Really enjoyed that and I was dreading it after the end of the last series. It was well paced, with a well thought out idea. There were no needlessly long moments and the only part I though slightly dragged was when they were flying in the sleigh but I realise that wasn't aimed at a 26 year old man. Really wasn't sure if Clara would leave or not. I do hope the next series doesn't revolve around her all over again because it would be total overkill on the character.

That was the best Xmas special in a LONG time, really enjoyable throughout with a great supporting cast. The concept wasn't basic but also wasn't complicated which made it easy to follow (unlike series 6). Was actually very tense in parts, as has been said, and I got fooled into thinking Clara's story was over once we saw the older version of her. Very glad Jenna's stayed on though, I think the relationship between the 12th Doctor and Clara is only really just beginning. Cannot wait for series 9.

Yes, that really surprised me, what with Santa and the past form of most Christmas specials, I was convinced it would be a silly/predictable episode in the spirit of Christmas, but it wasn't. It was the first time in a while that a DW episode genuinely surprised me with it's twists and the Doctor was pretty stumped for the most part which made it great, managed to balance it very finely with humour and the more fantasy moment add a bit of light heartedness to the otherwise quite scary episode.

 

The Dream Crabs are a fantastic idea, I really hope the return, definitely have the potential to be the new Weeping Angels. Really strong performance from all of the supporting cast as well, Shona in particular.

 

Clara's ending would've been a very sad moment and definitely would've thrown a bombshell on everyone wondering or not she's leaving! But I'm fine with her staying on for now, she shone a lot more in the last series than ever before for me.

 

 

I loved the special, by far and away the best that Doctor Who has produced for Christmas for a long time (possibly ever!) The threat actually felt real, and if I hadn't read on Facebook this morning that Clara was confirmed for the next series, I'd have felt suspense for her future in the show. I loved the scene with the older version of her and the Doctor though, tears were almost shed at the cracker especially (which I've since read mirrors last year's Christmas episode with the 11th Doctor and Clara, but I can't remember it). I loved the guest cast too, particularly Shona and Ashley; the Professor and Fiona were underused in my opinion but I liked the latter's 'revelation' once she awoke from her dream.

Surprisingly good offering this time. Clearly inspired by Inception, The Thing (From Another World) and Alien as it basically admitted, but they are all good choices, so why not? The ending seemed to drag on longer than Return Of The King but I can forgive that, and the tangerine at the end still left it open enough for kids on the Santa issue.

Hopefully the whole Danny Pink thing can be put to bed now as fully closed. Any more and it'll become a joke.

As for Clara, I would have been happy to see her go in a fitting way as was presented but if she's staying then we need to get over the whole 'difficult relationship' with The Doctor and just get on with adventuring now. They'll have to be careful because as good an actor as she is it could end up like Amy in season 7 - bordering on being passed her sell by date. They also need to allow The Doctor to be more central now and not have Clara dominate quite so much or she'll end up with more detractors than she already has.

Hopefully the whole Danny Pink thing can be put to bed now as fully closed. Any more and it'll become a joke.

How will it become a joke? The writers are taking a realistic and 'what would actually happen' approach to the Doctor's relationship with Clara. Danny was a part of that and died. She's not just going to forget about him because he's dead. It's going to interfere with her and the Doctor's relationship, for sure.

What I think he means by joke is that Danny is DEAD and they can only tease a return so much. If he constantly turns up in different forms then we'll all be wondering if there was any real reason to kill him off in the first place and it will look like the writers don't have confidence in their decision. That, or he'll suffer from Rose Tyler syndrome.

What I think he means by joke is that Danny is DEAD and they can only tease a return so much. If he constantly turns up in different forms then we'll all be wondering if there was any real reason to kill him off in the first place and it will look like the writers don't have confidence in their decision. That, or he'll suffer from Rose Tyler syndrome.

That's true, but I imagine it'll be more a case of just bringing him up in conversation from here on (or at least I hope so... he brought absolutely nothing to the table in series 8, 'Dark Water' and 'Death in Heaven' aside).

Yeah they shouldn't forget him completely but he shouldn't appear again or be Clara's incentive for future episodes.

Yeah, it's fine for him to be mentioned occasionally but there really is no need to have the actor return anymore. Although I still question if there's some plan involving Orson as I doubt he's been wiped from history.

Surprisingly good offering this time. Clearly inspired by Inception, The Thing (From Another World) and Alien as it basically admitted, but they are all good choices, so why not? The ending seemed to drag on longer than Return Of The King but I can forgive that, and the tangerine at the end still left it open enough for kids on the Santa issue.

Hopefully the whole Danny Pink thing can be put to bed now as fully closed. Any more and it'll become a joke.

As for Clara, I would have been happy to see her go in a fitting way as was presented but if she's staying then we need to get over the whole 'difficult relationship' with The Doctor and just get on with adventuring now. They'll have to be careful because as good an actor as she is it could end up like Amy in season 7 - bordering on being passed her sell by date. They also need to allow The Doctor to be more central now and not have Clara dominate quite so much or she'll end up with more detractors than she already has.

Not to mention a bit of Ghostbusters (Who you gonna call?) and ET (flying past the moon). I've just had the chance to see it and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the BBC website gave away the fact that Clara was staying, but that only spoiled it a little.

'Last Christmas' ratings added as well as L+7 figures for episodes 5-12!

 

Deep Breath · Overnight: 6.8m, Final: 9.17m, L+7: 10.76m, AI: 82

Into the Dalek · Overnight: 5.2m, Final: 7.29m, L+7: 8.26m, AI: 84

Robot of Sherwood · Overnight: 5.2m, Final: 7.28m, L+7: 8.25m, AI: 82

Listen · Overnight: 4.8m, Final: 7.01m, L+7: 7.80m, AI: 82

Time Heist · Overnight: 4.93m, Final: 6.99m, L+7: 7.96m, AI: 84

The Caretaker · Overnight: 4.89m, Final: 6.82m, L+7: 7.76m, AI: 83

Kill the Moon · Overnight: 4.81m, Final: 6.91m, L+7: 7.83m, AI: 82

Mummy on the Orient Express · Overnight: 5.08m, Final: 7.11m, L+7: 8.09m, AI: 85

Flatline · Overnight: 4.6m, Final: 6.71m, L+7: 7.85m, AI: 85

In the Forest of the Night · Overnight: 5.03m, Final: 6.92m, L+7: 7.79m, AI: 83

Dark Water · Overnight: 5.27m, Final: 7.34m, L+7: 8.52m, AI: 85

Death in Heaven · Overnight: 5.45m, Final: 7.60m, L+7: 8.81m, AI: 83

Last Christmas · Overnight: 6.34m, Final: 8.28m, AI: 82

I don't know where you've got that figure for Last Christmas, the BARB ratings for Christmas Day/week haven't been published yet - it'll likely be over or around 10m as always for the Christmas specials (all have had 9m+ since The Christmas Invasion with only The Snowmen under 10m since Voyaged of the Damned).

Edited January 3, 201510 yr by THEO.

They've been posted on almost every Doctor Who news site, so I'm assuming they must be correct. :lol:

They've been posted on almost every Doctor Who news site, so I'm assuming they must be correct. :lol:

BARB ratings aren't published until 8 days after the end of the week so we'll see on Monday.

BARB ratings aren't published until 8 days after the end of the week so we'll see on Monday.

 

Some people have inside information from various sources and have released all the final ratings for Christmas Day.

Some of the block two filming for series 9 will be taking place on location in Spain (where scenes from 'Asylum of the Daleks', 'Kill the Moon' and 'A Town Called Mercy' were also shot!).

Do we know when this series will likely air? I know the revival's 10th anniversary is on 26 March (a Thursday) which would be a very early première but it could be 4th April which is the traditional (series 1-6 and 7.2) Easter airdate.

I forgot to give my thoughts on the Christmas episode oops but it was another interesting episode. Love 'Inception' so thought the concept was great and thought the twist at the end with Clara was excellent! The unknowing of whether Clara was leaving really improved the ending but I'm glad she didn't leave because, as nice as it was, it didn't feel like it was creating enough of an impact surrounding a departure, especially considering the Clara-dominance of Series 8. It would have been strange for Clara's 'real' depature to be the one in 'Death in Heaven'.

 

Do we know when this series will likely air? I know the revival's 10th anniversary is on 26 March (a Thursday) which would be a very early première but it could be 4th April which is the traditional (series 1-6 and 7.2) Easter airdate.

It will most likely be in September as they've only just starting production/filming now. I doubt they'll be doing anything for the 10th anniversary either as its too close to the 50th

I think RTD made a comment that insinuated there shouldn't particularly be a celebratory episode, and I assume the most we'd get from Moffat would be a special minisode or some exclusive online content - which would be suffice.