Doctor Who: “Revolution of the Daleks” drops trailer and premiere date

Doctor Who’s Trump analog Jack Robertson (Chris Noth) is returning for the holiday special, and Jodie Whittaker says she’s not going anywhere as the Doctor.

At long last, we have a trailer for the Doctor Who holiday special, “Revolution of the Daleks,” plus a premiere date! Watch below, and then we shall discuss:

Pretty amazing, right? We’ve had our share of awesome holiday specials in the past, but this one promises something different, something more sinister. Perhaps that’s because the Daleks have received a makeover, and now seem scarier than ever before. Or perhaps it’s that the world must figure out how to face these villains without the Doctor, who is currently locked up in space jail.

Radiotimes had the new and improved Daleks on their front cover just this past Friday, and I must say they look rather intimidating.

Between the black-and-silver chrome exterior and the bright blue inner machinery, there’s definitely something chilling about these new Daleks. Will they come with updated powers and abilities?

In the teaser, we get our first glimpse at the new army of Daleks (new look, same attitude), and more of Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman). We don’t know much about how and why he shows back up, but given his fleeting appearance in the last season, we were expecting a return at some point. With the Doctor imprisoned, the companions can use all the help they can get, so Captain Jack should be very welcome.

But I have all the hope in the world that not only will the Daleks be defeated, but the Thirteenth Doctor will be set free. And maybe, just maybe, along the way, some other Doctor Who villains will turn up to make things interesting. Weeping Angels or Cybermen, perhaps?

One villain we’re sure to see again is Jack Robertson (Chris Noth), the business magnate and aspiring politician (let’s be honest: he was a Donald Trump analog) from series 11’s “Arachnids in the UK.” In that episode, he accidentally created a race of mutant spiders. What mischief is he up to this time?

Be sure to check out Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks on BBC America on New Year’s Day at 8:00 p.m. EST. There’s nothing like starting off the new year with a visit to the Doctor.

And then a thirteenth season of the show will be along eventually. After that, does Jodie Whittaker still see herself playing the Doctor? It sure sounds like it.  “I haven’t even looked at another role since the Doctor, apart from doing [documentary] Who Do You Think You Are? earlier this year,” she told The Telegraph. “To even question an end point [of Doctor Who] would be too upsetting.”

With fans like these, who would want to move on? “I had this idea that fame from Doctor Who would be like that Notting Hill image of Rhys Ifans [opening the front door to paparazzi] and it isn’t,” Whittaker said. “If you bump into a Whovian, it genuinely makes both of your days. There’s something emotional, poetic and very humbling about being in the show, because you’re a tiny little jigsaw piece of something that is so precious to so many people.”

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime, and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels

h/t The A.V. Club, Digital Spy