Doctor Who viewers were left raging as the Christmas special made a number of references to the Covid pandemic in a confusing plot set in a hotel..
With Nicola Coughlan making a special appearance alongside new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, fans couldn’t wait to see what was in store.
Instead, they were left baffled by the number of impassioned monologues during the episode, especially when Covid rules and lockdown parties were referred to in a dig against the Conservative government and Boris Johnson.
Joy, played by Coughlan, was heartbroken as she ranted at the Doctor that her mum had died on Christmas Day, adding in an emotional moment: “I had to say goodbye to her through an iPad because of the rules,” to which the Doctor sneered in response: “I bet you were good at obeying the rules”. Funny, smiley ‘I’ll be no trouble’ little you.”
He continued: “Never mind poor old mum, right? As long as you were her good little girl obeying all the rules.”
Joy hit back: “She died on Christmas Day,” adding she “died on her own because of the rules,” before adding: “And all of those awful people with their wine fridges, and their dancing and their parties, and I listened to them, and I let my mother die alone.”
Joy’s comments were in reference to the Conservatives sparking backlash after the party admitted to socialising with each other when social distancing rules were put in place.
The impassioned speech sparked divide, with many fans branding the Covid subplot as “too bleak” for Christmas Day.
One said: “Okay, did not expect this to become about Covid…?” as a second agreed: “FFS doctor who has gone mega woke on Christmas Day.”
Another added: “Just inadvertently seem a couple of minutes of Russell T Davies latest Doctor Woke. What a load of c**p. Anyone who thinks this is ‘awesome’ or ‘amazing’ really needs to get their immature heads seen to.”
A fourth sniped: “Getting COVID political,” while a fifth raged: “Nothing says christmas like a reminder of the covid hospitals!” as a sixth agreed: “Oh I feel so festive now I’ve been reminded that Covid was awful and so many people died alone.”
But one said: “Omg that #DoctorWho Christmas special was SO MUCH BETTER THAN LAST YEARS – they did an amazing job this year like so good I instantly can’t wait to re watch.”
A second agreed: “That was actually so beautiful. I just adore Ncuti as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan was amazing too.”