My summary says it all really. This is the tenth Christmas special since the show returned in 2005 and as of yet this is the best. After the last two years' more plot-based specials ("The Snowmen" & "The Time Of The Doctor") we needed something more accessible and "Last Christmas" delivers.The story is a clever one: Not many writers can get away with the whole It Was All A Dream ending but Moffat does exactly that with great success in a script that goes with a Base Under Siege story (akin to many Second Doctor serials; Two's son has a guest role) while also throwing in scenes straight out of the offensively titled "Alien" (as Troughton Junior points out) and "Inception". Since this is Doctor Who through and through, it doesn't become pure rip-off as Moffat puts his trademark timey-wimey spin on things from start to finish.It does all that without ever letting you forget that this is a Christmas special and that is an impressive feat indeed. It also takes time out to conclude some loose ends from "Death In Heaven" also, such as the true fates of Gallifrey and Danny Pink, without alienating the casual Christmas viewer.Though Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman (who it turns out is not leaving - HOORAY!!!) are both wonderful here it's the guest cast who steal the show, none more-so than Nick Frost as Santa Clause. He shows up in the opening scene and several times throughout even managing to get his name into the titles alongside Capaldi and Coleman. He deserves the titles credit because he is spectacular.This is a moving episode and an extremely festive one too. The scene when the Twelfth Doctor is given the chance to control Santa's sleigh as the group fly over London is sure to be remembered as one of his incarnation's finest moments with the look of pure joy on his face as he does so being something we'll never forget. It's a genuinely moving episode too, such as when Clara seems to be an old woman who is about to die (Spoilers: It's still a dream) or when Shona (Future companion? MAKE IT HAPPEN STEVEN!) doesn't want to leave before promptly leaving and setting out to forgive Dave. What should she forgive Dave for? Is it to forgive David Tennant for leaving Dr Who almost five years ago? That seems too meta, even by Dr Who standards! Maybe she will become a new companion and we'll get to find out?Previously the best Dr Who Christmas episode was 2010's "A Christmas Carol" but that crown has now been stolen by this work of brilliance. This is a great episode of Dr Who in all ways: Excellent one-off characters, unbelievably creepy monsters, clever timey-wimeyness and even a reindeer with a nose like a car door-lock. All this and it's Christmas too! An absolute must. Not as good as "Listen" but otherwise the best Twelfth Doctor episode yet.

In the opening scenes Clara looks out of her window to see Father Christmas and a pair of elves arguing about whether people like tangerines. She is of course rather surprised to meet somebody she hasn't believed in since she was a child but soon stops worrying about that when The Doctor turns up. Meanwhile at the North Pole something distinctly unchristmassy is going on… scientists are investigating an attack by strange telepathic creatures that will attack if you so much as think about them. Inevitably The Doctor and Clara turn up, shortly followed by Father Christmas and they start to understand the terrifying truth about the creatures they are dealing with… they are not struggling against them; they have already lost and the creatures are slowly eating them while creating a dream state to distract their victims! Each time they think they've woken and thus prevailed they realise it was just a dream within a dream… will they ever truly wake up?The trailers for this episode managed to lower my expectations substantially… the idea of an episode featuring Father Christmas seemed just a bit too twee. The opening scenes suggested my fears were correct but then we were introduced to the 'Dream Crabs'; possibly the scariest monster to feature since the Weeping Angels. The plot was clearly inspired by well-known horror film; most notably 'Alien' and 'Nightmare on Elm Street'; a link that was clearly acknowledged at the end; there are also obvious similarities to 'Inception' with the dreams within dreams. While this featured nothing as scary as the two horror films it was scarier than one might expect for a family show; especially one aired on Christmas Day. I can't say if it was too scary for younger viewers but for me it was just about right. It wasn't just the concept of the monsters that was scary; they looked scary too. Overall this proved to be much better than I expected.

Yes it was cheesy but thankfully never ridiculous or worse still outright stupid. Essentially it was what a Doctor Who Christmas special episode should be, and a far cry from the cartoonist plots and scenes that I felt dragged down much of the Tennant era, and threatened the enjoyment of Matt Smiths version - although he at least seemed to carry off the 'Scooby-Doo- esque' comedy much more naturally. Peter Capaldi finishes his first season with head held high.Peter Capaldi's one flaw is he sometimes comes across as too dour, but fortunately his acting prowess overcomes the urge to shout at the TV regarding his attitude - although its close at times. I had expected the lifting of some of the burden following the 'Day of the Doctor' episode but again he spends too long seeking the negatives - but I don't blame the actor alone, he only interprets the scripts...thank goodness for Jenna Colemans down to earth and generally positive Claro Oswald. Another fine set of acting.Nick Frost as was also good as Santa Claus, however he would have come to naught without his wisecracking Elf's who probably had the best moments and lines. Maybe not overly funny throughout, and certainly questionable as to whether it was full of Christmas spirit, I am at least glad to say what true humour there was did hit the mark - and so did the downers.It's already been said the episode feels like a combination of the Alien and Inception and I don't doubt these subconsciously played a part somewhere in its writing, and for the majority of the viewing it worked well - right up until the last twists and turns which I at least felt was almost too easy to figure out in advance. Sorry Doctor you lose a star for signposting once too often!So overall not a bad effort, and I feel Dr Who has bounced back well after going through a 'not essential viewing, I'll wait for the repeat' phase. Once again I automatically set the EPG for it above other programmes rather than umming and arr'ing...Now please Mr/Mrs writers...just lift The Doctors spirits a little and be kind to is poor folk who looks to smile occasionally without having to take a happy pill! (Another -1 star for too much annoyingly negativity)

So it's safe to say that 2014 has been a roller coaster year for Doctor Who. After delivering what I believe to be one of its strongest seasons, with such standout episodes as Listen, Kill the Moon and Dark Water, it succumbed to sheer ridiculousness with its mess of a finale; Death in Heaven. Leaving a horribly sour taste in the mouth of a wonderful season, this year's annual Christmas special, titled Last Christmas, needed to retain that quality brought about in the middle third of this year's season. And, much to my delight, it did.Doctor Who's Christmas specials have always been hit and miss. Ranging from the amazing A Christmas Carol to the atrocious Voyage of the Damned, quite literally anything can happen in the hour time slot Doctor Who gets on the 25th. After arguably the show's best run of episodes, Steven Moffat (returning to top form, here) has delivered arguably the show's best Christmas episode to date. Going in, everyone was uncertain as to whether Clara Oswald (the superb Jenna Coleman) would be continuing her role next year. Whilst we knew this incarnation of the Doctor (the superber Peter Capaldi) would return, we were left on tenterhooks about the continuation of the much improved Clara. Last Christmas delivers the best Christmas present any Clara fan could ask for: she is staying for Season 9.Last Christmas was an episode packed with humour, fear, emotion, and, obviously, Christmas spirit. Whilst many other attempts for this formula have failed in the past, Moffat got the balance perfectly right here. Nick Frost was on hand to deliver an unusual but effective turn as Santa Claus, who's arguments and misunderstandings with the Doctor led to many memorable moments; "Why don't you go and write a naughty list!" being a solid example. Frost (so aptly named) played the role with an infectious amount of fun, but never overdoes it, which is highly commendable in a role of this caliber. The supporting cast are also solid, if slightly underdeveloped. Their final moments of the episode are touching though, so clearly the underdevelopment isn't too big a catastrophe. Despite the final 15 minutes being perhaps a tad too silly for some, it worked for me. Doctor Who is at its all time best when it blurs the boundaries between silly and serious (ala Kill the Moon), and this was another great showcase for that effect.Capaldi and Coleman were terrific too, as ever. Danny Pink returned briefly for a (possibly/hopefully) final farewell in a scene that was more emotional than it had any right to be after his terrible ending back in Death in Heaven, but these three have such terrific on screen chemistry that they could make almost anything work. Moffat crafted a script that took on a huge number of pop culture references, multiple genres and a healthy combination of action and dialogue without ever allowing the episode to become confusing, and he ultimately delivered his best Christmas work yet. Many people still criticised this episode and compared it to the Davies era, but that's the thing with Doctor Who. The basic formula of this show requires that it switch up and change constantly, and this is one of those examples. Davies and Moffat are very different writers, with very different styles, but this does not make one definitively better than the other. Both have their strengths, and both have their weaknesses. For me, whilst Moffat lost a touch of his creativity through seasons six and seven, he now seems to be back on top form, with Doctor Who's best year since 2010. All I can say is bring on 2015, when Doctor Who's wonder trio of Moffat, Capaldi and Coleman are set to come back better than ever.Full review here: http://morrismovies.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/doctor- who-last-Christmas.html