Doctor Who has been known for its many holiday specials in recent years, dealing with aliens, a flying cruise liner, and a variation of A Christmas Carol.
In 2023, the show introduces a new Doctor during the holidays for the first since since 2005. It also has a story involving a girl born on Christmas Eve who has to keep a baby away from some hungry goblins. Add to that a variation of another Christmas classic, and an old lady who may or may not be more than she appears.

SPOILERS BELOW

It opens with a mysterious woman leaving a baby at the steps of a church on Ruby Road on Christmas Eve 2004. The baby is taken in by a priest, and the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) arrives a short time later. Why?
Cut to December of 2023, and a girl named Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) is interviewed by presenter Davinia McCall. Ruby was the baby girl left behind, but was adopted by a woman named Carla (Michelle Greenidge). She has fostered a lot of kids over the years, and is taking care of a baby named Lulubelle.
Ruby is actually part of a program by McCall to find Ruby’s parents through DNA. However, no match is found. She has no genetic connection with anyone. That may be an issue in the future.

Anyway, some goblins are causing a lot of damage around Ruby. It’s all part of a plan, but it also includes killing McCall (don’t worry, it’ll be undone somehow). They want to take Lulu and feed it to the Goblin King. It’s basically an uglier Jabba the Hut. The goblins use luck and coincidence to make their plan work, namely the accidents. They can also time-travel.

When the goblins take the baby, Ruby tries to get her back. She just jumps on the rope ladder to their ship, and that’s when the Doctor shows up. Naturally, they get tied up by the goblins but get free thanks to him spending a summer with Houdini (or so he says).
After a rousing song by Janis Goblin about their planned feast, the Doctor and Ruby stop the meal (and even come up with their version of the song) then rescue the baby.

However, the goblins aren’t that easy to beat. Since they manipulate time, they crack the timeline so they can feast on a newborn Ruby back in 2004. It’s almost like George Bailey wondering what his town would be like if he had never been born. This means the Doctor is now Clarence, and must repair the timeline. Some fans seemed to like this twist, although some TV critics weren’t sure about it. This variation of It’s A Wonderful Life seemed to be tacked-on, even if the goblins wanted revenge.

Still, the Doctor’s plan to stop the goblins makes up for this. Using special gloves that manipulates gravity (or is it mavity?), he literally grounds the goblins’ ship. Using the church’s spire, he stabs the Goblin King and the ship. It’s a very cool sight. He also remembers to save McCall.

As for Ruby, she has a hard time getting her mind around what has been happening, and who her new friend is. Carla’s upset the goblins cracked her apartment. All Ruby wants to do is find the Doctor. She finds the TARDIS, and doesn’t know what to do next. An old lady named Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) urges Ruby to step inside. She does, and a new adventure begins.

Getting back to Mrs. Flood, her arc is interesting. First, she’s annoyed the TARDIS is blocking the road, then is puzzled when she sees it leave. Finally, though, she looks at the camera and asks us if we ever saw a TARDIS before.

There’s already been lots of theories, like she’s the Rani, the next Master or Ruby’s real mom. Showrunner Russel T. Davies has said he’s got Ruby’s backstory set up for the next series. Maybe Mrs. Flood will be part of it.

So, how was Ncuti’s debut?
Some people may wonder about this Doctor compared to his previous forms, especially when he’s at a dance where Ruby is also there. Don’t be fooled, he’s still our Doctor. He’s as brave as ever, but is also very sensitive. When Carla talks about the kids she’s fostered, and looks at Lulubelle, he admits he was adopted, too. It’s no wonder he and Ruby connect as a team
Millie Gibson is also great as Ruby, and she gives of a lot of Clara vibes. Some may have sensed that when she jumped on that rope ladder. Remember when the Doctor had to deal with some evil snowmen? Maybe the 15th Doctor and Ruby are a more hip version of 12 and Clara.
Judging from the response from fans in the past few days, it seems the style of the show will head more towards fantasy mixed with science fiction. That may have been already apparent thanks to “Wild Blue Yonder”, and the introducton of bi-generation.

It was a great finish to the 60th anniversary celebration, but it’ll be a long wait before the new season next spring. At least we’ll look forward the Beatles, the return of Rose Noble, and a new nemesis.
New episodes, and the specials, will be on Disney Plus