Returning showrunner Russell T. Steven Moffat may have refined the art of crafting a captivating Christmas tale, building upon Davies’ foundation of fashionable and excessive spectacle, with an occasional dash of Kylie Minogue; however, it’s debatable whether his successor truly excelled in balancing these elements to create a truly memorable holiday story. Despite its paradoxical nature, the response fails to deliver a truly exceptional science fiction narrative; instead, it meanders into an overly sentimental exploration of the romantic aspects of the season. Over the past year, Moffat’s tenure as showrunner since “Twice Upon a Time” has demonstrated a remarkable ability to balance complex storytelling with lighthearted, festive charm, leveraging the latter to mitigate some minor missteps in the narrative.
Subsequent week, “Pleasure to the World” will air on Christmas Day, bearing parallels with Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as the 15th Doctor in “The Church on Ruby Highway,” in that it relies heavily on a diverse cast of charismatic performances to mitigate its narrative shortcomings. As the Physician indulges in a futuristic “Time Resort” vacation, he trades in fantastical terrors like goblin baby-snatchers for a more conventional sci-fi landscape, instead exploring temporal gateways that transport him to Christmases across human history? The winter wonderland scenery also effectively taps into the seasonal atmosphere, incorporating abundant snowfall, festive decorations like tinsel, and lush evergreen bushes to evoke a distinctly wintry ambiance, making this episode feel uniquely seasonal and less like just another show airing near the end of December.
Intrigued by the enigmatic suitcase that seems to be fatally switching hosts at the lodge, it’s through this —and the Time Resort’s gateways—that the Physician encounters Nicola Coughlan, who checks into a seedy London hotel on Christmas Eve in 2024. Why the physician’s latest odyssey becomes an absolute necessity is tantalizingly pushed to the periphery in “Pleasure to the World”, as the narrative makes a lateral move to delve into the far-reaching consequences of Time Motels’ gateways, and the mind-bending temporal paradoxes that ensue. With echoes of Moffat’s signature flair, this narrative masterfully blends snickers, temporal manipulation, and a hint of bittersweet nostalgia reminiscent of his most exceptional works. The enigmatic Physician finds himself transported into the life of another isolated individual, alongside the captivating Steph de Whalley as Anita, who might just steal the spotlight in “Pleasure to the World”. This gripping narrative masterfully explores the Physician’s deep-seated isolation following his loss. It’s peculiar that this particular plot thread is relegated to a mere insert within another episode, which unfortunately doesn’t allow it to fully develop into something engaging.
Despite structural shortcomings, “Pleasure to the World” compensates with its narrative by embracing the sentimental excesses of the festive season in a climactic storyline that indulges in heart-tugging emotional drama, making up for the liberties taken with logistical underpinnings – a stark contrast to the plot-within-a-plot dominating the first half. While it’s true that the majority of “Last Christmas” succeeds due to the outstanding portrayals by Tom Glynn-Carthy and Emma Thompson, this sentimental drama may resonate particularly poignantly with viewers experiencing the holiday without loved ones nearby. When resistance to sentimental appeals has built up over 12 months, the outcome may leave a sense of wanting and question whether the story would have unfolded differently had it stuck with the initial plot within a plot as its central theme.
Although “Pleasure to the World” may not fully resonate with viewers, a significant portion of it still offers a pleasant watch, even if it’s not the primary focus of the episode. Satisfying a desire for inspiration or festive cheer, these narratives strike the perfect balance between heartwarming and Christmassy, making them a welcome gift during the holiday season, as they continue to delight audiences with their timeless charm.
Returns to Disney+ worldwide and on the BBC in the UK and Ireland on Christmas Day, December 25.
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