctor Who': Here's our pick of the Top 5 Christmas specials the show has delivered in the modern era

What's the point of a show about time-travel if you don't revisit the past once in a while, right? So let's hop in our personal TARDIS and take a tour of the 5 best 'Doctor Who' Christmas specials released in the modern era
PUBLISHED DEC 25, 2019
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in Doctor Who (IMDb)
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in Doctor Who (IMDb)

Ever since Chris Chibnall took over as the showrunner for 'Doctor Who', the show's Christmas specials have become a thing of the past, making way for New Year specials instead.

However, what's the point of a show about time-travel if you don't revisit the past once in a while, right? So let's hop in our personal TARDIS and take a tour of the five best 'Doctor Who' Christmas specials released in the modern era.

5. 'The Christmas Invasion' (2005)

This was the first-ever Christmas special of NuWho and the first episode featuring the extremely popular Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), which already makes it one of the most important 'Doctor Who' episodes in the modern era.

Plus, we got to see the Doctor facing off against killer Santas and dueling an alien for the fate of the world and the extra focus on Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) was a welcome surprise.

4. 'Voyage of the Damned' (2007)

The only reason this episode doesn't rank higher on this list is because it's more of a disaster movie than a Christmas special.

Clive Swift's Mr. Copper provides some hilarious insights into the Christmas tradition and Kylie Minogue dazzles as Astrid Peth, the episode's one-off companion who shared such excellent chemistry with the Doctor that she left us wishing we could have her around for longer.

Kylie Minogue, David Tennant, and Paul Kasey in 'Doctor Who' (IMDb)

3. 'The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe' (2011)

Some people have criticized this episode for being too predictable but that criticism could just as easily be applied to any Christmas story and therefore, isn't much of a negative in our books.

The episode delivered a heartwarming Christmas story that combined elements of 'Narnia' and 'Nanny McPhee' with a classic 'Doctor Who' twist and it was easily one of the best episodes of Series 7.

2. 'A Christmas Carol' (2010)

The only criticism we could possibly level against this episode is that it doesn't have much of Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill).

That's barely a problem because the story itself was beautifully written, with the Doctor assuming the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past to give a cruel old man named Kazran Sardick (Michael Gambon) a chance at redemption and love. 

1. 'The Time of the Doctor' (2013)

To call this episode a good Christmas special would be an understatement. 'The Time of the Doctor' is easily one of the best episodes of modern 'Doctor Who', with a truly touching story and the greatest regeneration speech any Doctor has ever delivered.

This was the last time we would see Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and the actor made sure to deliver his best performance ever in the role, truly going out with a bang.

'Doctor Who' Series 12 will begin airing on BBC America starting on January 1, 2020.

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