In what is essentially an abbreviated series (which in the States we call a "season"), the four stories that comprise Doctor Who - The Complete Specials finishes the very popular, recent run of executive producer/writer Russell T. Davies and actor David Tennant.
For those unaware, Doctor Who is a long-running, British television, science-fiction program featuring the adventures of the Doctor, a member of an alien race from the planet Gallifrey known as Time Lords. He is able to travel through time and space in a vehicle known as a TARDIS, an impressive bit of technology that is bigger on the inside then it is on the outside, though due to its faulty chameleon circuit it looks like a London police box. The series originally ran from 1963 through 1989 and then returned under Davies' supervision in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston playing the ninth version of titular character. In a brilliant creative decision years ago, Time Lords were given the ability to regenerate thus allowing for multiple actors to play the part over the years. After one series, Eccleston left and Tennant became the tenth Doctor. Davies and Tennant's departures were announced before these specials aired.
In “The Next Doctor,” the Doctor arrives in 1851 London around Christmas and soon hears shouts of “Doctor!” However, when he answers the calls, he finds it was intended for another man (David Morrisey) who appears to be a future incarnation of the Time Lord suffering from memory loss. The two Doctors team up to tackle the Cyberman who have escaped from the Void in which they were imprisoned in "Doomsday". The highlight of the special is the humor derived from the Doctor interacting with his future self.
During modern times, The Doctor and a group of folks find themselves on the desert-covered “Planet of the Dead” when a bus they are on passes through a wormhole created by deadly stingray-like aliens. With the assistance of UNIT (UNified Intelligence Taskforce), the stranded group must find a way to return home and close the gateway before the creatures use it and destroy everything on Earth. This special offers a fun adventure and the writing team create a good, albeit brief, companion in jewel thief Lady Christina de Souza (Michelle Ryan). It's too bad they didn't have more time together. It also provides the Doctor with a sign about his impending end.
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