Coughlan brings her own radiance to Joy, her beautiful round face and bright blue eyes shimmering with tears, her hair a halo of gold, framed by a bright red beret and matching jacket. Visually and emotionally, she is a shining symbol of the season, its warmth, yearning, and heartache. And in the end, she is the star this episode demanded.

Joy's ending might seem a little morbid for a Doctor Who Christmas special, but the show's got form – in fact, Joy's sacrifice is very reminiscent of Kylie Minogue's guest appearance in Voyage of the Damned, which saw her character Astrid sacrifice herself to save the Doctor, dissipating into atoms.

Disney+ is the place to watch "Doctor Who" in the US. "Joy to the World" will be available to stream from 12.10pm ET/ 9.10am PT on Christmas Day. Disney Plus prices start at $9.99 per month for the ad-supported Basic plan.

The TARDIS is as much a part of Christmas as turkey, mince pies, and mulled wine, and former "Doctor Who" showrunner Steven Moffat certainly knows his way around a festive adventure. This year's holiday offering,

With verve, imagination and fun concepts, Steven Moffat's latest Who episode wraps up Christmas in a big sentimental bow. Spoilers ahead.

The "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Joy to the World," will debut on Disney+ on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2024. The special stars Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy. ©Disney, All Rights Reserved Disney

After setting up the Time Hotel the Doctor is staying at—a business of myriad gateways currently set to send guests to every Christmas in history—we’re quickly whisked through a bunch of those doorways as he follows a strange suitcase hopping between handcuffed,

One of the great ironies of Doctor Who is that the one episode that most people tend to watch – the big, broad appeal Christmas special – is often the least inspiring. I am still haunted by the year,