‘Doctor Who: Joy To The World’ Review

The iconic Steven Moffat returns to Doctor Who with the festive Joy to the World, which sees Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) shine as Joy, whose stay at a London hotel in 2024 leads to a fantastical adventure with The Doctor. With dinosaurs, a deadly Christmas plot, and the return of Villengard, Moffat delivers a sparkling holiday tale full of heart and joy.

SIMPLE CHRISTMAS FUN

I don’t think there’s anything too extraordinary about the special, but it is easily one of Moffat’s better stories for the festive period. I have only come to really love two of his prior specials, A Christmas Carol and Time of the Doctor – though, the latter is more of a regeneration story than a Christmas one.

I really enjoyed the setting of this special – the Time Hotel… that mysterious door in the corner of the hotel room that is always there, with a history of adventures hidden behind. There’s plenty of nice callbacks, references to previous stories and characters all tied up with the ribbon that is Ncuti’s Doctor, who is now 2/2 for really fun Christmas specials.

Whilst Joy To The World is serious when it needs to be, but it also has those silly, little moments we’ve grown accustomed to with the specials. For instance, the first moments with The Doctor see him debating about getting a fridge for the TARDIS – or joke that his mug is “bigger on the inside”.

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS WITHOUT MUSIC!

I watched the Doctor Who Proms on BBC Two yesterday, and what an achievement, proving just how crucial the music is to the success of the show. Fifteen’s Theme is back again with its grand presence alongside some new memorable music.

I can’t remember where it was, but Gold does this wonderful callback to Tennant’s tenure as The Doctor with his theme motif layered in some of The Time Hotel’s score.

Whilst I sort of zoned out when we received the same old rhetoric about “Everyone leaves”, and the Sad Doctor which Fourteen was meant to rid the Time Lord of, but alas, it doesn’t let the episode down too much.

The sadness of The Doctor is soon sharpened with the introduction of another Christmas star… Anita.

ANITA, DARLING!

I could write forever about my love for the bittersweet segment of the special which sees The Doctor stuck on Earth, lending a hand at The Sandringham Hotel.

Whilst on his extended break at the London establishment, The Doctor builds a budding relationship with one of the hotel’s staff, Anita, played by Steph de Whalley. One of Moffat’s strengths is building such memorable, and intimate relationships between two characters in the shortest amounts of time.

By the end of The Doctor’s year, it honestly feels a lifetime – not just for him, but for the audience as well. Watching this unlikely duo is so mesmerising, as they clean the hotel, serve dinner to guests or simply watch the fireworks and reminisce about old friends. I would die for Anita.

We see The Doctor mop without his hands, only the sonic – and he introduces Anita to the power of his Blue Box, tells stories of the Weeping Angels and speaks of Ruby, who he had to let go.

As well as Joy’s happy ending, Anita appears to have her own as well. Recruited to join the staff at The Time Hotel, with promise of immense potential for the housekeeper, and so many new faces to meet. Crazy to think a character with such a short appearance has left such an impact on Christmas Day.

JOY TO THE WORLD

Nicola Coughlan is a wonderful actress, with immense range too. From her comedic outing as the ‘Wee Lesbian’ in Derry Girls to a brave, new performance as Joy in this year’s special. I can’t express the strength of her character, and I’m sure her impact will have been felt by a number of viewers.
Coughlan is a wonderful addition to the show, joining a long list of great one-off appearances, including the likes of Kylie Minogue’s Astrid, Carey Mulligan’s Sally Sparrow in Blink, and Perkins, played by Frank Skinner in Mummy on the Orient Express.

Joy details, in one of the story’s biggest moments, that she lost her mother on Christmas Day during the time of COVID (whilst not mentioned by name, it is heavily implied). Not being able to see her mum, saying goodbye via video call whilst people partied and socialised—Joy is adamant she always followed the rules, and was punished for doing so.

It is incredibly brave storytelling from Moffat—and whilst RTD is no stranger to real-world commentary in any of his produced narratives for the show, Moffat tackles the issues with a little more realism, more on the nose and not as chaotic as Russell would. The end product is an emotive story, with a lot of pain at its core, though it is rewarded with a beautiful reunion between Joy and her mother.

This sort of storytelling is why Doctor Who will always have a purpose in modern media. Sure, it’s a silly show about a time-traveling genius. But it also tackles real human issues, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, there’s hope and perhaps even a second chance waiting just around the corner.

OH… LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

As beautifully as Joy’s journey concludes, I can’t help but marvel at the bold choice to end the episode on such a biblical note, with the Bethlehem title card and Joy’s new star shining above.

It’s a fascinating and slightly wild way to tie into the Christmas spirit, and honestly, the idea that Jesus is canon in the Whoniverse is both hilarious and kind of fitting for the show.

I’m yet to check Twitter to see other areas of the fandom’s reactions but as with everything, I’m sure everyone is being especially normal and not blowing it out of proportion whatsoever….

FINAL THOUGHTS

Joy To The World is a heartwarming blend of festive cheer, emotional depth, and quintessential Doctor Who whimsy, showcasing Nicola Coughlan’s standout performance and Ncuti Gatwa’s unstoppable charm.

With its bold storytelling and memorable characters, it’s a reminder of why the show remains a cornerstone of modern TV. Roll on Season 2 next year!

Doctor Who: Joy To The World is now streaming on Disney+ worldwide and on BBC iPlayer in the UK. Check out the trailer for Season 2 below: