I didn't care too much for this episode. Some parts were okay and I continue to like Capaldi but Clara has become a real aggravation to me. In fact, I was really hoping that Clara was going to leave for good but no such luck (although I know it would have already been announced if the actress was leaving).

Still, at least it gives the Clara character the opportunity to slap the Doctor every episode next season. In fact, maybe she can step up her abuse and also kick him in the groin after she slaps him. Why not, at this point?

I have now just about had it with the new Who. As much as I do like Capaldi as the Doctor, I have little interest in next season and may just tune out entirely until the Clara character and Moffat leave (assuming they ever do).

Episode deemed unsuitable for under 12's by the bbfc.

Which always tickles me given hundreds of thousands of under 12's already saw it.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/docto...ial-2014-video

Based on the not statistically valid group of under 12's I know Doctor Who is pretty mild and they are watching a lot of stuff that is way more unsuitable.

Ideally following the recommendations would be good but that's really not the real world of the school playground.

I'd heard a quote (possibly from Moffat) that those who were dreading this episode the most would be the ones that enjoyed it the most, and this applies 100% to me. In all the pre publicity I thought this was going to be the biggest turkey served up on Xmas Day but wow what a relief! I guess I should have had faith. An absolutely wonderful episode, probably Capaldi's best so far and definitely one of the best Xmas specials (alongside The Christmas Invasion and A Christmas Carol). This was proper, scary, intelligent Dr Who which could have sat pretty within a series and not just as a special. It looked glorious, the script was tight, acting mostly great and the laughs worked, and didn't feel overused.
I'm actually quite baffled by any negative reviews here, this was very traditional Who and I honestly can't see anyone who calls themselves a fan not liking this massively. There again a common criticism seems to be "what a cop out it was all a dream" which kind of makes me think it was all a little too complicated for some of the more vociferous of this forum to understand. Which is strange as I thought it was actually quite a simple idea engineered perfectly.
Well done one and all, what a great year for Who and everything bodes well for the immediate future.

Sky Plussed this, and didn't get round to watching until New Year's Day. Thought it was ok, but not the best Christmas episode I've ever seen. The best has to be The Christmas Invasion, followed by The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe.

Totally agree! I was expecting bad things from this, really bad.

Beforehand I was getting a vibe I've only previously had towards The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe. In that case I had low expectations, and then the episode managed to still perform lower than them. I feared the same for Last Christmas, with the added risk of insult to injury that I'm not a huge fan of Nick Frost and that Clara is my second-favourite companion and I didn't want her to leave, which seemed likely at the time.

Then the episode aired. Clara stayed, I was beaming. Nick Frost was actually quite good, and not over-exposed in the story, so it felt acceptable. The supporting cast were brilliant, and the story was very decent. Christmas wasn't rammed down your throat, and its involvement wasn't shoehorned in particularly much. It wasn't the best episode there's even been, and I still feel A Christmas Carol is a superior special overall, but it was great fun, poignant where it mattered and a decent premise as well.

By the time we reached the sleigh ride it was decided - it was the kind of nonsense that I grew tired of in Matt Smith's time because it lacked substance to go with it. Here there was the Clara "ending" and I realised how much I cared. I cared about Doctor Who again! I really felt upset she appeared to be leaving, and then Moffat pulled the rug from beneath our feet and she was staying again - best Christmas present I could have asked for from The Moff