Doctor Who2025's "Joy to the World" belongs to a specific group of Christmas specials for an unfortunate reason, but 2025's festive edition could easily break from the predictable trend. All Doctor Who The Christmas specials (and New Year's specials under Chris Chibnall's reign) occupy an interesting place in the show's timeline. Because these are one-off episodes, they need to include fast-paced action while still maintaining the holiday spirit. However, there is often an obstacle behind the scenes that needs to be overcome at the same time.
Although Doctor WhoAlthough the classic era rarely acknowledged Christmas, festival specials have been a huge hallmark of the show since its revival in 2005. Doctor WhoThe modern era has taken the Doctor through various holiday tropes with varying degrees of success, but the person at his side can often be an unfamiliar face. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it highlights a repetitive streak that's expected to end in December 2025.
'Joy To The World' is another Doctor Who Christmas special where the Doctor is sad about losing a companion
The Doctor often becomes pessimistic in the Christmas specials due to a friend leaving the TARDIS
Although 2005's "The Christmas Invasion" had Billie Piper's Rose Tyler transitioning between two Doctors, many of the December specials that followed David Tennant's debut as Ten had the Time Lord silently mourning the loss or departure of a previous companion . For example, Ten had just lost Rose to a parallel dimension immediately before the events of 2006's “Runaway Bride.” In 2007, "Voyage of the Damned" shows Ten making a comment to Kylie Minogue's Astrid Peth about how he's better off traveling alone, after Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) decides to leave the TARDIS.
While it makes sense that the Doctor isn't in a good mood, it all starts to get repetitive.
The trend even reached Matt Smith's era as Eleven, when he was clearly upset over the loss of Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) in 2012's "The Snowmen." Unfortunately, the Doctor Who Christmas specials often fall between seasonswhen a previous partner often moves away. So while it makes sense that the Doctor isn't in a good mood, it all starts to get repetitive. With Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday staying behind with her family at the end of Doctor Who Season 14, “Joy to the World,” will also feature a brooding doctor.
Varada Sethu must stay beyond Doctor Who season 15 to avoid the same trap
Sethu is confirmed to play a new character rather than reprising his “Boom” role
Although "Joy to the World" is installed temporarily Bridgerton stars Nichola Coughlan as Fifteen's sidekick, Varada Sethu's Belinda Chandra set to replace Ruby as the Doctor's main companion when season 15 begins in 2025. It's too early to know whether Sethu will remain in her role after the end of next season, but if she does, she will be able to avoid feeling lost to the Doctor in Special Christmas 2025 - unless Doctor Who There's something dark in store for Ruby's confirmed return.