Christmas Episode 2016

Agent Coulson

Children in Need Trailer

pixelburp

Hmm, I dunno, the Xmas episodes can be hit or miss, and often far too twee and silly for my tastes. This in looks no different and the superhero theme is a bit done at this stage .Might give it a miss, even if it's the only Who this year

Sonics2k

That looks dreadful

pixelburp

Latching onto the trend of Superheroes in pop culture feels like a desperate grasp for relevance (though I'm sure it'll be some alien-related thingy), and even the relatively low-budgeted CW shows look more convincing than that clips naff, wonky looking FX & costume.

I feel like a grinch for picking on a Xmas fluff episode, but they feel so perfunctory at this stage; Moffat's under orders to write a jolly season romp so he knocks out whatever crap's sitting in his brain at the time of writing.

Doctor DooM

I'll watch it because the words "Doctor" and "Who" are involved but yeah, hardly looks phenomenal.

pixelburp

A full trailer popped up; doubt it'll change anyones ideas of what to expect, but here it is anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9caU8yjJmk

bren2001

This looks embarrassingly bad but I'll watch it none the less.

flazio

If nothing else there should be a preview of what Mr. Capaldi and Miss Mackie-Asbill have in store for us at Easter.

BuffyBot

flazio wrote: »

If nothing else there should be a preview of what Mr. Capaldi and Miss Mackie-Asbill have in store for us at Easter.

Not sure it can be worse than the Doctor, Widow and wardrobe crud or bit of a mess that was last year's offering.

pixelburp

flazio wrote: »

If nothing else there should be a preview of what Mr. Capaldi and Miss Mackie-Asbill have in store for us at Easter.

Oh yeah, forgot there'd probably be a trailer - but hey, you'd only need to wait 5-10 minutes after the episode finishes before it'd appear on YouTube anyway

ebbsy

It was passable enough, wrapped up too quickly as usual.

Matt Lucas should have been allowed nowhere near it

Don't think Invasion has been topped as an Xmas special for me though.

And that was the first one.

6/10

B.A._Baracus

Thought it was forgettable to be honest.
The superhero thing just didn't work for me. We are in this day and age with countless superhero movies and shows going on for years now. Doctor Who doing one is kinda late to the party and also out of place. But I get it, it's only a bit of fun. So am sure plenty of people enjoyed the episode. Just for me it didn't mix right.

Like the writers thought to themselves "what's currently in right now?" then someone said "well superhero movies are. What if the doctor met Superman?" and there's your episode :pac:

New season looks interesting from the trailer tho.

ebbsy

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Thought it was forgettable to be honest.
The superhero thing just didn't work for me. We are in this day and age with countless superhero movies and shows going on for years now. Doctor Who doing one is kinda late to the party and also out of place. But I get it, it's only a bit of fun. So am sure plenty of people enjoyed the episode. Just for me it didn't mix right.

Like the writers thought to themselves "what's currently in right now?" then someone said "well superhero movies are. What if the doctor met Superman?" and there's your episode :pac:

New season looks interesting from the trailer tho.

Can't disagree with any of that. It seems like these Xmas specials are being whacked out for the sake of it.

BuffyBot

I thought it reasonably good. I liked how the superhero idea was brought into the universe, and the many Superman movie homages.

TBH Matt Lucas seemed like a superfluous after thought, who added little. The story could have gladly left him out and engineered the reporter to the substitute "Christmas episode" companion (a la Kylie, Tate etc), which would have seemed a better fit.

Apart from having more Lucas, the trailer seemed promising. Bill has potential.

Doctor DooM

While it wasn't amazing, I found nothing to really dislike in the episode, I even quite enjoyed the Superman Easter egg (please contact Siegel and Shuster for more information- the joint creators of the big boy).

One of the better Christmas episodes (which still leaves it in the throw away range, but far better than some of the really rubbishy specials we've seen).

flazio

To me it felt more like a good regular episode of Doctor Who rather than something "special".

Agent Coulson

I enjoyed for what it was but there was nothing special or Christmassy about it really.

I do feel Capaldi who I really like as the Doctor but I think he has been let down by the writing which has been in decline for a number of years now even before he became the Doctor.

ebbsy

Capaldi's has carried a few episodes, but was unable to salvage even this one.

Didn't think Matt Smith could carry weak episodes myself, and that's why I found his run not so good.

Doctor DooM

I would be a big defender of the Moff's run (I simply cannot understand how people think the writing is worse compared to some of the insulting dreck we got served from time to time under Davies) but I do think it's time for a fresh perspective. Just like I thought when it was Smith's time to go, I've enjoyed him, but I can see it getting old very soon.

Virtanen

Well the upcoming series is going to be his last, with Chris Chibnall taking over from Series 11

Angron

I thought it was fine insofar as Christmas episodes go. I tend not to be too harsh on those, as they are just a once off that's tangential to the main series.

I was relieved that they didn't say the Doctor was still pining after Clara at least.

pixelburp

Like the Daleks, the Christmas Episode has become a contractual obligation that has long past its welcome IMO; both elements could do with a pause, but for monetary / marketing reasons that just can't happen.

So it's a bit unfair to lambaste Moffat for something he's obliged to write, and not necessarily feeling the most enthused about year in, year out. Not trying to presume his mood or anything, but I can't imagine it's easy having to rattle together an annual cheery romp for the last 6 years. I agree though he's probably best stepping down & definitely doesn't deserve the ludicrous fan-hate he receives.

Anyway, I actually enjoyed 'Doctor Mysterio' more than I thought I would & was about as superfluous and silly as a Christmas episode should be. Not remotely the worst Xmas Special there has been (End of Time, Runaway Bride or the Doctor, Widow & Wardrobe spring to mind) and the superhero stuff was played well enough. The budget definitely did the flying sequences & costume no favours though.

the_barfly1

Bah, humbug, you lot. I really enjoyed that. It's the first Who in 12 months, he's over Clara, his own man again, and ready to go on adventures again (after his 24 year final night with River- enjoyed that bit of continuity from last years xmas episode).
The episode had plenty of cheese but that's xmas specials. I laughed quite a bit throughout and Matt Lucas didn't wreck my head.
The Doctor is his own man again and I'm very optimistic about the coming season.

Yourself isit

Angron wrote: »

I thought it was fine insofar as Christmas episodes go. I tend not to be too harsh on those, as they are just a once off that's tangential to the main series.

I was relieved that they didn't say the Doctor was still pining after Clara at least.

He's forgotten she existed.

Angron

Yourself isit wrote: »

He's forgotten she existed.

Oh yeah, I'd actually forgotten that had happened.

martingriff

Angron wrote: »

I thought it was fine insofar as Christmas episodes go. I tend not to be too harsh on those, as they are just a once off that's tangential to the main series.

I was relieved that they didn't say the Doctor was still pining after Clara at least.

I Think that is why they left it to the very end to mention it to keep people guessing but the 24 years was meant to be a clue if you were nerdy and remembered. I think the Matt Lucas thing was badly thought out as it was not probably explained. Looks like he is in some of the season

The_Valeyard

Disappointing, but not the worst Christmas episode I've seen.

ebbsy

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Disappointing, but not the worst Christmas episode I've seen.

True. There have been some stinkers.

martingriff

martingriff wrote: »

I Think that is why they left it to the very end to mention it to keep people guessing but the 24 years was meant to be a clue if you were nerdy and remembered.

But that was about river song