I am – Hercules!! The BBC unleashed a new Christmas episode of DOCTOR WHO. SciFi will probably get it next summer, but is it worth tuning in to? “Kelvington” says:

Doctor Who – The Runaway Bride For the second year in a row the BBC has given us a great Christmas cracker in the form of a funny “Doctor Who” romp, this could have easily been a feature film, from the effects to the story, it was a great piece of work. The story picks up before the end of the last series, showing how the runaway bride got aboard the TARDIS. Then what follows is freeway chase, with just one car, and a flying TARDIS, a huge spider woman, and what happens when you pour a awful lot of water down a four thousand mile hole. We also get to see the formation of the Earth, the return of robot Santas, and the great Catherine Tate doing what she does best, being funny. And while the TARDIS does do some tricks we’ve not seen before, there’s more than enough action for the best Who fan. Personally, I loved this episode, it was funny, clever and we got introduced to a new alien, in the form a huge spider, one who appreciates a good joke or two no less. The only sad part of the episode, is when Donna (the bride) is asked to join the Doctor and she declines. Tate would have made a great companion, but let’s not rule out a return visit. There were also several mentions of Rose, and it’s clear the Doctor has not forgotten his pervious companion, including a short flashback of her during the wedding reception. I think it’s hard to create a stand alone story that doesn’t hang a lantern on all the previous episodes, but this one comes as close as you can to doing it, which is why it would have made a great feature. Finally we got see what lies ahead for the Doctor and his new companion, including a visit with William Shakespeare, an invasion of Rino people, and of course the Dalek that escaped from “Doomsday”. All this an more will be here in just a few short month. Of course until then, we have the Torchwood finale next week, and the start up of the “Sara Jane Adventures”, so Who fans have a lot to celebrate this Christmas Day. Just my 2¢

“Russ. U.K.” adds:

Hi Herc Heres a quick review of the just televised 2006 Doctor Who xmas special "The Runaway Bride"!! 7pm BBC1 Christmas Day Now i believe you guys in the states have just seen the brilliant second season finale "Doomsday" and noticed that right at the end a bride to be suddenly appears in the Tardis mysteriously! Well at the start of this episode we have a short prequel of sorts showing Donna (played by comedianne Catherine tate)walking up the isle on her wedding day just about to be married to Husband to be Lance, when suddenly she disappears and seems to disintergrate. We then see Donna as the Doomsday ep showed appearing in the tardis and the Doctor saying "Who are you"?. Now The Doctor tries to return Donna to her wedding but everyones gone to the reception.well after all as one of the guests says "we thought we'd make the most of it as its all been paid for!" We then go on for a great ride as the doctor and donna try to unravel why she suddenly appeared In the Tardis? We find out that Donna works for a company (where she met husband to be Lance,who also works there) as a secretary The company has a contract with Torchwood..you'll know that name by now! and the doctor discovers that the building has a secret level unknown to everyone! Donna has been infected with very ancient particles from billions of years ago (by how and by who i won't spoil here!!) so old that it dates back to the formation of our galaxy,The tardis also has these particles as energy so there was a link between the two and were kinda magnetically attracted to each other. To cut the story short a bit the doctor,Donna and Lance go to the secret level and just as the doctor is opening the door to a closed room Donna disappears and has been captured by robots. We then see our main villain "The empress of Racnoss!"..think half human,half spider creature..brilliant fx work here by the mill fx. It appears the racnoss are an ancient race who when the earth was formed,drew the rocks,gas,dust etc that formed the earth over one of there sips,so now the shipp is buried at the centre of the earth! and the empress of racnoss wants to free her people who are still there then feed on humanity. Well i won't give it all away but theres a small twist in the tale and a great resoloution. Right at the end the doctor returns donna home.."You can come with me if you want" he says..the thing is though that Donna is completely differnt to Rose and has no interest in danger and adventures in space "Do you always live your life like this?" she says..they say goodbye though donna manages to say one last thing.."Find someone,won't you?" The tardis disappears..end of episode. Then cut to a sneak preview of Season 3 which starts in the spring..clips show The Doctor meeting Shakespeare,meeting Martha Jones who will be the new companion and a vast assortment of weird aliens..can't wait!! THE GOOD Great fx by the mill, particulary the spider creature and the brilliant car chase with the tardis bouncing and traversing through cars etc. David tennant of course too! He's so comfortable with the role now he is worth the price of admission alone THE BAD Not much though but im not really a fan of Catherine Tate,Donna is virtually the same chracter she plays in her comedy show and that charcter is a bit annoying but she does an ok job for a one off episode but wouldn’t want to see her every week. The robot santa..umm werent they used last year for "The christmas invasion" i just hope we dont get them for a 3rd year on the go! Hope this is of use? Russ. U.K

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