The Christmas Invasion is actually my least favourite of the Christmas specials, but that's an unsual choice, most fans do like it.
Regeneration shock: yes, really. The Nine-to-Ten regeneration isn't even the most extreme case. Two-to-Three and Four-to-Five come to mind for lying in bed or elsewhere in delirium for about three quarters of their introduction stories, which due to the different format meant about an hour in screentime at least. The most extreme case so far was Five-to-Six because Six went crazy and tried to strangle his companion. But the fact we don't actually see much of Ten is one of the reasons why I don't like The Christmas Invasion nearly as much as the other Christmas specials.
Rose: has a reality shock coming in episode three which gives Mickey some great scenes (when they meet Sarah Jane, aka a companion of old). As for the shipping, well. She does leave at the end of s2, if that helps.
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Regeneration shock: yes, really. The Nine-to-Ten regeneration isn't even the most extreme case. Two-to-Three and Four-to-Five come to mind for lying in bed or elsewhere in delirium for about three quarters of their introduction stories, which due to the different format meant about an hour in screentime at least. The most extreme case so far was Five-to-Six because Six went crazy and tried to strangle his companion. But the fact we don't actually see much of Ten is one of the reasons why I don't like The Christmas Invasion nearly as much as the other Christmas specials.
Rose: has a reality shock coming in episode three which gives Mickey some great scenes (when they meet Sarah Jane, aka a companion of old). As for the shipping, well. She does leave at the end of s2, if that helps.