For the first time in a long time, we will not be getting a Doctor Who Christmas Special. Instead, this year we will be getting a New Year’s special. So in the absence of a much-missed Doctor Who tradition, we look into some of the great Christmas Specials from years gone by…

After the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) has escaped the revenge of the Master (John Simm / Michelle Gomez) and the Cybermen, he finds himself face-to-face with his first incarnation (David Bradley) in a world frozen in time. Together the Doctors must find their way out of the frozen time, from which they both have moments in destiny to fulfill…

During TARDISblend 113, we talk about the long-awaited arrival of Jodie Whittaker as the new Doctor, we explore the interactions between the First Doctor and the Capaldi Doctor, and comment on presumably Steven Moffat‘s final goodbye from Doctor Who after seven years as showrunner.

All this and more on the latest TARDISblend!

Doctor Who
2017 Christmas Special “Twice Upon A Time”
Directed by Rachel Talalay
Written by Steven Moffat
Starring Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Jenna Coleman, David Bradley, Mark Gatiss
BBC America
Air date: December 25, 2017

A long time ago, in a place not far, far away, it ends. The TARDIS arrives in a snowy landscape, an aged and fading First Incarnation of the Doctor leads his companions Ben and Polly out onto the Antarctic landscape in 1986 where the Doctor first encounters the Cybermen from the planet Mondas. After being taken prisoner aboard a Cyberman ship, the Doctor looks weak and confused. He insists on returning to the TARDIS. He tells his companions to “keep warm” and heads out into the snowy cold. Then, a voice is heard and a figure appears. It is the Doctor in his Thirteenth Incarnation!

With “Twice Upon A Time,” two eras end in Doctor Who: the tenure of Peter Capaldi as the Doctor and that of Steven Moffat as executive producer and showrunner.

After the closure of Doctor Who Series 10, and the introduction of Jodie Whittaker as the Next Doctor, we reunite for TARDISblend 112 to preview the upcoming Christmas special.

With the episode being Peter Capaldi‘s farewell, an appearance by David Bradley as the First Doctor, and the revelation of Whittaker in her first moments as the Doctor, we discuss the possibilities of the upcoming special.

The Strain
Season 4 Episode 4: “New Horizons”
Directed by Kevin Dowling
Written by Mickey Fisher
Created by Chuck Hogan, Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Ruta Gedmintas, Max Charles, Rupert Penry-Jones
FX
Air Date: Sunday, August 6th, 2017, 10pm

Warning! Spoilers below for last night’s episode of The Strain!

Last week on The Strain, Fet, Quinlan, Roman, and Charlotte (Kevin Durand, Rupert Penry-Jones, K.C. Collins, Rhona Mitra) found the silo, dead men strewn about, but a live one shot Quinlan and there was a standoff. Fet tried to save everyone, but Quinlan killed the soldier. A piece was missing from the missile – new mission. Eph and Alex (Corey Stoll, Angel Parker) poisoned one of the blood trucks with rat poison, and successfully took out the strigoi in a building. The Master (Jonathan Hyde) was upset, but Eichorst (Richard Sammel) said it was a break. Zach (Max Charles) decided to help the cute maid with food, after showing her the power he had over the strigoi.

Spoilers below.