Portrayed by: Michael Gambon, Danny Horn, Laurence Belcher
Doctor: Eleventh Doctor
Story: “A Christmas Carol” (Dec, 2010)
Background: Kazran Sardick was raised by an abusive father, Elliot, who was absolutely focused on profit. Kazran, like his father before him, controls the airspace of Sardicktown and has grown into a very Ebenezer Scrooge-like character when he first meets the Doctor, who needs his permission so the crashing ship Amy and Rory are on can safely land. The Doctor, presumably inspired by A Christmas Carol (he is a Dickens fanboy, after all), decides to give Kazran the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future treatment, rewriting much of his childhood, to turn him into the kind of man who will allow the ship to land.
Family/Friends: We meet Kazran’s physically and emotionally abusive father, but we don’t find out about any other family members, implying that Kazran grew up incredibly isolated. The young Kazran speaks of school friends, but we only see him interact with the Doctor and Abigail, who is first a friend and later a love interest for him. They eventually get married, despite Abigail’s prognosis- she will only live out that day, their final Christmas together.
Personality: We are introduced to Kazran as a miserly and cold-hearted old man. Then we see him as a young boy, happy, curious, and kind. As he grows older, influenced by the Doctor, Kazran blossoms into a honorable, good man, but when he learns Abigail will die the next time he awakens her for Christmas, he closes himself off and once again becomes bitter. Eventually, the Doctor convinces him to reopen his heart and he becomes a loving, generous man once more, and it’s implied he will stay this way.
Special Skills: Curiosity and sense of adventure (when young), moral core (deep down)
Highlights: Attempting to process his new memories when the Doctor first alters his timeline, excitement at the flying fish and shark, eventual final turn to goodness
Lowlights: Though this is necessary for the story to work, Kazran begins as a miserable old man who’s not particularly pleasant to spend time with. This quickly changes, though, as the character becomes more interesting.
Memorable quotes:
“What a clever little boy! You must be so irritated.”
“I cried all night, and I learned life’s most invaluable lesson… Nobody comes.”
Other notes: Kazran is notable for being the only ally of the Doctor who is also the main villain of his story.