Last Christmas Advance Review
Note: Doctor Who TV’s pre-air reviews aim to be as detail-free as we reasonably can while still offering a critique, but as everyone’s spoiler sensibilities are different, we advise you read on at your own discretion.
Christmas is fast approaching and this year’s special will no doubt leave you feeling depressed with a huge argument, a big punch-up and the shocking departure of a major character… But enough about EastEnders, there’s also a new episode of Doctor Who.
The plot sees the Doctor and Clara quickly reunited and whisked off to the North Pole where they encounter creepy crab-like aliens, the Kantrofarri, who are terrorizing an ice base and its remaining survivors. Soon after though Santa Claus arrives on the scene with a couple of elves in tow and the question is raised: is any of this real?
There’s a danger with Doctor Who Christmas specials in that they can sometimes be perceived as a bit throwaway; episodes lacking substance that are designed for viewing after the day’s festive indulgence, and forgotten about shortly after. Steven Moffat has tried to buck that notion somewhat in recent years. Last Christmas finds a nice middle ground between a festive standalone and a coda to Death in Heaven.
The episode starts on a bit of a dubious note with several overly silly moments, including Santa’s comedic antics, CGI reindeer and a dance sequence to Slade’s overused ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. However, things soon settle into something more compelling once the main plot kicks into gear. It’s true that the episode plays out like a bizarre mix of Miracle on 34th Street and Alien (both actually directly referenced in the story). But there’s also good deal of Inception here too with its focus on the nature of dreams and exploration of what is real and what isn’t.
Of course there’s been much fuss made over whether Jenna Coleman is leaving or not (perhaps too much now). Many reading this will be wondering exactly what the deal is and truth be told we couldn’t tell you even if we wanted to. It’s another thing the BBC want to keep secret pre-broadcast. Whether this will hold in the mass media remains to be seen but it won’t be revealed on this site. What we can say is that you will definitely know her fate by the end.
The scenes between the Doctor and Clara are easily some of the strongest moments of the episode. Just when you thought Moffat might run out of ways to explore their relationship, he surprises you yet again. It goes without saying that Capaldi and Coleman shine with the material. Clara gets a lot of screen attention as we explore her state of mind following events of Death in Heaven.
The episode also sees something of a transition for the Doctor. He starts the episode as a grumpy old Scrooge, but there’s definitely more warmth coming though by the time the episode has closed in some rather heartwarming and poignant scenes (those easily moved to tears may want to pack some tissues again). Perhaps he may even turn around those who are still not quite sure on his incarnation.
Nick Frost heads up the guest cast. Given Frost’s penchant for comedy his Santa is almost entirely played for laughs, although there is a slight hint of menace about the character making you question if he really is who he says he is. Santa’s inclusion in the Whoniverse is no doubt a contentious point already but thankfully he is explained in a clever way that is crucial to the central plot. Santa’s elves meanwhile, played by Nathan McMullen and Dan Starkey, get some amusing lines but add little.
The base survivors including Faye Marsay’s Shona, Natalie Gumede’s Ashley, and Maureen Beattie’s Bellows fare better. Given the limits of time Moffat manages to flesh out each of them with just enough depth to distinguish them. Michael Troughton’s Professor Albert sadly isn’t served as well and is easily the thinnest sketched of the bunch.
Considering most of the episode was filmed in a studio with only a few locations this is a visually sumptuous episode. Returning director Paul Wilmshurst perfectly blends the dreamy/nightmarish imagery with the Christmas excess, without it feeling thrown in. Soundtrack wise Murray Gold delivers some remixes on familiar Capaldi themes, and some lovely new pieces.
To conclude then, while this seems like an episode that really shouldn’t work on paper when you look at the ingredients, it does somehow come together to form one of the best Christmas specials yet.
Merry Christmas.
Doctor Who TV Verdict: 9/10
