Last Christmas Grading and Discussion Thread
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
- Start date
I really enjoyed this episode. It both played to Moffat's strengths with weird creepy aliens and still felt like Christmas, which is a problem I had with the Tennant Christmas Specials. There was little reason to call them Christmas Specials.
I don't hate Danny Pink as much as some people here, but he's far from a favorite. He wasn't bad here though and I think there was some nice closure there, which is nice. Although with Moffat nothing lasts forever.
As for the end, I love Clara, she's probably my favorite companion and I'm so thrilled that she's staying. But with that being said, I thought the ending was a bit of a copout. I thought that would have been a nice send off for the character, though it was quite sad that she ended up totally alone. Eitherway, glad she'll be back and without any of the secrets or the ball and chain. Hopefully she'll be sticking around on the TARDIS.
I don't hate Danny Pink as much as some people here, but he's far from a favorite. He wasn't bad here though and I think there was some nice closure there, which is nice. Although with Moffat nothing lasts forever.
As for the end, I love Clara, she's probably my favorite companion and I'm so thrilled that she's staying. But with that being said, I thought the ending was a bit of a copout. I thought that would have been a nice send off for the character, though it was quite sad that she ended up totally alone. Eitherway, glad she'll be back and without any of the secrets or the ball and chain. Hopefully she'll be sticking around on the TARDIS.
Surprised to see how many people were taken with that Shona character. Because honestly she made so little impression on me that I didn't even remember her name until I came on here. Looking back I guess I can see some potential there as a companion, but mostly she just seemed like a typical, run of the mill guest actress to me.
And her list at the end seemed more like just a cute gag ("Hey, isn't it funny the movies she was about to watch") than an attempt to start building her into a companion or something.
And her list at the end seemed more like just a cute gag ("Hey, isn't it funny the movies she was about to watch") than an attempt to start building her into a companion or something.
I guess I'm glad I've never seen Inception, because I loved this episode, and it wasn't ruined for me by "Inception Rip-Off"
Since the Doctor and Clara cleared the air on their lies, and there wasn't another big Goodbye forever, I'm fine with Clara staying for awhile longer, and looking forward to their new relationship dynamic
I'm not familiar with the actress who played Shona, but, I didn't really see anything from the character in this episode that screamed Companion to me
Since the Doctor and Clara cleared the air on their lies, and there wasn't another big Goodbye forever, I'm fine with Clara staying for awhile longer, and looking forward to their new relationship dynamic
I'm not familiar with the actress who played Shona, but, I didn't really see anything from the character in this episode that screamed Companion to me
It would have been a perfectly suitable last episode for her character, but to me a bit anticlimactic considering what a massive and lasting impact she's had on the Doctor and his life during her time on the show.
So after all that... she simply withers away at home as a lonely old woman, after being somehow forgotten by the Doctor for 60 years? Much as some people don't like her, I still think the character deserves a nicer and more spectacular exit than that.
At least something on the level of the big sendoff that Amy got.
UK soaps are virtually never repeated. UK Gold used to repeat old episodes of Eastenders and Coronation Street but that was about 10 years ago. I don't ever remember seeing Emmerdale being repeated, other than the omnibus edition at the weekends.
Fantastic! I really enjoyed that one! Hit all the right notes! Dealt with and resolved the previous issues perfectly. Moffat has been hit or miss lately but did a great job with this one! Excellent all around!!
I'm glad that Clara is staying! I'd been saying that if she were to stay it should be with her choosing to travel with the Doctor full time. Recognize that opportunity for the amazing opportunity that it is. None of this part time travelling and a stick in the mud boy friend. It appears like this is what she choose! Perfect!
I'm really looking forward to next season/series!
Mr Awe
I'm glad that Clara is staying! I'd been saying that if she were to stay it should be with her choosing to travel with the Doctor full time. Recognize that opportunity for the amazing opportunity that it is. None of this part time travelling and a stick in the mud boy friend. It appears like this is what she choose! Perfect!
I'm really looking forward to next season/series!
Mr Awe
We don't really know that was the original ending. It's just a rumor that she was going to leave and then people extrapolated that if she was going to leave it was because she was old. But, it's just as likely that this was always going to be the ending. We just don't know.
It's great she's staying though!
Mr Awe
Sounds like most of the complaints about the ending aren't about the ending but how Clara's still around.
Well, it totally diminishes the Finale episode, which while it wasn't all that great, now is probably a little worse.
No, you get it wrong. The finale was horrible. However, the Christmas special managed to pick up the pieces of the finale and set them right in a satisfying way.
Danny's gone for good. The Doctor and Clara are totally on the same page. And they're set for new adventures together!
Mr Awe
It was 60 years for her, but only a few minutes for the Doctor. It's not like he forgot her.
Do the actors get paid extra if the series is sold to other countries? Emmerdale Farm is (or at least was) available in Canada, on CBC. Ditto Coronation Street.
Well I think he even said words to that effect. And the sense I got wasn't that he accidentally jumped further ahead in time, but that it was roughly 60 years later that Clara was initially attacked by the facehugger, and when all this really began. She was only imagining herself younger the entire time.
At least... that was the implication before Santa returned one final time to wake the Doctor yet again.
Moffat waves his hand again and the unhealthy and toxic relationship between the Doctor and Clara (and Moffat) continues for another series. Yuck. I suppose humbug is a better term but I'm going with yuck.
It wasn't a bad episode for the most part. And I wasn't hoping for Clara to die at the end but I was hoping the show would move on from Clara's part-time, average-at-best companion and move on to someone much more suited for the Doctor. Hopefully they'll be a bit more baggage free but considering that Moffat stupidly believes Clara is basically the main character on the show, I just wouldn't count on that.
I kept wondering if Shona was going to be the next companion as she referred to the Doctor as a magician and the series 9 premiere is going to be called The Magician's Apprentice.
Did love the Alien reference in the episode.
Also, I liked Dream Danny a lot more than Real Danny. Liked the Doctor's initial efforts to warn Clara she was stuck in a dream...that scene was very well-done.
It wasn't a bad episode for the most part. And I wasn't hoping for Clara to die at the end but I was hoping the show would move on from Clara's part-time, average-at-best companion and move on to someone much more suited for the Doctor. Hopefully they'll be a bit more baggage free but considering that Moffat stupidly believes Clara is basically the main character on the show, I just wouldn't count on that.
I kept wondering if Shona was going to be the next companion as she referred to the Doctor as a magician and the series 9 premiere is going to be called The Magician's Apprentice.
Did love the Alien reference in the episode.
Also, I liked Dream Danny a lot more than Real Danny. Liked the Doctor's initial efforts to warn Clara she was stuck in a dream...that scene was very well-done.
That seemed to be the indication of the scene that the dream crab attacked Clara when she was an old woman. And I agree it's not unreasonable for her to dream of further travels with the Doctor.
It was fairly unhealthy and toxic at times last season, but there's no reason to think it will continue being that way. Clara and the new Doctor seemed to have finally warmed up to each other, and there's no more Danny to get in the way or offer ultimatums like before.
Obviously there will still be conflicts now and then, but I imagine they will be more like the ones we've seen before with other companions, over how to handle each week's mission or threat. And probably done in a much less mean and nasty way.
I was wondering, knowing that originally Jenna was supposed to be leaving after this episode, if the "old Clara" was supposed to be the real ending. If so, I would have liked it because it was very reminiscent of Clara's goodbye scene with Old Matt Smith on Trenzalore, right down to them opening the Christmas cracker (which I don't think I've ever seen in person...must not be an American custom).
I was curious if maybe the final scene with young Clara was tacked on after Jenna Coleman changed her mind about staying on the show.
I think I'm okay with either ending. After this past season and all the drama with Danny, I'm glad that this episode managed to wrap it up. I wasn't a big fan of their relationship, but I like where this episode left it.
NOW...can we go searching for Gallifrey already?! It's gotta be out there somewhere.
I was curious if maybe the final scene with young Clara was tacked on after Jenna Coleman changed her mind about staying on the show.
I think I'm okay with either ending. After this past season and all the drama with Danny, I'm glad that this episode managed to wrap it up. I wasn't a big fan of their relationship, but I like where this episode left it.
NOW...can we go searching for Gallifrey already?! It's gotta be out there somewhere.
Perhaps, in another Red Dwarf moment, Gallifrey has actually been macro-ized and has been hiding in the Doctor's laundry basket the whole time.
Meh. Like a lot of Moffat's run, fun while watching, just don't think too much afterwards (or sometimes during).
Nick Frost was okay, but this certainly was not the role of his life. Would have loved it if they'd gotten Brian Blessed for this. Also, and this is the Santa geek in me, there's eight reindeers on that sleigh, excluding Rudolph (who's ninth). Three reindeers, including Rudolph, is definitely too few.
The other characters were played well, but the material wasn't there. Even with a full hour, Moffat didn't quite got me to care for any of them (maybe a little for Shona, but that, apparently was because Moffat had to consider her as a new companion).
Then there's the old problem with Moffat, too much happening in too little time. Seriously, at some point, you don't care anymore if this is still a dream or not. It's been done before, often better.
At least Moffat didn't get too illogical, but then, he had the 'it's a dream' excuse to work with.
And I have to agree with apparently everyone, that goodbye scene with old Clara would have been great, and I really groaned out loud when Santa came through that door. Seriously, they could have just shot two endings, they could have used the ending with young Clara and ditched the old Clara (leaving it for DVD extras). Let's face it, had the ending with old Clara been the proper ending, it would have been great. Had they left out that scene and just went with young Clara (cutting the "How old am I"-part), it would have been alright. But with one and then the other, I just feel cheated. And it's not like Moffat couldn't have used the extra-time otherwise, maybe padding out the guest characters.
Yes, it was the best Moffat Christmas special so far, but that's not saying much, the others were horrible.
And it could've definitely used some Robot Santas.
Nick Frost was okay, but this certainly was not the role of his life. Would have loved it if they'd gotten Brian Blessed for this. Also, and this is the Santa geek in me, there's eight reindeers on that sleigh, excluding Rudolph (who's ninth). Three reindeers, including Rudolph, is definitely too few.
The other characters were played well, but the material wasn't there. Even with a full hour, Moffat didn't quite got me to care for any of them (maybe a little for Shona, but that, apparently was because Moffat had to consider her as a new companion).
Then there's the old problem with Moffat, too much happening in too little time. Seriously, at some point, you don't care anymore if this is still a dream or not. It's been done before, often better.
At least Moffat didn't get too illogical, but then, he had the 'it's a dream' excuse to work with.
And I have to agree with apparently everyone, that goodbye scene with old Clara would have been great, and I really groaned out loud when Santa came through that door. Seriously, they could have just shot two endings, they could have used the ending with young Clara and ditched the old Clara (leaving it for DVD extras). Let's face it, had the ending with old Clara been the proper ending, it would have been great. Had they left out that scene and just went with young Clara (cutting the "How old am I"-part), it would have been alright. But with one and then the other, I just feel cheated. And it's not like Moffat couldn't have used the extra-time otherwise, maybe padding out the guest characters.
Yes, it was the best Moffat Christmas special so far, but that's not saying much, the others were horrible.
And it could've definitely used some Robot Santas.
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