Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio (2016)

This episode does so much wrong I can make a whole review listing stupid stuff from it off the top of my head. -The kid has both DC and Marvel comics. Either he's smart enough to appreciate Marvel or he's dumb enough to be a DC fan - he can't be both.-The Doctor never explains why he was setting up a trap on top of the roof. -The Doctor doesn't spend Christmas taking the kid around the universe trying to get the thing out of him (this is just a better idea for a story I came up with - also it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the Doctor doesn't try to get the thing out of him).-The music is mixed so loud that its next to impossible to understand anything anyone is saying. -Its pretty dark. Normally, I wouldn't be against that but this is a special, something that people who aren't regular fans of the show are more prone to watch. I don't see how putting some of the ugliest character designs I've ever seen in your special is a very good idea. -This is a Superman parody. On its own, that sounds like it could be good, right? The problem is that they do nothing with it. The "love interest is a reporter that can't tell the difference between friend and hero even though they barely do anything to alter their appearance" isn't funny on its own. Its frustratingly annoying unless there are jokes.-Its not funny. I'm not saying that Doctor Who is a comedy, but its usually somewhat light-hearted, even in more serious episode. This is a show that is somewhat known for witty (and sometimes goofy) banter. There are a few scenes that try to be funny but they barely work. Only one or two jokes actually work, and that's being generous. There is Pokemon Go reference that was already dated when it came out, and it doesn't even make sense in context. Its a very bad idea to inject internet culture into your movie or show because by the time it comes out the internet has moved on. A guy being a "Manny" isn't funny on its own. The only thing that's funny about this episode is how much it fails. -This ends on a cliffhanger that will never be resolved, and its painfully stupid. Honestly this episode has a set up that could have gone in dozens of different directions (one of which I mentioned). They did nothing with the plot they picked, and I wouldn't even recommend this episode to fans of the show.

So because of the absence of Doctor Who episodes for the entirety of 2016, this is the first episode aired since the last Christmas special. I kinda knew just by looking by the advertising that I wasn't going to enjoy it, because the inclusion of superhero elements looked incredibly cheesy.This is meant to be a science fiction show. The laziest bit of writing I have ever seen is when the Doctor accidentally gives the little boy in the beginning a "wish granting crystal" which gives him his superpowers. If you're writing a science fiction show, at least have some fictitious science-y justification as opposed to full blown fantasy.Also, this episode is a straight up Superman ripoff, down to the hero wearing spectacles as his secret identity. All the tired clichés are still here, Capaldi is once again being let down by weak writing, and I just lost hope for the show at that point.Completely forgettable plot, Matt Lucas is brought back for no reason, and Justin Chatwin is playing the hero? Really? The guy who portrayed Goku in that abomination of a live-action Dragonball Z film? Sigh.Needless to say, I wasted an hour of my life.

I've been a Whovian for the better part of half a century. I go back to Patrick Troughton.I have thoroughly enjoyed this rebooted Doctor Who since Ecclestone. I think that Tennant and Smith were fantastic. Their companions have been superb also.I have tried to enjoy Capaldi's tetchy incarnation but its been a challenge. That challenge has been getting bigger since Clara left us. I do hope the coming season breathes new life into the franchise.But if this 'special' is anything to go by, my hopes are dwindling. First the premise. Aliens invading the Earth.... Oh wait. That wasn't the premise this time. Just a byline. Almost a distraction from the actual premise which was just a weak rip off of Lois and Clark.I waited a few days before writing this review because I wanted to see it a second time... It didn't help.Since Clara left us its been downhill.And can somebody tell me what Matt Lucas' irritating character adds to the program?

Okay it's Christmas time so let's tick off the checklistNice Xmas card from Bob The Moo ? Check Ton of food from a kitchen I work in ? Much better than the food at the care home last year . Check DOCTOR WHO Christmas special ? Check Don't get your hopes built up about it ? Check My enthusiasm if not my addiction to the show has become increasingly diluted over the years . This is entirely down to the direction of the show under Moffat and catching a couple of trailers late in the day I noticed thus year's special revolves around superhero mode . Well let's be honest and like them or not Super-heroes are very popular in popular culture but does DOCTOR WHO have to follow trends ? Especially since it has been rewriting icons from the show such as The Master played by John Simm all the way back to the RTD era as literal comic strip characters That said this special remains rather low key compared to many of the other specials and overblown season finales . It's basically a run around type of adventure involving an alien invasion where the aliens have all ready landed and it's up to the Doctor and a masked hero to save the day . There's not much you haven't seen here before but one noticeable thing is that the villain isn't a White Anglo Saxon Protestant type . Foreign type dude wants to destroy New York in a big explosion . Don't worry about any controversy because it's a family show so that makes it all right In all a relatively enjoyable though forgettable special . Of course it always helps that you're not expecting too much of a feast