Doctor Who, Christmas Special: Last Christmas (2014)

I've binge-watched the entire season -- plus the Christmas special -- in the past week, and I love Twelve far more than I imagined I would. Peter Capaldi brings a marvelous sort of prickly gravitas to the role, which might be why I found the last three or four minutes' worth of dialogue in this episode so jarring. I expect cliches from Moffat. I expect an obnoxiously convenient deus ex machina with every episode. What I don't expect is for him to ask the Doctor to break character for no apparent reason three minutes before the credits roll. Maybe he just wanted to see how Capaldi would sound delivering the lines. The man has a delightfully sexy voice when he drops to a near-whisper, and I can appreciate the temptation to exploit that with a bit of unnecessary dialogue, but the last few lines led me to suspect Moffat had gotten up against a deadline and handed off the script to a 16-year-old fangirl to finish. I'm hoping the Doctor's sudden foray into cloying treacle was an awkward attempt at a Dickensian change of heart(s) that will wear off as soon as he sleeps off the eggnog. I've grown rather attached to this irascible new Doctor as he is. He's not cuddly, but I don't need him to be.

I would give it zero stars, if possible. Perhaps the worst Christmas special in the history of Dr. Who. Steven Moffat has taken the series toward a path of destruction. No amount of special effects or esteemed actors can salvage dreadful writing. The characters lack depth and the plots are pointless gyrations. We’ve given up on the series and won’t be back until there’s a new writer/producer. And no, Mr. Moffat, you don’t write strong female characters.

Absolutely loved this episode!!!!

I've seen and liked the last three Doctors- but this new Dr. Who just doesn't do it. I won't be watching much of this show. He doesn't fit the role and it has nothing with his age. The plots are darker but in my opinion not thought well. Bring back Matt Smith or David Tennant.

I love Doctor Who. It's my all time favorite show...until season 8 started. It's become a chore. I am disappointed in the lack of creativity with the monsters, the whole structure of this episode was entirely confusing, and they're letting Capaldi continue as the Doctor. He plays a very different version of the Doctor and it makes me sad because 11's last line was "I will never forget when the Doctor was me". I feel as though 12 has completely forgotten who he was because he is cruel and has hard feelings toward everyone except Clara. 11 was so sweet and charming. You can never replace Matt Smith.

I can forgive the lack of originality, but that’s not the only problem. Jenna Coleman’s Clara is tired, annoying and should move on. Yet, there's an intense focus on her character. Capaldi’s Dr. Who has no chemistry with Clara and doesn’t seem to have any charisma. Add all this to an absurd script and what you have is something very painful to watch. For me this Santa+Facehugger story was the nail in the coffin. I’m taking a break from Dr. Who.

So, you’re telling me I paid for the season 8 pass and in order to get one episode more, I need to pay yet again? I love Doctor Who, but come on. Special or not, this is considered part of season 8.

I enjoyed the Christmas special quite a bit. As season 8 ended, we were left with the possibility that Coleman might leave the show. I was very pleased with that. As good an actress as she is, she has been around too long. She was a very good match for Matt Smith, but not with Peter Capaldi. I’ve watched almost every available episode since 1963 and Coleman is now becoming one of my least favorite companions of all time. Please Santa, give us someone who is a least compatible with Capaldi.

The Last Christmas, just like the rest of the season feels like Steven Moffat the writer has lost his ability to write. It feels like his focus is on his other shows. The story is disjointed and really does not go anywhere. I grew-up watching Dr Who and always loved this show. It liking watching the last season of a show that is about to go off the air and you wished they headed it on a high note. What ever magic Steven Moffat had for the show is gone. He has written some great shows in the past, I only hope he finds his muse again.

Used to be that I was always eager and excited about upcoming Doctor Who episodes and specials, but this season it seems like it was more of a chore to watch than something to look forward to. I even forgot there was a Christmas special until today and I downloaded it, hoping because of the season, that it would be something special. Unfortunately, while the subject was clever, as all Doctor Who episodes are clever, it was missing that certain something that used to draw me in. After watching for about 35 minutes I just wanted it to end. I'll continue watching the show as it continues through next year, hoping for a return of the old magic, but will no longer expect it.