Thanks - will add.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

A- from IndieWire:
http://www.indiewire.com/2016/12/doctor-who-christmas-special-review-return-of-doctor-mysterio-river-song-1201762654/

Updated with a few more.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

4/5 - Above average.
Like you, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to.
Not perfect, but not too bad.
ant-mac

This message has been deleted.

Don't you dare generalize!!!! I'm British and I recognize doctor who for the mediocre licence fee siphoning, low brow kids show it has become.

The British and fandom critics always love every episode, regardless of its quality. It's no indicator of whether or not the episode is good. Remember when IGN rated Love and Monsters something like 9/10?
No, they don't. And I've posted no fandom reviews here, or I would've linked to Doctor Who TV, Blogtor Who etc.
So stop trying to convince yourself that it was good, it was awful.
Sorry? First off, I already thought it was good (good, not great) so I don't need to convince myself otherwise. Second, I'm just sharing these reviews here for anyone who wants to read them - the fact that they all seem to be positive (more positive than I probably would've given) and that p*sses you off is no concern of mine. Which is why I guess you've got to convince yourself that it's one giant, biased conspiracy.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

Nazis now? Jesus
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

There's a difference between having minor favourability and outright lying about the quality of the episode. It's like saying that the Nazis fought well in the last 2 months of WW2. Factually incorrect.

Apparently, review bias is the anything opposed to what he thinks.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

Dude, literally everyone is biased.
What does a review without bias even look like? Far as I can tell, that would boil down to "this an episode of Doctor Who. It was written X writer, features X actors, and runs for X minutes with X plot points. Review complete."

the ratings were polarised, very few in the middle, it was either very bad or very good given that RadioTimes and IGN have a reputation for asslicking Moffat, I think it is an issue, especially given that this episode was factually pretty bad - a recycle of Aliens of London / WW3 plot with even worse villains and a dumb Toby Maguire clone. This actually made the last Christmas special seem pretty damn good tbh,

Is it? Based on what? This board? Your ratings thread alone has a mixed reaction, a more accurate fan response to the majority of episodes (especially xmas specials which are always divisive).
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

Given that the audience reception is low, it's pretty obvious to see that these guys unconditionally love Dr Who.

'Blatantly biased'
LOL, was waiting for that poster to show up.
They disagree with you, therefore they must be biased. Sound f'cking logic there.
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.

Tell that to the OP who thinks 5 or so blatantly-biased reviews means an episode is good, given that the fandom clearly didn't like it much.

Acceptance of differing opinions is your friend, Bernie.

The British and fandom critics
always
love every episode, regardless of its quality. It's no indicator of whether or not the episode is good. Remember when IGN rated Love and Monsters something like 9/10?
A better indicator is this site itself. Generally, most good episodes get above 8.2, this is definitely below that margin at 7.8, and that is only one day after. Chances are, it could settle at 7.0 or 6.5. So stop trying to convince yourself that it was good, it was awful.

I am not a professional critic. I will not write an essay.
I thought it was a load of wank. Doctor Who was barely in it.

I am not a professional critic. I will not write an essay.
I liked it more than I thought I would. I thought it was light hearted, fun, and well done.

Only 50 min. in and I'm not thrilled in the least! If this is the new companion, this reporter, I will have even more of a problem with it! I hate pushy women, entitled to know all your business! Very annoying!
Update: OMG, it's the idiot from the last episode with River! Truly sucks so far! The preview show another girl; a bit of a nag always asking stupid questions and screaming in terror!

http://scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/

• • Sci-fi, Batman, & E:FC

http://www.childrenofrassilon.com

• • Homage to DW & B7

I feel as though I'm going mad by actually wanting the show to be better, meanwhile the critics appear to love the junk. Oh well
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So did I! I was truly wishing for something that would tackle the superhero genre well. Not make fun of it, not just
become
the genre, not look down on it and not just make it too stupid and generic. The episode became about as good as it could possible have been. Hardcore superhero fans won't hate it since it doesn't just make fun of the genre and people who hate superhero movies also won't hate it since it never truly became one.

Indeed - I enjoyed it more than I thought I would!
Let's roll some tits up the flagpole and see if anyone gets wood.