The Return of Doctor Mysterio
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Doctor Who
keekosdoctor — 9 years ago(December 25, 2016 08:36 PM)
The Return of Doctor Mysterio
Pros:
*The cinematography was pretty nice. I like how consistently cinematic the show has been feeling recently.
*Justin Chatwin's performance was pretty charming. I've always liked that guys facial acting.
*I like the way the flashbacks are handled but it feels kinda weird that they just stop doing it halfway through the episode.
*The accents played way better for me in the actual episode than they did in previews
*I really like how the comic panel visual was handled. Wish it was used more than once.
*As someone who found Nardole pretty disposable and annoying in the last episode, I'm surprised how much I like he and the Doctor's dynamic. This might be a weird way to phrase it, and might prove untrue as time goes on, but I like how (much like Donna or Rory) he's a companion who doesn't feel like an enabler. The diametric opposite of Clara. I'm not entirely sold on him just yet, but I'm fine with seeing him again.
Cons:
*The story seems torn on whether its trying to be a character arc for the Doctor or Grant, and in the end isn't really one for either of them. It wouldn't be a problem if the episode didn't spend so much time making think that at least one of them was headed toward an opportunity for change.
*The Doctor being friends with someone during childhood and reconnecting with them in adulthood feels super derivative for Moffat, even for a one off episode.
*Lucy snapping and coming to her realization about Grant feels really forced. Like obviously it was gonna happen but it needed more of a build.
*The bad guys' plan really doesn't work, at all. Maybe I'm missing something but it seems like quite a leap to assume that Harmony Shoal would be the first place that any world leader would run to.
*I really really don't see what the point was of all the River mentions. Yeah it was sad but we don't need a whole scene/monologue at the end of the episode just to emphasize yet again how sad it was, as if the viewer didn't get it. Moffat has a real problem letting sleeping dogs lay, and last episode should've been River Song being payed to rest for good. Her story, and the Doctor's story relative to her, is FINISHED, and this episode really didn't need to waste precious minutes serving as some kind of emotional epilogue.
*This last one isn't really a mark against the episode, but considering how much of today's media is dominated by superheroes, I always get a bit disappointed when a spoof on the genre appears and doesn't take full advantage of all the newer recurring tropes they could satirize. You have an honest to god costumed superhero in your show in 2016 and not use him to say anything about the modern superhero archetype is just a waste, and makes this feel more like a cash in than the pseudo-satire it's trying to be.
Overall: The definition of fluff. Fun and charming in places, not remotely offensive, but totally disposable. It's another episode where the plot is stupid and flimsy and simply a skeleton for character stuff and wacky antics, but that's hardly anything new for this show. Trying to be a follow up to Husbands of River Song when it really wasn't necessary was the biggest drawback for me, and I'm really crossing my fingers hoping that Moffat never mentions that character again.
Doctor Who: The Best Christmas Carol -
A_Man_of_Iron — 9 years ago(December 25, 2016 10:33 PM)
Actually, I'd say River, more than any other companion, was an enabler, although I guess strictly speaking she wasn't a "companion" in the same vein as the others you mentioned, but anyway, it is fluff, yes, but enjoyable fluff. I too was a bit surprised/disappointed (I guess?) that, given Steven Moffat's proclivity for meta-commentary and satire, nothing was really done with the superhero element but, eh, whatever. Much like how The Ghost was a placeholder savior until the return of "Doctor Mysterio," the episode itself was merely a placeholder for the true and proper return of Doctor Who next year. It was fine for what it was - silly, lighthearted fun. The "interrogation" scene with Mr. Huffle was hilarious. Capaldi as usual was great.
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keekosdoctor — 9 years ago(December 26, 2016 01:04 AM)
I liked thy interrogation scene too. Seemed kinda out there but I think the point was to give Lucy a weird quirk to offset the fact that she's otherwise the most straight laced one in the episode. Not sure I'm a fan of how it was brought back at the end.
Doctor Who: The Best Christmas Carol