Doctor Who: Relative Dimensions

Due to its unusual release schedule, this is the second “Christmas Special” of the fourth season of 8th Doctor adventures. The Doctor attempts to have a Christmas uninterrupted by alien invasions and the like by the not unreasonable expedient of spending it entirely on board the TARDIS. Which, obviously, doesn't work.

The adventure elements of the story are fairly basic, with something nasty stalking the TARDIS corridors, but they're really only there as an excuse for bonding between the main characters, and to have a story that at least feels somewhat like a regular episode. The rather more significant focus is on the reunion between the Doctor and Susan, and on his strained relationship with Lucie and with Susan's teenage son (previously introduced in the free-to-subscribers bonus story An Earthly Child).

On this front, we go through the usual tropes of family arguments that one might expect in this sort of tale, as a result of which this is unlikely to appeal to those who just want action and sci-fi in their Doctor Who stories. Certainly, it's quite low key and small scale, with just the four actors, and no galaxy-spanning threat, but it's well done and believably written, allowing a glimpse into a different side of the Doctor than usual.