Close Menu
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
  • Nu-Who
    • Ncuti Gatwa
    • Jodie Whittaker
    • Peter Capaldi
    • Matt Smith
    • David Tennant
    • Christopher Eccleston
  • Tweeners
    • John Hurt
    • Paul McGann
    • The Master List
    • Regeneration X
    • The Mystery Guest
    • The Hand of Fear
  • Colo(u)r
    • Sylvester McCoy
    • Colin Baker
    • Peter Davison
    • Tom Baker
    • Jon Pertwee
  • Monochrome
    • Patrick Troughton
    • William Hartnell
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day in Doctor Who History
    • The House of Holmes
    • 60 for 60
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
  • Nu-Who
    1. Ncuti Gatwa
    2. Jodie Whittaker
    3. Peter Capaldi
    4. Matt Smith
    5. David Tennant
    6. Christopher Eccleston
    7. View All

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    The Sunday Stratagem

    May 4, 2025

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    2024Kristmas #4 – Twice Upon the First

    December 21, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (18→13)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (36→31)

    October 12, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (42→37)

    October 5, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (12→7)

    November 17, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (30→25)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    2024Kristmas #3 – The Man With All The Toys

    December 16, 2024

    2024Kristmas #2 – It’ll Be a Wild Blue Christmas

    December 10, 2024

    2024Kristmas #1 – Seasons Beastings

    December 3, 2024

    Pre-Embering the Fireplace

    May 5, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (42→37)

    October 5, 2023

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Mark II of The Rani

    May 24, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025
  • Tweeners
    1. John Hurt
    2. Paul McGann
    3. The Master List
    4. Regeneration X
    5. The Mystery Guest
    6. The Hand of Fear
    7. View All

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Ten’ll Get You Five

    September 4, 2020

    Double Doctor Dastardly Danger

    April 25, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Mark II of The Rani

    May 24, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    Ghost Re-Write

    November 16, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Dup-topia

    January 29, 2020

    The Glue Guy

    June 24, 2018

    Doctor on Doctor ACTION!

    November 19, 2017

    The Wheel in Cheese

    August 10, 2014

    The Hurt Locker

    May 25, 2013

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Mark II of The Rani

    May 24, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Mark II of The Rani

    May 24, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025
  • Colo(u)r
    1. Sylvester McCoy
    2. Colin Baker
    3. Peter Davison
    4. Tom Baker
    5. Jon Pertwee
    6. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (36→31)

    October 12, 2023

    A Studio Film (or rather a film in the studio)

    June 9, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Sweet, not Effete

    April 5, 2025

    Arguably Arguable

    August 19, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    The End of Enlightenment

    January 13, 2025

    What’s in a Number? Occasionally Everything

    November 23, 2024

    A Spot of Gray in a Sea of Color

    November 19, 2024

    ⅔ of a Magic Number, but None Too Shabby Either

    October 1, 2024

    The Truth That Supports the Lie

    March 15, 2025

    The Golden Sweep of Tom Baker Begins

    December 28, 2024

    Déjà Who, All Over Again

    February 8, 2024

    XCited for Tom

    January 27, 2024

    Living Day-to-Day with The Candy Man

    July 31, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (6→1)

    November 23, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (30→25)

    October 28, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (48→43)

    September 28, 2023

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Mark II of The Rani

    May 24, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025
  • Monochrome
    1. Patrick Troughton
    2. William Hartnell
    3. View All

    Stock(s) Company

    September 9, 2024

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (18→13)

    November 13, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (24→19)

    November 10, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (36→31)

    October 12, 2023

    The TARDIS whirled on it’s way again…

    December 24, 2024

    Have a Feast @ Doctor Who’s Tragical History Tour!

    December 6, 2024

    Quarter Zip

    July 21, 2024

    Roll Without the Rock, or the Schlock

    July 15, 2024

    Wish It All Away, and Back Again

    May 25, 2025

    Mark II of The Rani

    May 24, 2025

    Sold For a Song

    May 21, 2025

    The Demon Barber of Story Beats

    May 12, 2025
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day in Doctor Who History
    • The House of Holmes
    • 60 for 60
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
Xmas Marks the Spot Peter Capaldi Matt Smith David Tennant William Hartnell

The Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #2

By -- DSWDecember 20, 201803 Mins Read
Share
Twitter Tumblr

In what looks to be the last time the Tour ranks and reviews the legacy of 13 years (and 16 overall) of Doctor Who Christmas Specials comes to that mushy-middle third.  That is not to say there’s anything inherently poor about this crop of Specials, but being in the middle means some people will love a particular story much more than others will.  Consensus generally pools at either end of the spectrum, and if you look around at other rankings of the Specials (not that you would for you, yes you, gentle Tour denizen have arrived at the definitive list naturally) you will find that, despite variations, there are similar stories which much more often than not, land at the top or bottom of lists.  The Tour isn’t immune to these ‘pressures,’ but since this is the definitive ‘Last List,’ this is where history will have to stand, until next year of course.

#10 – The Time of the Doctor – Coming just a month after the triumph of The Day of the Doctor, the Tour feels just a bit resentful about The Time of the Doctor. It seems too soon and a bit half-baked, but there was a lot of heavy mythological lifting going on here about resetting the Doctor count.  We also like seeing Matt Smith, the old man as young man, as a truly old man standing as a bulwark against the Cybermen.  Was the end emotional as all get out.  Of course.  But another regeneration at Christmas?  And it wouldn’t be the last.

#9 – The Husbands of River Song  – Something of a pivot point for the Capaldi Doctor insofar as it is here that he loosens up a great deal and seems wryly amused at the goings on with River Song.  This is another Christmas-adjacent story but more importantly, this is a River Song story, one which finishes off a character begun a few years previously and your level of engagement will rely on your familiarity with her appearances going all the way back to Silence in the Library.

#8 – The Runaway Bride – The second Christmas nu-Who special was also quite controversial at the time (2006).  But time, and the success of the Catherine Tate season as a companion has softened many opinions regarding The Runaway Bride, seventh in our Christmas countdown. Now it could be more rightly considered the first story, disconnected though it was, of Tennant’s fourth season.  It also features one of the most thrilling chase sequences ever undertaken in Doctor Who.

#7 – The Next Doctor – This story has slowly risen in our estimations despite a lukewarm reception back in 2008.  The most Victorian of the specials and perhaps the most akin to A Christmas Carol. After going big with Voyage of the Damned RTD pulled back somewhat to explore the mystery of Jackson Lake. Sure the Cybermen were in it, but mostly as the henchmen for Miss Hartigan.  There’s an atmosphere of melancholy mixed in with a fair sense of fun that has worn well through the years.

#6 – Twice Upon a Time  – Capaldi’s last was also his best.  David Bradley did a passable–though too robust–imitation of William Hartnell but it was the aspects of the Christmas Truce that elevated the story for us.  That this story was another regeneration tale was pre-priced into the narrative, and as such undercut the impact there, but that wasn’t the focus of the story.

11 down, the final five to come.

Short Hops:

The Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #1 The Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #3 The Seven Specials of Christmas — #4
Peter Capaldi The Next Doctor Matt Smith Voyage of the Damned David Tennant William Hartnell Twice Upon a Time The Husbands of River Song The Time of the Doctor The Day of the Doctor A Christmas Carol Silence in the Library Xmas Marks the Spot Catherine Tate
Share. Twitter Tumblr
Previous ArticleThe Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #1
Next Article Movable Feast
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
Gallery Gateway

Peter Davison

John Hurt

The Master List

Tom Baker

Patrick Troughton

William Hartnell

Colin Baker

Paul McGann

Jo Martin

Jodie Whittaker

Sylvester McCoy

Ncuti Gatwa

Matt Smith

David Tennant

Richard E Grant

Jon Pertwee

Christopher Eccleston

Peter Capaldi

THT on Instagram
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
Series 15 Dynamic Ratings Table
  1. 1. The Story & The Engine
  2. 2. The Well
  3. 3. The Interstellar Song Contest
  4. 4. Lucky Day
  5. 5. The Robot Revolution
  6. 6. Joy to the World
  7. 7. Lux
  8. 8. Wish World
  9. 9. The Reality War
On This Day in Doctor Who History

June 2025

Friday June 13

1964: The Aztecs [4--The Day of Darkness]
Recurs yearly
1970: Inferno [6]
Recurs yearly

Saturday June 14

1969: The War Games [9]
Recurs yearly
2008: Midnight
Recurs yearly

Sunday June 15

2024: The Legend of Ruby Sunday
Recurs yearly

Monday June 16

1973: The Green Death [5]
Recurs yearly
2007: Utopia
Recurs yearly

Tuesday June 17

1967: The Evil of the Daleks [5]
Recurs yearly
1972: The Time Monster [5]
Recurs yearly
2006: Love & Monsters
Recurs yearly
2017: The Eaters of Light
Recurs yearly

Wednesday June 18

1966: The Savages [4]
Recurs yearly
2005: The Parting of the Ways
Recurs yearly

Thursday June 19

1965: The Chase [5--The Death of Doctor Who]
Recurs yearly
1971: The Dæmons [5]
Recurs yearly
Random Thoughts

Ninety Percent Air

By -- DSWOctober 31, 2014 Tour Updates 2 Mins Read

Fourteen Merit Gold

By -- DSWDecember 14, 2016 Roundel Roundabouts 2 Mins Read

The Slow Path

By -- DSWJune 5, 2016 Tour Updates 2 Mins Read
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
Last Ten Updated Galleries
  1. ► The Ncuti Gatwa Miscellany
  2. ► Ncuti Gatwa -- Who Not Who!
  3. ► Varada Sethu -- Who Not Who!
  4. ► Millie Gibson -- Who Not Who!
  5. ► Wish World
  6. ► The Interstellar Song Contest
  7. ► The Story and the Engine
  8. ► Lucky Day
  9. ► The Well
  10. ► The Robot Revolution
Tour Categories
  • Tour Updates (486)
  • New Who for You (189)
  • Roundel Roundabouts (241)
  • Tangential Tardis (41)
  • HD Re-classic-ation (45)
  • Modern Recap-itulation (46)
  • Classic Capitology (101)
  • Who Not Who! (42)
  • Xmas Marks the Spot (86)
  • 60 for 60 (11)
  • 50 for 50 (58)
  • Off the Reservation (16)
  • Ncuti Gatwa (24)
  • Jodie Whittaker (46)
  • Peter Capaldi (91)
  • Matt Smith (121)
  • David Tennant (126)
  • Christopher Eccleston (38)
  • John Hurt (14)
  • Paul McGann (28)
  • Sylvester McCoy (40)
  • Colin Baker (40)
  • Peter Davison (71)
  • Tom Baker (107)
  • Jon Pertwee (67)
  • Patrick Troughton (68)
  • William Hartnell (88)
  • Richard E Grant (7)
  • Jo Martin (3)
  • Series 15 (8)
  • Series 14 (20)
  • Series 13 (16)
  • Series 12 (13)
  • Series 11 (9)
  • Series 10 (21)
  • Series 9 (17)
  • Series 8 (25)
  • Series 7 (17)
  • Series 6 (20)
  • Series 5 (14)
  • Series 4 (25)
  • Series 3 (9)
  • Series 2 (15)
  • Series 1 (19)

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.