Dr. Who Series 8 - Last Christmas
Added 2024-01-13 15:00:09 +0000 UTCBrace yourself for the camera quality of this video :D
Comments
Well since I have never seen the movie Alien I didn´t think anything of it, while it was happening on screen, but I loved that they refferenced the movie a few moments later. :) Hahah yeah, I didn´t recognize Santa Claus although he´s an actor that I really liked in Shaun of the Dead, but I recognized Dan without even seeing him :D :D That´s really strange :D Shona´s dance was great :) And I loved the jokes in this episode as well :)
Nicologik
2024-01-29 07:45:32 +0000 UTC"Oh, it's all a bit dreamy-weamy", Santa Claus, "Last Christmas" This is my favourite of the Moffat Christmas episodes you've seen. I do like the shared dream stuff ("Amy's Choice" vibes?) - but the best part for me the viewer's thought while watching it (well, my thought anyway) that the face-hugging alien is just ripping off the Alien film or at best a clumsy reference - only for it to be a deliberate reference because watching that film is on Shona's Christmas list of things to do. You may have some face blindness, but you can certainly recognise voices. As mentioned above, Dan Starkey, who plays Strax, was in this one as one of Santa's elves and you recognised his voice immediately! I like the "bigger on the inside" joke for Santa's bag. And also the joke when Santa uses a remote to deactivate Rudolph. Oh, and Shona's dance with her eys closed listening to the headphones is super-wonderful - I couldn't be happier! I really liked the callback when the Doctor helps the old Clara pull the cracker in the same way that Clara did for the old Matt Doctor. So sweet. "Do you know what I hate about the obvious? ... Missing it!", The Doctor, "Last Christmas"
Andrew Vignaux
2024-01-18 00:54:22 +0000 UTCThat's interesting, I didn't know that part. Do you know how early in the filming of the series Jenna was persuaded to stay? I always hope that Faye Marsay didn't actually sign up for this story on the assumption that it was going to lead to a bigger part.
Stephen Males
2024-01-17 12:01:28 +0000 UTCJenna didn't just randomly change her mind, apparently it was Capaldi and Moffat who convinced her to stay. I believe that Moffat may have had the alternate ending script ready to go in the event she said yes
SeeJay
2024-01-17 07:11:56 +0000 UTCOhhhhh my god. Thank you so much for this comment. I knew that I know this name from somewhere. But due to the Santa outfit I didn´t recognize him at all. I love this dude haha :D :D
Nicologik
2024-01-15 07:40:09 +0000 UTCThank you so much Stephen. :) It´s really nice to hear. :) Since I´m a perfectionist, I am my worst critique I guess. But it helps reading nice comments like yours :)
Nicologik
2024-01-15 07:38:54 +0000 UTCYes I liked the episode as well. And even more after watching it. :) Thank you for your kind words about my camera, and my reactions. :) I´m so glad, that you are enjoying them even though they lack in quality right now. That´ll change soon though :)
Nicologik
2024-01-15 07:37:35 +0000 UTCYes the episode was really good. I wish I hadn´t been so tired, cause I would have appreciated it so much more. :)
Nicologik
2024-01-15 07:36:04 +0000 UTCOhhh really that was the Strax actor? Wow now I´m proud of myself, that I recognized his voice. :D Thank you :) I loved the emotional doctor scenes as well. I do know now, that I liked the episode way more than what I thought I had. It was really due to me beeing so tired. Yes it had it´s lengths, but the good stuff made up for it. :) Jenna changed her mind during filming? That´s so strange haha. But good on her, that the Dr. Who Team was cooperative and let her stay, even though they might have already planned different storylines. I´m glad she´s staying as well :) No, I didn´t spot the reference to Clara and Matt, but thanks for letting me know. I will pay attention to it, on the rewatch :)
Nicologik
2024-01-15 07:35:13 +0000 UTCThis is my favourite Christmas special of dr who. Great to see Nick Frost playing Santa joining his comedy partner Simon Pegg who appeared in the first series. I hope you enjoyed this episode more on second watch because I think it is very good.
Jenny Smyth
2024-01-14 12:59:46 +0000 UTCSorry I do tend to jump in with the bits of info because I can't contain my excitement. So much so that I forgot to say what you did about the relative unimportance of which camera Nicole is using. Of course I completely agree with you that it is Nicole's reaction we look forward too and any technical innovations are simply a bonus.
Stephen Males
2024-01-14 08:49:54 +0000 UTCHad some fun facts to share but Stephen's got there first with all of them. So on to the episode. This is my favourite Christmas story up to this point. It's a 5/5 and ranked 28th/140. I love the horror theme to it but also with the fun fantasy element of Santa in it as well. As for you having to use your old camera for now. I'm here to watch you react to the episode and share your thoughts on it so I'm happy you're going to keep going with this one till you get a new one. Especially as I can't wait for the next reaction.
Jade Ellis
2024-01-13 21:04:29 +0000 UTCThis is a leading contender for "Ian's favourite Xmas Special". I really enjoy the Inception -style dreams within dreams; the Alien (movie) inspired crabs; the base under siege; even the well placed Christmas whimsy. I'd go for 8.5, myself
Ian Smith
2024-01-13 18:56:43 +0000 UTCThree fun facts about the casting: 1) One of Santa's elves (Ian) was played by Dan Starkey, who also plays Strax so you were right when you thought you heard his voice in the opening scene. 3) The only male member of the polar expedition (The Professor) was played by Michael Troughton whose father was Patrick Troughton, who played the second Doctor from 1966-69. 3) Shona, who was sent into the infirmary of the polar base and tried to avoid thinking about the Dream Crabs by singing and dancing to a Christmas song, was played by Faye Marsay who was The Waif in Game of Thrones. On to the episode itself. I love this one. This story and The Snowmen are the two Christmas episodes I return to the most often. I suppose it may be a bit slow in the middle but I never mind that as I enjoy the concept so much. And the opening scene on the roof, the dream about Danny and (especially) the final few minutes are just perfect. When Clara hugs The Doctor and he squirms a bit but doesn't actually resist it is such a moment. And when The Doctor gets to hold the reigns and drive the sleigh it is an even bigger one. Like all the emotion he's been holding in, suddenly bursts out. I have read that originally Jenna Coleman was going to leave after this series and that the "growing old" scene would have been real. There was even a possibility that Shona would have been the new companion. But when (at some point during the filming of this series) Jenna changed her mind and asked to stay they re-wrote the ending. I know that some people wished they had stuck with the original plan. Much though I like Shona I am really glad that Clara is still here and that her relationship with The Doctor has reached a new stage. p.s. Did you spot the reference to Clara and the 11th Doctor (Matt) in Time of the Doctor? In that story he grows so old that she has to help him pull the Christmas cracker. In this story it is the other was round.
Stephen Males
2024-01-13 16:53:47 +0000 UTC
