![]() But “Last Christmas” quickly wrapped up their conflict, and the BBC has confirmed Coleman will return for the entirety of season 9.Ĭritically, season 8 has been better received than previous seasons of Doctor Who, thanks in large part to the casting of a new Doctor, a more coherent story arc, and stronger characterization for the formerly one-dimensional Clara. Up until now, Coleman has kept fans guessing about whether she’d return after last month’s season finale, when Clara and the Doctor parted ways. ![]() Right off the bat, let’s get one thing straight: The Christmas special revealed that Jenna Coleman isn’t leaving the show after all. Far more important is what this episode means for the next season. ![]() Fortunately, Doctor Who fans already know that Christmas specials can be hit or miss. One of Steven Moffat’s biggest weaknesses as a writer is repeating himself, meaning that between the snappy dialogue (“There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive, no wonder everyone keeps invading you”) and seasonal Santa cameos, we were basically being treated to a rehash of Moffat’s earlier ideas: A new variation on the Weeping Angels, the Doctor rudely ordering Clara around, Danny sacrificing himself (again) and sharing a heartfelt farewell with Clara (again), and the Doctor having a Sherlock-esque moment where he “deletes” his memory of several characters he found boring.ĭoctor Who doesn’t always make sense, and more importantly, it doesn’t even need to make sense. The trick is making sure that the show’s often-ridiculous storylines flow in a satisfying way, and to be honest, “Last Christmas” didn’t manage that. Despite the handful of important continuity moments, such as Clara mourning her dead boyfriend Danny, “Last Christmas” was probably more entertaining for viewers who weren’t very familiar with the show. (Spoiler alert: Santa Claus wasn’t real.)Ĭhristmas specials cater to a wider audience than the average episode of Doctor Who does. “Last Christmas” was a series of dream-within-a-dream scenarios, a concept that explained the episode’s disjointed structure but lost its shine after the second or third time we found out that everyone was still dreaming. Second, there was the obvious riff on Inception. First, we had a monster that was only dangerous if the characters paid attention to it-strongly reminiscent of Steven Moffat‘s previous creations, the Weeping Angels and the Silence. The episode relied on a couple of familiar ideas. For at least an hour, everyone could sit down, shut up, and watch the man with the blue box run around and shout at aliens with silly names (this time, it was “dream crabs”). To be fair, “Last Christmas” served its purpose: A funny, fast-paced distraction, perfect to watch after a day of overeating and bickering with your relatives. Imagine it: The Doctor and Santa taking on the great battles of the universe, maybe even finding the lost planet of Gallifrey.In keeping with Doctor Who tradition, this year’s Christmas special was both thoroughly festive and totally nonsensical. Should Clara leave the Doctor’s side, for whatever reason, though I’m certainly not saying that’s what happens, Frost’s Santa would be a terrific replacement. But as one impossible man of Christmas spars with the other, the Doctor loses the awkward brittleness that has plagued him and softens, just enough, to let Clara, and us, love him once more. Over this past season, Capaldi and the show’s writers struggled to find the newest iteration’s personality and place in the Whovian universe. In honor of the day, the episode mostly occurs at the South Pole, which explains Santa, whose biggest gift to the world this year may turn out to be a fully realized 12th Doctor. ![]() The action is a truly creepy and occasionally festive, a signature mash-up of humor, unease and deep thought. Reunited some time after this year’s season finale appeared to tear them asunder, the Doctor and Clara come to the aid of a group of scientists beset by monsters more sci-fi than seasonal. Suffice to say that although the “Doctor Who” specials often skew toward Christmas past - Victorian, Edwardian, Narnian - this one stays current and strikingly modern. Make of this what you will as well there will be no breaking of the overzealous spoiler prohibition plea that accompanied the critics’ preview of “Last Christmas.” She came to Matt Smith’s Doctor in the 2012 Christmas special, “The Snowman,” and although companions can serve as a bridge between one doctor and the next, none has appeared as a regular costar for more than a season after that. Current companion Clara (Jenna Coleman), on the other hand, is the focus of much speculation. 11, Matt Smith, so everyone can relax on that front Capaldi’s not going anywhere. The 12th Doctor, Capaldi was only just introduced last Christmas as the replacement for No.
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