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| Image (c) Stuart Manning |
This review will contain some spoilers.
In New York to fix an Angel-related problem with time, the Doctor bumps into a kid named Grant who swallows an all-powerful gem. Years later, they meet again, but Grant has used that power to become masked superhero the Ghost. Along with the doctor's re-embodied companion Nardole (from 'The Husbands of River Song') and investigative reporter and single mom Lucy Fletcher (for whom Grant a) works as a nanny and b) pines,) the Doctor is in town to prevent a conspiracy of body-hijacking alien brains taking control of Earth, because it's Christmas and what says Christmas like an invasion.
In New York to fix an Angel-related problem with time, the Doctor bumps into a kid named Grant who swallows an all-powerful gem. Years later, they meet again, but Grant has used that power to become masked superhero the Ghost. Along with the doctor's re-embodied companion Nardole (from 'The Husbands of River Song') and investigative reporter and single mom Lucy Fletcher (for whom Grant a) works as a nanny and b) pines,) the Doctor is in town to prevent a conspiracy of body-hijacking alien brains taking control of Earth, because it's Christmas and what says Christmas like an invasion.
The Good
- The Return of Doctor Mysterio has all the strengths of the Moffat era: Snappy writing, fast pacing and humour. Little moments like the Doctor's realisation that Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same were excellent.
- Grant and Lucy are a decent expy for Clark and Lois.
- Nardole's gentle needling of the Doctor's post-River blues is far preferable to another Christmas of the Doctor emoing for Prydon.
The Bad
- Unfortunately, there are a few of the less appealing Moffat traits on show. The romance is superficial and slightly pat, and the plot is stronger on style than on substance all through, despite a multiplicity of ideas in play. I'm increasingly of the opinion that Moffat has good ideas and writes good lines, but needs someone to support the middle section of his process.
The Ugly
- Nothing to report here, with even a worrying veer towards upholding the Nice Guy principle largely averted. It does hold a little too close to the classic tropes for comfort, but it's not too squicky.
It's been a year since the last stand-alone, so there's not much to theorise on with this one. We do now have confirmation that we're getting a new companion who is a twenty-something cisgendered contemporary Earth woman, so that's new. Wait. No. The other thing. I guess we do seem to be keeping Nardole around, so there's that.
Top Quotes
- "Well, in terms that you would understand... Sorry, there aren't any. It's a...it's a...it's a...it's a time-distortion equaliser thingy."
- "Who are you?"
"Lucy Fletcher, reporter, from the Daily Chronicle. Hang on, why am I telling you the truth?"
"Spooky, isn't it?" - "Look, I'm me, the Doctor, and even I think this is insane."
- "Mrs Lombard, there are some situations which are just too stupid to be allowed to continue."
The Return of Doctor Mysterio is a perfectly enjoyable Christmas special. It benefits from the lack of a preceding season in that fans are eager to get their fix, but suffers from a lack of immediate context. It's fun, and it's... pretty good, but not more than that.
Score - 6/10
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