Last Christmas Grading and Discussion Thread

[Guy Gardener]

Is Clara pregnant?

Those future Pinks.

Either their future doesn't exist anymore, Clara is pregnant, or Danny had two more wives and Clara was going to be his third Mrs Pink.

 

[Relayer1]

It managed to be both derivative and quite clever.

It wasn't great, but it was certainly better than most of the crappy Christmas episodes.

I thought we were getting rid of Clara this time out, but I'm O.K. for a few more episodes with her...as long as that's positively the LAST time we see bloody Danny Pink.

Just stay dead dammit !

 

[YellowSubmarine]

This was more than fantastic. I am ambivalent about that ending. I can't decide if I prefer it that way or not. The faux ending would have been a wonderful real one – better than anything I could have imagined to send off a companion, but at the same time I actually felt good when they followed it up. Apparently I too lack the balls to end it properly.

One thing I can say though, I want Shona to be the companion next season. I would be disappointed if the meeting I pictured – with the Doctor meeting her straight after she wakes up, as she partially recollects the events of her dream state – doesn't occur. That's the only thing that really bothers me about the faux ending and Clara staying.

I also loved Danny Pink in this episode. His character is... difficult to like, but him taking his usual role this time around was weirdly gratifying. It was a nice do-what-you-do-best moment, and fit well when contrasted with the jolly way Santa did the same thing.

 

[kirk55555]

Well, that's easily one of the worse Doctor Who Christmas episodes, if not the worse. Santa Claus was played well, but could have been used better. The story was not very interesting. Plus, it turns out Clara isn't leaving, and I even had to suffer through more Danny Pink (even in a dream he's a useless, irritating waste of space). Clara wasn't as bad as she could have been, and Capaldi was as good as he always is, but overall this was a bad special connected to a lackluster season.

 

[Skywalker]

I really like Clara, and I thought most of the episode was great, but that ending kind of brought the whole thing down a bit for me. Moffat has a hard time saying goodbye to his characters and that flaw was on full display here. The Doctor spending one last Christmas with an elderly Clara was beautiful. They should have ended it there.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

Just watching it now. The "Alien" joke sequence with Troughton's son eating the turkey leg and Capaldi saying...look closely at Jenna Coleman in the background. She's trying her best not to laugh, and failing. Love that they left that in and the director didn't yell for another take.

 

[chelly]

I saw a sort of trek TNG reference, if anyone remembers the episode Phantasms. (the whole drinking your brain). Yeah not sure why I thought of that.

I enjoyed it, Clara did not annoy me for once. I hope we somehow see the other characters again. I am glad we got to see that most of them were ok.

 

[Aldo]

As someone who abosalutely loves Clara (seemingly the only one, as evidenced in this thread) I was completely floored that she i sstaying. I was so sure she was leaving, and apparently she was at one point. When I saw her run off with the Doctor and the text promising more of the Doctor and Clara I lost my shit. I am extremely overjoyed at this news, Clara is my favorite companion, edging out Ace just a tad.

The episode itself was fantastic too. Sure I sussed out they were doing Inception fairly early on, and figured they were dreaming at first, but then I didn't think they'd wake up into another dream

A question for someone who saw the end of 'Death from Heaven" recently. How does the introduction of Santa Clause work into the story in this special? I can't quite remember what he said to the Doctor, and are we meant to believe the Doctor is dreaming at that point too?

 

[chelly]

I think it was Clara who dreamed Santa on the roof and probably the tardis. Which I think is when the doctor got into the dream. Not sure I understand how all of those strangers had the same dream. Unless the alien decided to have fun with some total strangers, or they all seem to dream the same thing.

Ah on re reading your question. I don't think their was a transition unless I missed something. It started with the christmas tree in front of the window and Clara waking to some noise.

Re watching the first part, I think the doctor knows at that point that something is going on. He just doesn't exactly know how to solve it yet.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Moffat stole a fuckton off the back of the idea lorry -- Alien, Inception, an Alan Moore Superman story, Santa Claus the Movie -- and somehow it worked, at least on first viewing. I may hate it later, but for the moment this may be Moffat's best since "Fireplace."

I'd like to see Shona again. Old Clara didn't quite work for me; she was riffing on Sarah Jane's beats in "School Reunion." I'm okay with Clara staying, surprisingly; I wonder if it's because Jenna couldn't find other work.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I saw a sort of trek TNG reference, if anyone remembers the episode Phantasms. (the whole drinking your brain). Yeah not sure why I thought of that.

I enjoyed it, Clara did not annoy me for once. I hope we somehow see the other characters again. I am glad we got to see that most of them were ok.

The "sucking brains out with straws" reminded me immediately of the Red Dwarf episode Psirens, but probably because I've seen it recently.

Very good episode, I still wonder what possible ramifications there will be if the Doctor really was in the same volcanic region from Dark Water (even if it was a dream or vision at that point).

 

[The Wormhole]

That was pretty terrible. It starts off as yet another retread of Moffat's greatest hits that so many season 8 episodes were, and worse this one is "clear your thoughts, don't think. Don't even think! The alien detects thinking" that was already done in Time Heist. Then it quickly turns into characters taking too long to figure out the obvious, and then we get a really pointless sleigh ride sequence which goes on far too long. Oh, yeah, and the Danny scene also went on too long. Seriously, how is it no one can write a good scene for this guy. How does his presence automatically make things so bad?

Santa is a really wasted opportunity and seemed only there to add a Christmas element to the story and to serve as an attention grabbing WTF cliffhanger in the finale. And I guess that contrary to the implication in the finale, that Santa scene is some time afterwards for the Doctor, and not immediately afterwards?

And really, does Moffat not know how to say good-bye? It's bad enough Amy and Rory were trotted out for half a season even though their story was done at the end of season 6, but now we have Clara returning for another season, even though her story is done as well.

I don't know. Moffat frequently says he writes his Christmas specials in mind of the fact that people watching them are either drunk or recovering from the holidays in some way, but it shows in this one more than the others. The glacial pace, the random moments like the dancing, the face-hugger type things, not to mention the truly idiotic moments pretending to be profound ("every Christmas is last Christmas") this could very well be the worse Doctor Who Christmas special yet.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

As someone who abosalutely loves Clara (seemingly the only one, as evidenced in this thread) I was completely floored that she i sstaying. I was so sure she was leaving, and apparently she was at one point. When I saw her run off with the Doctor and the text promising more of the Doctor and Clara I lost my shit. I am extremely overjoyed at this news, Clara is my favorite companion, edging out Ace just a tad.

The episode itself was fantastic too. Sure I sussed out they were doing Inception fairly early on, and figured they were dreaming at first, but then I didn't think they'd wake up into another dream

A question for someone who saw the end of 'Death from Heaven" recently. How does the introduction of Santa Clause work into the story in this special? I can't quite remember what he said to the Doctor, and are we meant to believe the Doctor is dreaming at that point too?

You aren't the only one. She's my favorite companion too, by a long stretch. I am so happy that we have her on the show a bit longer.

In Death in Heaven, Santa said something like "Oh c'mon Doctor! It can't end like that! She's not alright you know...and neither are you. So...what do you want for Christmas?"

So yeah, I guess that's the start of the dream sequence.

 

[The Wormhole]

I still wonder what possible ramifications there will be if the Doctor really was in the same volcanic region from Dark Water (even if it was a dream or vision at that point).

I wouldn't read too much into that. They needed an alien planet set, and that one was still standing

 

[Timewalker]

I really like Clara, and I thought most of the episode was great, but that ending kind of brought the whole thing down a bit for me. Moffat has a hard time saying goodbye to his characters and that flaw was on full display here. The Doctor spending one last Christmas with an elderly Clara was beautiful. They should have ended it there.

Agreed. But since they already had Amy and Rory die of old age, it would be a bit repetitious.

So they need to kill her some other way, 'cause she never seems to follow through with leaving.

 

[chelly]

As someone who abosalutely loves Clara (seemingly the only one, as evidenced in this thread) I was completely floored that she i sstaying. I was so sure she was leaving, and apparently she was at one point. When I saw her run off with the Doctor and the text promising more of the Doctor and Clara I lost my shit. I am extremely overjoyed at this news, Clara is my favorite companion, edging out Ace just a tad.

The episode itself was fantastic too. Sure I sussed out they were doing Inception fairly early on, and figured they were dreaming at first, but then I didn't think they'd wake up into another dream

A question for someone who saw the end of 'Death from Heaven" recently. How does the introduction of Santa Clause work into the story in this special? I can't quite remember what he said to the Doctor, and are we meant to believe the Doctor is dreaming at that point too?

You aren't the only one. She's my favorite companion too, by a long stretch. I am so happy that we have her on the show a bit longer.

In Death in Heaven, Santa said something like "Oh c'mon Doctor! It can't end like that! She's not alright you know...and neither are you. So...what do you want for Christmas?"

So yeah, I guess that's the start of the dream sequence.

Oh now I remember that scene. Though it is kind of odd that the doctor would dream of Santa Clause, unless he is real in the DW universe.

 

[The Wormhole]

Oh now I remember that scene. Though it is kind of odd that the doctor would dream of Santa Clause, unless he is real in the DW universe.

He is, according to A Christmas Carol, only his real name is Jeff according to the Doctor.

 

[Guy Gardener]

She did 170 episodes of Emmerdale Farm.

If residuals in Britain are anything like the US, she should never have to work again.

 

[Mr Light]

3/4

This is one of the better Moffat Christmas specials. I really didn't like XMas Carol or Wardrobe. I really liked the interactions with (and mystery of) Santa Claus. I also liked the Inception style dreams within dreams.

I should take a star off for Danny Pink appearing, but he actually managed to not be an insufferable ***** for once so I'll be generous

This is a total retread of Amy Pond. The Doctor leaves her behind. Then an enemy brings her back into his life and they end up traveling together again, thus completely undercutting the first leaving scene. Then there's a bit where he finds her again as an old woman having lost out on her good years.

 

[Aldo]

As someone who abosalutely loves Clara (seemingly the only one, as evidenced in this thread) I was completely floored that she i sstaying. I was so sure she was leaving, and apparently she was at one point. When I saw her run off with the Doctor and the text promising more of the Doctor and Clara I lost my shit. I am extremely overjoyed at this news, Clara is my favorite companion, edging out Ace just a tad.

The episode itself was fantastic too. Sure I sussed out they were doing Inception fairly early on, and figured they were dreaming at first, but then I didn't think they'd wake up into another dream

A question for someone who saw the end of 'Death from Heaven" recently. How does the introduction of Santa Clause work into the story in this special? I can't quite remember what he said to the Doctor, and are we meant to believe the Doctor is dreaming at that point too?

You aren't the only one. She's my favorite companion too, by a long stretch. I am so happy that we have her on the show a bit longer.

In Death in Heaven, Santa said something like "Oh c'mon Doctor! It can't end like that! She's not alright you know...and neither are you. So...what do you want for Christmas?"

So yeah, I guess that's the start of the dream sequence.

Thanks for that! It works perfectly than if we are to assume that he gets attacked by the Dream Crab at some point after saying goodbye to Clara.