Doctor Who Discussion [Spoiler Zone!]

[Kheldarson]

Christmas special. What the hell.

Rushed, made me feel horrid, and dear Lord, the ending.

[Jester]

I'm going to respectfully disagree, as I thought the Christmas special was top notch. A bit predictable at times in the whole Inception dream-within-a-dream aspect, but overall, good writing, good acting, nice twists. I give it a definite thumbs up.

[mjr]

Wait...so just how many "layers" of dreams were they in?? I think I counted at least 4.

And toward the end when they (SPOILER ALERT) were flying along with Santa, and The Doctor asked Clara if she believed in Santa, she said something like, "I've always believed in Santa, he just looks a little different to me." then hugs the Doctor...

Well, my wife and I kinda looked at each other and snickered there...

[Kheldarson]

I'm going to respectfully disagree, as I thought the Christmas special was top notch. A bit predictable at times in the whole Inception dream-within-a-dream aspect, but overall, good writing, good acting, nice twists. I give it a definite thumbs up.

That's fine, but the plot twist was obvious from the beginning (he showed the faces. Why would yo do that?), Santa may have been acting well but was horribly mean which put me off immediately, and did we seriously have to crap on Clara's wish fulfillment immediately and that heavily?

I mean, I expect creepy from Doctor Who. I expect a low. But there's a triumphant high to match or surpass it usually. There wasn't one here.

And Clara's original leaving point was obvious as well.

[Ben_Who]

That's fine, but the plot twist was obvious from the beginning (he showed the faces. Why would yo do that?), Santa may have been acting well but was horribly mean which put me off immediately, and did we seriously have to crap on Clara's wish fulfillment immediately and that heavily?

I mean, I expect creepy from Doctor Who. I expect a low. But there's a triumphant high to match or surpass it usually. There wasn't one here.

And Clara's original leaving point was obvious as well.

Here's one for you. See if you can guess which of the four other characters was slated to be her replacement.

I personally have nothing against Clara in the abstract, but dear God, she's had one foot out the door all season. I think she left the Doctor never to see him again at least five times. It might be that I'm not as comfortable with the idea of a "part-time companion" as I thought I was; at first it seemed clever that the Doctor's sidekick could hold a job and have a family and still pop off for adventure weekends, but now it just seems uncommitted and insecure, and it tends to tie the narrative down.

[Kheldarson]

Here's one for you. See if you can guess which of the four other characters was slated to be her replacement.

I'd guess Shona. She's the only one given any screentime to develop a base personality.

[KhirasHY]

I really enjoyed the special this year. And for anyone who tries to convince me otherwise, I am only going to say this in response: "Giant Cyberman in Victorian London."

This was much, much better.

[gremcint]

the only part I didn't like was the doctor abandoning them as soon as he thought he was safe and that no one is dealing with the dream crab still on earth.

[KatherineB]

the only part I didn't like was the doctor abandoning them as soon as he thought he was safe and that no one is dealing with the dream crab still on earth.

That's actually been my major issue with both Eleven and Twelve - they really only seem to care about the safety of their companions. The rest of the world can go to hell as long as those people they have decided are special are okay. Maybe it's selfish on my part, but I've always loved the thought that everyone matters to the Doctor, not just a few people who intrigue him for one reason or another.

That said, I did think this was the best Christmas special yet, although I would have loved it more if Clara hadn't been in it at all and we'd had a chance to get to know each of the other three base people in real life, particularly the one who died.